Digital Commons Network^™

Asian Students’ Perceptions Of Group Work And Group Assignments In A New Zealand Tertiary Institution, Jacqui Campbell, Mingsheng Li

EDU-COM International Conference

Globalisation, cultural diversity, and structural reconfiguration in organisations of all types, have led to academics in New Zealand tertiary institutions embracing changes in their course delivery approaches. One of these changes is the emphasis on collaborative learning, featuring group work and group assignments. This study examines Asian students‘ perceptions of the much-promulgated collaborative learning concepts in the form of group work and group assignments. The research was conducted in 2005 in a New Zealand tertiary institution. Twenty-two Asian students participated in one-hour individual semi-structured interviews. The study found that Asian students valued highly the significance of classroom group discussions where …

Using Reflective Journeys To Engage And Empower Leadership Teams, T J. Sullivan

EDU-COM International Conference

The Reflective Leader Development Workshop was designed to professionally and personally develop individual leaders in the health care and education industries into working teams. It was used to meld the individual nursing administrators and school heads in the Master of Education (Educational Management) programme at Universiti Brunei Darussalam into small cooperative leadership learning teams that would function after the programme, as workplace support networks. However, the need for renewal of leadership is always present. It readily became obvious that a workshop using reflective journeys could engage and empower leadership teams in the workplace at individual and group levels. So the …

Pastoral Care In Education, Lydia Hearn, Renee Campbell-Pope, Joanne House, Donna Cross

Research outputs pre 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. During the past decade, there has been growing recognition the school environment plays a major role in the social and emotional competence and wellbeing of children. As a consequence, increasing national and international commitment has been directed towards the development of Health Promoting Schools2, with efforts being made to assess how curriculum and pastoral practice can best contribute to students’ social, emotional, physical and moral wellbeing. Within Australia, the National Safe Schools Framework3 has set as a key priority the importance of achieving a shared vision of physical and emotional safety and wellbeing for all students …

Sports Science Roundtable: Does Sports Science Research Influence Practice?, David Bishop, Angus Burnett, Damien Farrow, Tim Gabbett, Robert Newton

Research outputs pre 2011

As sports scientists, we claim to make a signifi cant contribution to the body of knowledge that infl uences athletic practice and performance. Is this the reality? At the inaugural congress of the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science, a panel of well-credentialed academic experts with experience in the applied environment debated the question, Does sports-science research influence practice? The fi rst task was to defi ne “sports-science research,” and it was generally agreed that it is concerned with providing evidence that improves sports performance. When practices are equally effective, sports scientists also have a role in identifying practices …

Fixture-Scheduling For The Australian Football League Using A Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm, Luigi Barone, Lyndon While, Paul Hughes, Philip Hingston

Research outputs pre 2011

AFL football is a team sport that entertains millions and contributes a huge amount of money to the Australian economy. Scheduling games in the AFL is difficult, as a number of different, often conflicting, factors must be considered. In this paper, we propose the use of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for determining such a schedule. We detail the technical details needed to apply a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to this problem and report on experiments that show the effectiveness of this approach. Comparison with actual schedules used in the AFL demonstrates that this approach could make a useful contribution.

A Review Of Landholder Motivations And Determinants For Participation In Conservation Covenanting Programmes, Thomas Kabii, Pierre Horwitz

Research outputs pre 2011

Conservation covenants (or easements) are flexible but legally enforceable documents attached to a land title restricting the use of that land, providing for the protection of important conservation values, while allowing the landholder to retain possession. Given the attractiveness of covenants to those who seek to expand national and regional nature conservation initiatives, it is important to understand landholder motivations for participation in programmes that covenant for nature conservation. This paper examines the likely influences on landholder decision making when it comes to conservation initiatives. A review of literature highlights key motivations and determinants, such as landholder demographics and the …

Identifying The Challenges In Teaching Computer Science Topics Online, Yuwanuch Gulatee, Barbara Combes

Research outputs pre 2011

In an attempt to provide educational opportunities to the students who are working or have other constraints on their time, many universities are developing distance education programs. In the past decade, web technology has been adopted to assist learners with studying at a distance. However, distance learning in the field of computer science, such as studying programming languages, remains challenging to teach via the web medium. There is little evidence that the effectiveness of web-based learning includes a process to solve complex problems. REFERENCES IN AN ABSTRACT!? In particular it can be problematic for technical subjects to be taught online …

Understanding Celebrity And The Public Sphere, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

