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Edith Cowan University

2003

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Articles 1 - 30 of 65

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Performance Benchmarking Australian Fixed Interest Funds: Some Optimal Factors, Victor Soucik, David E. Allen Jan 2003

Performance Benchmarking Australian Fixed Interest Funds: Some Optimal Factors, Victor Soucik, David E. Allen

Research outputs pre 2011

In this paper we analyse the performance of fixed interest managed funds. We examine five measurement models across three risk-free proxies, nine benchmarks (covering conditional and unconditional as well as single and multi factor definitions) over two independent periods in an effort to identify (in a consistent setting) the most accurate and least biased methodology. The use of an Australian dataset, sourced from the Australian fund-rating agency ASSIRT means that we can provide some independent results from US studies of these. There is little prior work on Australian fixed-interest managed funds. We examine three risk-free proxies, six benchmark classes encompassing …

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Online Learning Designs In The Training Sector, Ron Oliver, Vivienne Blanksby Jan 2003

Online Learning Designs In The Training Sector, Ron Oliver, Vivienne Blanksby

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes current activities within the vocational education training (VET) sector in Australia where traditional views of teaching and learning for training are being challenged. The paper showcases innovative and leading edge applications of technology in the National Flexible Toolbox Project and draws on the history of this project to demonstrate current thinking within the Australian VET sector in relation to student learning. The paper examines the learning designs and resources that have been developed across the past five years in the National Flexible Toolbox Project and uses the outcomes to argue and demonstrate its findings.

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Patterns Of Engagement In Authentic Online Learning Environments, Janice Herrington, Ron Oliver, Thomas Reeves Jan 2003

Patterns Of Engagement In Authentic Online Learning Environments, Janice Herrington, Ron Oliver, Thomas Reeves

Research outputs pre 2011

The use of authentic activities within online learning environments has been shown to have many benefits for learners in online units and courses. There has been renewed interest in the role of student activities within course units, as constructivist philosophy and advances in technology impact on educational design and practice. Courses based on these principles have been used successfully across a wide variety of discipline areas. In spite of the growing evidence of the success of authentic learning environments, they are not without their problems. In this paper we discuss patterns of engagement that have emerged from our own research …

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Factors Influencing The Discovery And Reusability Of Digital Resources For Teaching And Learning, Graeme Brownfield, Ron Oliver Jan 2003

Factors Influencing The Discovery And Reusability Of Digital Resources For Teaching And Learning, Graeme Brownfield, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes findings and outcomes from the Toolbox Digital Repository project (http://toolbox.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.htm) undertaken in 2002 that was concerned with the design and development of a digital library to support the discovery, access and reuse of the vast number of digital resources developed for online learning settings as part of the National Flexible Toolbox Project. The importance for processes and strategies supporting resource discovery in development stages has emerged from the work as an area needing attention. Digital resources use metadata to facilitate their discovery and recovery. Our project has identified the provision of metadata as an important component of …

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Are They Being Served? Student Expectations Of Higher Education, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lisbeth Pike, Lynne Cohen, Alison Young, Suena Haunold, Neil Drew Jan 2003

Are They Being Served? Student Expectations Of Higher Education, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lisbeth Pike, Lynne Cohen, Alison Young, Suena Haunold, Neil Drew

Research outputs pre 2011

The current climate in tertiary education places students as primary consumers. As such, students are becoming more conscious of their customer rights and of gaps between their expectations of service delivery and the reality of that service. Not only does this service gap present a quality assurance challenge for universities, it is also likely to contribute to student withdrawal. In week one of the first semester 2001, a sample of 56 first year psychology students volunteered to complete the SERVQUAL questionnaire (Riddings, Sidhu, & Pokarier, 2000) to assess their expectations of university in terms of academic and Administrative staff. The …

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Some Evidence On The Performance Benchmarking Of Australian Fixed Interest Funds, David E. Allen, Victor Soucik Jan 2003

Some Evidence On The Performance Benchmarking Of Australian Fixed Interest Funds, David E. Allen, Victor Soucik

Research outputs pre 2011

In this paper we analyse the performance of Australian fixed interest managed funds by examining the relative effectiveness of various indices of bond performance which are combined with various measures of: interest rate fluctuations, economic fundamentals, maturity risk, default risk, and equity market returns, in an attempt to find an ‘optimum’ index. Our dataset is sourced from the Australian fund-rating agency ASSIRT. We show that a correct combination of a bond market variable, a mixture of interest rate factors and economic factors as well as a proxy for movements in the equity markets yield the optimal benchmark.

