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Theses : Honours

1990

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The Influence Of Prior Knowledge Of Expository Text Structure On Comprehension In Young Children, Zenda Johnson Jan 1990

The Influence Of Prior Knowledge Of Expository Text Structure On Comprehension In Young Children, Zenda Johnson

Theses : Honours

The effects of the instruction of report text structure on students’ comprehension of expository material with familiar m1d unfamiliar topics was investigated in both the short and long term. Two comprehension measures were used (ability to restructure an unstructured report text through written composition, and written recall of facts). Forty two Year Three students were matched in comprehension ability based on initial general comprehension performance in a standardized test, and were assigned to either an Experimental group which received text structure instruction, or a Control group which received no special instruction. Results indicated that the instruction and practise in report …


Advocate Or Adversary: The Declining Membership Of Young People In Unions, Dave Palmer Jan 1990

Advocate Or Adversary: The Declining Membership Of Young People In Unions, Dave Palmer

Theses : Honours

Recent figures show that participation of young workers between the ages of 15-24 in trade unions is by far the lowest of all age groups. Of 1.5 million young workers in this age category only one third are unionised. Not only is membership low but it is also fast declining. While there has been some discussion and debate over the reasons for this decline, few of the more popular explanations have been comprehensively and critically examined. These explanations include: i) dramatic changes in the world of work over the past twenty years ii) poor images of unions and a lack …


The Relationship Between Diet And Exercise And The Occurrence Of Headaches In Adolescents Aged 12 To 15 Years, Paula Hahnel Jan 1990

The Relationship Between Diet And Exercise And The Occurrence Of Headaches In Adolescents Aged 12 To 15 Years, Paula Hahnel

Theses : Honours

Headaches in adolescents present school nurses with a challenge. Al though separate research has focussed on headaches in children, and on dietary and exercises practices of adolescents, little attention has been paid to the relationship between the two. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adolescents' dietary and exercise practices affect the occurrence of their headaches. The randomly selected sample consisted of 97 adolescents, aged 12 to 15 years, from a Perth metropolitan high school. Males accounted for 28%. Of respondents, and females 72%.. The average age was 13.5 years. All students taking part in the study were …


Base-Line Equivalence In Three Paired Groups Prior To The Implementation Of Primary Nursing, Julien Harris Jan 1990

Base-Line Equivalence In Three Paired Groups Prior To The Implementation Of Primary Nursing, Julien Harris

Theses : Honours

Primary nursing, one of the methods advocated for assigning nurses to care for patients, has been the subject of much investigation. The value of the system remains unclear. A review of the literature indicated a lack of consensus with positive, equivocal, and negative findings. This study formed phase one of a collaborative Project which measures the effects of the implementation of primary nursing over a two year period. This portion of the Project studies the base-line data of three paired nursing units, to determine whether there was evidence of base-line equivalence of the study and control groups, as determined by …


The Role Of Computer Algebra Systems In Mathematics Teaching At Upper Secondary School, Wendy Johnstone Jan 1990

The Role Of Computer Algebra Systems In Mathematics Teaching At Upper Secondary School, Wendy Johnstone

Theses : Honours

Computer algebra systems are programs that manipulate both symbols and numbers and so can reduce the tedium of algebra in the same way calculators can reduce the time and work involved in arithmetic. Some systems combine a wide ranqe of mathematical functions with graphing capabilities. As such they have the potential to reduce the time students spend calculating algorithms, allowing more time for concept development, which is enhanced by the ability of the program to concurrently represent mathematical functions graphically. Originally computer algebra systems were only developed for mainframe computers, but in recent years several systems have become available for …


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Retelling With The Aid Of A Story-Map Procedure With Weaker Readers, Madeleine Boekeman Jan 1990

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Retelling With The Aid Of A Story-Map Procedure With Weaker Readers, Madeleine Boekeman

Theses : Honours

This study examines the effectiveness of the 'Retelling with the aid of a story-map procedure' as an instructional approach which could help weaker readers in their second year of schooling. Based on the literature and research findings which support a view of language as a developmental, holistic and natural process, the 'Retelling with the aid of a story-map procedure' was chosen. It was hypothesised that it would help the weaker readers make connections between oral language and written language, develop meaning seeking behaviours and increase their 'data pool' of linguistic knowledge. The goal of this study was to seek answers …


Creativity In Aboriginal Students And The Implications For Language Teaching, Raeme Goves-Jacka Jan 1990