However, he argues, this is a cause for celebration because the 'old model' ('modernist' construction) of the public sphere suited and benefited an influential minority in society (white, middle-class, educated males) and the new model of the ('postmodern') public sphere increasingly engages the sectors of society systematically excluded and marginalised by modernity's view of what the public sphere should be and does. An Introduction was pitched as a starting point for debate and thus wasn't explicitly addressed to me-after all, I've studied and written on the public sphere myself.18 McKee's book was consequently an unexpected treat and all the more …

Play Up! Play Up! And Play The Game!, Lelia Rosalind Green, Ben Guinery

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper is about LANing culture. For some, this is ‘gaming culture plus’ – for others, the games are the smokescreen for the BitTorrent sites, porn and illegal downloads. Either way, the LANing activity is a cultural choice overwhelmingly associated with young males and with the kind of commitment and technological dedication that was first recognised in Kidder’s (1981) work, The Soul of the New Machine. Alongside the passion for ‘pimping’ the machine – adding heat sinks, coolers, neon lights, high speed graphic cards etc – is the need to be doing all these things to excess. LANing is at …

Mark-Up: Design And Evaluation Of An On-Line Annotation Tool To Support Metacognitive Development Of Reading Comprehension, Mark Mcmahon, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

The mutability of contemporary work practice requires graduates who can continue to develop in self-regulated ways. This paper describes research into design and evaluation of a product to assist learners in engaging in the metacognitive processes inherent in the domain of reading comprehension. Findings identified strengths of the product and a number of features that could be improved, as well as contextual factors that may impact on the implementation of such learning environments.

Beyond Marks And Measurement: Developing Dynamic And Authentic Forms Of E-Assessment, Catherine E Mcloughlin, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

E-learning has transformed both pedagogy and learning environments and a new generation of learners has emerged, who require immediacy, connection and personalised opportunities for both formal and informal learning. Instead of using narrowly defined learning outcomes tested by examinations, social software tools offer scope for social connection and self-governed assessment tasks such as critical inquiry, collaboration and team work, giving learners multiple channels of expression, and perspective taking. While social software tools can be closely inter-woven with learning management systems, and be used to scaffold authentic tasks for assessment, there remain design and pedagogical challenges. The paper critiques current practice …

Developing Multidisciplinary Teams Through Self-Assessment, Supported With Online Tools, Joseph Luca, Mark Mcmahon

Research outputs pre 2011

Teamwork skills and the ability to effectively collaborate with peers continue to be hailed as essential skills by employers and higher education funding authorities, and many employers require new graduates to demonstrate theses skills as part of the selection criteria. How then can we prepare graduates for this employment market that actively assesses teamwork and other generic skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership skills? This paper outlines an on-line learning environment that incorporates an self-assessment tool designed to assist students in developing understandings of themselves necessary in the selection of team roles and to provide a basis for …

Reusable And Shareable Learning Objects Supporting Students Learning Of Data Structures In University Courses, Kacha Chansilp, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Values And M-Services Adoption, Craig Standing, Patricia Mcmanus, Susan Standing, Heikki Karjaluoto

Research outputs pre 2011

The use of mobile services has increased rapidly in recent. Although research has been conducted on which services people use and the benefits they attach to those services, the values associated with the adoption and use of m-services at the individual level is still unclear. This formation systems field various technology adoption models have been proposed and validated in relation to technology adoption within an organisational setting but personal adoption and use of technology is less researched. To help uncover the values behind adoption of m-services we use means-end chains and laddering techniques. The analysis of the interviews shows that …

Where Are The Active Citizens Of Tomorrow? We Need Them Now..., Margaret E. Piasecka

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In 1997, Hindess labelled the gap between governments and citizens the democratic deficit. This gap, or deficit, has arisen over a long time period as a result of public scandals, perceptions of poor performance and poor economies. Local governments around the world are now attempting to regain community respect and support - the unstated mandate for governance - and seeking to implement government policies relating to concepts variously described as community engagement, capacity building, active citizenship or public/citizen participation. This thesis has identified a methodology for finding people who are motivated to act in the public interest in one local …

Professional Perceptions Of Domestic Violence: The Relationship Between Causal Explanations And Views On Prevention And Intervention, Rachel A. Taylor

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The 1970s saw a shift of focus by professions responding to domestic violence cases perpetrated by men towards women within Australia. Their focus was targeted at the factors that surround male perpetrators? violent behaviour. As a result, a number of alternative interventions were established based on a new understanding of domestic violence. Wider explanations have therefore led professional groups to form different angles of approach. Consequently researchers have found that perceptions towards domestic violence and the effectiveness of relevant interventions remain controversial across professions (Laing, 2002). Based on the literature supporting the importance of consistent professional perceptions and responses towards …

