Digital Commons Network^™

Likeability And Perceived Effectiveness Of Messages Designed To Encourage Physical Activity Participation Among Older Adults, Michelle I. Jongenelis, Ben Jackson, Robert U. Newton, Simone Pettigrew

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue addressed: Older adults are significantly less likely than their younger counterparts to engage in physical activity. Comprehensive policies to support healthy ageing thus need to include components encouraging greater participation in physical activity in later life. This study tested potential messages for use in health communication campaigns aimed at increasing physical activity among older adults. Methods: Twelve written messages designed to encourage older adults to increase their levels of physical activity were rated by Australians aged 60-92 years (n = 369; 54 % female) on the variables of likeability and perceived effectiveness. Results: Ratings for all the tested messages …

Children’S Identity Work In Daily Singing-Based Music Classes: A Case Study Of An Australian Boys’ School, Jason Goopy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Music can be a powerful activity and resource in a child’s ongoing identity construction. Rather than something that people have, musical identities are understood to be something people enact and continually work on. The correlation between musical identities and developing music skills raises serious questions regarding the possibilities and responsibilities for school music education and music teachers to positively contribute to children’s emerging identities. This study investigates how daily singing-based music classes at an Australian boys’ school shape and support children’s identity work. Research was conducted using one-on-one semistructured interviews incorporating a “draw and tell” artifact elicitation technique with seven …

Countermovement Jump And Squat Jump Force-Time Curve Analysis In Control And Fatigue Conditions, Steven Hughes, John Warmenhoven, G. Gregory Haff, Dale W. Chapman, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study aimed to reanalyze previously published discrete force data from countermovement jumps (CMJs) and squat jumps (SJs) using statistical parametric mapping (SPM), a statistical method that enables analysis of data in its native, complete state. Statistical parametric mapping analysis of 1-dimensional (1D) force-time curves was compared with previous zero-dimensional (0D) analysis of peak force to assess sensitivity of 1D analysis. Thirty-two subjects completed CMJs and SJs at baseline, 15 minutes, 1, 24, and 48 hours following fatigue and control conditions in a pseudo random cross-over design. Absolute (CMJ_ABS/SJ_ABS) and time-normalized (CMJ_NORM/SJ_NORM) …

A Tailored Occupational Therapist-Led Vocational Intervention For People With Stroke: Protocol For A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Sophie O'Keefe, Kathryn Radford, Amanda Farrin, Jodi Oakman, Serena Alves-Stein, Geoffrey Cloud, Jacinta Douglas, Mandy Stanley, Natasha A. Lannin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Resuming work after stroke is a common goal of working-age adults, yet there are few vocational rehabilitation programs designed to address the unique challenges faced following stroke. The Work intervention was developed to address these gaps. Objective: This paper presents a protocol that outlines the steps that will be undertaken to pilot both the intervention and trial processes for the Work trial. Methods: The Work trial is a 2-arm, prospective, randomized, blinded-assessor study with intention-to-treat analysis. A total of 54 adults of working age who have experienced a stroke <4 months prior will be randomized 1:1 to either (1) an experimental group who will receive a 12-week early vocational intervention (Work intervention) plus usual clinical rehabilitation or (2) a control group who will receive only their usual clinical rehabilitation. Results: Outcomes include study and intervention feasibility and intervention benefit. In addition to evaluating the feasibility of delivering vocational intervention early after stroke, benefit will be assessed by measuring rates of vocational participation and quality-of-life improvements at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Process evaluation using data collected during the study, as well as postintervention individual interviews with participants and surveys with trial therapists, will complement quantitative data. Conclusions: The results of the trial will provide details on the feasibility of delivering the Work intervention embedded within the clinical rehabilitation context and inform future trial processes. Pilot data will enable a future definitive trial to determine the clinical effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation when delivered in the early subacute phase of stroke recovery.

Promoting Creativity: Secondary Visual Art Teachers’ Perceptions And Understanding Of Creativity In Ghana, Enock Swanzy-Impraim, Julia E. Morris, Geoffrey W. Lummis, Andrew Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing creativity in learners is contingent on how teachers define and understand creativity. This qualitative multi-site case study investigated secondary visual arts teachers’ perceptions and understanding of creativity in Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana and the influences that impact their perceptions. Data were gathered from 16 secondary visual arts teachers in Ghana using interviews and documents review. It was evidenced that the secondary visual arts teachers’ perceptions and understanding of creativity are limited and built on historical Ghanaian educational materials. The findings suggest teacher training materials and school-based educational resources in Ghana must be upgraded to extend teachers’ understanding of creativity within …

