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Edith Cowan University

Theses/Dissertations

1999

Articles 1 - 30 of 52

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Managing Mountain Bike Impacts In The South West Of Western Australia : Combining Biophysical Impact Studies With Rider Preferences For Better Trail Design, Ute Goeft Jan 1999

Managing Mountain Bike Impacts In The South West Of Western Australia : Combining Biophysical Impact Studies With Rider Preferences For Better Trail Design, Ute Goeft

Theses : Honours

This thesis examines the environmental impacts of mountain bikes on trails in the southwest of Western Australia and the preferences, perceptions, trail use and demographics of mountain bike riders in that region. This information is important for resource managers and trail developers to ensure that the trails that are provided and planned for mountain bike use in the region are environmentally appropriate and acceptable to users. The environmental impacts were examined through biophysical studies, which investigated soil loss, soil compaction and vegetation damage on and adjacent to mountain bike trails over a period of six months. A mountain bike racing …

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Self Concept: Mothers And Their Children, Leanne D. Wood Jan 1999

Self Concept: Mothers And Their Children, Leanne D. Wood

Theses : Honours

Over the past 30 years divorce has been on the incline, resulting in more children living in one parent families, the majority headed by single mothers. The study of the impact of divorce and outcomes for children and their mothers has become increasingly important. According to many researchers, the study of self-concept is considered to be one of the best indicators of a person's psychological adjustment and wellbeing (Hattie, 1992; Ford, 1985). Studies have neglected to consider self-concept as a major focus and consider the relationship between the child's self-concept and their mother's self-concept. This study focuses on single mothers …

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Culture As Commodity: The Home As Spectacle In Popular Culture, Jillian E. Benn Jan 1999

Culture As Commodity: The Home As Spectacle In Popular Culture, Jillian E. Benn

Theses : Honours

This study proposes to examine representations of the home in the media. The media play a significant role in the culture of Australians, who are obsessed with the suburban home and its cultural and social meanings. The place of the home within popular thought and culture and the subsequent ideologies and meanings associated with the home are questioned in this dissertation. The major theme to emerge is that the contemporary suburban home is a spectacle. This project interprets, evaluates and contributes to current theories and debates surrounding the concept of suburbia. It is an original contribution to the perception of …

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Children's Reactions To Aggressive And Submissive Peers, Natalie Honey Jan 1999

Children's Reactions To Aggressive And Submissive Peers, Natalie Honey

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to investigate children's attitudes towards aggressive and submissive peers. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design was used to test the hypotheses. The three between-subjects variables were (a) the label given to the target child (aggressive/submissive) in a vignette, (b) the nature of the behaviour displayed in a critical incident (aggressive/nonaggressive response) as described in a vignette, and (c) the sex of the participants. A sample of 169 Year 6 and 7 students was divided into four groups containing at least 20 girls and 20 boys. A survey was administered to measure the …

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Parliament Or Protest? : The Parliamentary Impact Of The Greens (Wa) In The Legislative Council : May 1993 To May 1999, Stewart Murdo Jackson Jan 1999

Parliament Or Protest? : The Parliamentary Impact Of The Greens (Wa) In The Legislative Council : May 1993 To May 1999, Stewart Murdo Jackson

Theses : Honours

From their beginnings as a protest party in the early 1970s to their election to the federal parliaments of countries around the world, the Greens have largely been seen us the political wing of a direct action movement. As a political organisation, however, Greens are now making a transition away from an exclusive focus on direct action to mainstream parliamentary activity. The key benchmark in assessing the success or otherwise of the Greens remains the environment, and their capacity to effect changes to the benefit of the environment. This thesis, then, addresses the central question in the evolution of the …

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The Perception Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Values : Is Value Incongruence Related To Social Distance?, Lauren Jennifer Breen Jan 1999

The Perception Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Values : Is Value Incongruence Related To Social Distance?, Lauren Jennifer Breen

Theses : Honours

This review examines prejudicial actions directed towards outgroups as a function of personal values and the perception of the values held by other groups. Prejudice is a result of social and cognitive categorisation. Although it is well learned, prejudice is not inevitable, if individuals attend to and control their prejudicial thoughts. Pleasurable interaction, cooperation, equal status, and making humanitarian values conspicuous serve to reduce intergroup conflict. It was proposed that values motivate approach and avoidance behaviours directed at outgroups, and both belief congruence theory and expectance-value theory arc relevant in explaining such behaviour.