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Implementing Courseware Management: Off-The-Shelf Purchase Or In-House Development?, Joseph Luca, Arshad Omari Jan 2003

Implementing Courseware Management: Off-The-Shelf Purchase Or In-House Development?, Joseph Luca, Arshad Omari

Research outputs pre 2011

In the past decade there has been a proliferation of courseware management systems being developed and promoted as a means of simplifying the creation and management of instructional websites. Implementing these systems can be resource intensive and require large budgets to cover aspects such as infrastructure, integration into legacy databases, training, maintenance and on-going support. With these costs in mind, deciding to implement such a system should be carefully considered. Are there other options? With the proliferation of many freeware applications, and powerful online databases, the ability to develop customised in-house solutions is now becoming more attractive and viable. This …

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Designing For Online Learning Communities, Christopher Brook, Ron Oliver Jan 2003

Designing For Online Learning Communities, Christopher Brook, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper investigates the development of sense of community among learners engaging in online learning where the principles of collaborative learning are considered key instructional strategies. In particular this paper explores the development of learner's sense of community as an outcome of engaging in instructor initiated activities that are intended to promote community development. The paper discusses design principles for the development of sense of community identified in contemporary literature. In addition it reports a case study that sought to identify the forms of engagement and activity that promote community development, the manner in which students responded to these and …

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Some Statistical Models For Durations And Their Applications In Finance, Shelton Peiris, David E. Allen, Wenling Yang Jan 2003

Some Statistical Models For Durations And Their Applications In Finance, Shelton Peiris, David E. Allen, Wenling Yang

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper considers a new class of time series models called Autoregressive Conditional Duration (ACD) models. Various statistical properties of this class of ACD models are given. A minimum mean square error (mmse) forecast function is obtained as it plays an important role in many practical applications. The theory is illustrated using a potential application based on financial data.

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Cognitive Realism In Online Authentic Learning Environments, Janice Herrington, Ron Oliver, Thomas Reeves Jan 2003

Cognitive Realism In Online Authentic Learning Environments, Janice Herrington, Ron Oliver, Thomas Reeves

Research outputs pre 2011

The development of virtual reality and advanced computer applications have meant that realistic creations of simulated environments are now possible. Such simulations have been used with to great effect in training in the military, air force, and in medical training. But how realistic do problems need to be in education for effective learning to occur? Some authors and researchers argue that problems should be real, or that simulations should have ultra-realistic physical similarity to an actual context. This paper proposes that physical verisimilitude to real situations is of less importance in learning than 'cognitive realism', provided by immersing students in …

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Overcoming "Process-Blindness" In The Design Of An Online Environment: Balancing Cognitive And Psycho-Social Outcomes, Catherine E. Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca Jan 2003

Overcoming "Process-Blindness" In The Design Of An Online Environment: Balancing Cognitive And Psycho-Social Outcomes, Catherine E. Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

Learning environment research can contribute to our understanding of how psychosocial processes need to be balanced with cognitive outcomes in the design of units of study. The research on Web-based learning supports the assumption that the nature of social interaction affects student outcomes and student perceptions of the quality of the learning experience. The purposeful this study is to examine student perceptions of psychosocial processes in a blended learning environment using a learning environment survey tool. Students assessed the environments as favourable, but found that the quality of dialogue and peer support offered did not meet their needs. Implications for …

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Attempting To Ground Ethnographic Theory And Practice, Lelia Rosalind Green Jan 2003

Attempting To Ground Ethnographic Theory And Practice, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper is a response to continued discussion about the necessary and sufficient characteristics of a claim to 'ethnographic method' when made by researchers in the Media and Cultural Studies traditions. Many of the seminal studies informing-particularly-audience studies research have claimed that they were 'ethnographic'. But is this a variety of ethnographic that an anthropologist would recognise? And if not, what kind of ethnography is it, and why might it be more or less appropriate as a research fromework than straightforward 'interview' or 'focus group' research? Further, when might we say that an interview is conducted in the course of …

