Digital Commons Network^™

School Psychologists' Practice And Perceptions Of School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention And Postvention Practices, Alyce M. Hopple

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide prevention and postvention activities may be provided in the school environment, and literature suggests that school psychologists are likely to provide services to address suicidality because of their training surrounding mental health. School psychologists training concerning suicide prevention has been examined through quantitative studies; however, specific elements of suicide prevention and postvention training, as well as how training might affect school psychologists preparedness to address suicidality, are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to collect information surrounding participants experiences surrounding suicide prevention and postvention activities. Participants were 10 school psychologists who were practicing in the school …

Self-Expansion As A Motivation For Playing Mmorpgs, Mark Lowe

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) is an immersive game that combines social aspects which allow gamers to meet and form relationships with other players in order to complete in-game objectives. Current theories of motivation for playing these games focus on three primary components: Achievement, Social, and Immersion (Yee, 2012). The present study suggested that Self-Expansion theory may enhance our understanding as to why people play games, especially social games such as MMORPGs. Self-Expansion theory argues that people are innately driven to expand their sense of self by establishing close relationships, increasing personal resources, collecting meaningful items, and seeking …

The Clinical Utility Of Standardized Test Observation In Diagnosis Of Adhd, Sarah K. Thomas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of a standardized observation measure in the diagnostic assessment of ADHD in children. Evidenced-based assessment of ADHD recommends the use of multiple informants and multiple methods, and ADHD diagnostic criteria requires impairment in at least two settings. Commonly, parent and teacher reports of child behavior differ and blur the diagnostic picture, so standardized observations during testing may provide additional useful diagnostic information. Archival data from 140 children (age 5 – 12) referred to a university-based ADHD evaluation clinic was utilized in the present study. Testing observations measured by the …

The Intersection Of Race, Gender, And Religiosity: Factors That Influence Transprejudice, Katherine M. Lindner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trans people are people who do not conform to traditional gender roles due to presenting themselves as a gender not assigned from birth. Transprejudice refers to negative attitudes toward trans people. The intersectionality perspective proposes that individuals have multiple identities (such as sexual orientation, gender, and race) that influence the amount of power society gives them (Worthen, 2013). Attitudes toward hypothetical trans persons were examined in a sample of 713 undergraduates. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions where trans person gender and race were manipulated. After reading a vignette, participants were asked to evaluate the character on …

The Role Of Mindfulness And Spirituality In Facilitating Acceptance And Striving Towards Goals, Ashley Bauer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness and spirituality are both constructs with research support for a wide array of positive health outcomes, from increased rate of survival from disease to decreased rate of relapse from mental illness. They also have potential utility in medical, Educational, and social services sectors. Although the constructs have been related theoretically, there has been little empirical evidence to support this notion, in part due to the conflation of spirituality and religiosity, and the heterogeneity of measures available. ThisDissertation aimed to contribute to the growing literature investigating the intersection of mindfulness and spirituality while carefully taking into account the construct validity …

What Impresses Stakeholders: A Study Of Collegiate Economic Impact Studies Via The Lens Of Impression Management Theory, Amy Elizabeth French

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to classify economic impact studies of higher Education institutions through the lens of impression management theory and to create a taxonomy of collegiate economic impact studies as informed via impression management. Twenty-four economic impact studies from the state of Ohio were examined to identify three impression management tactics: self-promotion, ingratiation, and supplication. Literature was included in the study to illustrate the role that technology transfer, resource dependence theory, branding, and marketing have upon colleges and universities. The first goal of the study was to identify how institutions of higher Education utilize impression management tactics …

Plain Language Review Of Volatile Substance Use Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Trish Amaranti

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This review is a plain language version of the Review of volatile substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (2016). It provides key information on the use of volatile substances (petrol, paint, glue and other substances), among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Technical terms are explained and information is provided in an easy to understand format, with additional graphs and images to illustrate data. This plain language review provides background information on volatile substance use in Australia as well as information that has specific relevance to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait …