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Repetition Priming And Melody : Implicit Memory For Music, Jacqueline Landre Jan 1999

Repetition Priming And Melody : Implicit Memory For Music, Jacqueline Landre

Theses : Honours

The present study investigated the existence of repetition priming for melody and the extent to which that priming would be affected by the manipulation of frequency. A group of 62 university students and 2 members of the public listened to 20 high frequency and 20 low frequency melodies in the first phase of a repetition priming experiment. Participants were required to name as many melodies as they could as quickly as possible. The same melodies were then re-presented immediately in the second phase of the experiment along with another group of 40 melodies matched in frequency to those in the …

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Is There A Need For Speed? : Risky Driving Behaviour And Young Male Drivers : A Review Of The Literature, Catherine A. Ferguson Jan 1999

Is There A Need For Speed? : Risky Driving Behaviour And Young Male Drivers : A Review Of The Literature, Catherine A. Ferguson

Theses : Honours

Young male drivers have been identified as a high risk for Motor Vehicle Accident. This paper reviews three components for accident risk: the driving environment, society and individual factors associated with accident histories. Possible predictors for identifying young men at risk for accident involvement are driving behaviour, driving attitude and sensation seeking. Protective factors to reduce the incidence of risky driving in youth might include legal restrictions, increased education and training. The paper recommends that future research tests the above predictors for a relationship with accident involvement in young men.

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Internet Resource Management And Pricing, Christopher J. Clark Jan 1999

Internet Resource Management And Pricing, Christopher J. Clark

Theses : Honours

Originally conceived and funded as a research project, the Internet has grown into a commercial, global and integrated service network. This has changed the nature of traffic on the Internet with the increasing use of things like video conferencing and time critical transactions. These forms of Internet usage place high demands on bandwidth. Added to this is the fact that the number of users is increasing at a dramatic rate and shows no signs of slowing. This is leading to a 'tragedy of the commons' where endemic congestion will reduce the value of the Internet to everyone. It also implies …

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Child Abuse : Creating The Public In The Public Service Advertisement, Mark Brennan Jan 1999

Child Abuse : Creating The Public In The Public Service Advertisement, Mark Brennan

Theses : Honours

This thesis seeks to examine the discursive construction of the public. Unlike studies before it, it explores a site that has yet to be analysed in depth- the public service advertisement. While the characteristics of this genre are understood in cultural common sense, what has been neglected is a consideration of how these advertisements can be understood to address an entity that is amorphous and unknowable. This study argues that such an address is only possible in this genre through the discourse of childhood. By employing an interdisciplinary approach that includes cultural and-media studies, political theory and sociology, the history …

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Transforming The Mediasphere : Sweden, A Case Study Of Conflicting Discourses In Socialist And Capitalist Broadcasting Values, Kent Ingemar Svensson Jan 1999

Transforming The Mediasphere : Sweden, A Case Study Of Conflicting Discourses In Socialist And Capitalist Broadcasting Values, Kent Ingemar Svensson

Theses : Honours

Sweden has undergone major changes in its mediasphere during the last twelve years, during which two oppositional forces have been particularly at work, capitalist and socialist. Goth those forces have influenced the direction in which the national mediasphere is transforming. The challenges of these political discourses, and responses from the parties involved regarding the role of the media in society, has been increasingly visible since the late 1950s, when the public service monopoly was first called into question. The Swedish socialist government has promoted and protected its non - commercial public service monopoly, through which they could mould national identity …

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The Relationship Between Values And Religiosity In Adolescents, Paul F. Russell Jan 1999

The Relationship Between Values And Religiosity In Adolescents, Paul F. Russell

Theses : Honours

The current work examined the areas of religiosity, values and adolescent development. The recent literature with regard to the nature of religiosity as a measure of an individual'' commitment to a particular religion was explored. The issues of measurement and definition were outlined, and a position was taken as to the multi-dimensionality of religiosity. The recent work on values by Schwartz (1992) was also explored. Values were defined and the theory of a universal set of values, as well as the relationship of values to each other was outlined, along with the organisation of those individual values into value types. …

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The Defendant And The Criminal Trial : Does Providing Knowledge About The Criminal Justice System Help?, Daniel B. Hurley Jan 1999