The Effects Of Perceived Destination Restorative Qualities On Tourists’ Self-Identity: A Tale Of Two Destinations, Xianyang Hu, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Ganghua Chen, Feifei Hua

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Isolation and anomie caused by the modern life has created multiple identity threats. Tourists’ destination experience has long been considered as a unique way of identity construction. However, little research has investigated whether and how environmental restoration qualities in the tourism context can possibly reinforce self-identity and counteract the effect of identity confusion. Guided by the Attention Restoration Theory, this study aims to develop and test a model to examine the relationships between the dimensions of perceived destination restorative qualities (PDRQs) and tourist self-identity with two tourist samples in China collected in two distinctive destinations (Sample 1, n = 361; …

Attracting Accounting And Finance Graduate Talent – Beyond The Big Four, Denise Jackson, Julia Richardson, Grant Michelson, Rahat Munir

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study responds to ongoing challenges with recruiting quality graduate talent in the accounting/finance industry, critical given transforming labour market requirements. Drawing on Person-Organisation Fit (POF) theory, we explore what attracts 475 Accounting/Finance students to graduate roles, their preferences for different organisation types, and influences on career decision-making. Supporting earlier work, we evidence dominating preferences for ‘Big Four’ firms yet discern several appealing features of other organisational types and important intrinsic and extrinsic factors in decision-making. Findings inform stakeholder strategies to support students for sustainable careers in different accounting/finance contexts and improve the recruitment outcomes of all organisation types in …

Impact Of Different Unconditional Monetary Incentives On Survey Response Rates In Men With Prostate Cancer: A 2-Arm Randomised Trial, Megan Mcintosh, Melissa J. Opozda, Michael O’Callaghan, Andrew D. Vincent, Daniel A. Galvão, Camille E. Short

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Men are often viewed as a difficult group to recruit for psychological research, including in psycho-oncology. Whilst research has demonstrated the effectiveness of small monetary incentives for encouraging research participation, little research has examined different large unconditional incentive amounts. Larger unconditional incentives may result in increased participation of men in psychological research. This randomised study within a case–control trial of men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer aimed to investigate whether (a) response rates to a 30-min questionnaire completed via mail, online, or phone would vary with different unconditional incentive amounts, and (b) demographics would vary in those who responded …

Nethnography, Complementing Netnography: A Defensible Praxis For The Online Researcher, Martin Maccarthy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article issues a challenge for interpretive tourism researchers to consider the trove of online data currently disavowed by aficionados of Netnography. Non-dyadic social media data is used by researchers but has been devalued as lacking legitimacy. However, by combining ‘lifeless’ non-dyadic social media with lesser-engaged ethnographic methods a lived proxy can be achieved. Nethnography is a two-part qualitative praxis of spending enough time with the phenomenon to discern meanings with confidence, which is then used to interpret non-dyadic textual discourse. Lesser-engaged ethnographic methods include participants as observers, observers as participants and complete observers. A fourth legitimizer of online interpretation …

Navigating The Territories Of Transition: An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Transnational Social Workers In Aotearoa New Zealand, Shajimon Peter, Liz Beddoe, Allen Bartley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This qualitative study conducted three focus groups with transnational social workers (TSWs) in three cities of Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim of the study was to examine the transitional experience of TSWs, particularly in relation to any strategies and mechanisms existing in the host country to facilitate their personal and professional transition. A significant finding is that a coherent profession-wide programme for facilitating the transition is absent as the existing practices are mostly within the employer–employee relationships. Transitional experiences of TSWs are explained using the metaphor of ‘territory’ and some strategies for effective transition are suggested.

Palliative Care Early In The Care Continuum Among Patients With Serious Respiratory Illness An Official Ats/Aahpm/Hpna/Swhpn Policy Statement, Donald R. Sullivan, Anand S. Iyer, Susan Enguidanos, Christopher E. Cox, Morag Farquhar, Daisy J. A. Janssen, Kathleen O. Lindell, Richard A. Mularski, Natasha Smallwood, Alison E. Turnbull, Anne M. Wilkinson, Katherine R. Courtright, Matthew Maddocks, Mary Lynn Mcpherson, J. Daryl Thornton, Margaret L. Campbell, Tracy K. Fasolino, Patricia M. Fogelman, Larry Gershon, Thayer Gershon, Christiane Hartog, Judy Luther, Diane E. Meier, Judith E. Nelson, Elliot Rabinowitz, Cynda H. Rushton, Danetta H. Sloan, Erin K. Kross, Lynn F. Reinke

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers suffer considerable burdens, and palliative care is a fundamental right for anyone who needs it. However, the overwhelming majority of patients do not receive timely palliative care before the end of life, despite robust evidence for improved outcomes.

