Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Intergenerational Comparison Of Inequality And Standard Of Living, Jillian Cookinham

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper encompasses how inequality and standard of living have changed intergenerationally. Existing research and a regression analysis examine how income, corporate profits, housing, education, retirement, and health insurance are interconnected in American inequality and standard of living. Data analyzed in the regression includes the period of 1990 to 2021. However, the literature review extends back to 1970. Findings from existing research and regression analysis are used to provide policy recommendations on how the federal government may improve inequality by addressing the housing shortage, revising the tax system, and encouraging automatic enrollment in retirement plans.

Giving Workers The 'Green Light': Defining Green Jobs And Exploring Their Distribution In The Us, Cole Fuller

Honors Theses and Capstones

As the United States continues to adopt sustainable practices and policies to combat climate change, it is important to consider how these green changes affect the workforce. The term ‘Green Jobs’ has become the colloquial term to refer to sustainable occupations, and despite its popularity in the literature, it often has different meanings in different settings. Our first goal was to explore these definitions and establish one to contextualize our research. We used data from the Occupational Information Network, and used their green job definition, which classifies jobs as green if, and how, they are impacted by the greening economy. …

Hohenschönhausen As A Tangible Representation Of The German Democratic Republic’S Development Of Operative Psychology, Zoe Werth

Honors Theses and Capstones

Located in Lichtenberg, Berlin (part of the former borough of Hohenschönhausen), Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen stands today as a memorial for the thousands who were killed and imprisoned there, from its construction in 1939 until its closure in 1990. This paper will trace the evolution of Hohenschönhausen from a physical space of confinement, to a sophisticated psychological apparatus designed to exert control over its political prisoners through the development of “Operative Psychology” (OP). Through an architectural and historical analysis of the prison, alongside a review of prisoner testimonies, this paper works to reveal how the environment of Hohenschönhausen was methodically designed to …

From It To Ai: Analysis Of Skill–Biased Technological Change In Europe, Stav Alkalay

Honors Theses and Capstones

The beginning of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution marks a significant shift in technological advancements, like the Information Technology (IT) revolution of the 20th century. This paper investigates the similarities between the two revolutions, examining evidence of skilled-biased vs. routine-biased technological change (SBTC vs. RBTC) in Europe. This paper examines the impact of information technology on labor markets, productivity, and income distribution by looking at past trends & data. It draws insights from a variety of economists to forecast trends in the age of artificial intelligence.

Does Hookup Culture Silence Women?, Kylee Rose Rock

Honors Theses and Capstones

The issue of hookup culture on college campuses is of concern to many feminist scholars, given the alarming rates of sexual assault and unsafe sexual experiences in the college setting. This essay argues that hookup culture has the ability to silence women by means of the social landscape which college-aged adults find themselves in today. Further, this essay examines the social experiences of young women on college campuses, and advocates for a change in social habits and scripts through reconsidering our approach to the anti-porn movement in today’s modern culture. Drawing upon literature from Rae Langton’s work, "Speech Acts and …

Tackling Grand Societal Challenges: Understanding When And How Reverse Engineering Fosters Frugal Product Innovation In An Emerging Market, Samuel Adomako, Michael Asiedu Gyensare, Joseph Amankwah-Amoah, Pervaiz Akhtar, Nazim Hussain

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Societies are confronted with grand challenges that require the efforts and coordination of diverse stakeholders. In this context, the role of for-profit organizations has become vital in addressing such challenges. Drawing on the strategy tripod perspective, this study investigated the influence of reverse engineering on frugal product-innovation performance (PIP) through the mediating effect of frugal innovation (i.e., cost innovation, and affordable value innovation). In addition, we examined the moderating impact of the industry environment (i.e., technological turbulence) and institutional context (i.e., legal inefficiency) on this relationship. We tested our hypotheses using time-lagged data from 243 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) …

Dose-Response Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Exploration Of Genetic Moderators, Swathi Gujral, Marcia Burns, Kirk I. Erickson, Dana Rofey, Jeremiah J. Peiffer, Simon M. Laws, Belinda Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objective: (1) Examine the role of exercise intensity on mental health symptoms in a community-based sample of older adults. (2) Explore the moderating role of genetic variation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on the effects of exercise on mental health symptoms.

Method: This study is a secondary analysis of a three-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of 6 months of high-intensity aerobic training vs. moderate-intensity aerobic training vs. a no-contact control group on mental health symptoms assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and APOE 4 carrier status were …

Unravelling The Wellbeing Needs Of Australian Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry, Narelle Lemon, Kristina Turner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The declining wellbeing of Australian teachers is a longstanding problem, with much attention on retention, stress, burnout, and poor resourcing and conditions that impact wellbeing. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has further illuminated these challenges. This qualitative study aimed to explore Australian teachers’ perceptions of their wellbeing needs with a focus on asking the questions that are often not asked—what is working, what are we learning, and how can we move forward to support teacher wellbeing? The voices of teachers revealed findings that support a much-needed shift in teacher wellbeing rhetoric in Australia. We illuminate five key areas that influence teacher …

An Ecosystem Of Knowledge: Relationality As A Framework For Teachers To Infuse Indigenous Perspectives In Curriculum, Maryanne Macdonald, Sarah Booth, Libby Jackson-Barrett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

