Digital Commons Network^™

Gender Differences In Information Resource Usage When Making Retirement Saving Decisions, Marilyn Clark-Murphy, Paul Gerrans

Research outputs pre 2011

Population ageing is raising the profile of retirement incomes policy. In Australia assets of retirement savings funds are growing rapidly and fund members are assuming a greater role in determining funds' investment strategies. The decision processes of fund members have not been extensively researched, however, these decisions are significant not only for members but also for employers and government. This paper provides information on retirement savings in Australia and reports on a survey of members of the Superannuation Scheme for Australian Universities (SSAU). In 1999 members of SSAU were asked to choose between a defined benefit scheme or one of …

Educating Professional Software Engineers: Pathways And Progress In The Australian Experience, Rick Duley, David Veal, Stanislaw P. Maj

Research outputs pre 2011

Australia has seized the international initiative in the recognition of software engineers as professionals. Of the 37 universities in Australia offering undergraduate courses in computing, eleven offer courses in software engineering which are accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Australia (IEAust) and which may lead the graduate to membership of the Institute. In this way, the Institute has plausible claim to being the first national professional engineering body in the world to have accredited four-year undergraduate software engineering degrees as professional qualifications. The paper traces the development of the relationship between the Institute of Engineers and the computing industry and …

Improving Assessment: Rubrics In A Tertiary Multimedia Course, Barnard Clarkson, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper explains how alternative assessment methods were implemented in a first-year tertiary course on web design. The aim was to make assessment clearer for the students to understand, and more focussed, using a rubric—a detailed, criterion-referenced marking guide. The results of a post-course evaluation of this action research showed that students strongly appreciated the use of this type of assessment. Our conclusion is that the rubric approach improves student satisfaction and can save lecturers time when marking.

Women In Leadership Commemorative Issue: Selected Conference Papers 1998-2000, Adrianne Kinnear, Lelia Green

Research outputs pre 2011

Includes:

1998 Women as Leaders: A Global Challenge

1999 Looking at our Future: Listening to the Past

2000 Keeping Gender on the Agenda

What Moves Stock Markets? Evidence That Uk Stock Prices Deviate From Fundamentals, David E. Allen, Wenling Yang

Research outputs pre 2011

This article examines the deviation of the UK market index from market fundamentals implied by the simple dividend discount model and identifies other components that also affect price movements. The components are classified as permanent, temporary, excess stock returns and nonfundamental innovations in terms of a multivariate moving average model (Lee (1998)). We find that time varying discounted rates play an active role in explaining price deviations.

Supporting Students With Learning Difficulties In A School Of The Air, Judith Rivalland, Mary Rohl, Pru Smith, Centre For Inclusive Schooling Learning Difficulties Team, Department Of Education

Research outputs pre 2011

This project was funded by Edith Cowan University and the Centre for Inclusive Schooling (Department of Education, formerly Education Department of Western Australia) as an Institute for the Service Professions Collaborative Grant. It was carried out in order to examine the following questions:

• What are the ways in which identification, assessment and teaching processes make provision for students with learning difficulties who are enrolled in a School of the Air?

• In what ways do Support Officers Learning Difficulties support these children, their home tutors and their teachers?

Heckman's Methodology For Correcting Selectivity Bias : An Application To Road Crash Costs, Margaret Giles

Research outputs pre 2011

Aggregate road crash costs are traditionally determined using average costs applied to incidence figures found in Police-notified crash data. Such data only comprise a non-random sample of the true population of road crashes, the bias being due to the existence of crashes that are not notified to the Police. The traditional approach is to label the Police-notified sample as 'non-random' thereby casting a cloud over data analyses using this sample. Heckman however viewed similar problems as 'omitted variables' problems in that the exclusion of some observations in a systematic manner (so-called selectivity bias) has inadvertently introduced the need for an …

B-Nodes: A New Scalable High Level Abstraction Model, Stanislaw P. Maj, Craig William Caulfield

