Digital Commons Network^™

Developing E-Learning Environments That Support Knowledge Construction In Higher Education, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

Much of the conventional development of Web-based learning environments the creation of electronic forms of existing print-based materials. In such instances the Web-based courses have tended to display limited evidence of an underpinning learning design and varying degrees of use of the opportunities and affordances of the new technologies. This paper provides an overview of instructional design principles that can guide the creation of Web-based learning materials that support learner engagement and knowledge construction. The paper describes the attributes of constructivist learning settings and provides some examples of explicit learning designs that can be applied in the design of Web-based …

To What Extent Can Knowledge Management Systems Build And Reinforce Consensus Around Initiatives For Change?: A Self-Reflective Analysis Of Professional Practice, Guy A. Duczynski

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis reports on my attempts to 're-align' the purpose, behaviour and underlying culture of a large military organisation through heuristic, self reflective enquiry - to 'find its future' - with and through its people. I use the word re-align with great care as I recognised that change would have been too ambitious and would (probably have) result(ed) in failure. Whilst I cannot claim total success, I have made new and valuable discoveries in knowledge elicitation and methods of integrating the views of a large number of people to 'build and reinforce consensus around initiatives for change'. In the process …

Variables Predictive Of Assessment And Treatment Outcome In Adult Sex Offenders In Western Australia, Gail Della Torre

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This exploratory study examines differences between a) sex offenders who entered treatment (N = 117) and those who did not enter treatment (N =51), and b) sex offenders who completed treatment successfully (N = 83) and those who did not complete successfully (N = 22), The two samples were derived from a total sample pool of 199 adult male sex offenders who were sentenced in Western Australia in 1995 and assessed for treatment suitability by the Sex Offender Treatment Unit (SOTU). Logistic regression was used to determine which variables would best predict a) entry into treatment, and b) treatment Success. …

The Role Of Children's Talk In Writing Development, Belinda Nelson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study is a 'snap shot' into the interactions and utterances of developing writers. It provides insight into the usefulness of talk, the need to model and encourage talk in the composing processes of children and also into the factors that impact on such talk making it more or less effective for young writers. The study observed six middle primary school students during the writing of two texts and recorded the accompanying talk. Classroom observations provided insight into the pedagogical and cultural influences within the writing contexts. Writing samples enabled each student's writing development to be analysed and became a …

A Report On Nurses' Response To Occupational Injuries And Exposures To Hazards In A Californian Community Hospital, Sandra Kilminster-Binder

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study set out to determine the reasons for underreporting of occupational injuries and exposures in the American health care environment. A cross sectional survey was used to report the responses and opinions of nurses who failed to report all occupational injuries and exposures, and the type of injuries that are least likely to be reported. The participants were a random sample of Registered Nurses employed in a California Health Care Center, who responded to a simple self-reporting questionnaire. The study revealed that the majority of occupational injuries, accidents and exposures by this group in the previous twelve month period …

Behavioural Problems Of Children In Foster Care As Affected By Attachment To And Visitation With Biological Parents, Ellen Loorits

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The following paper examines the literature on attachment and children in foster care to form the foundation for a study of the effects of attachment and visitation on the behavioural problems of these children. It begins with an overview of the area of attachment, focusing on the work of Bowlby, Ainsworth, and Main. Cicchetti and colleagues extensive research on attachment in maltreated school aged children is reviewed. The mental health imp1ications for maltreated children are discussed. The section on foster care gives an overview of the area including demographics and practices. Attachment theory has led to development of current practices …

Principles In Public Reasoning About Criminal Justice : Victim Vulnerability, Trust, And Offender Status, Dianne R. Mckillop

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

It is popularly assumed that the public is highly punitive toward criminal offenders and that its reasoning about criminal offences is emotionally and morally based. This assumption has been challenged by social scientists who cite influences of news media and methodological flaws in empirical studies as contributing causes. Public sentiment is a basis for law and the increasing responsiveness of legislator to what is perceived to be public opinion on crime means that accurate information on enduring principles in the public's intuitive reasoning about criminal justice is vital. An initial exploratory study (N = 34) presented members of the public …

The Influences Of Parent-Child Affectional Bonding And Self-Esteem On Fear Of Intimacy In Young Adults, Hendrik Janong