Nurses' Decision Making Processes Regarding Indwelling Catheter Insertion And Removal, Helen Hull

Theses : Honours

Urinary catheterisation remains a common procedure conducted by nurses often as a result of autonomous decision making. This research aimed to identify and describe the lived experience of nurses' decision making processes regarding the insertion and removal of urinary catheters. The research was believed to be important as there is a myriad of literature on what is best practice but very little on what is actually taking place in nursing practice. A qualitative phenomenological study design was chosen, where nurse participants were interviewed using open-ended questions. Descriptive phenomenology was the chosen method which follows in Heidegerr's tradition that allowed nurses …

Age-Phasing And The Use Of Life-Cycle Funds, Shelley Farr

Theses : Honours

The Superannuation Guarantee legislation has made many Australian employees compulsory investors. The reality that many Australian employees are failing to save adequate retirement benefits highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate superannuation investment strategy. With a majority of members having their employer-sponsored contributions in Defined Contribution Funds, it is ultimately members who are responsible for making investment decisions. Given that Australian employees are faced with myriad investment options, it is opportune to examine how members are exercising investment choice. A key factor for a member to consider is whether their investment strategy should be influenced by their age. Using the …

Perceived Multi-Dimensional Locus Of Control Over Young To Older Adults : A Contemporary Australian Cross-Sectional Study, Richard Syrkiewicz

Theses : Honours

Locus of control (LOG) influences many aspects of one's behaviour and associated quality of life (Rotter, 1992). LOG is particularly important for the increasing older adult population and wider health-care system (Swett & Bishop, 2004). Researchers have criticised LOG studies for: an assumed dichotomy of LOG, a lack of recent investigation, non-validity of underlying theoretical position, pronounced inconsistency of findings, and inattention to possible age and gender effects. The current review presents a contemporary focus of LOG research literature to highlight the aforementioned concerns, and provides a systematic account of generalisability for key studies. In addition to discussing the associations …

Natural Death In The West Australian Newspaper, Heinrich Benz

Theses : Honours

This thesis analyses the way The West Australian presents natural death to its readers. Previous research involving death notices and obituaries has focused on gender and numerical analysis. There are hundreds of books dealing with death, covering legal, biological, physical, sociological and spiritual aspects of death, but books on death in the media tend to skirt around natural death. The diverse areas of death research fail to postulate a common definition of natural death. A similar diversity of views exists on the good death and the concepts surrounding life after death. This encourages the analysis of material from daily life, …

Hogarth To Monster Wheels : A Grotesque Connection, Christopher Ridley

Theses : Honours

When an audience is exposed to deformed, altered and abnormal entities, their interpretation relies on some form of cultural awareness of both the expected and the altered shape to stimulate a reaction. I maintain that the stimulus for this reaction has its roots in a dark and terrifying primal force, the manifestation of which we regard as the grotesque. This thesis looks for a commonality in a satirical interpretation afforded to this grotesque force. By using the caricatures in William Hogarth's engravings and the altered cars in three contemporary films. I search for a correlation between the way Hogarth and …

The Transition To Fatherhood: Exploration Of Fathers' Understandings And Perceptions Of Their Experiences Of Fatherhood, Yael S. Abitbol

Theses : Honours

At the beginning of the 21st century, the face of fatherhood is a dynamic and complex reality. The aim of this study was to explore father's perceptions regarding their own experiences during the transition to fatherhood. More specifically, this study aimed at exploring the adjustment to fatherhood and the resources and support systems that the fathers utilised in managing their adjustment to fatherhood. A qualitative research design, specifically an approach based on grounded theory was employed. A total often white Caucasian fathers, with own biological children under the age of five participated in this study and were interviewed using a …

Literature Review: Mental Health Outcomes Associated With Exposure To Ethnic Discrimination, Peer Victimisation And Peer Rejection : Gender Differences In Internalising And Externalising Behaviour. Research Project : Gender As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Perceived Discrimination And Problem Behaviour Among Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Children, Jarrod Turner

Theses : Honours

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between gender, perceived discrimination, and mental health among young ethnic-minority children. To address this aim, 32 participants (mean age= 10.8 years), with an even sample across gender and cultural backgrounds, were asked questions relating to two types of discrimination (day to day and lifetime experiences) and their' primary caregiver was asked questions relating to child internalising (e.g. anxiety, withdrawal) and externalising (aggression, breaking things) behaviour. Almost all participants reported exposure to at least one type of discrimination. Girls, on average, scored higher on all measures compared to boys. Regression …