Written Plans And Self-Evaluations In Investigative Interviews With Witnesses, Jane Tudor-Owen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The PEACE model of investigative interviewing (Preparation and planning; Engage and explain; Account, clarification, and challenge [Account]; Closure; and Evaluation), has been in operation internationally since the early 1990s when it was introduced in England and Wales. The model is in operation in a number of Australian jurisdictions, including Western Australia (WA), where it was formally incorporated into interview training in 2009. While there have been a number of evaluations of the PEACE model, they have predominantly focused on the interview stages of the model; that is, Engage and explain, Account, and Closure. By comparison, the Preparation and planning and …

Lilith’S Daughters: Distilling The Healing Wisdom Of Women After Abortion, Miriam Brooker

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Spaces and opportunities for women to share, reflect upon and explore their personal experiences of abortion, are limited by a range of social judgments associated with having an abortion. This doctoral research project investigates how 23 diverse Australian women made sense of their abortion experiences, in ways that left them feeling better (or fine)1 about themselves and their decision. Within the study, a holistic approach to women’s experiences of abortion is adopted and a range of dimensions are explored: physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual. The phenomenologically-grounded research methodology employed in the study proceeded in two phases, designed to access …

A Resiliency Perspective Of The Lived Experience Of Parenting Infants And Young Children With Cystic Fibrosis In The Context Of Early Lung Disease Surveillance, Cindy Branch-Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Scientific and technological advances over the past few decades have contributed to an exponential increase in life expectancy for infants born with cystic fibrosis (CF), which can cause fatal lung disease. There has been a paradigmatic shift from reactive treatment towards early disease detection and aggressive intervention of paediatric CF. Previous research has investigated parents’ experiences of the diagnosis phase and later life stages such as adolescence and transition to adulthood. Less is understood about the experience of parenting infants and young children with CF, and no research addresses this during early surveillance for CF lung disease. Early surveillance is …

Perceptions Of Stalking: The Influence Of Perpetrator Mental Disorder Diagnosis, Target-Perpetrator Gender, And Perpetrator Persistence, Ebonnie Landwehr

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Stalking is a complex phenomenon that results in significant harm to victims. For this reason, it is vital that knowledge and understanding of the behaviour be continually advanced. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of perpetrator mental disorder diagnosis, target-perpetrator gender, and persistence on perceptions of stalking. Although psychiatric diagnoses are prevalent among clinical stalker populations, little is known about how the presence of a perpetrator mental disorder may influence perceptions of stalking. Both target-perpetrator gender and persistence have been found to have an effect on perceptions of stalking, however it is not understood if …

Dynamic Risk Management In Fire And Rescue Emergency Operations, Greg Penney

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation involving numerous risk sources, unique contexts, multiple personnel and rapidly changing environments. Firefighting operations are dynamic in nature yet require calculated risk taking and structured command to prevent the realisation of potentially catastrophic outcomes to both casualties and rescuers. The notion of “dynamic risk management” is a term that has gained popularity throughout fire services worldwide, yet the process of dynamic risk management is typically poorly articulated. This study demonstrates ‘dynamic risk management’ is a misnomer, with risk management being a defined process applied within the context of dynamic emergency response. Failure to recognise …

New Australian Plants And Animals. An Exhibition - And - Physiology, Phenomenology And Photography: Picturing The Indeterminate Within An Australian Art Practice. An Exegesis, Michael Gray

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This practice-led research project investigates indeterminate aspects of perception related to human vision and postcolonial conditioning. Through an inventive range of lens-based artworks, the research draws parallels between preconscious visual phenomena and the subjective experience of non-indigenous Australians of multiple generations.