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Fear of intimacy has been reported as one of the most significant problems experienced by adults in their relationships (Bartholomew, 1990 ; Descutner & Thelen, 1991; Lutwak, 1985). It has also been argued that individuals' perceptions of their relationship with their parents in the past and their level of self-esteem cam also significantly influence their fear of intimacy. This present study was conducted to examine the relationship between parent-child affectional bonding, self-esteem, and fear of intimacy in young adults. Male and female undergraduate students from Edith Cowan University aged 19-25 years, were given the Parental Nurturance Scale (PNS), Self-Esteem Rating …

Teacher-Class, Teacher-Group And Student Interactions : Opportunities For Learning In Primary Science Classrooms, Christine A. Coulstock

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Many studies have investigated learning in science classes, examining various influences on the understandings that students develop. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactions that took place in upper primary science lessons, and the teacher and student behaviours affected these interactions and the opportunities for learning. The three classes that were selected for the study were similar and the teachers were all experienced primary teachers. The teachers were supplied with a set of science lessons on the topic of electric circuits. The resources included background information for the teachers and suggested activities, demonstrations, analogies and focus questions …

Effects Of Synchronous Chat-Based On-Line Cognitive Behavior Therapy On Study Related Anxiety And Behavior, Anoushka Rassau

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Very little research is currently available about therapy conducted in chat-based Internet environments. Most of the existing research concerns therapy delivered via email or on-line support groups. For this reason, this review first presents an overview of literature concerning practical issues relevant to Internet-based therapy in general and then presents a review of the research that is available regarding therapy provided in chat-based Internet environments. The literature reviewed in this paper has been obtained from several on-line databases and Internet search engines. The available research on chat-based therapy has produced mainly anecdotal or inconclusive results. There is a need for …

Student Empowerment In A Primary School Classroom : A Descriptive Study, Anna M. Sullivan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Empowering students to take control to lead functional and fulfilling lives should help them meet their needs for power and belonging, and enable them to realise their social goals. Such an outcome should positively affect students' achievement motivation. However, there is little understanding and research on the construct of student empowerment particularly in the primary school context from the teacher and student perspective. Teachers have a power-over relationship with students and arc in a position to decide how they exercise that power. Teachers who choose to enable student empowerment can share power with students to establish positive forces of power, …

Why People Don't Go To Church : A Study Of Factors Associated With Non-Participation And Participation In Church In Australia, John Bellamy

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Church-based religion in the western world is considered by many sociologists to be in decline. The causes of this decline have been linked to secularising processes such as institutional differentiation, urbanisation, industrialisation, and the rise of scientific rationalism. The primary research aim of this study is to identify what contribution the religious beliefs of individuals, their demographic characteristics, their work and leisure patterns, their attitudes and experiences of churches and their experience of the urban environment, make towards understanding patterns of non-participation and participation in local churches. A secondary research aim is to identify to what extent theories of secularisation …

Can Regional Community Web Portals Become Sustainable? : The Albany Gateway : A Case Study, Gillian Sellar

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Asking the question "can regional and community web portals become sustainable?" demands a foray into many different disciplines. Sociology, education, business, strategic and knowledge management, organisational theory, relationship management and current technological trends and capabilities are some of the areas on which community projects, such us the development of communities on-line, are founded.

Experiences Of Relapse In Smoking Cessation, Natalie Kay D'Abrew

Theses : Honours

Relapse is regarded as a common occurrence, and it is known that smokers make an average of three to four attempts to cease smoking before maintaining smoking cessation. Thus, relapse continues to be a problem for interventions for smoking cessation. This qualitative study explored the experiences of relapse in smoking cessation. Fourteen participants, seven maintainers and seven relapsers aged between 21-80 participated in the study, which was facilitated by a semi-structured interview format. Several themes and sub-themes were generated under the categories of strategies, reasons for relapse, and reasons for cessation. The themes highlighted that there were differences between the …

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 …

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?

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...

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.