Creativity In Aboriginal Students And The Implications For Language Teaching, Raeme Goves-Jacka

Theses : Honours

The current level of scholastic success of Aboriginal students in Western Australian schools is overviewed together with some concerns regarding Aboriginal cognition. The issues which appear to inhibit in Aboriginal children the sort of cognitive development which is beneficial for schooling are reviewed. These are seen as cultural discontinuity, Vygotsky's belief in the cultural transmission of language, political constraints and the concept that different cultures with different needs produce different modes of thinking. Aboriginal child rearing practices are also reviewed together with the definition, process and product of creativity. The review also deals with the creative person, the creative environment, …


Digital Image Processing Using Mathematical Morphology, Andrew Mehnert Jan 1990

Digital Image Processing Using Mathematical Morphology, Andrew Mehnert

Theses : Honours

This dissertation is a natural extension of my undergraduate research project entitled, "Digital Image Processing”. Whilst my undergraduate project dealt with a number of classical digital image filtering techniques such as spatial convolution and frequency domain filtering via the Fourier transform, this dissertation focuses on an alternative approach employing Mathematical Morphology. In contrast to classical filtering techniques, which often geometrically distort the original image, morphological operations, used sensibly, essentially preserve shape and geometry. Mathematical morphology therefore lends itself to image processing applications requiring the identification of objects and object features within an image. Herein basic morphological operations are developed, firstly …


A Pilot Study To Improve Academic Learning Time In Physical Education, Robert Walker Jan 1990

A Pilot Study To Improve Academic Learning Time In Physical Education, Robert Walker

Theses : Honours

Academic Learning Time in Physical Education (ALT-PE) is defined as the portion of engaged time when a student is involved in practice appropriate to his or her ability. The amount of time students are appropriately engaged in physical education activities has been found to have a high correlation with student achievement (Godbout, Brunelle & Tousignant, 1983; Graham, Soares & Hanington, 1983; Harrison, 1987; Phillips & Carlisle, 1983; Placek & Randall, 1986; Silverman, 1985). The teacher has control over the amount of time children can practise the criterion skill in a particular lesson. Investigating the way in which the students spend …


Nurses' Use Of Universal Precautions, Robin G.S. Jackson Jan 1990

Nurses' Use Of Universal Precautions, Robin G.S. Jackson

Theses : Honours

Research into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Hepatitis B., and other bloodborne pathogens has led to the current worldwide awareness that patients can be admitted to hospitals with potentially fatal diseases that can remain undetected in blood and certain body fluids. This has resulted in a change of emphasis in Infection Control, namely isolating the source of infection rather than isolating the diagnosed infectious patient. One such technique recommended to protect healthcare workers, and other patients from nosocomial disease, is Universal Precautions. This study, using a descriptive survey design and structured questionnaire examined nurses' stated compliance to this technique in a …


Clinically Practising Nurses' Perceptions Of Professionalism, Diane E. Twigg Jan 1990

Clinically Practising Nurses' Perceptions Of Professionalism, Diane E. Twigg

Theses : Honours

This study describes clinically practising nurses’ perceptions of professionalism and compares these with reports of nurses’ perceptions of professionalism in the published literature. A phenomenological approach was chosen to identify and interpret the phenomena (professionalism). Ten Registered Nurses representing a range of clinical nursing positions were interviewed on the subject. Data were analysed using an interpretive methodology which identified themes and meanings. Credibility of results was established through participant validation of the identified themes and meanings and by researcher and data triangulation. The study identified six themes common to all participants’ descriptions: expertise based upon a sound education, continued learning, …


Personal Practice Of And Beliefs About Breast Self Examination In Students Of Nursing, Charles Lancaster Jan 1990

Personal Practice Of And Beliefs About Breast Self Examination In Students Of Nursing, Charles Lancaster

Theses : Honours

Epidemiological data reveal that breast cancer is a major health problem to women today. Although there are no known means for preventing it, detection and early diagnosis of breast cancer can be readily made through Breast Self Examination (BSE), an inexpensive, non-invasive, cost--effective procedure undertaken by women themselves. Yet, while most women have heard of BSE, very few perform it. By employing Pender's (1987) Health Promotion Model (HPM) as the theoretical nursing framework, it is possible to study reasons for this noncompliance. In this study, two areas are looked at specifically: perceived susceptibility to breast cancer and perceived benefits from …