The resulting body of creative work, New Australian Plants and Animals, can be seen to approach preconscious visual phenomena derived from the physiology of the human eye through the use of primitive photographic lens technology. This process is applied to the subject matter: introduced plants and partially naturalised migrants. This synthesis of subject and materials creates new insights …

Muscle Damage And The Repeated Bout Effect In Male Bodybuilders Following Unaccustomed Resistance Exercise, Kennedy Blowfield

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigated muscle damage of bodybuilders who performed an unaccustomed intense resistive exercise bout. Ten male bodybuilders (age: 23 ± 2 y, height: 177.6 ± 6.3 cm, body mass: 85.7 ± 8.1 kg) with a minimum of 4-years resistance training experience performed 17 exercises targeting the pectoral muscles. Eight of the 10 bodybuilders repeated the same exercises two weeks later. Muscle function (bench press throw, maximal isokinetic elbow extension and flexion concentric torque: MVC torque), muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale (VAS: 100-mm), and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity were assessed before, immediately after and 24, 48 and …

Gifted Students: Perceptions And Practices Of Regular Class Teachers, Tracy Taylor

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to examine provision of differentiated learning experiences for gifted students in regular classes in Western Australian primary schools. Specifically, it was intended to explore differentiation strategies used with gifted students, issues faced by teachers in their efforts to provide for their gifted students, and teachers’ suggestions on solutions for these issues.

Presently reality in Western Australia is that gifted primary students spend at least 90% of their time at school in regular classes. Therefore, the regular class teacher’s role in implementing appropriate learning opportunities for these students is critical. Relevant literature clearly identifies the …

Towards Trialectic Space: An Experiment In Cultural Misunderstanding And Disorientation, Clive Barstow

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper presents a praxical model of collaboration between artists in Australia and China in which the misrepresentation and misinterpretation of language (Ang 1997) within Homi Bhabha’s (1990) thirdspace theories are examined. To avoid the polarities of othering (Dervin, 2014), I adopt Henri Lefebvre’s model of cumulative trialectics (1991) as a new thirdspace that more accurately represents the complexities of modern day geographies and hybrid communities by extending the binary analysis of the past and present and beyond the real and the imagined. Trialectics expand our understanding beyond physical geographies by suggesting a cerebral space that searches for new meaning …

The Effects Of Testosterone Supplementation On Cognitive Functioning In Older Men, Eka Wahjoepramono, Prita Asih, Vilia Aniwiyanti, Kevin Taddei, Satvinder Dhaliwal, Stephanie Fuller, Jonathan Foster, Malcolm Carruthers, Giuseppe Verdile, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of men with subjective memory complaint and low testosterone levels, we investigated whether testosterone treatment significantly improved performance on various measures of cognitive functioning. Forty-four men were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to establish the baseline prior to being randomly divided into two groups. The first group (Group A) received 24 weeks of testosterone treatment (T treatment) followed by 4 …

Relationship Between Leg Mass, Leg Composition And Foot Velocity On Kicking Accuracy In Australian Football, Nicolas H. Hart, Jodie Wilkie, Tania Spiteri, Sophia Nimphius, Robert Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Kicking a ball accurately over a desired distance to an intended target is arguably the most important skill to acquire in Australian Football. Therefore, understanding the potential mechanisms which underpin kicking accuracy is warranted. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between leg mass, leg composition and foot velocity on kicking accuracy in Australian Football. Thirty-one Australian Footballers (n = 31; age: 22.1 ± 2.8 years; height: 1.81 ± 0.07 m; weight: 85.1 ± 13.0 kg; BMI: 25.9 ± 3.2) each performed ten drop punt kicks over twenty metres to a player target. Athletes were separated into …

Focus On The Journey, Not The Destination: Digital Games And Students With Disability, Susan Main, John O'Rourke, Julia Morris, Helen Dunjey

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The way in which technologies support students with disability has been widely explored in recent times. Much of this research has focused on computer programs specifically designed to teach social and academic skills to students with disability. In the research reported in this paper we examined how students with disability could use technology designed for the general market. The impetus for the study was the principle of normalisation, which espouses that people with disability should have the opportunity to share in experiences of their same-aged peers. In previous research we demonstrated the benefits of using the commercially available hand-held games …

Working Sandwich Generation Women Utilize Strategies Within And Between Roles To Achieve Role Balance, Kiah Evans, J. L. Millsteed, Janet E. Richmond Phd, Marita Falkmer, Torbjorn Falkmer, Sonya Girdler

