Digital Commons Network^™

Age And Premorbid Intelligence Suppress Complaint-Performance Congruency In Raw Score Measures Of Memory, Matthew Merema, Craig Speelman, Elizabeth Kaczmarek, Jonathan Foster

Research outputs 2012

Background: We aimed to examine the role of age and premorbid intelligence (IQ) in suppressing the relationship between subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and raw score memory performance. Methods: We used a community sample of older adults aged 66"90 years (N = 121) to test whether the inclusion of age and a premorbid IQ measure in multiple regression analyses increased semipartial correlations of raw score memory performance in predicting SMCs. Rank contrast correlations were also carried out to observe how age and premorbid IQ are related to complaint"performance congruency. Measures utilized in the study included the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (for SMCs), …

Lifestyle And Late Life Cognitive Health: Sufficient Evidence To Act Now?, Bruce Barber, D Ames, Kathryn Ellis, Ralph Martins, C Masters, C Szoeke

Research outputs 2012

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Rapid Cognitive Decline In Alzheimer's Disease: Results From The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle (Aibl) Study Of Ageing, A Sona, P Zhang, D Ames, A I Bush, N T Lautenschlager, Ralph Martins, C L Masters, C C Rowe, C Szoeke, Kevin Taddei, Kathryn A Ellis

Research outputs 2012

Background: The AIBL study, which commenced in November 2006, is a two-center prospective study of a cohort of 1112 volunteers aged 60+. The cohort includes 211 patients meeting NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) (180 probable and 31 possible). We aimed to identify factors associated with rapid cognitive decline over 18 months in this cohort of AD patients.

Methods: We defined rapid cognitive decline as a drop of 6 points or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) between baseline and 18-month follow-up. Analyses were also conducted with a threshold of 4, 5, 7 and 8 points, as well as …

Edith Cowan University 1991-2001: The Journey So Far, Ruth Callaghan

Research outputs 2012

In celebrating the 20th anniversary of Edith Cowan University (ECU), we have reflected on: our history; our rapid growth in student numbers; course offerings; infrastructure; and the many achievements of our talented people and, of course, the University as a whole. In looking to the future, we recognise the strength and determination of the people who make up our University community will drive our continued success - our students, staff, alumni, partners, and members of committees, Boards and Council.

A Theory Of The Mind As A Complex System, Craig Speelman, Kim Kirsner, Stephan Halloy

Research outputs 2012

Five principles of skill acquisition are presented based on a review of research on human learning and expertise. Essentially these principles state that practice leads to faster and more efficient uses of knowledge. This enables faster performance and results in less demand on mental resources. In turn these outcomes enable higher level behaviours to be attempted. Ultimately skills are developed through refinement of many component processes. A theory of the mind is proposed that borrows from theories of complex adaptive systems. In this theory, the mind is conceived of as consisting of agents that compete for resources associated with processing …

Evaluation Of The Dampier Peninsula Indigenous Parenting Support Program: Progress Report 1, Andrew Guilfoyle

Research outputs 2012

This is the first progress report of the local evaluation of the Dampier Peninsula Indigenous Parent Support Program (IPS). The evaluative report extends the Participatory Action Research (PAR) based evaluation plan (Guilfoyle, Baker, & Bray, 2011). It includes a theoretical discussion on resilience building, community development, and the role of parenting support for early child development, through links to literature and direct evidence captured through community based observations, notes, and recorded interviews with IPS workers, community members, and key stakeholders on the communities and in Broome, and case studies. The evaluation assessed IPS activities in light of its policy framework …

Patience Is Not The Only Virtue: The Relationship Between Time Preferences, Class Attendance And Final Marks, Margaret Giles, Y H. Cheung, Jacqui Whale

Research outputs 2012

No abstract provided.

Commitment And The 1% Motorcycle Club: Threats To The Brotherhood, Kira Harris

Research outputs 2012

The brotherhood ethos is the founding principle of the 1% motorcycle clubs community. Interviews with former members and partners show how threatening this social bond can reduce satisfaction and lead to doubts over involvement with the club.