The Defendant And The Criminal Trial : Does Providing Knowledge About The Criminal Justice System Help?, Daniel B. Hurley

Theses : Honours

Defendants are required to make many decisions during their encounter with the criminal justice system (i.e., plea, venue, representation, bail and, possibly, appeal). The assumption exists that defendants possess sufficient organizational and pragmatic knowledge of the system to make these decisions. However, research suggests that many defendants lack sufficient knowledge of the criminal justice system to make these decisions, and that this lack of knowledge may lead to feelings of anxiety. As a consequence of these findings, many defendants may be unable to effectively participate in the criminal justice system. By way of remedying this situation, it has been argued …

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Age Discrimination In Hiring Practices Against Older Adults In Western Australia : The Case Of Accounting Assistants, Eyal Gringart Jan 1999

Age Discrimination In Hiring Practices Against Older Adults In Western Australia : The Case Of Accounting Assistants, Eyal Gringart

Theses : Honours

The percentage of older adults in the Australian population is predicted to increase from about 18 at the end of this century to about 33 per cent by the year 2050. One anticipated consequence of this significant ageing of the population is that increasing numbers of older adults may be required in the workforce. Still, age discrimination in hiring places older adults at a disadvantage. Local measures of actual discrimination are needed in order to formulate appropriate policies and interventions to combat such negative attitudes. Evidence suggest that, contrary to employers perceptions, older adults are willing and able to work …

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Lost Opportunity?: An Evaluation Of The Senate's Report On Disaster Management, Julian Anthony Yates Jan 1999

Lost Opportunity?: An Evaluation Of The Senate's Report On Disaster Management, Julian Anthony Yates

Theses : Honours

The inability of the Australian federal governments to dominate the Senate has enhanced the Senate’s ability to review and make recommendations on public policy issues. In 1994, the Senate Standing Committee on Industry, Science, Technology, Transport, Communications and Infrastructure reviewed and made recommendations on Australia’s emergency management arrangements. Australian emergency management has developed in a complex environment where it has been heavily influenced by incremental development from its civil defence origins in the Second World War and by factors including international developments, federalism and the hazards impacting on Australia. The Senate Committee’s review was a unique opportunity for a high …

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The Changing Form And Function Of Claisebrook - East Perth, Graeme R. O'Neill Jan 1999

The Changing Form And Function Of Claisebrook - East Perth, Graeme R. O'Neill

Theses : Honours

This study will focus on the changing social function and form of Claisebrook, East Perth, and will show how the area has geographically changed over time. This research will also examine the significance of the area to the Aboriginal people and focus on the settlement and land use patterns from the 1830's to the 1990's. It will then elucidate the characteristics attributable to a sense of place, and link these to the physical and urban environment throughout different periods of time. Finally, this study will concentrate on the current redevelopment, investigating the current form and function of the area. It …

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Friendship Formation In Australian And Chinese Cultures, Joanna R. De Grauw Jan 1999

Friendship Formation In Australian And Chinese Cultures, Joanna R. De Grauw

Theses : Honours

No abstract provided.

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Therapeutic Factors In Small Groups : A Review Of The Literature Since 1985, Nicki Mckenna Jan 1999

Therapeutic Factors In Small Groups : A Review Of The Literature Since 1985, Nicki Mckenna

Theses : Honours

This article reviews 23 studies post 1985 that measure therapeutic factors. In particular, the current review investigates whether research post 1985 has addressed the specific areas identified by Bloch and Crouch, ( 1985) and Butler and Fuhriman (1983) as needing further investigation. Areas of study under investigation are (i) behavioral evidence for therapeutic factors. (ii) the relationship between therapeutic factors and treatment outcome, (iii) the relationship between therapeutic factors and individual differences, (iv) the association between therapeutic factors conditions of change and techniques. Studies reviewed were categorized into Inpatient and Outpatient settings. Only one study used observational methods, with the …

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Decreasing Inappropriate Classroom Behaviours Through A Videotape Self-Modelling And Self-Monitoring Treatment Package, Catherine Ann Coyle Jan 1999

Decreasing Inappropriate Classroom Behaviours Through A Videotape Self-Modelling And Self-Monitoring Treatment Package, Catherine Ann Coyle