Automated Photo-Identification Of Cetaceans : An Integrated Software Solution, Daniel Griggs

Theses : Honours

This study investigates current techniques used for automated photo-identification of cetaceans (i.e. dolphins and whales). The primary focus constitutes various techniques that can be applied to identify and extract dorsal fins from digital photographs. A comprehensive analysis of these techniques demonstrates the most effective software solution. To further support this analysis, four prototypes are developed to demonstrate the effectiveness of each technique in a practical environment. The analysis bases its final conclusions on test results generated from these prototype software examples. Final conclusions provide recommendations for an effective, accurate, and practical software solution. This software solution allows dorsal fins to …

Exploring The Notion Of Emotional Attachment In Orford's Model Of Addiction : Review, And A Step Towards Operationalising Orford's Concept Of Strong Attachment In Addiction : A Qualitative Study, Kate E. Baily

Theses : Honours

Orford's (2001) notion that a strong emotional attachment to an object (drug) or activity (gambling) is a central component of addiction has received little empirical attention. The published research on attachment to inanimate objects was reviewed and led to the following conclusions. First, attachment theory has been validly applied to people's relationships with inanimate objects. Second, researchers have developed technologies (e.g., psychological measures, operational definitions) to enable empirical research in this area. Third, this research is in its early phases, but has produced reliable standardised measures of people's emotional attachment to brands. Further research is needed to operationalise Orford's (2001) …

Bullying And Victimisation In Primary Schools: Relations Between Bully Status, Empathy, And Gender, Teresa B. Sapienza

Theses : Honours

Bullying and victimisation at school has been associated with increased reports of psychological and psychosomatic health issues. As such, schools have sought to implement programmes to reduce the prevalence of bullying. These programmes commonly include empathy-raising strategies which are expected to reduce the incidences of bullying. The present paper reviews the empathy and bullying literature, focussing on the suggested relationship between the two. The literature revealed that the concepts of empathy and bullying have undergone rapid development over recent years and as a result, there is much methodological variation between studies, culminating in inconsistent results. However, early research pertaining to …

Ethnic Identity, Perceived Discrimination And The Psychological Adjustment Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Children, Erin Louise Pratt

Theses : Honours

Ethnic minorities can suffer detrimental health consequences as a result of their experiences with racial discrimination. A strong ethnic identity may buffer the impact of racial discrimination for the members of ethnic minority groups. The current paper reviews research on the negative health consequences associated with perceived racial discrimination. It presents research to support the notion of a strong ethnic identity providing a protective effect on the health status of ethnic minorities. Inconsistencies and limitations of the various studies are discussed. Abundant throughout the literature on this topic is correlational research design and experimental design is scarce; reasons behind this …

What Are The Benefits Of Dance In Relation To Developing Creative Potential For The Individual?, Shannon Riggs

Theses : Honours

This thesis proposes to discuss the benefits of creativity for the individual and highlight the increasing importance of creativity in today's society. The thesis discusses how creativity can be identified, nurtured and developed and what factors effect the development of creative potential. Creativity plays a major role in dance as an art form. This thesis draws attention to the fact that dance teaches many of the key skills needed to develop creative potential and how dance can be utilised as an avenue to enhancing an individual's creative ability. This thesis will outline the parallels between learning dance and developing creative …

Identifying The Challenges In Teaching Computer Science Topics Online, Yuwanuch Gulatee, Barbara Combes

EDU-COM International Conference

In an attempt to provide educational opportunities for students who are working or who are located at a distance, many universities have developed wholly online distance education programs. These online courses use web technology as a distributed learning mechanism. However, online distance learning in Computer Science courses remains challenging for both teachers and students. Research has shown that there is a significant risk factor for online courses in Computer Science. Course developers and teachers need to be aware of the particular needs of Computer Science students when establishing online courses, if they wish to graduate successful and satisfied students. This …

Public Reasoning About Criminal Justice: The Role Of Victim, Offence, And Offender Characteristics And Victim-Offender Relationships. Public Reasoning About Criminal Justice: Effects Of Victim Age And Victim-Offender Relationship, Donald Foy

Theses : Honours

The formulation and amendment of legislation which forms the basis for the operation and administration of the Australian criminal justice system may be the role given to elected government officials but it is the citizens who elect them who bear ultimate responsibility. The way that members of the public reason about criminal justice issues therefore has the capacity to greatly influence decision making in this area. This paper will review some of the research which has attempted to explain the influence that several variables may have on the way that people reason about criminal justice. These research topics include fear …