Security Specialists Are From Mars; Healthcare Practitioners Are From Venus: The Case For A Community-Of-Practice Approach To Security Architectures For Healthcare, Elizabeth Coles-Kemp, Patricia Williams

Research outputs 2012

Information security is a necessary requirement of information sharing in the healthcare environment. Research shows that the application of security in this setting is sometimes subject to work-arounds where healthcare practitioners feel forced to incorporate practices that they have not had an input into and with which they have not engaged with. This can result in a sense of security practitioners and healthcare practitioners being culturally very different in their approach to information systems. As a result such practices do not constitute part of their community of practice nor their identity. In order to respond to this, systems designers typically …

A Technical Guide To Designing And Implementing Effective Web Surveys, Gregory Baatard

Research outputs 2012

: The Internet is becoming an increasingly prominent medium for the administration of surveys. Although individual findings vary, the major‐ ity of the literature agrees that the appropriateness and response rates of web surveys is expected to rise in the future as we enter a generation of “digital natives” and mail‐based communication becomes increasingly an‐ tiquated. Just about every aspect and tenet of traditional survey metho‐ dology has received attention in academic literature, positioning it as one of the most mature data collection techniques and a mainstay in all areas of research. While much of this accumulated knowledge is applicable …

Wikis: Transactive Memory Systems In Digital Form, Paul Jackson

Research outputs 2012

Wikis embed information about authors, tags, hyperlinks and other metadata into the information they create. Wiki functions use this metadata to provide pointers which allow users to track down, or be informed of, the information they need. In this paper we provide a firm theoretical conceptualization for this type of activity by showing how this metadata provides a digital foundation for a Transactive Memory System (TMS). TMS is a construct from group psychology which defines directory-based knowledge sharing processes to explain the phenomenon of "group mind". We analyzed the functions and data of two leading Wiki products to understand where …

Using Cctv Footage As A Communication Training And Safety Resource, Carole Teague, Lelia Green

Research outputs 2012

This paper is based in the experience of an in-depth industrial ethnography with an Australian public transport organisation. The ethnographer began by undertaking the 12‐week transit officer training program and moved into a behind‐the‐scenes role watching CCTV footage of their duties and activities for a further 4 weeks before the organisation allowed her to go ‘on the tracks’. Once full participation alongside the transit officer workforce had been agreed, the ethnographer spent four months rostered into a late night work schedule alongside her research participants. This in‐the‐role experience was augmented by 41 in-depth semi‐structured interviews. It was followed up with …

From Autonomous To Performative Control Of Timbral Spatialisation, Stuart James

Research outputs 2012

Timbral spatialisation is one such process that requires the independent control of potentially thousands of parameters (Torchia, et al., 2003). Current research on controlling timbral spatialisation has focussed either on automated generative systems, or suggested that to design trajectories in software is to write every movement line by line (Normandeau, 2009). This research proposes that Wave Terrain Synthesis may be used as an effective bridging control structure for timbral spatialisation, enabling the performative control of large numbers of parameter sets associated with software. This methodology also allows for compact interactive mapping possibilities for a physical controller, and may also be …

New Digital Interactions With John Cage's Variations Iv, V And Vi, Catherine Hope, Stuart James, Lindsay Vickery

Research outputs 2012

To celebrate the centenary of John Cage’s birth in 1912, Western Australian new music ensemble Decibel undertook the realization of the American composer John Cage’s (1912 – 1992) complete Variations I – VIII. The works offer a unique insight into the development of Cage’s approach to composition practice, aleatoric approaches, spatial arrangements and the use of electronics. Entitled the “John Cage Complete Variations Project”, Decibel created a performance of the eight pieces in around an hour. The preparation and reading of the scores that make use of transparent sheets (Variations I, II, III, IV and VI) has been adapted using …

Cutting Corners: How Pre-Site Construction Induction Training Improves Work Safety But Illuminates The Issues Of Online Certification, Llandis Barratt-Pugh, Susanne Bahn

Research outputs 2012

Introducing practices to reduce the work-related injuries in the construction industry is a continual challenge, specifically in WA where the industry is experiencing a second development boom. In 2006, Worksafe WA responded by introducing pre-site mandatory certification in safety awareness training for all construction employees. This paper reviews the impact of this training on the housing and civil sectors of the industry. It is a mixed mode study presenting the lost time injury/disease statistics, perceptions of the stakeholders from survey responses, and from subsequent interviews. The findings indicate a positive cultural change within the industry but an increasing scepticism about …

Using Contextual Constructs Model To Frame Doctoral Research Methodology, Shirlee-Ann Knight, Donna Cross

Research outputs 2012

This paper presents a novel research model - Contextual Constructs Model (CCM) and the theory that underpins it - Contextual Constructs Theory (CCT). First developed as part of a complex project investigating user perceptions of information quality during Web-based information re-trieval, the CCM is not a single research method per se, but is a modelled research framework providing an over-arching perspective of scientific inquiry, by which a researcher is able to iden-tify multiple possible methods of study and analysis according to the identified research con-structs and their contexts. Central to CCM/CCT is that all research involves the fusion of two …