Optimal Axillary Thermometer Placement Time For Recording Neonatal Temperature, Athalie Johnston Jan 1990

Optimal Axillary Thermometer Placement Time For Recording Neonatal Temperature, Athalie Johnston

Theses : Honours

Since body temperature is a reflection of neonatal wellbeing, taking and recording an accurate temperature is an important nursing role. Research has shown that axillary temperature adequately reflects core body temperature and is the recommended site for neonates. However, researchers have been unable to agree on the length of thermometer placement time to record an accurate axillary temperature. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal thermometer placement time to record the maximum axillary temperature in newborn infants using a descriptive correlational design. Axillary temperatures were taken using a convenience sample of 100 healthy, term neonates between 38 …


The Relationship Between Cooperative Small Group Composition And The Learning Of A Mathematical Concept In The Primary School Years: A Pilot Study, Susan Eaton Jan 1990

The Relationship Between Cooperative Small Group Composition And The Learning Of A Mathematical Concept In The Primary School Years: A Pilot Study, Susan Eaton

Theses : Honours

In recent years small group cooperative learning has been given increasing attention by researchers. This interest has been a result of n growing awareness of the benefits that small group cooperative learning can bring to the learning process. These benefits include gains in areas of academic achievement, self-confidence as a learner, cross-cultural/cross-racial relationships, social acceptance of mainstreamed students, and improved attitudes towards school and learning. A particular focus of North American researchers has been small group cooperative learning in mathematics. Little work had been done in this area in Western Australian schools and with the changed emphasis in the Western …


The Effect Of A Vee-Mapping Strategy On Students' Perceptions Of Laboratory Activities, Sonia J. Hueppauff Jan 1990

The Effect Of A Vee-Mapping Strategy On Students' Perceptions Of Laboratory Activities, Sonia J. Hueppauff

Theses : Honours

Practical work is considered important for learning science, by teachers and science educators. This acceptance though, has been reported as based on intuition rather than evidence (Atkinson & White, 1961). A significant proportion of class time is occupied with doing practical work. It is evident that in a majority of situations, students commence laboratory activities unsure of their aim, the procedure they are going to carry out, or that experimentation is a way of forming knowledge (Moreira, I 960; Novak & Gowin, I 964). Vee-maps (Novak & Gowin, 1 964) are one way of making laboratory work more meaningful. That …


The Process Of Smoking Acquisition Among Girls And Boys (Year 8) At Balga Senior High School, Sharon Mcbride Jan 1990

The Process Of Smoking Acquisition Among Girls And Boys (Year 8) At Balga Senior High School, Sharon Mcbride

Theses : Honours

Many smokers acquire their habit during adolescence, largely because of social forces experienced by people in that age group. In Australia, more girls than boys are smoking, and an increasing number of women are contracting diseases associated with smoking. More women are dying from Lung Cancer and female smokers make themselves vulnerable to a range of disorders related to fertility and pregnancy. The fact that more girls are taking up regular smoking has become an important health concern. This study explores gender related differences in smoking acquisition among a sample population of one hundred and six year eight students attending …


An Investigation Into The Interaction Of Children Using A Computer-Based Adventure Game, Jeffrey Mountjoy Jan 1990

An Investigation Into The Interaction Of Children Using A Computer-Based Adventure Game, Jeffrey Mountjoy

Theses : Honours

This study investigated the types of Interactions which occurred as children played a computer based adventure game. Year six children (N = 15) from five different schools participated in the study and were observed playing the game over a period of three to four thirty minute sessions. Video tape recordings and direct observations were made of the groups as they played the game. Individual Interviews were conducted with each player at the conclusion of the treatment period. Data collected from each of the groups was used to study and the forms of Interaction displayed by players noted. It was found …


Secondary Students' Difficulties With Designing A Controlled Experiment, Bradley E. Watson Jan 1990

Secondary Students' Difficulties With Designing A Controlled Experiment, Bradley E. Watson

Theses : Honours

This research investigation was conducted to identify the difficulties encountered by secondary science students in the design of a controlled experiment. These difficulties were illuminated by studying the combination of knowledge, skills and strategies employed by experts. Three categories of individuals were used in the study, Year 10 science students, Year 12 science students and science lecturers who had completed doctoral studies in their fields. There were six subjects interviewed in each category. Each of the subjects were given a task which involved thinking aloud while planning a controlled experiment. When the subjects had completed the task, they were asked …