Goals:

This policy statement by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and partnering societies advocates for improved integration of high-quality palliative care early in the care continuum for patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers and provides clinicians and policymakers with a framework to accomplish this.

Methods:

An international and interprofessional expert committee, …

Prevalence Of Health-Risk Behaviours Among Indigenous Australians With Diabetes: A Review, Sharon Atkinson-Briggs, Alicia Jenkins, Christopher Ryan, Laima Brazionis

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Optimal lifestyle choices can improve health outcomes. A thematic review of original research publications related to smoking, nutrition, alcohol intake, physical activity and emotional wellness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with diabetes was performed. Overall, 7118 English-language publications were identified by search engines (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline-Web of Science, and Google Scholar) with search terms Indigenous Australians OR Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders AND diabetes AND lifestyle OR smoking OR nutrition OR alcohol OR physical activity OR emotional wellbeing and their …

Assessing The Validity Of A Culturally Modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire For Use In Aboriginal Communities, David Tucker, Martyn Symons, Elaine Clifton, Margaret Ramirez, James P. Fitzpatrick, Roz Walker, Glenn Pearson, Michelle Gray, Gary Kirby, Nyanda Mcbride

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Alcohol related harms disproportionately affect Aboriginal people in Australia. Motives to drink have been identified as the most proximal factor to alcohol consumption.The aim of this study is to assess the validity of a culturally modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R) (Cooper, 1994) with Aboriginal participants. The study was cross sectional, utilising data collected via face-to-face surveys with a sample of adult Aboriginal participants. A convenience sample of 135 Aboriginal men (n=41) and women (n=94) from the Pilbara Region of Western Australia, who had consumed alcohol in the preceding 12 months. The Culturally modified DMQ-R (CDMQ-R) developed in consultation with Aboriginal …

First-Stage Development Of The Pitjantjatjara Translation Of The World Health Organization’S Alcohol, Smoking And Substance Involvement Screening Test (Assist), Matthew Wr Stevens, Dom Barry, Sue Bertossa, Mark Thompson, Robert Ali

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Substance use is a leading contributor to global disease, illness and death. Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are at an increased risk of substance-related harms due to the experience of additional social, cultural, and economic factors. While preventive approaches, including screening and early interventions are promising, currently there are limited options available to healthcare workers that are culturally appropriate for use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Therefore, the aim of this research was to translate and culturally adapt the World Health Organization endorsed, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) into Pitjantjatjara. …

Athlete Experiences Of Communication Strategies In Applied Sports Nutrition And Future Considerations For Mobile App Supportive Solutions, David Mark Dunne, Carmen Lefevre-Lewis, Brian Cunniffe, Samuel George Impey, David Tod, Graeme Leonard Close, James P. Morton, Rebecca Murphy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim:

This study aimed to explore athletes' experiences and opinions of communication strategies in applied sports nutrition, as well as capture suggestions for future mobile app supportive solutions.

Methods:

A qualitative approach was used for this research. Data was generated from semi-structured focus groups (n = 9) with a purposive sample of 41 (male = 24, female = 17) full time professional athletes (mean age 24 ± 4.59) from five sports (football, rugby union, athletics, cycling, and boxing). Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results:

The analysis identified four higher order themes and five sub themes. Athletes appear dissatisfied …

Determining The Reliability Of Critical Controls In Construction Projects, Roberta Selleck, Maureen Hassall, Marcus Cattani

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Across the global construction industry, fatalities continue to occur from high-risk activities, where the risk controls have been defined; however, these were unreliable. In the mining industry, Critical Control Risk Management has provided positive results in reducing major accidents, which raises the question, could the Critical Control approach reduce the fatality rate in the construction industry? This study analyzed 10 years of serious and fatal incident investigation reports from four international construction companies to (i) assess the reliability of their Critical Controls (CCs) and (ii) assess the factors that affect the reliability of CCs. The results show the reliability of …

Understanding The Relationship Between Age-Related Hearing Loss And Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review, Hadeel Y. Tarawneh, Dona M. P. Jayakody, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph N. Martins, Wilhelmina H.A.M. Mulders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Evidence suggests that hearing loss (HL), even at mild levels, increases the long-term risk of cognitive decline and incident dementia. Hearing loss is one of the modifiable risk factors for dementia, with approximately 4 million of the 50 million cases of dementia worldwide possibly attributed to untreated HL. This paper describes four possible mechanisms that have been suggested for the relationship between age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia. The first mechanism suggests mitochondrial dysfunction and altered signal pathways due to aging as a possible link between ARHL and AD. The …

