Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Keeping Our Academics On The Cutting Edge: The Academic Outreach Program At The University Of Wollongong Library, Suzanne M. Lipu, Elizabeth H. Peisley

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

In the higher education sector, developing students' information literacy skills has been a hot issue in policy making and program development for almost a decade. But how do academic staff develop and maintain their information literacy skills? How do they cope in an increasingly electronic environment? In 1999 the University of Wollongong Library introduced an ambitious program coined Academic Outreach which targeted 100% of academics campus-wide. Identified as a strategic initiative of the Reference Services team, the program was designed to keep our academics on the cutting edge of information sources in their field. The aim was to help them …

Impact Evaluation Of A Folate Education Campaign With And Without The Use Of A Health Claim, P. G. Williams, J. Mchenery, Anne Mcmahon, H. Anderson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective To measure the impact of a Kellogg/Northcott Society multimedia folate education campaign, run nationally from July 1998 to June 1999, with and without the use of health claims.

Method Three national telephone surveys of over 500 Australian women aged 18-44 in July and November 1998 and May 1999.

Results Awareness of the role of folate in the prevention of birth defects rose by 8% in the first 6 months of the campaign (without health claims) and by 15% in the second half (when health claims were incorporated). Awareness of the recommendation to take folate before pregnancy rose from 21% …

Nonviolent Futures, Brian Martin

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Nonviolent action - including methods such as rallies, strikes, boycotts and sit-ins - has become increasingly important in the past century as a method for waging conflict and promoting social change. Nonviolent action has been adopted by many social movements, yet its potential impact has only begun to be realised. Some areas for future expansion of the role of nonviolent action include replacing military defence, technological design, challenging capitalism, bureaucratic politics, information struggles and interpersonal behaviour.

Cognitive Considerations For Effective Methods Of Learning Kanji For Non-Native Learners Of Japanese, H. Kaiho, G. Haththotuwa Gamage

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

The learning of Chinese characters (Kanji) is one of the most difficult problems for learners from non-Kanji backgrounds．In this study, the difficulties are examined from a cognitive perspective and several promising proposals for learning Kanji are offered with respect to (1) problems originating in the Kanji characters themselves, and　(2) problems associated with learning environments．

Ecofeminism And Globalism: A Critical Appraisal, J. Sydee, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Ecofeminism offers a useful yet limited framework through which to critique globalisation. Ecofeminism claims that the domination of women and of nature are intrinsically linked. Material ecofeminists, in particular, focus on the material conditions of women’s lives locating the source of this twin domination in patriarchal capitalism. These ecofeminists provide insights into the impacts of globalisation on women but their analysis of the causes of globalisation are limited. They identify globalisation as an outgrowth of patriarchal capitalism, insisting on the primacy of gender as the determinant of social organisation and arguing that it is the dichotomy between production and reproduction …

Dual Perceptions Of Hrd: Issues For Policy: Sme's, Other Constituencies, And The Contested Definitions Of Human Resource Development, Diana J. Kelly

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper seeks to identify what scholars and policy-makers in several arenas mean by "human resource development" (HRD), and what are their shared and different assumptions and objectives, with particular reference to small/medium enterprises (SMEs). The characteristics of successful SMEs are briefly considered, taking particular account of human factors. The notion of development-centred HRD is then explored and evaluated followed by an overview of what are the primary attributes and objectives of HRD for large enterprises (LEs), and then by a survey of the HRD goals of two major international organisations - the ILO and APEC. What these organisations conceptualise …

The Burden Of Proof And The Origin Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Brian Martin

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

There is a distinct difference in the way that different theories about the origin of AIDS have been treated, with the widely supported cut-hunter theory given relatively little scrutiny while the oral-polio-vaccine theory has been subject to intense criticism. This difference in treatment cannot be explained as application of the scientific method. A better explanation is that the burden of proof is put on all contenders to the cut-hunter theory, giving it an unfair advantage, especially given that this assignment of the burden of proof appears to reflect nonscientific factors.