Remembering Rhetoric: Recalling A Tradition Of Explicit Instruction In Writing, Brian Moon

Research outputs 2012

Modern secondary courses in English differ from classical tradition in their tendency to avoid direct instruction in the content and style of writing. Such avoidance is partly a function of anxieties about the role of English in students' personal development and a fear of limiting their self expression. Neither of the dominant writing pedagogies from the last 50 years wholly escapes this problem. A historical consideration of the issue suggests that fears surrounding explicit instruction arise from a range of misperceptions about writing and English. Modern writing pedagogy may therefore be improved by an acquaintance with traditions of explicit instruction, …

Is There A Consensus Towards Transparency: International's Corruption Perceptions Index?, Shrabani Saha, Rukmani Gounder, Jen-Je Su

Research outputs 2012

Given the clandestine nature, corruption is intrinsically a complex phenomenon and hard to measure. This paper examines whether Transparency International's corruption perception index converges towards consensus over time? Furthermore, we estimate the speed of adjustment towards general agreement. The results indicate differences in the degree of concordance, i.e. high level of agreement for the mostlyclean and most-corrupt countries but disagreement remains high for the mediumcorrupt countries. The speed of converge is high for the most-corrupt and mostlyclean countries and a decline for the medium corrupt countries.

Voices Of Migrant Women: The Mediating Role Of Resilience On The Relationship Between Acculturation And Psychological Distress, Min Ing Loh, Jessica Klug

Research outputs 2012

There is limited research on the experience of migrant women’s acculturation to Australian society. This paper outlines a two-part study that attempted to address this gap (i) by investigating the acculturation experiences of a sample of 30 women in Brisbane and (ii) a survey of 108 women in Brisbane and Sydney who have migrated to Australia after the age of fifteen. Results indicated that, while many migrant women experienced a number of acculturation challenges related to their status as ‘migrants’ and as ‘women’, many displayed resilience and developed competencies in acculturating themselves to a new country. Although acculturation to a …

An Australian Perspective On The Challenges For Computer And Network Security For Novice End-Users, Patryk Szewczyk

Research outputs 2012

A good portion of today's investigations include, at least in part, an examination of the user's web history. Although it has lost ground over the past several years, Microsoft's Internet Explorer still accounts for a large portion of the web browser market share. Most users are now aware that Internet Explorer will save browsing history, user names, passwords and form history. Consequently some users seek to eliminate these artifacts, leaving behind less evidence for examiners to discover during investigations. However, most users, and probably a good portion of examiners are unaware Automatic Crash Recovery can leave a gold mine of …

The Lady In The Carriage: Trauma, Embodiment, And The Drive For Resolution, Josephine Taylor

Research outputs 2012

Not available

Practicing Field Hockey Skills Along The Contextual Interference Continuum: A Comparison Of Five Practice Schedules, Jadeera Cheong, Brendan Lay, J. Robert Grove, Nikola Medic, Rizal Razman

Research outputs 2012

To overcome the weakness of the contextual interference (CI) effect within applied settings, Brady (2008) recommended that the amount of interference be manipulated. This study investigated the effect of five practice schedules on the learning of three field hockey skills. Fifty-five pre-university students performed a total of 90 trials for each skill under blocked, mixed or random practice orders. Results showed a significant time effect with all five practice conditions leading to improvements in acquisition and learning of the skills. No significant differences were found between the groups. The findings of the present study did not support the CI effect …

Models Of Youth Work: A Framework For Positive Sceptical Reflection, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2012

In the post-welfare state, youth workers need models to articulate the purpose and value of their work to politicians and the public, and to explain foundational assumptions about society, young people, values, and mechanisms for personal and social change. Robust on-going discussion about models clarifies the relationship between theory and practice and enables youth work to make use of advances in knowledge in other disciplines, and to innovate constructively when faced with social and political change. Theorisation of models of youth work flourished briefly in the final quarter of the twentieth century. Renewed models of youth work are urgently needed. …

Workplace Hazard Identification: What Do People Know And How Is It Done?, Susanne Bahn