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Teaching And Learning Online For The First Time: Student And Coordinator Perspectives, Lauren Breen, Lynne Cohen, Paul Chang Jan 2003

Teaching And Learning Online For The First Time: Student And Coordinator Perspectives, Lauren Breen, Lynne Cohen, Paul Chang

Research outputs pre 2011

In recent years the higher education sector has moved towards the flexible delivery of individual units and entire courses. As a result, online delivery methods are becoming increasingly common. In this paper we describe students’ and unit-coordinators’ views concerning teaching and learning online for the first time in an introductory psychology unit. Using an action learning approach, views were ascertained through a focus group, messages posted on the online discussion boards, a survey, and coordinator reflections. The results indicate that the current online design of the unit does little to actively engage students in the learning process. We argue that …

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Using A Student Centred Approach In A Large Class Context, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lynne Cohen Jan 2003

Using A Student Centred Approach In A Large Class Context, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lynne Cohen

Research outputs pre 2011

Teaching large classes has become a reality for most courses in Australian universities. While many academics recognise the benefits to students and themselves of using alternative teaching methodologies, many resort to the traditional formal lecture approach when it comes to teaching large classes. This paper examines the tension between providing a meaningful learning experience for university students and the constraints of increased class sizes. Presented as a case study, it challenges the assumptions of staff and students in terms of what constitutes an appropriate learning environment and identifies strategies that could usefully be transferred from a small class to a …

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Using Multimedia Elements To Change Student Mental Models Of Colour Vision Deficiency, Romana Pospisil, Susan Stoney Jan 2003

Using Multimedia Elements To Change Student Mental Models Of Colour Vision Deficiency, Romana Pospisil, Susan Stoney

Research outputs pre 2011

The online environment offers many opportunities for students to interact with each other, with unit materials and resources, and for lecturers to inform students of issues regarding their main course of study. One of the weaknesses of teaching and learning in the online mode, however, is that lecturers have difficulty in identifying misconceptions and imperfect mental models in their students. This paper reports on a study being conducted by at Edith Cowan University in the use of small e-learning modules developed in Quicktime video to change or strengthen students' mental models - in this case their mental model of Colour …

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Some Evidence On The Information Content Of Undisclosed Limit Orders On The Asx, M Aitken, David E. Allen, Wenling Yang Jan 2003

Some Evidence On The Information Content Of Undisclosed Limit Orders On The Asx, M Aitken, David E. Allen, Wenling Yang

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper is concerned with investigating the information content of undisclosed limit orders, identifying factors that affect their sizes, and examining brokers’ behavior in using undisclosed orders. Our estimation results from a sample stocks listed on the ASX indicate that the size of undisclosed orders are affected by a number of factors. Given the ‘stealth trading’ pattern observed in large disclosed limit orders, this paper provides evidence to support a similar pattern in the case of undisclosed limit orders as well. Our model also provides a statistical measure for estimating the size of undisclosed orders.

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Can Reflective And Executive Control Skills Be Fostered Online?, Catherine E. Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca Jan 2003

Can Reflective And Executive Control Skills Be Fostered Online?, Catherine E. Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

One of the crises facing the professions is the scepticism surrounding the nature of professional knowledge and whether individuals can cope with the increased complexity of society and the changing demands of the workplace. In order to develop these skills students need to be able to reflect on their learning experiences, integrate them with prior knowledge, self-evaluate and develop decision-making and planning processes. The development of reflexivity is presented in the context of an online tertiary unit where students proceed through the cycle of action, reflection, planning and abstract conceptualisation by engaging in a range of collaborative tasks including peer …

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Designing Accessible On-Line Environments For The Visually Impaired, Ruchireak Permvattana, Ron Oliver, Frank Bate, Jean Macnish Jan 2003

Designing Accessible On-Line Environments For The Visually Impaired, Ruchireak Permvattana, Ron Oliver, Frank Bate, Jean Macnish