Political Jiu-Jitsu Against Indonesian Repression: Studying Lower-Profile Nonviolent Resistance, Brian Martin, W. Varney, Adrian Vickers

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Most case studies of nonviolent action have focussed on prominent instances of open resistance to repression, especially successful resistance. Additional insight into the dynamics of nonviolent action can be gained by studying cases when resistance has been less widespread, less visible or less effective. The value of looking at such cases is illustrated by an examination of the toppling of Indonesian President Suharto in 1998 -- a prominent and successful exercise of nonviolent action -- and, for comparison, the Indonesian anticommunist massacres from 1965-1966 and repression in East Timor in the decade from 1975, two cases where nonviolent resistance was …

Wireless, Mobile & Handheld: Where Are Our Teachers And Students Going With Their Computers?, Sandra Wills

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

There is another revolution in technology happening before our eyes; it's mobile, handheld and wireless - and it's converging. In what ways could this new technology facilitate change in our teaching and learning practices? What planning should we put in place now if we think our universities should be taking advantage of the potential?

A Passion For Planning, Brian Martin

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Extract from article: Planning. It’s so very logical, sensible and rational. Is it possible to passionate about it? After all, the word "passion" has connotations of emotionality and spontaneity, almost opposite to the usual image of planning.

Well, I spend a lot of time planning. Certainly I’m committed to it, enthusiastic about it and enjoy doing it. So you could call it a passion.

Personal planning Years ago -- back in the early 1970s, to be honest -- I was living in Sydney. I had started running to keep fit, but every day it was a struggle to feel motivated. …

Sugar: Is There A Need For A Dietary Guideline?, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

There have been dietary guidelines in Australia since 1979 and all editions have included recommendations about sugar. This paper reviews changing recommendations in Australia, current levels of conumption, recent studies on the potential effects of nutrient dilution and dental caries, and discusses potential risks associated with a dietary guideline.

Secrets - Flying In Silence, Gerry Turcotte

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

[Extract] “Sex”, my father said, “isn’t all that it’s made out to be. People talk about it as though they know what it is. Well don’t be fooled. No one’s really an expert ... unless they’re French Canadian”. He nodded seriously, and then smiled. “Like father like son, eh?” I agreed, gulping, wondering what my mother thought of all this. For the moment she was holding her peace. My father spread the Men’s magazine on the table. “This, though. This isn’t sex. These are pictures. It’s not real life.” I knew there was a moral in all this. I was …

Believability Of Anti-Drug Advertising As A Function Of Marijuana Usage Experience, Sandra C. Jones, John R. Rossiter

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Marijuana use is on the increase in Australia, particularly among teenagers. Information dissemination is likely to become the main vehicle for minimizing the harms associated with marijuana use, so there is a clear need to develop informative and convincing communication strategies to target young (potential and incipient) marijuana users. However, the Federal Government’s “zero tolerance” approach to drug use is accompanied by anti-drug messages that may lack credibility with young people who already use, or have used, marijuana. Cognitive dissonance theory, as well as research with warning labels on other products such as cigarettes, suggests that young people who currently …

Regulation Of Alcohol Advertising In Australia: Case Study Of A Failure, Sandra C. Jones, R. J. Donovan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The aim of this paper is to further the bridging of marketing theory and practice by disseminating to marketing practitioners the results of a recent study conducted for a public health audience. This paper has direct implications for the practice of ethical marketing and advertising of alcohol beverages in Australia. The study was designed to assess young people’s perceived messages in three ads for a vodka-based pre-mixed alcohol beverage, and to assess the extent to which the ads appeared to be consistent with the industry’s voluntary code. Two convenience samples of young people, one aged 15-16 years and another aged …

A Review Of The Consistency Of Pamphlets Promoting Mammographic Screening In Australia, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in Australia and the most common cause of cancer death in Australian women. Early detection of breast cancers with mammography has the potential to dramatically reduce mortality rates. Thus, there is an obvious need for clear, accurate information about breast cancer screening to be disseminated to Australian women. A 1997 review of breast cancer screening pamphlets in Australia noted some inconsistencies in the nature and content of the information provided, and recommended that these be addressed. The current study, conducted in January 2001, examined whether consistency has improved since the …

Dealing With Diversity: Incorporating Cultural Sensitivity Into Professional Midwifery Practice, Moira Williamson, Lindsey Harrison

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In the Australian College of Midwives, Code of Ethics, Section 11. Practice of Midwifery, the following is stated "A. Midwives provide care for women and childbearing families with respect for cultural diversity while also working to eliminate harmful practices within those same cultures." However, it is difficult to know what is meant by "respect for cultural diversity". This paper presents the results of a critical review of the health literature. There is surprisingly little consensus about the meaning of terms such as cultural sensitivity and cultural appropriate care. Nor are there reflections on incorporating these concepts into practice. It could …