Research outputs 2012

The correct and proactive identification of hazards in the workplace underpins all occupational health and safety practice and risk management strategies and is therefore paramount to effective business practices and the health and safety of all organisational members. It is a basic right of employees to be safe at work, but working safely relies on identifying risk. If managers and employees cannot identify risk then their safety cannot be assured. Managers and employees need to have sufficient knowledge to identify hazards that lead to risk in the workplace in order to inform processes to successfully control those risks. This paper …

What Knowledge, Skills And Attitudes Should Strategic Hrm Students Acquire? A Delphi Study, Alan Coetzer, Helen Sitlington

Research outputs 2012

Much work has been done to identify competencies that HR practitioners need for a strategic HR role. However, little, if any, attention has been paid to the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs) required of graduates entering the strategic HRM (SHRM) field. This study focuses on this area of neglect by employing the Delphi method to address the question: What core KSAs should SHRM students acquire? Three sequential questionnaires were administered to elicit opinions of leading academics and senior HR practitioners on KSAs that are important and to build consensus on the core KSAs. These processes generated ranked lists of 10 …

Exploration Games Played On A Ddr Pad Can Constitute Beneficial Physical Exercise, Kimthy Nguyen, Bohan Li, Martin Masek, Yuwanuch Gulatee

Research outputs 2012

The addition of an exercise component to computer games is a method that attempts to increase exercise compliance among the population. Various attempts at such games have been made, both commercially and as research projects, but the set of studied game mechanics that are both entertaining and provide beneficial exercise are relatively small. In our work, a game mechanic was designed for a floor-based input controller (DDR Pad). Rather than the standard mechanic usually employed for this device, our approach allows the player to explore a virtual world, requiring exertive movements on the input device in order to progress. The …

A Technical Guide To Effective And Accessible Web Surveys, Gregory Baatard

Research outputs 2012

The Internet is becoming an increasingly prominent medium for the administration of surveys. Although individual findings vary, the majority of the literature agrees that the appropriateness and response rates of web surveys is expected to rise in the future as we enter a generation of "digital natives" and mail-based communication becomes increasingly antiquated. Just about every aspect and tenet of traditional survey methodology has received attention in academic literature, positioning it as one of the most mature data collection techniques and a mainstay in all areas of research. While much of this accumulated knowledge is applicable and relevant to web …

Can Exercise Ameliorate Treatment Toxicity During The Initial Phase Of Testosterone Deprivation In Prostate Cancer Patients? Is This More Effective Than Delayed Rehabilitation?, Robert Newton, Dennis Taaffe, Nigel Spry, Prue Cormie, Suzanne Chambers, Robert Gardiner, David Shum, David Joseph, Daniel Galvao

Research outputs 2012

Background: There has been substantial increase in use of androgen deprivation therapy as adjuvant management of prostate cancer. However, this leads to a range of musculoskeletal toxicities including reduced bone mass and increased skeletal fractures compounded with rapid metabolic alterations, including increased body fat, reduced lean mass, insulin resistance and negative lipoprotein profile, increased incidence of cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity, greater distress and reduced quality of life. Numerous research studies have demonstrated certain exercise prescriptions to be effective at preventing or even reversing these treatment toxicities. However, all interventions to date have been of rehabilitative intent being implemented after a …

A Randomised Trial Of Robotic And Open Prostatectomy In Men With Localised Prostate Cancer, Robert Gardiner, J Yaxley, G Coughlin, N Dunglison, S Occhipinti, S Younie, R Carter, S Williams, R J Medcraft, Bennett Nigel, M F Lavin, Suzanne Chambers

Research outputs 2012

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the Western world however there is ongoing debate about the optimal treatment strategy for localised disease. While surgery remains the most commonly received treatment for localised disease in Australia more recently a robotic approach has emerged as an alternative to open and laparoscopic surgery. However, high level data is not yet available to support this as a superior approach or to guide treatment decision making between the alternatives. This paper presents the design of a randomised trial of Robotic and Open Prostatectomy for men newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer …

Multigene Interactions And The Prediction Of Depression In The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, N S Roetker, J A Yonker, C. Lee, V Chang, J J Basson, C L Roan, T S Hauser, R M Hauser, Craig Atwood

Research outputs 2012

Objectives: Single genetic loci offer little predictive power for the identification of depression. This study examined whether an analysis of gene-gene (G x G) interactions of 78 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with depression and agerelated diseases would identify significant interactions with increased predictive power for depression. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: A survey of participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Participants: A total of 4811 persons (2464 women and 2347 men) who provided saliva for genotyping; the group comes from a randomly selected sample of Wisconsin high school graduates from the class of 1957 as well …