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 …

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 …

Assuring The Quality Of Online Learning In Australian Higher Education, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper discusses the major issues confronting the successful adoption and sustained use of online learning in higher education within the Australian context. The paper argues that four main issues which universities must deal with to achieve maximum potential from online learning technologies are: the establishment of cost-effective practices; the achievement and maintenance of quality in online learning delivery; ensuring access and equity in the delivery of programs; and establishing practices which can enable online learning to be sustained and to grow as a mainstream activity in university teaching and learning. While these issues are suggested as discrete entities, it …

Promoting Self-Regulated Learning In An On-Line Environment, Mark Mcmahon, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

Self-Regulation has long been seen as a desirable but difficult to achieve instructional aim. This is particularly true of on-line learning, where users have limited instructional support and where attrition rates tend to be greater than in face-to-face teaching. This paper examines the nature of self-regulation, identifying affective and cognitive skills which make for self-regulated learners. The broad psychological states of metacognition and self-concept are identified as well as the motivational and cognitive processes that underpin them. The volitional, learning, and regulatory strategies which learners use are delineated. These are placed within the context of online learning. Aspects which characterise …

Why A Journal Of Research For Consumers?, Simone Pettigrew

Research outputs pre 2011

This article outlines the rationale behind the introduction of the Journal of Research for Consumers. The potential benefits to be gained from educating consumers are discussed, and arguments are made for the contribution of consumer researchers to the consumer education process. In particular, the deficiencies of the current dependence on research that produces managerial outcomes are discussed in terms of the limitations they place on understanding the relevance of consumption in consumers' lives. The structure of the Journal of Consumer Research is described in terms of the access provided to both academic and consumer audiences.

Developing Generic Tools For Use In Flexible Learning: A Preliminary Progress Report, Ron Oliver, Barry Harper, Shirley Agostinho

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper presents a description of the Australian University Teaching Committee (AUTC) funded project titled: "Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Their Role in Flexible Learning" that aims to provide opportunities for university teachers to create high quality flexible learning experiences for students. This is to be accomplished by the development of a range of software tools and templates based on previously successful ICT-based learning projects in a form that will enable teachers in other settings and subject areas to create similar learning environments for their students. The project is a two-year endeavor and began in November 2000. The purpose …

New Designs For Web Based Learning Environments, Ron Oliver, Barry Harper, John O'Donoghue, N O Name

Research outputs pre 2011

With the continued advances in information and communication technology comes the interconnectivity of education institutions, businesses and industries. Either by default or association, the traditional education system will need to change and adapt to these new demands and opportunities. With these changes we are in danger of losing the focus of the learning process, and not recognising the importance of maintaining a balance between technology and pedagogy. This paper will review these issues, and examine an investigation of new learning designs which take advantage of the affordances of the Web and the opportunities which arise.

Biases Toward Defendants In Joint Criminal Trials, Catherine J. Korda

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Under the Criminal Code Compilation Act 1913 (WA), any number of individuals may be joined as co-defendants in a single trial, fanning a situation known as a joint trial. The charge/s against each defendant are considered separately and given a separate verdict by the jury. There is considerable debate in the legal arena as to the utility of joint trials, although to date little empirical research exists to substantiate any of the claims made. The present study aimed to contribute to the sparse knowledge base on joint trials by examining the impact of evidence strength on juror decision making in …

A Critical Linguistic Analysis Of A Popular Comic Genre In Japan, Angela Rawson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research will focus on the issue of power and gender in the language of Japanese comics (manga). Comics in Japan are enormously popular and are read by a wide audience. They are aimed at specific audiences and it is my argument that the language of manga helps to reinforce certain social stereotypes - particularly the inferiority of women and the dominance of males. The language of children's manga will be analyzed using the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), which concerns itself with the relation between ideology and power in discourse. The analysis will be at various levels including …

A Socio-Historical Study Of The Construction Of Knowledge In Secondary Media Education In Western Australia - Whose Knowledge?, Robyn Quin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis investigates the history of the construction of knowledge in the school subject media studies using the Western Australian experience as the case for the study. It seeks to explain why the subject media studies looks and sounds the way it does today through the production of a genealogy of the subject. The problems addressed are first, why was this subject introduced into the curriculum in the 1970s. Secondly, how has the knowledge in the subject been defined and contested, how and why has it changed in the course of the subject’s history. Thirdly, which knowledge attains the status …