Physician Communication Skills: Results Of A Survey Of General/Family Practitioners In Newfoundland, F D. Ashbury, Donald C. Iverson, Boris Kralj

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: To describe the attitudes related to communication skills, confidence in using commnication skills, and use of communication skills during the physician-patient encounter among a population-based sample of family physicians. Procedures: A mailed survey, distributed to all family physicians and general practitioners currently practicing in Newfoundland. The questionnaire was designed to collect data in five general areas participant demographics, physician confidence in using specific communication strategies, perceived adequacy of time spent by physicians with their patients, physician use of specific communication strategies with the adult patients they saw in the prior week, and physician use of specific communication strategies during …

Effects Of Horizontal And Vertical Additive Disparity Noise On Stereoscopic Corrugation Detection, Stephen A. Palmisano, Robert S Allison, Ian Howard

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Stereoscopic corrugation detection in the presence of horizontal- and vertical- additive disparity noise was examined using a signal detection paradigm. Random-dot stereograms either represented a 3-D square-wave surface with various amounts of Gaussian-distributed additive disparity noise or had the same disparity values randomly redistributed. Stereoscopic detection of 2 arcmin peak amplitude corrugations was found to tolerate significantly greater amplitudes of vertical-disparity noise than horizontal-disparity noiseirrespective of whether the corrugations were horizontally or vertically oriented. However, this directional difference in tolerance to disparity noise was found to reverse when the corrugation and noise amplitudes were increased (so as to produce equivalent …

Implementation Of Malnutrition Screening And Assessment By Dietitians: Malnutrition Exists In Acute And Rehabilitation Settings, Eleanor Beck, Mandy Carrie, Kelly Lambert, Shellie Mason, Marianna Milosavljevic, Craig Patch

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The prevalence of malnutrition within hospital settings is a major concern to all health care workers. The recent development of a simple screening tool for use in such settings has increased the opportunity to identify at-risk patients in a reasonable time frame during their admission. This paper outlines the implementation of a routine nutrition screening and assessment, performed completely by dietitians, across both acute and rehabilitation settings. Dietitians were able to screen, on average, 72% of eligible patients, which ensured timely dietetic intervention. The routine malnutrition screening and assessment process highlighted differences (P < 0.01) in the rates of malnutrition between the acute wards (range 7 to 14%) and rehabilitation ward (49%). Significant differences between acute and rehabilitation patients were also found within the majority of individual diagnostic groups, including all surgery, fractures, cardiovascular incidents and respiratory illness (P < 0.01). The identification of rates of malnutrition between different wards, diagnoses and institutional settings provides dietetic managers with a sophisticated tool that can assist in the allocation of dietetic resources. This operational framework for routine screening of nutritionally at-risk patients in hospital, enables dietitians to develop patient outcomes and an effective nutrition care model.

Inside, Outside And Upside Down, Felicity Mcgregor

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

It is said that Abdul Kassem Ismael, the scholarly Grand Vizier of Persia in the tenth century had a library of 117,000 volumes. He was an avid reader and a lover of books. On his many travels, he could not bear to part with this beloved books. Wherever he went they were carried about by 400 camels trained to walk in alphabetical order. His camel drivers thus became librarians who could put their hands instantly on any book for which their master asked. (Hawkins, Brian L and Battin, Patricia (2000) Camel Drivers and Gatecrashers, Educause Review May/June 2000 p50). How …

Creating Partnerships In Suporting Student Learning: A Paradigm Shift In Student Learning Support, Jan Skillen, Alisa Percy, Neil Trivett, Bronwyn James

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

The main focus of this paper is the creation of partnerships between learning development academics and curricula, faculty staff and the institution that seek to ensure students achieve at their potential. These partnerships are part of a paradigm shift in learning support that has replaced a remedial philosophy with a developmental philosophy. The paper also focuses on the value of these partnerships to curricula, discipline academics, faculties and the institution as well as to students. It highlights three issues:

• the creation of partnerships to ensure student learning;
• the benefits of these partnerships to learning across an institution;
• the benefits of …

Use Of Quality Teaching And Learning Circles In Engineering, Alisa Percy, Wilma Vialle, Fazel Naghdy, Denis Montgomery, Gerry Turcotte

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

The commercialisation of higher education, an increasingly diverse student population, the emphasis on educational technology and flexible delivery, the need to be internationally competitive and the increased regulation on quality standards, just to name a few factors, has seen a rapid transformation of the university system and the demands placed on the staff therein. Assisting staff to cope with such changes and providing them with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to the needs or goals of the institution requires sophisticated methods of professional development. This paper introduces one such method that is being implemented at the University of Wollongong. …