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper proposes a new modeling technique called B-Nodes. B-Nodes represent a new, high-level abstraction that allows technical detail to be controlled using top-down recursive decomposition. This abstraction. is independent of architectural detail and can therefore accommodate rapid changes in technology. The use of recursive decomposition allows B-Nodes to be used not only for entire e-commerce system but also sub-modules within this system. The use of fundamental units allows the performance of heterogeneous technologies to be compared and other units to be derived. Results to date indicate no comparable model exists. Should further work validate this technique the authors recommend …

Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health At The End Of The 20th Century, Neil Thomson (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The papers were presented originally at the 1999 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). Reflecting the importance that the RACP attaches to the issue, Indigenous health was a major theme of the ASM. Six sessions over two days were devoted to various aspects of Indigenous health - the general policy context, lessons from the experiences of Indigenous peoples internationally, consideration of specific health services initiatives, and detailed examination of individual health topics...

Developing On-Line E-Commerce Business Plans To Provide Students With Context And Job Opportunities, Joseph Luca, Catherine E Mcloughlin

Research outputs pre 2011

This action research presents a description of how an on-line E-commerce business-planning unit was developed. Initially, an intensive ten-day E-commerce course was developed in collaboration with government, industry and university sectors with a view of raising awareness and promoting electronic business planning issues. The course utilised a range of learning approaches, including peer teaching, in which participants were trained as team leaders to facilitate group learning. Based on the evaluation of this course, a full semester course for final year tertiary studentswas developed and evaluated. An overview of both case studies is given with recommendations for future developments.

An Intelligent Imaging Approach To The Identification Of Forensic Ballistics Specimens, Clifton L. Smith

Research outputs pre 2011

The characteristic markings on the cartridge and projectile of a bullet fired from a gun can be recognised as a "fingerprint" for identification of the firearm. Over thirty different features can be distinguished. The intelligent imaging of the class characteristics of ballistics specimens will provide the potential to identify the make and model of the firearm. Precise measurement of features allow ballistics metrics to be obtained for the identification of the weapon. This paper will describe progress in the development of a multidimensional cluster analysis model for forensic ballistics specimens. The cluster analysis will provide classification that is based on …

Concept Mapping As A Collaborative Activity: Using Concept Mapping Software In A Distributed Learning Environment, Carole Steketee, Ron Oliver, Janice Herrington

Research outputs pre 2011

As part of an ongoing study into distributed learning environments, this paper examines the effects of concept mapping software when used as a collaborative learning tool. Preliminary findings are explored in relation to pre-service teachers' endeavour to distribute their learning collaboratively while working with the software in small groups.

Learning With Cyberfriends: The Development Of Professional Reflection-On-Action Skills Through Online Partnerships, Catherine Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

One 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. Tertiary institutions have now strengthened their links with industry and have produced lists of attributes and communication skills they aim to cultivate in graduates. 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 their own decision-making and planning processes. Online technologies can be used to support the process skills underpinning reflection-onaction …

Engaging Parents In The Drug Education Of Their Pre-Adolescent Children : Practical Problems And A Promising Program, Shelley E. Beatty, Donna S. Cross

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Quality In Online Delivery: What Does It Mean For Assessment In E-Learning Environments?, Catherine E Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

While a great deal has been written on the advantages and benefits of online teaching, and research continues to proliferate, many practitioners are seeking guidelines that can be applied to the design of assessment in online environments. The last decade has seen the convergence of traditional distance education with on-campus modes of delivery and work-based training signalling new models of flexible delivery. In addition, demand driven education accentuates the learner’s role and needs while the teacher has become a manager, mediator and motivator of student learning. Issues raised by national and international bodies and quality assurance agencies now seem to …

Skewness Is The Name Of The Game, Y. H. Cheung

Research outputs pre 2011

Theoretical models of risk taking attempt to explain why risk-averse individuals participate in unfair gambles. This paper evaluates the two explanations as to why rational individuals would accept gambles with negative expected returns. It is found that it is skewness, not the mean or the variance of the prize distribution that attracts risk-averse gamblers. However, evidence shows that there seems to be an optimal trade-off between operators’ sales revenues and skewness of the pay-off; a point that designer of gambling games needs to heed to.