Proposing An Avenue For Suboptimal Health Research Through The Lens Of Tourism, Zheng Guo, Jun Wen, Danni Zheng, Zheng Yulu, Haifeng Hou, Wei Wang, Suboptimal Health Study Consortium (Shsc)

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 outbreak has posed tremendous threats to both global health and individuals’ psychological and physiological well-being. Scholars across the social and medical sciences are calling for multidisciplinary research regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected global health [1]. As daily stressors continue to accumulate, the number of people reporting health complaints that cannot be detected by laboratory measures is on the rise [2,3]. These conditions can be complex and challenging to define but are generally deemed as “suboptimal health” [4]. Suboptimal health status (SHS) refers to a reversible state between health and illness [2]. It is characterized by health …

Information Warfare: Methods To Counter Disinformation, Andrew Dowse, Sascha Dov Bachmann

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The information age has transformed society by allowing people to interact digitally, yet it enables motivated actors to use mass influence to further their political objectives. The struggle against disinformation requires an appreciation of how a disinformation effect can be achieved in order to counter it. We consider the nature of disinformation and its use in the hybrid warfare domain, before examining the problem through frames of planning approach, truth theory, systems thinking, and military strategy. These approaches are informative in developing counter-strategies and we specifically identify the concept of kill chains as a useful framework to assist in the …

When And Why Consumers Choose Supersized Food?, Asim Qazi, Veronique Cova, Shahid Hussain, Ubedullah Khoso

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

This study aims to achieve three objectives: to explore the perception of consumers about supersized foods (in both pre- and post-consumption scenarios), to identify why consumers prefer supersized options over other available options and to determine the types of situations that push consumers to make such decisions.

Design/methodology/approach:

This qualitative study uses the triangulation of projective methods, coupled with semi-structured interviews with 120 participants. The data was collected from major cities of Pakistan, using a convenient sample of 25 semi-structured interviews, 35 narratives and 60 sentence completions and constructions analyzed by performing thematic analysis.

Findings:

The findings indicate that …

‘Even Though You Hate Everything That's Going On, You Know They Are Safer At Home’: The Role Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Families In Methamphetamine Use Harm Reduction And Their Own Support Needs, Sandra Gendera, Carla Treloar, Rachel Reilly, Katherine M. Conigrave, Julia Butt, Yvette Roe, James Ward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: First Nations people who use methamphetamine are overrepresented in regional and remote Australia and more likely to turn to family for support. This can place strain on families. The support needs of family members of individuals using methamphetamine are poorly understood. Methods: We conducted 19 focus groups and seven interviews with mostly First Nations community, family members and service providers. In total, 147 participants across six sites participated as part of a larger study investigating First Nations perspectives of how to address methamphetamine use and associated harms. We applied a social and emotional wellbeing framework to examine support needs …

Feasibility, Psychosocial Effects, Influence, And Perception Of Elastic Band Resistance Balance Training In Older Adults, Nichola M. Davis, Andy Pringle, Anthony D. Kay, Anthony J. Blazevich, Danielle Teskey, Mark A. Faghy, Minas A. Mina

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study utilised feedback from older adults during balance-challenging, elastic band resistance exercises to design a physical activity (PA) intervention. Methods: Twenty-three active participants, aged 51 – 81 years, volunteered to perform a mini balance evaluation test and falls efficacy scale, and completed a daily living questionnaire. Following a 10 min warm-up, participants performed eight pre-selected exercises (1 × set, 8 – 12 repetitions) using elastic bands placed over the hip or chest regions in a randomised, counterbalanced order with 15 min seated rests between interventions. Heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured throughout. Participant interview …

Factors Influencing Australian Muslims’ Attitudes Toward Christian-Muslim Dialogue: The Case Of Sunni Muslims Of Adelaide And Uniting Church Christians, Gregory Macdonald, Mohamad Abdalla, Nahid Afrose Kabir

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Since the implementation of a multicultural policy in the 1970s, religious diversity in Australia has increased. Research has demonstrated that intergroup contact is essential for managing diverse multicultural societies. This is because, given the right conditions, intergroup contact will reduce prejudice and build trust between groups. Given the importance of intergroup contact, policy makers and researchers have identified interfaith dialogue’s importance to the success of multicultural societies. However, there is very limited research that explores interfaith dialogue from the perspectives of adherents, in this case Christians and Muslims in the Australian context. This paper focuses on interfaith dialogue between Christians …