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasingly, women simultaneously balance the roles of mother, parental carer and worker. However, individual role balance strategies among these working 'sandwich' generation women have not been thoroughly explored. Eighteen women combining these three roles were interviewed about their individual role balance strategies. Findings were identified through the framework analysis technique, underpinned by the Model of Juggling Occupations. Achieving and maintaining role balance was explained as a complex process accomplished through a range of strategies. Findings revealed the women used six within-role balance strategies: living with integrity, being the best you can, doing what you love, loving what you do, remembering …

Rhizomatic Approaches To Screen-Based Music Notation, Lindsay R. Vickery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The rhizome concept explored by Deleuze and Guatarri has had an important influence on formal thinking in music and new media. This paper explores the development of rhizomatic musical scores that are arranged cartographically with nodal points allowing for alternate pathways to be traversed. The challenges of pre-digital exemplars of rhizomatic structure are discussed. It follows the development of concepts and technology used in the creation of five works by the author Ubahn c. 1985: the Rosenberg Variations [2012], The Last Years [2012], Sacrificial Zones [2014], detritus [2015] and trash vortex [2015]. this paper discusses the potential for the evolution …

Investigating The Impact Of Naplan On Student, Parent And Teacher Emotional Distress In Independent Schools, Shane Rogers, Lennie Barblett, Ken Robinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Concerns have been raised about the impact Australia’s national standardised testing, the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), has upon the well-being of students, parents and teachers. To date, research evidence is unclear as to the level and extent of emotional distress experienced by stakeholders during testing. Despite an unclear evidence base, the prevailing view is that NAPLAN has a general negative impact upon stakeholder well-being. In a pilot study that surveyed all stakeholder groups across 11 independent schools in Western Australia, we found evidence of a minimal impact from the testing. We also found evidence for a small positive …

Health-Related Quality Of Life, Psychological Distress, And Sexual Changes Following Prostate Cancer: A Comparison Of Gay And Bisexual Men With Heterosexual Men, Jane M. Ussher, Janette M. Perz, Andrew Kellett, Suzanne K. Chambers, David Latini, Ian D. Davis, Duncan Rose, Gary Dowsett, Scott G. Williams

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction:

Decrements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sexual difficulties are a recognized consequence of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. However little is known about the experience of gay and bisexual (GB) men.

Aim:

HRQOL and psychosexual predictors of HRQOL were examined in GB and heterosexual men with PCa to inform targeted health information and support.

Method:

One hundred twenty-four GB and 225 heterosexual men with PCa completed a range of validated psychosexual instruments.

Main outcome measure:

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Prostate (FACT-P) was used to measure HRQOL, with validated psychosexual measures, and demographic and treatment variables used …

Learning Preferences Of Enrolled Nursing Students: Educational Preparation And Training For Workplace Readiness, Kalpana Raghunathan, Sonia Allen, Elisabeth R. Jacob

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In Australia there are two entry levels in nursing: the Registered Nurse (RN) and the Enrolled Nurse (EN). Nursing education research is predominately focused on higher education for Registered Nurses and postgraduate nursing students; as a result, the educational preferences of Enrolled Nursing students in the vocational education and training (VET) setting have not been identified. Enrolled Nursing students have some distinct educational needs as they transition through education into the workforce due to their diversity in learner characteristics and backgrounds. As the role of this group continues to expand in the workplace to meet the demands of the health …

The Association Between Glycosylation Of Immunoglobulin G And Hypertension: A Multiple Ethnic Cross-Sectional Study, Youxin Wang, Lucija Klarić, Xinwei Yu, Kujtim Thaqi, Jing Dong, Mislav Novokmet, Jim Wilson, Ozren Polasek, Youqin Liu, Jasminka Krištić, Siqi Ge, Maja Pučić-Baković, Lijuan Wu, Yong Zhou, Ivo Ugrina, Manshu Song, Jie Zhang, Xiuhua Guo, Qiang Zeng, Igor Rudan, Harry Campbell, Yurii Aulchenko, Gordan Lauc, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