Mapping The Tertiary Literacy Skills Of The Bachelor Of Commerce: A Step Towards Inter-Disciplinary Dialogue And Cohesive Skills Development In A Degree Program, Alisa Percy, Janet Moore, Anne Mitchell

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

This paper outlines a two-staged inter-disciplinary project in the Faculty of Commerce designed to identify, review and integrate the teaching of tertiary literacy skills within the undergraduate degree programs. The paper provides an overview of the process that involves three strategic learning partnerships: the partnership between the Faculty of Commerce and Learning Development; the partnership between Commerce academics and Learning Development staff; and inter-disciplinary partnerships within the faculty. The paper emphasises the importance of inter and intra-disciplinary dialogue and a whole degree approach as a means for ensuring articulated skills instruction across a degree program and improvements in teaching and …

The Power Of Three Plus One: Developing An Electronic Readings Service, Sandra Wills, Craig Littler

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

The multiple roles and skills required to create online learning environments challenge traditional organisational structures that are currently based on relatively autonomous functional units. At the University of Wollongong, the staged development of an electronic readings service demonstrates the ‘power of 3+1’ through the formation of collaborative partnerships between three principal university support units as per the theme of this conference: * Flexible Learning Centre known at UoW as the Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources (CEDIR), * Information Technology Services (ITS) and * Library, plus… one other important unit, our Print and Distribution Centre.

The Unilearning Project: Online Academic Learning Support, Edwina Pollock, Neil Trivett, Janice Skillen, Alisa Percy, Bronwyn James

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

The Unilearning project has developed a website that provides students with academic writing and study skills instruction. The development of the website has involved partnerships in three key areas. These are: a partnership between teaching and technology, a partnership between teaching and learning, and a partnership between theory and practice.

The Promotion Of A Secular Work Ethic, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

[Extract] The compulsion to work has clearly become pathological in modern industrial societies. Millions of people are working long hours, devoting their lives to making or doing things that will not enrich their lives or make them happier but will add to the garbage and pollution that the earth is finding difficult to accommodate. They are so busy doing this that they have little time to spend with their family and friends, to develop other aspects of themselves, to participate in their communities as full citizens. ...... Despite the dysfunctionality of the work ethic it continues to be promoted and …

Pharmaceutical Industry Agenda Setting In Mental Health Policies, R. Gosden, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

The development of political agenda-setting through the use of sophisticated public relations techniques is threatening to undermine the delicate balance of representative democracy. This has important ramifications for policies aimed at providing mental health services and the implementation of mental health laws. The principal agenda setters in this area are pharmaceutical companies with commercial reasons to promote public policies that expand the sales of their products. They have manufactured highly effective advocacy coalitions that incorporate front groups in order to set the policy agenda for mental health. However, policies tailored to their commercial purpose are not necessarily beneficial either for …

Selling The Work Ethic, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

[Extract] In modern industrial societies work and production have become ends in themselves. Employment has become such a priority that much environmental degradation is justified merely on the grounds that it provides jobs. And people are so concerned to keep their jobs that they are willing to do what their employers require of them even if they believe it is wrong or environmentally destructive. The social benefit of having the majority of ablebodied people in a society working hard all week goes unquestioned, particularly by those who work hardest. Few people today can imagine a society that does not revolve …

Global Spin, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This chapter examines the way that corporations have used their financial resources and power to counter the gains made by environmentalists, to reshape public opinion and to persuade politicians against increased environmental regulation. Corporate activism, ignited in the 1970s and rejuventated in the 1990s, has enabled a corporate agenda to dominate most debates about the state of the environment and what should be done about it. This situation poses grave dangers to the ability of democratic societies to respond to environmental threats.

Trading The Earth: The Politics Behind Tradeable Pollution Rights, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

[Extract] Tradeable pollution rights and emissions trading are being increasingly used as an environmental policy tool for pollution control. It allows firms to trade the right to emit specific pollutants. Tradeable pollution rights were originally developed in the USA to cut costs to industry and enable economic growth to continue in highly polluted areas but they are increasingly being used in other countries for air (Moore 1994) and water pollution (James 1994). They are now being proposed as a method for meeting Kyoto Protocol targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Firms such as BP and Shell have already established internal carbon …