Inference Of Regular Languages Using Model Simplicity, Philip Hingston

Research outputs pre 2011

We describe an approach that is related to a number of existing algorithms for the inference of a regular language from a set of positive (and optionally also negative) examples. Variations on this approach provide a family of algorithms that attempt to minimise the complexity of a description of the example data in terms of a finite state automaton model. Experiments using a standard set of small problems show that this approach produces satisfactory results when positive examples only are given, and can be helpful when only a limited number of negative examples is available. The results also suggest that …

M-Garch Hedge Ratios And Hedging Effectiveness In Australian Futures Markets [Working Paper], Wenling Yang

Research outputs pre 2011

This study estimates optimal hedge ratios using various econometric models. Applying daily AOIs and SPI futures on the Australian market, optimal hedge ratios are calculated from the OLS regression model, the bivariate vector autoregressive model (BVAR), the error-correction model (ECM) and the multivariate diagonal Vec GARCH Model. The hedging effectiveness is measured in terms of ex-post and ex-ante risk-return tradeoff at various forecasting horizons. It is generally found that the GARCH time varying hedge ratios provide the greatest portfolio risk reduction, particularly for longer hedging horizons, but they do not generate the highest portfolio return.

Are Bank Deposits And Bank-Affiliated Managed Funds Close Substitutes?, David E. Allen, Jerry T. Parwada

Research outputs pre 2011

This study tests the hypothesis that bank liabilities and managed funds are close substitutes. Some literature associates the alleged decline in banking business with the disintermediation of banks’ traditional deposit-taking business in favour of investment management. A comparative assessment of managed fund and bank deposit qualitative attributes fails to support substitutability. Using data on Australian bank-affiliated funds and a nine-year record of bank liability balances, this study finds that, empirically, managed funds do not displace bank liabilities. Prudential capital adequacy requirements dissuade banks from using in-house managed investments as indirect conduits for raising funds in the same manner as deposit …

The State Of Science In Australian Secondary Schools, Mark W. Hackling, Denis Goodrum, Leonie Rennie

Research outputs pre 2011

Presents research which sets out to establish two pictures: one of the ideal regarding the teaching and learning of science, the other of the reality of what is actually happening in Australian schools. Identifies issues and implications for science teachers and the profession.

Investigating Processes Of Social Knowledge Construction In Online Environments, Catherine Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

On-line forums provide opportunity and potential for collaborative work, dialogue and study that can increase the flexibility of learning while motivating participants. By enabling teacher-learner and learner-learner interaction online systems can support the essential elements of a learning conversation by providing scope for discussion, dialogue and interaction. It is argued that this medium presents a socio-cognitive educational domain, unique in its potential for dialogue, participation and collaboration and a departure from face-to-face didactic paradigms of learning. Often, the types of verbal interactions and the means by which new knowledge is created on-line are not well understood. The paper provides frameworks …

Hiding Behind Nakedness On The Nude Beach, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper draws upon a series of experiences between 1980-85, when I identified as a naturist during my summer holidays in Europe, and in a visit to Wreck Beach in Vancouver (where I felt very much at home). At the time, I was aware that nude beaches were much less threatening to me as a large woman than are conventional 'textile' beaches. This paper draws upon those experiences to theorise why this might be the case, and why I have been absent from beach culture for much of the past decade.