Research outputs pre 2011

Providing accessible Web pages is becoming a key concern for many providers of electronic information. There are many people who find accessing Web pages difficult and among these, vision impaired users are perhaps the group with the greatest needs. The Web is a strong visual environment and most designers use this aspect of the environment as a critical element in their interface and information design. Such strategies, while providing many opportunities for mainstream Web users, provide limiting and impeding outcomes for visually impaired Web users. There are a number of accessibility standards that now exist to inform and guide the …

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Exploring Online Learning Community Development: The Relative Importance Of Influencing Factors, Christopher Brook, Ron Oliver Jan 2003

Exploring Online Learning Community Development: The Relative Importance Of Influencing Factors, Christopher Brook, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes an investigation into the development of learners’ sense of community using a model describing community development through presage, process and product stages. The study sought to explore the relative importance of design factors and to describe the relative influence of factors between the presage and process stages in the model. The study was facilitated through an investigation into the practices of a professional working in the field who was committed to the principles of collaborative learning and the development of a learning community. The findings reveal a strong influence of presage factors many of which had the …

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Exploring The Reusability Of Web-Based Learning Resources, Ron Oliver, Ralph Wirski, Philip Hingston, Arshad Omari, Graeme Brownfield Jan 2003

Exploring The Reusability Of Web-Based Learning Resources, Ron Oliver, Ralph Wirski, Philip Hingston, Arshad Omari, Graeme Brownfield

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes a project in the Australian training sector which sought to design and develop a digital repository of learning resources to facilitate their reuse and application in new learning settings. The paper describes the context in which the original resources were created and the development of a system to store and provide access to these resources. The paper concludes with an examination of the utility and functionality of the system and the limitations inherent in the reuse of digital resources supported by such systems.

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Home-Grown Courseware Management System, Arshad Omari, Joseph Luca, Andrew Dunbar Jan 2003

Home-Grown Courseware Management System, Arshad Omari, Joseph Luca, Andrew Dunbar

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

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Making Teamwork Equitable With Online Technology: A Case Study, Joseph Luca, Catherine E Mcloughlin Jan 2003

Making Teamwork Equitable With Online Technology: A Case Study, Joseph Luca, Catherine E Mcloughlin

Research outputs pre 2011

In many higher education institutions, teamwork is considered an essential part of the syllabus in helping to promote deep and meaningful learning as well as professional skills such as communication, collaboration and leadership skills. However, in many cases students are unhappy with teamwork activities, as they consider the distribution of marks to be unfair. In many cases, team members are all allocated the same mark regardless of the amount of effort or quality of work contributed by each individual. This case study attempts to resolve these issues by presenting a self and peer assessment strategy (supported with online technology) to …

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Using Multimedia To Develop Students' Programming Concepts, Kacha Chansilp, Ron Oliver Jan 2003

Using Multimedia To Develop Students' Programming Concepts, Kacha Chansilp, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

The growing use of computers and computer technology is creating a worldwide need for more programmers and computer professionals. The increasing complexity of programming languages and applications is demanding higher skills sets from the programmers who are being trained. Kann et al. (1997) suggest that the graphic representation of algorithms used in most textbooks are too abstract and insufficient for learners to develop the logical thinking required in computer science courses. Many programming students have problems due to a lack of understanding of conceptual and mental models (Soloway et al., 1981). This paper describes the development of an alternative teaching …

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Multivariate Garch Modelling Of Volatility And Comovements In Asia Pacific Markets, Mahendra Chandra Jan 2003

Multivariate Garch Modelling Of Volatility And Comovements In Asia Pacific Markets, Mahendra Chandra

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper examines the correlation estimates for some Asia-Pacific markets equity markets using the DCC-MGARCH, CC-MGARCH and a simple moving average regression based on a sliding window of 100 days. Using daily return series, the equity markets of Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore are analysed for the period 1990 to 2001. Parsimonious specifications for the multivariate GARCH framework are used to shed light on the correlation structure of these markets. The dynamic nature of the correlation between pair-wise countries is captured using the dynamic conditional correlation multivariate GARCH framework and explained. Both global as well as regional factors are …

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Is-Lm Model With A General Consumption Tax, Y. H. Cheung Jan 2003

Is-Lm Model With A General Consumption Tax, Y. H. Cheung

Research outputs pre 2011

OECD tax revenue statistics show that on average the share of consumption tax is almost equal to that of income tax. However, consumption tax hardly attracts any attention from intermediate macroeconomic textbooks, not to mention its inclusion in IS-LM model. This paper compares the IS curves under an income tax regime and a general consumption tax regime. It also examines the trade off between the income tax rate and the consumption tax rate in a dual tax regime.