The Equity Theory: A Quantitative Perspective Using Data Envelopment Analysis, Parto Ahmadpour-Samani, Hosein Arman, Amirali Foukerdi, Abdollah Hadi-Vencheh, Reza Kiani Mavi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Equity theory (ET) is an organizational theory investigating how fairly people feel they have been treated. The literature on ET does not address two essential questions: what is the magnitude of the equity that one may perceive compared to other members in an organization?, and how much should be the resources (outcomes) of an underpaid member reduced (increased) to feel equal? The group members may respond to these questions emotionally, and their answers could be biased based on their personalities. This paper proposes a novel method using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to quantify the ET and answer these questions more …

‘That Teacher Really Likes Me’ - Student-Teacher Interactions That Initiate Teacher Expectation Effects By Developing Caring Relationships, Olivia Johnston, Helen Wildy, Jennifer Shand

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Teacher expectations are associated with student academic achievement, but no research has generated new theory that explains how teacher expectation effects occur from students' perspectives. A substantive theory explaining the process through which students reconcile with their teachers' expectations is presented in this paper, emphasising the role of caring student-teacher relationships in teacher expectation effects on academic achievement. The theory was constructed with 25 grade 10 participants across three Western Australian secondary schools, with data including 100 interviews and 175 classroom observations. The analysis and synthesis of the data confirmed that the students acted in ways that they reflected improved …

“Viewed With Suspicion, Considered Idle And Mocked-Working Caregiving Fathers And Fatherhood Forfeits”, Jasmine Kelland, Duncan Lewis, Virginia Fisher

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Existing academic literature consistently points to a changing role for modern fathers in which they take an egalitarian role in the caregiving responsibilities for their children. Despite this, fathers are observed to continue to dominate the realms of full-time working, aligning to more traditional breadwinning mentalities than such trends might suggest, raising questions around inequality. Fathers at work have previously been found to encounter challenges within the workplace when they alter, or consider altering their work patterns due to caregiving responsibilities. Employing a sample of working parents and managers, this paper explores how caregiving fathers are perceived within organizations and …

The Impacts Of Shariah-Compliant Hotel Attributes On Muslim Travellers Revisit Intention: Religiosity As A Moderator, Zaidatul Akma Sulaiman, Mohammad Iranmanesh, Behzad Foroughi, Othman Rosly

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the impact of Shariah-compliant hotel attributes on Muslim travellers’ revisit intention.

Design/methodology/approach: A total of 361 Muslim travellers who have stayed at Shariah-compliant hotels in the previous 12 months were recruited to take part in this research. The hypothesized research model was assessed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach.

Findings: The analysis revealed that Muslim travellers’ revisit intention is dependent on the halal food and beverages and the provision of Shariah-compliant facilities at the hotel, whereas the Shariah-compliant operation and interior design of hotels are not significantly associated with it. The findings also …

Determining Factors In Graduate Recruitment And Preparing Students For Success, Denise Jackson, Linda Riebe, Flavio Macau

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to investigate graduate employer perceptions of determining factors in recruitment decisions and their preferred use of recruitment channels. This study drew on the employability capitals model to interpret findings and identify ways to better prepare higher education students for recruitment and selection. This is particularly important in declining graduate labour markets, further weakened by COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: This study gathered data from surveying 183 Australian employers from different organisational settings. Responses were analysed using descriptive and multivariate techniques, the latter exploring variations by role type, sector and organisation size. Findings: Findings reaffirmed the criticality of students having …

New Technology And Desired Skills Of Early Career Accountants, Denise Jackson, Grant Michelson, Rahat Munir

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Technological advances have led to accounting roles shifting from transaction focussed tasks to using data generated by technology to inform stakeholder strategies, resulting in changing skill requirements. This study aims to investigate how early career accountants (ECAs) and organisations value different skills among ECAs, how technology is impacting on these skills and the preparedness of ECAs for future technological work in different organisational settings.

Design/methodology/approach: The research adopted a multi-stakeholder, mixed-method approach, surveying 315 ECAs and 175 managers/recruiters and interviewing 10 from each group. The sample drew from different industry sectors and organisation types in Australia, with all states …

“I'M Not Batman” And Other Factors Impacting Bystander Intervention Against Sexual Violence In Australian Nightlife Settings, Aimee-Rose Wrightson-Hester, Alfred Allan, Maria M. Allan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Unsolicited sexual behaviors that constitute sexual violence appear to be commonplace in nightlife settings in many countries and bystander intervention might be a way to eliminate them. However, few researchers have investigated the barriers and facilitators that affect Australian bystanders’ likelihood to help, and these should be considered in the planning of bystander intervention programs. Using a grounded theory approach, we interviewed fourteen men and women about their perceptions of factors that might influence bystander behavior in Australian nightlife settings. The categories identified suggest that it is difficult for nightlife patrons to notice and identify sexual violence occurring around them. …