Theses : Honours

Children with autism frequently display an inability to function independently. This has led researchers to develop treatments that are aimed at overcoming the dependency of these children on parents and teachers and which teach them to manage their own behaviour. A self-management treatment package consisting of videotaped self-modelling, self-monitoring, and self-reinforcement was investigated in the present study. The focus was the effect of the treatment package on the inappropriate classroom behaviours of three children with autism. The behaviours that were chosen were those that were most likely to interfere with the participants' ability to work independently in the classroom. The …

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Bourdieu's Concept Of Social Capital : An Examination Of His Broader Theoretical Framework And The Concept's Applications And Implications For Australian Social Policy, Dawn Marie Atkin Jan 1999

Bourdieu's Concept Of Social Capital : An Examination Of His Broader Theoretical Framework And The Concept's Applications And Implications For Australian Social Policy, Dawn Marie Atkin

Theses : Honours

The concept of social capital is investigated in this thesis both in its theoretical and potential social policy environment Pierre Bourdicu 's 'Theory of Practice' provides the theoretical frame within which this concept is investigated. A variety of texts, with a particular focus on Australian publications, provide the basis for further application analysis. This is primarily a textual research therefore data gathering procedures were library based. Being a theoretical analysis of the current status of social capital, as it relates to prospective social policy reform in Australia, this thesis both collates and contributes to a body of knowledge regarding the …

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Dancing With Difference, Michael J. Lenney Jan 1999

Dancing With Difference, Michael J. Lenney

Theses : Honours

This is a symbolic interactionist study into behaviours surrounding social interaction. The study has two components, asking how people with able-bodies interact with a young person with a disability, and how does the young person, who is non-verbal, respond to and interpret such interactions? Participants were observed and recorded using a digital camera whilst interacting at a social venue. The able-bodied participants were not aware of the camera at the time of filming, and were approached after the filming to participate in the study. Seven participants were later interviewed and asked to explain what they were aware of as they …

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Bicultural Involvement And Psychological Well-Being In Second Generation Chinese Migrants In Australia, Denise A. Kensit Jan 1999

Bicultural Involvement And Psychological Well-Being In Second Generation Chinese Migrants In Australia, Denise A. Kensit

Theses : Honours

The present study, a replication of Szapocnik, Kurtines and Fernandez's (1980) study, measured the relationship between bicultural involvement and psychological wellbeing for second generation (i.e. born in Australia) Chinese migrants in Perth, Western Australia. Ninety volunteers participated in the study. They were all Australian citizens, over l 8 years of age, and spoke English. Two studies were conducted. Firstly, four volunteers participated in semi-structured interviews to provide a context to data yielded from the quantitative study. Secondly, eighty-six second generation migrants (i.e. born in Australia) completed a questionnaire that included the Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire (B1Q) and the General Health Questionnaire, …

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The Perceived Effects Of Cross-Cultural Interaction On Flight Crew Training Between Anglo-Australian Flight Instructors And Asian Students, Daniel Goh Jan 1999

The Perceived Effects Of Cross-Cultural Interaction On Flight Crew Training Between Anglo-Australian Flight Instructors And Asian Students, Daniel Goh

Theses : Honours

The study investigated the perceived effects of cross-cultural interaction on ab-initio flight crew training between Anglo Australian flight instructors and Asian students. Students and instructors perceptions were sought as to whether they believed that cross-cultural interaction would impede learning. The sample included forty-eight students and nine instructors from two flying schools. Thirty-eight students were required to complete a 15 item survey and ten students and nine instructors participated in a semi-structured interview. The research identified four specific areas - language, studying and teaching methods, attitudes towards asking questions, and command decision making. Cross-cultural interaction was found to be an integral …

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Neighbourhood Cohesion And Sense Of Community In A Local Church Context, Colin Cowie Jan 1999

Neighbourhood Cohesion And Sense Of Community In A Local Church Context, Colin Cowie

Theses : Honours

The nature and implications for growth of sense of community (SOC) in a local church setting were explored. In study one, the Neighbourhood Cohesion Index (NCI) and Sense of Community Index (SCI) were completed by 108 Sorrento Anglican Church members. Principal components and reliability analyses indicated that the church-referenced SCI was an appropriate assessment tool. Three factors labelled values, influence and neighbourhood concern emerged in a SCI principal components analysis. A hierarchical multiple regression indicated that talking to neighbours about religion and the SCI values subscale predicted 22% of the variance in the NCI. The prediction that the church-referenced SCI …