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The Relationship Between Bail Decision-Making And Legal Representation Within The Criminal Justice System, Alfred Allan, Maria M. Allan, Margaret Giles, Deirdre Drake Jan 2003

The Relationship Between Bail Decision-Making And Legal Representation Within The Criminal Justice System, Alfred Allan, Maria M. Allan, Margaret Giles, Deirdre Drake

Research outputs pre 2011

The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between legal representation and bail decision-making within the criminal justice system in Western Australia. In doing so it was necessary to "rule out" a number of other factors and this process provided the opportunity to test whether some of the factors mentioned in the literature, such as age and race, have an independent effect on bail decision-making. The data also provided a valuable snapshot of bail decision-making in the Courts of Petty Sessions and the Perth Children’s Court...

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An Exploratory Study To Identify The Predictors Of Sexual Reoffending By Male Sexual Offenders In Western Australia, Deborah Dawson, Alfred Allan Jan 2003

An Exploratory Study To Identify The Predictors Of Sexual Reoffending By Male Sexual Offenders In Western Australia, Deborah Dawson, Alfred Allan

Research outputs pre 2011

As the prediction of the risk of sexual reoffending behaviour has become more important in the corrections setting, so has the development of instruments to assist practitioners in doing risk evaluations. International research underpins most of the instruments used in Western Australia (WA), and in Australia for that matter. The present study explored the predictive accuracy of instruments developed internationally and locally as a function of ethnicity (Indigenous and non Indigenous) and nature of offending (non violent sexual and violent sexual). The Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Recidivism (RRASOR) and the Static 99 were the international instruments, for the prediction …

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The Retention And Persistence Support (Raps) Project: A Transition Initiative, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lynne Cohen, Suena Haunold, Lisbeth Pike, Alison Young, Neil Drew Jan 2003

The Retention And Persistence Support (Raps) Project: A Transition Initiative, Dawn Darlaston-Jones, Lynne Cohen, Suena Haunold, Lisbeth Pike, Alison Young, Neil Drew

Research outputs pre 2011

The transition to university is often associated with stress, anxiety, and tension and in many cases can lead to students failing or withdrawing from university. Transition problems result in high social and economic costs to families and the community. The past decade has seen a proliferation of transition strategies across universities. Results from evaluations of these transition programmes suggest student retention rates are significantly higher among those students involved in these programmes. The emphasis now though is to develop school or department based programmes as these are more readily adapted to meet the specific needs of students than university wide …

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Identifying Complex Issues Surrounding The Construction Of Indigeneity In Film And Documentary, Debbie Carmody Jan 2003

Identifying Complex Issues Surrounding The Construction Of Indigeneity In Film And Documentary, Debbie Carmody

Theses : Honours

Indigenous identity can only be located within . a framework of historical dislocation from where white notions of assimilation are shattered. Therefore Indigeneity can only be defined in relation to the black experience within colonialism's hegemonic structures. I will argue this by looking at constructions of Indigenous Australians in the feature film Radiance (1998) directed by Rachel Perkins, and the documentary Sissy (2000) directed by Debbie Carmody (previously known as Debbie Gittins), which was made as part of this thesis. This raises questions: What is the black experience and the process of black survival within colonialism's hegemonic structures? How does …

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Storying The Body : Women's Narratives Through The Lens Of Breast Cancer, Janet A. Griffin Jan 2003

Storying The Body : Women's Narratives Through The Lens Of Breast Cancer, Janet A. Griffin

Theses : Honours

What can women's narratives contribute to our understanding of breast cancer and to feminist theories of the body? This thesis explores the meanings women construct to make sense of embodied experiences of breast cancer, and the profound experience of breast loss. Rich contextual data was elicited from in depth, guided conversations with five premenopausal women who have undergone mastectomy. Adopting feminist methodology, biographic-narrative was used to place the body at the heart of inquiry. This thesis explores the personal and theoretical meanings of mastectomy, embedded in the larger story of how these five women experience their breasts, throughout their lives. …

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