Education Commons^™

People With Epilepsy Aren't Protected In Africa: What Needs To Be Done, Jacob Mugumbate

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In October 2017 Abdul Matola was stoned and burnt to death in Malawi after being accused of being a "bloodsucking vampire". Matola had lived with uncontrolled epilepsy -- a highly treatable and non-infectious condition characterised by recurring seizures.

Beyond Lockouts: Sydney Needs To Become A More Inclusive City, Peta Wolifson, Christopher R. Gibson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In recent weeks debate on the regulation of Sydney's nightlife has escalated. Thus far it has largely been pitched as a battle between night-time businesses struggling with lockout and last-drinks laws, and a "nanny state" government. But there is much more at stake. Our newly published research focused on Surry Hills - one of Sydney's cultural and night-time hubs - found that underlying the nightlife debate are the critical issues of Sydney's worsening inequality, aspirations to govern Sydney as an enterprising "global" city, and who gets left behind. At stake is "the right to the city". Currently, it seems many …

Using The Cycle Of Learning To Differentiate For Students With Diverse Needs In Primary Schools, Amanda A. Webster

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Teachers are increasingly required to teach students with diverse needs in today's schools. The aim of the current study was to trial an action-planning and mentoring process based on the Cycle of Learning pedagogical framework to help teachers and school leaders plan and implement effective practices for students with diverse needs in their classrooms. Openended interviews were utilised to evaluate outcomes for students and teachers as a result of their work with mentors and the action-planning process. Participants reported they had more confidence and skills to teach students with diverse needs and students were more engaged.

Advocacy By Parents Of Young Children With Special Needs: Activities, Processes, And Perceived Effectiveness, Amy Conley Wright, Sarah Taylor

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article examines parental advocacy for young children with disabilities using a subset of data drawn from a larger exploratory and descriptive study on parental advocacy for children with disabilities from birth to age 18 with a sample of 400 participants. Because this article focuses on parents of children from birth to age 6, only parents (n = 76) meeting this criterion were selected. Data were collected through an online survey, with a snowball sample generated through e-mail lists and social media groups. The survey included questions on demographics, types of advocacy settings, perceived effectiveness of advocacy efforts, and an …

"The Solution Needs To Be Complex." Obese Adults' Attitudes About The Effectiveness Of Individual And Population Based Interventions For Obesity, Samantha L. Thomas, Sophie Lewis, Jim Hyde, David Castle, Paul Komesaroff

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Previous studies of public perceptions of obesity interventions have been quantitative and based on general population surveys. This study aims to explore the opinions and attitudes of obese individuals towards population and individual interventions for obesity in Australia.

Methods: Qualitative methods using in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews with a community sample of obese adults (Body Mass Index ≥30). Theoretical, purposive and strategic recruitment techniques were used to ensure a broad sample of obese individuals with different types of experiences with their obesity. Participants were asked about their attitudes towards three population based interventions (regulation, media campaigns, and public …

The Big Fish Strikes Again But In A Different Place: Social Comparison Theory And Children With Special Needs, Roselyn May Dixon, Marjorie Seaton, Robert John Dixon

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper will address the implications of Big-Fish Little Pond Effect (BFLPE) and social comparison theory and school placement of students with special needs. It made use of the PISA data base to determine if type of educational placement had an impact on the academic self-concept with children with special needs. Multiple regression techniques were used to delineate the relationships.

The Information Needs Of Women Diagnosed With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - Implications For Treatment And Health Outcomes, Jodie C. Avery, Annette J. Braunack-Mayer

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background This paper reports the findings of an exploratory study about the information women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) want to know about their condition and the consequences of this information for future treatment and health outcomes. Methods In-depth qualitative interviews regarding their information needs were undertaken with ten South Australian women diagnosed with PCOS. These women were aged 28-38 years and at differing stages of their fertility experience. The time since diagnosis ranged from 1-17 years. The main outcome measures sought were the identification of the information needs of women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) during different …

Identifying And Monitoring Changes In Special Educational Needs In The Early Years, Karen Hanna, Edward Melhuish, Louise Quinn, Kathy Sylva, Iram Siraj-Blatchford, Pam Sammons, Brenda Taggart

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This longitudinal study assesses the attainment and development of children followed from the age of 3 until the end of Key Stage 1 (age 8). Over 700 children were recruited to the study during 1998 and 1999 from 80 pre-school centres in Northern Ireland. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to explore the effects of pre-school experience on children's cognitive attainment and social/behavioural development at entry to school and any continuing effects on such outcomes up to 8 years of age. In addition to the effects of pre-school experience, the study investigates the contribution to children's development of individual …

Special Education Needs Across The Pre-School Period, Pam Sammons, Rebecca Smees, Brenda Taggart, Kathy Sylva, Edward Melhuish, Iram Siraj-Blatchford, Karen Elliot

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Early Years Transitions and Special Educational Needs (EYTSEN) project builds on the work of the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) project, a major longitudinal study of a national sample of young children’s progress and development through pre-school and into primary school until the end of Key Stage 1 (age 3+ to 7 years) (Sylva et al., 1999).1 Both the EPPE and EYTSEN research studies are funded by the DfES. The EYTSEN study explores evidence of possible special educational needs (SEN) amongst pre-school children. It uses a range of information to identify children who may be ‘at risk’ in …

Maternity Care Needs Of Refugee And Asylum-Seeking Women: A Summary Of Research By Patricia Kennedy And Jo Murphy- Lawless, Patricia Kennedy, Jo Murphy-Lawless

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This extended study, with both quantitative and qualitative elements, was designed and carried out in 1999-2000 to collect baseline data on refugee women's experiences, expressed needs and perspectives of the existing care services in order to inform the development of relevant maternity care policies for this vulnerable group and to plan models of best practice for the future.

Offender Risk And Needs Assessment: Some Current Issues And Suggestions, Mitchell K. Byrne, Stuart Byrne, Katherine Hillman, Emma Stanley

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Crime impacts upon the community at multiple levels, causing distress and loss for the victims, and feelings of insecurity for the public, as well as adding to the drain on financial resources for governments. This makes the accurate identification of risk of reoffending and the determination of efficacious rehabilitation strategies imperative. Key principles in cognitive and behavioural psychology can contribute to this task. This paper will review the issue of risk assessment and describe the applicability of functional analysis to forensic psychology. Two studies by the authors will be used to illustrate concepts raised in this review. The paper will …

Risk, Needs And Responsivity In Violence Rehabilitation: Implications For Programs With Indigenous Offenders, Kevin Howells, Andrew Day, Stuart Byrne, Mitchell K. Byrne

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

As a group of forensic psychologists with a background in clinical practice and research with offenders, we share the perception that sensitivity to cultural issues is a neglected area in offender rehabilitation. Perhaps this should be stated more strongly: that cultural dimensions of offender rehabilitation programs require urgent attention. We are working to understand how rehabilitation programs can be most appropriately offered to Aboriginal offenders, with a particular interest in programs dealing with anger, aggression and violence ( Howells et al, 1997). Our starting point in this area has been an interest in whether the rehabilitation of offenders works - …