Fostering Higher Order Thinking Through Online Tasks, Joseph Luca, Catherine E Mcloughlin

Research outputs pre 2011

Increasingly higher education institutions are being asked to be more pro-active in delivering instruction through on-line facilities, while at the same time being more effective in fostering higher order thinking skills for students. This action research case study considered the effects of tertiary students working in teams to collaboratively solve ill-defined problems in an on-line environment. The framework adopted for analysis of higher order thinking investigated types of talk that were indicative of reasoning processes. Results indicated that the students' capacity to display higher order thinking increased as a result of the students collaborating and communicating through the custom built …

Qualitative Research Interviews: Identifying Problems In Technique, Gary Partington

Research outputs pre 2011

Interviews that are conducted for qualitative research rely for their quality on the nature of the interactions with the interviewees. In this article, some of the factors that contribute to quality interactions are discussed in relation to a research project based on interviews conducted by a team of researchers. Issues covered include the importance of empathy and rapport, listening and questioning, restatement, clarification and persistence. Researchers should be aware of the powerful influence of these factors on the responses of interviewees. They should take steps to ensure quality data is obtained by using appropriate interview techniques and suitable interviewers.

Does Emotional Intelligence Affect Successful Teamwork?, Joseph Luca, Pina Tarricone

Research outputs pre 2011

There is a growing emphasis in tertiary education that students should develop professional skills as part of their education. Skills such as problem solving, communication, collaboration, interpersonal skills, social skills and time management are actively being targeted by prospective employers as essential requirements for employability especially in team environments. Of these, employment authorities consistently mention collaboration and teamwork as being a critical skill, essential in almost all working environments. How then can students successfully practice teamwork skills in tertiary institutions in order to develop these skills? In this study, a group of final year multimedia students were investigated while completing …

Novel Image Enhancement Technique Using Shunting Inhibitory Cellular Neural Networks, Tarik Hammadou, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes a method for improving image quality in a color CMOS image sensor. The technique simultaneously acts to compress the dynamic range, reorganize the signal to improve visibility, suppress noise, identify local features, achieve color constancy, and lightness rendition. An efficient hardware architecture and a rigorous analysis of the different modules are presented to achieve high quality CMOS digital cameras

An E-Learning Solution To Creating Work-Related Skills And Competencies For The Knowledge-Based Economy, Catherine Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

This case study presents a description of Web-based tertiary unit of study developed in collaboration with employer, industry and university stakeholders with a view to fostering skills in interactive multimedia and project management. The course utilised a range of learning approaches, including peer teaching and integrated assessment in which participants provided feedback to colleagues. The paper also discusses how electronic communications and Apple-based technologies can be used effectively to create environments for professional learning. The intention is to describe the design of the learning environment, the curriculum approach adopted, the types of learning activities and assessment tasks that were designed …

The Duration Derby : A Comparison Of Duration Based Strategies In Asset Liability Management, Harry Zheng, David E. Allen, Lyn C. Thomas

Research outputs pre 2011

Macaulay duration matched strategy is a key tool in bond portfolio immunization. It is well known that if term structures are not at or changes are not parallel, then Macaulay duration matched portfolio can not guarantee adequate immunization. In this paper the approximate duration is proposed to measure the bond price sensitivity to changes of interest rates of non- at term structures. Its performance in immunization is compared with those of Macaulay, partial and key rate durations using the US Treasury STRIPS and Bond data. Approximate duration turns out to be a possible contender in asset liability management: it does …

Judith Dinham : Hybrid Space, Judith Dinham

Research outputs pre 2011

Judith Dinham is a mid-career artist who combines an art practice with her position as Senior Lecturer in Visual Art Education at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. Her art and research interest centres on conceptions of landscape. The desert from a feminine perspective and the role of travel are of particular interest. To this end she has worked in the Australian desert over many years (primarily Meeline Station, near Mt Magnet where her sister and family live) and had residencies in the USA and Italy. She has been the recipient of a number of prizes and awards including …

Treating Internet Users As 'Audiences': Suggesting Some Research Directions, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

Within the last decade the Internet 'has emerged out of nowhere' (Barr 2000, back cover) to monopolise much of the domestic time, intellectual interest, and financial resources that had previously been lavished upon film, television, and (specialist console) game consumption. So far, research on the Internet appears to be following a similar evolutionary pattern to research on broadcast media-displacement studies (what have people 'given up' to make time for the Internet?), effects studies (is it addictive, bad, bankrupting, and why?), ratings data, and response to moral panics (Internet gambling and pornography). Arguably, applied research involving Internet partidpants treats users as …