Measuring Midwives Accuracy Of Estimating Blood Loss, Christine J. White Jan 1990

Measuring Midwives Accuracy Of Estimating Blood Loss, Christine J. White

Theses : Honours

This study focused on the assessment of blood loss during childbirth by attending midwives. It is very important that the volume of blood loss during childbirth be reported with accuracy. However, it is traditionally accepted that the most commonly used method of estimating blood loss is' inaccurate, This study attempted to determine the accuracy of the attending midwives' visual estimation of blood loss, during vaginal delivery, by measuring all blood loss with electronic weighing scales and comparing it to their visually estimated figures. One hundred and seven women, booked for confinement at a large metropolitan hospital, were selected for the …


Umbilical Cord Separation Time In Infants, Helen Bailey Jan 1990

Umbilical Cord Separation Time In Infants, Helen Bailey

Theses : Honours

Umbilical cord separation vary throughout the world. This variation makes it difficult to advise parents when the umbilical cord will separate. The purpose of this study was to determine the length of time until umbilical cord separation for a sample of babies born in Perth. A descriptive study was conducted at two hospitals using two different cord care methods. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 228 babies by a structures telephone interview. Mothers were contacted at home after cord separation and asked questions about the study variables. Influencing variables included type and frequency of cord care, sex, mode …


The Effect Of The Teaching Of An Explicit Top-Level Expository Text Structure On The Structure Of Year Seven Children's Semantic Memory, Les Phul Jan 1990

The Effect Of The Teaching Of An Explicit Top-Level Expository Text Structure On The Structure Of Year Seven Children's Semantic Memory, Les Phul

Theses : Honours

In order to examine the effect of the teaching of a top-level expository structure through writing on children's schemata for text structure, children in year seven were asked to display graphically the relationships between 42 randomly presented text items related to a central topic. The text items were designed to approximate the kinds of information that may be found in an encyclopaedia or a science text about a given topic. One class of children was then allocated to the control group and the other to the experimental group. The experimental group was taught the top-level structure for a scientific report …


The Effect Of Shift Length On The Number Of Needlestick Injuries In An Acute Private Hospital, J. Mcmahon Jan 1990

The Effect Of Shift Length On The Number Of Needlestick Injuries In An Acute Private Hospital, J. Mcmahon

Theses : Honours

Needlestick injuries present a hazard to both nurse and patient in that they may be the source of transmission of Hepatitis B and the human immunodeficiency virus. It is therefore important to study the factors which either precipitate or prevent needlestick injury. This study examined the effect of shift length on the number of needlestick injuries. Variables which were tested included length of shift, location of work, time of shift, and time within shift. A descriptive survey was used to demonstrate a relationship between any of these variables and the occurrence of needlestick injuries. The study included two data sources: …


Effect Of Ice Therapy On Post Partum Perineal Pain And Wound Condition, Sheila Klimczyk Jan 1990

Effect Of Ice Therapy On Post Partum Perineal Pain And Wound Condition, Sheila Klimczyk

Theses : Honours

The application of ice to the perineal wound is a common treatment in the post partum period. There is little research available that evaluates the efficacy of ice therapy. This study examined the effects of ice therapy on the perineal wound in the first 24 hours post partum. An experimental design was used to test the hypothesis that the application of ice to the perineal wound, in the first 24 hours post partum, produces a significant reduction in reported pain and use of oral analgesia, and improvement in wound condition. A convenience sample of 58 post partum women from a …


The Use And Acceptability Of Lupin Seed And Sprout As A Food Ingredient, Suzanne Dagnia Jan 1990

The Use And Acceptability Of Lupin Seed And Sprout As A Food Ingredient, Suzanne Dagnia

Theses : Honours

The purpose of the research was to assess the use and acceptability of the lupin seed and sprout as a human food. Two studies were designed. 1. The first study involved the biochemical analysis and nutritional evaluation of the lupin sprout. Protein Efficiency Ratio, and Apparent Biological Value, Net Protein Utilization, and Digestibility tests measure protein quality. Biochemical assays included nitrogen and hexane extracts, amino acid profile, and selected minerals and anti-nutritive factors. 2. The second quality study investigated the changes that occur as a result of in the eating partial substitution of lupin flour into a wheat flour-based, standard …


The Role Of The Media In Determining Fashion In Perth: A Study In Cultural Ambiguity, Kerry Giles Jan 1990