More than half of all known proteins, and almost all membrane and extra-cellular proteins have oligosaccharide structures or glycans attached to them. Defects in glycosylation pathways are directly involved in at least 30 severe human diseases. A multiple center cross-sectional study (China, Croatia, and Scotland) was carried out to investigate the possible association between hypertension and IgG glycosylation. A hydrophilic interaction chromatography of fluorescently labeled glycans was used to analyze N-glycans attached to IgG in plasma samples from a total of 4757 individuals of Chinese Han, Croatian, and Scottish ethnicity. Five glycans (IgG with digalactosylated glycans) significantly differed in participants …

Exploratory Psychomteric Properties Of The Farsi And English Version Of Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (Spnq), Nejat Nazi, Lisa Whitehead, Marie Crowe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of this study was to translate and test the psychometric properties of a Farsi and an English version of the spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) a measure originally developed in German. The World Health Organization guideline for translating and validating questionnaires was used. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Iran and New Zealand during an outpatient follow-up appointment after cancer treatment. People diagnosed with cancer in Iran (68) and New Zealand (54) completed and returned the SpNQ (at time 1) and within the two week time period (time 2). Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.79 to 0.92, except for the …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Chronic Stress And Insulin Resistance In A Chinese Population, Yuxiang Yan, Huanbo Xiao, Sisi Wang, Jing Zhao, Yan He, Wei Wang, Jing Dong

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Chronic stress may facilitate the development of metabolic diseases. Insulin resistance is present long before the clinical manifestations of individual metabolic abnormalities. To explore whether chronic stress is an independent risk factor of insulin resistance, we investigated the relationship between the stress system, selected parameters of energy homeostasis, and insulin resistance in a Chinese population.

Methods:

We recruited 766 workers employed at four companies in Beijing. The degree of insulin resistance was determined using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The highest quartile of HOMA-IR among all study subjects was further defined as insulin resistance in our …

Superior Inhibitory Control And Resistance To Mental Fatigue In Professional Road Cyclists, Kristy Martin, Walter Staiano, Paolo Mensaspa, Tom Hennessey, Samuele M. Marcora, Richard J. Keegan, Kevin G. Thompson, David T. Martin, Shona R. Halson, Ben Rattray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose:

Given the important role of the brain in regulating endurance performance, this comparative study sought to determine whether professional road cyclists have superior inhibitory control and resistance to mental fatigue compared to recreational road cyclists.

Methods:

After preliminary testing and familiarization, eleven professional and nine recreational road cyclists visited the lab on two occasions to complete a modified incongruent colour-word Stroop task (a cognitive task requiring inhibitory control) for 30 min (mental exertion condition), or an easy cognitive task for 10 min (control condition) in a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over order. After each cognitive task, participants completed a 20-min time …

Creating Shared Norms In Schools - A Theoretical Approach, Maryanne Macdonald, Eyal Gringart, Jan Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Whilst some improvements to Indigenous education outcomes have occurred in recent years, there remains considerable inequity in the educational experiences and long-term engagement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. One of the factors contributing to the challenging environment for Indigenous students is dissonance of social norms, as a result of ethnic and socioeconomic differences between teacher and student. Many hegemonic culture teachers are unaware of Standpoint Theory and the way in which normative beliefs impact on classroom interactions and student outcomes at the cultural interface. This paper draws on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TBP) to illustrate ways in which schools …

Re-Conceptualising Graduate Employability: The Importance Of Pre-Professional Identity, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Despite efforts to broaden the concept of graduate employability, there remains an overarching focus on developing industry-relevant employability skills. The skills-based approach is, however, too narrow and does not fully capture the complexity of graduate work-readiness. This paper argues for the redefining of graduate employability by embracing pre-professional identity (PPI) formation. PPI relates to an understanding of and connection with the skills, qualities, conduct, culture and ideology of a student's intended profession. The ‘communities of practice’ model is drawn upon to demonstrate how PPI can be developed during university years. Here, a student makes sense of his/her intended profession through …