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Attitudes To Biotechnology And Genetically Modified Food : A Review, Juliana Rose Cannon Jan 1999

Attitudes To Biotechnology And Genetically Modified Food : A Review, Juliana Rose Cannon

Theses : Honours

Debate surrounds the introduction of new biotechnological applications such as genetically modified food (GMF). With this in mind a critical review of the debate, it's emerging themes, and approaches to measurement was undertaken. The intention of this review was to argue that while existing empirical measures have advanced our understanding of attitudes to GMF, they are limited both conceptually and methodologically. Overall, the validity and reliability of research support was compromised. Conceptually, attitudes to GMF were composed of a number of potential dimensions that have yet to be measured. Adherence to sound scale construction techniques may facilitate more reliable and …

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The Generalisability Of The Stages And Processes Of Change ; The Concurrent Validity Of The Stages And Processes Of Change, Suzanne E. Marko Jan 1999

The Generalisability Of The Stages And Processes Of Change ; The Concurrent Validity Of The Stages And Processes Of Change, Suzanne E. Marko

Theses : Honours

The transtheorctical model of behaviour change is comprised of the stages of change and the processes of change. The stages explain when change occurs, and the processes outline how change occurs. This model has been influential in clinical practice in the areas of tobacco smoking, alcohol use, eating disorders, and exercise behaviour. This review focuses on the previous literature concerned with the transtheorctical model. Although the model is popular and used to tailor interventions, it has not yet been cross-culturally vaildated, or tested comprehensively in the field of illegal drug use. Further research is necessary to examine whether or not …

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Avenues Of Communication : The Suburban Press And Globalisation, Shane Hewerdine Jan 1999

Avenues Of Communication : The Suburban Press And Globalisation, Shane Hewerdine

Theses : Honours

Over the past two decades there has been an increasing amount of attention within academia, regarding the issue of globalisalion, within all disciplines. Cultural studies in particular have speculated upon the effects of globalistion that will potentially affect all of the diverse cultures and societies throughout the world For the most part the concenus amongst cultural critiques is that globalisation will adversely affect localised communities and cultures. The principle argument has been that local cultural and societal tenets, that constitute unique identities and senses of community, will be subsumed by a homogenised global culture largely produced by American cultural and …

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Masculinity, Social Support And Sense Of Community : The Mens Group Experience, Julie A. Reddin Jan 1999

Masculinity, Social Support And Sense Of Community : The Mens Group Experience, Julie A. Reddin

Theses : Honours

Recently, there has been increased attention in understanding factors that influence men's health and wellbeing. This paper examines men's wellbeing and the "male crisis' in Western Society. A brief historical overview is outlined to illustrate how social change has impacted on male gender roles. Men's role in society is discussed in relation to their response to feminism, and gender identity and the concept of masculinity as a social construction is outlined. Factors such as changing gender roles and subsequent role confusion are addressed in connection with men's health. This paper will then examine men's social support systems, with a focus …

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Moving To Western Australia : Decision Making Processes Of Migrants From The United Kingdom, Lynne Cohen Jan 1999

Moving To Western Australia : Decision Making Processes Of Migrants From The United Kingdom, Lynne Cohen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

International migration has assumed a new importance during the last few decades due to the volume and increase of population movement. Two important questions are relevant to the migration process. The person has to make the decision to move and to select a place of destination. In this thesis a series of studies designed to examine the factors that led to the consideration of leaving and the attributes which contributed to the choice of destination are presented. This research begins by adopting suggestions proposed by Jahoda (1981) to ask questions and thereby increase the knowledge base. The methodological framework of …

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The Relationship Between Transportation Mode Choice And Well-Being: An Ecological Perspective, Carolyn King Jan 1999

The Relationship Between Transportation Mode Choice And Well-Being: An Ecological Perspective, Carolyn King

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The present study is based on an ecological analysis of transport and wellbeing as devised by Stokols and Novaco (1981). This study seeks to examine the link between transport mode and well-being. One hundred and eight Participants (N= 1 08) filled out a questionnaire that contained the psychological well-being scales of self-efficacy, general health and perceived stress; and the organizational scales of job satisfaction and absenteeism. The participants were divided into groups of 18 according to which transport mode they used. The transport mode groups were drive alone, train, bus, car pool, walk or cycle. It was hypothesized that there …

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