The Role Of The Media In Determining Fashion In Perth: A Study In Cultural Ambiguity, Kerry Giles

Theses : Honours

This study is contextualised within the international fashion framework. The notion of core and periphery has been established in preparation of the application to the local context. The practice of mimicry is examined. This has involved the comparison of global trends with the Perth market. The examination of the fashion condition focuses on the sources of inspiration. Core areas in which fashion concepts are created are identified and their relevance to the Perth fashion scene established. Post-colonial cultural theory has been applied as a critique of fashion in a marginal area. Sources of visual and written media have been identified …


A Study On The Integration Of Existing Community Transport Resources Within The Boundaries Of The City Of Stirling, Thremy Richard Jan 1990

A Study On The Integration Of Existing Community Transport Resources Within The Boundaries Of The City Of Stirling, Thremy Richard

Theses : Honours

The study was designed to investigate if, the community transport providers operating within a local authority were able to meet the daily requests for transport to the frail aged and disabled persons living in this locality. Then to ascertain if these transport providers were fully utilising their transport vehicles, which could be volunteers in cars, or a small bus. If they were able to meet these demands, would they be interested in sharing their vehicles by becoming part of an integrated community transport service? The data collection techniques consisted of firstly conducting a qualitative meta-analysis on a selection of community …


The Effect Of Employers' Attitudes On The Implementation Of Computer Aided Manufacturing Techniques In The Furniture Industry In Western Australia, Brian Ferguson Jan 1990

The Effect Of Employers' Attitudes On The Implementation Of Computer Aided Manufacturing Techniques In The Furniture Industry In Western Australia, Brian Ferguson

Theses : Honours

In this study, the incorporation of computers in industry is compared with the industrial revolution. It is envisaged that computers in industry will bring about similar sweeping changes to the workforce as those that took place during the eighteenth century. However, it is noted that, thus far, Australian industry leaders in general remain ignorant of these changes (Eckersley 1988,p.3) and the Western Australian furniture industry is no exception. If Australian industry in general and the Western Australian furniture industry in particular, are to avoid a similar decline in economic competitiveness to that experienced by European countries {Marcum 1986,p.28 ), there …


The Post-Discharge Medication Compliance Of Elderly Medical Patients: Incidence And Influencing Factors, Donna L. Mitchell Jan 1990

The Post-Discharge Medication Compliance Of Elderly Medical Patients: Incidence And Influencing Factors, Donna L. Mitchell

Theses : Honours

This study was designed to estimate the extent to which elderly patients complied with their medication regimens post-discharge from three general medical wards of an acute hospital in Perth. Relationships between medication compliance and age, education, cognitive function, medication supervision, number of drugs taken, number of doses per drug per day, regimen recall and drug knowledge were observed. The sample of the study was the general medical patients of three medical wards who were 60 years or older, fluent in the English language, returning to a home in the metropolitan area with no full-time nursing care needs and discharged during …


Casualties Of War And The Politics Of Representation In Vietnam, Samantha Walsh Jan 1990

Casualties Of War And The Politics Of Representation In Vietnam, Samantha Walsh

Theses : Honours

This thesis explores the 'casualties' of media representations of the Vietnam War in the nineteen eighties. Produced during the term of office of Ronald Reagan these texts rework central ideological issues revelent to that presidency: American innocence, 'fragile hero', Vietnam and the Vietnamese, and gender relations. Such issues will be looked at across a range 'of films and television programmes. Firstly, the filmic 'casualties'; American innocence, fragile hero and 'others' will be identified and analysed, Secondly, their relation to television will be initially expanded with a view to reevaluating television's supposed 'inferiority'. Television's casualties will then be analysed with particular …


Who's Speaking To Whom?: The Formation Of The Multicultural Radio And Television Association Of Western Australia, Natasha D. Vukelja Jan 1990

Who's Speaking To Whom?: The Formation Of The Multicultural Radio And Television Association Of Western Australia, Natasha D. Vukelja

Theses : Honours

The fundamental aim of this dissertation will be to outline and critique the factors which have delayed the establishment of the first independent ethnic/multicultural radio station in Perth. The Multicultural Radio and Television Association of Western Australia are due to commence broadcasting on 6EBA FM on 1 December, 1990. While the Association has been broadcast·.ng through 6NR Community Access Radio for the past fourteen years, the increasing demand for air-time led them to apply for a Special Purpose, category 'S' licence through the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. The application was made in 1987, and the licence was granted after a hearing …