New data is presented from two studies involving thirteen practising secondary teachers and twelve pre-service early childhood, primary and secondary teachers in Australia. The first study explored how non-Indigenous practising teacher identities, shaped by external and policy discourse, create obstacles to teachers’ willingness and confidence in infusing Indigenous perspectives in curriculum. With this knowledge in hand, the researchers utilised a Design-Based Research methodology to conduct a second study with pre-service (ITE) teachers, exploring the power of relationality as a framework to re-shape non-Indigenous pre-service teachers’ conceptualisation of racial and place-based identity. By enabling non-Indigenous pre-service teachers to construct an authentic …

Assessing Alexithymia In Adolescents: Psychometric Properties Of The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire In High School Students, Annette C. Trimble, Ken Robinson, David A. Preece

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conceptually, alexithymia is a key transdiagnostic risk factor for the development of numerous psychopathologies across the lifespan. However, to date, most alexithymia research has focused on adults, with adolescent work limited by a lack of validated age-appropriate assessment tools. Recently, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) was introduced to enhance the comprehensiveness of alexithymia assessments, but its psychometric properties have only been tested in adults. In this study, we address this by examining the psychometric properties of the PAQ in a sample of English-speaking high school students (N = 225, aged 11 to 18), and use the PAQ to further establish …

Mapping The Landscape: Surf Therapy Program Delivery, Mary Brennan, Helen J. Stain, Jamie Marshall

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Surf therapy is a structured intervention which utilizes surfing as a vehicle to achieve therapeutic benefit (International Surf Therapy Organization [ISTO], 2019). Surf therapy is presently delivered internationally within a diverse array of contexts and populations. Despite the publication of many internal evaluation studies, little research has examined themes common to the process of surf therapy across programs. The present study recruited a sample of ISTO-affiliated surf therapy programs (n = 33) to engage with an online survey, Mapping the Stoke, examining core aspects of surf therapy structure and process internationally. Findings indicated both similarities across current program delivery internationally, …

Personal Values, Subjective Wellbeing, And The Effects Of Perceived Social Support In Childhood: A Pre-Registered Study, Patricia R. Collins, Joanne Sneddon, Julie A. Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Personal values are broad motivational goals that have been found to have systematic relations with subjective wellbeing in adults. Values that promote higher subjective wellbeing are considered healthy while those that hamper it are considered unhealthy (Schwartz & Sortheix, 2018). However, little is known about these relations in children. This pre-registered study examined (1) whether the values of children (6 to 12 years of age) relate to their subjective wellbeing and (2) whether these relations are moderated or mediated by perceived social support from parents, teachers, classmates, and close friends. These research questions were examined with a sample of 738 …

Our Right To Play: How Afghan Women Navigate Constraints, Agency, And Aspirations On And Off The Soccer Field, Ramón Spaaij, Aish Ravi, Jonathan Magee, Ruth Jeanes, Dawn Penney, Justen O’Connor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the wake of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and its ban on women’s sport, hundreds of Afghan athletes, including several Olympians, decided to flee the country rather than give up their sports and see their rights curtailed. This paper explores how Afghan women now living in Australia navigate agency and aspirations on and off the soccer field within the context of high levels of uncertainty, instability, and constraint. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 18 participants, the results demonstrate how soccer offers an insightful microcosm of settlement as a continuation of a fraught journey. The findings reveal both …

Summary Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status - Selected Topics 2023, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lived on their traditional lands across Australia, including the Torres Strait Islands, for upwards of 50,000 years and their continuity, history and cultural traditions are unrivalled in the world [1,2] . Before colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in family and community groups, and moved across the land following seasonal changes [1] . Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed complex societies, trading systems and agricultural activities that were celebrated and recorded in dance, song and stories [2] . The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concept of health is not just …

Opportunities And Challenges Posed By Disruptive And Converging Information Technologies For Australia's Future Defence Capabilities: A Horizon Scan, Pi-Shen Seet, Anton Klarin, Janice Jones, Mike Johnstone, Helen Cripps, Jalleh Sharafizad, Violetta Wilk, David Suter, Tony Marceddo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The research project's objective was to conduct a comprehensive horizon scan of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) technologies-specifically, Cyber, IoT/IoBT, AI, and Autonomous Systems. Recognised as pivotal force multipliers, these technologies are critical to reshaping the mission, design, structure, and operations of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), aligning with the Department of Defence (Defence)’s offset strategies and ensuring technological advantage, especially in the Indo-Pacific's competitive landscape.

Research process: Employing a two-pronged research approach, the study first leveraged scientometric analysis, utilising informetric mapping software (VOSviewer) to evaluate emerging trends and their implications on defence capabilities. This approach facilitated a broader understanding …

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2023, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The main purpose of the Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status (Overview) is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Overview has been prepared by HealthInfoNet staff as part of our contribution to supporting those who work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. The Overview is a key indicator of the HealthInfoNet’s commitment to authentic and engaged knowledge development and exchange.

The initial sections of this Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and …

Consequences Of Group-Based Misperceptions Of Climate Concern For Efficacy And Action, Zoe Leviston, Tanvi Nangrani, Samantha K. Stanley, Iain Walker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

People tend to underestimate others’ environmental values, including when judging the values of minority-status groups. Using a large national sample (N = 5110), we test whether these misperceptions extend to concern about climate change in Australia, and differ depending on immigrant status, ethnicity, and where one is located (i.e., in or outside capital cities). We also examine the consequences of misperceptions for self-efficacy and pro-environmental behaviour. We find personal climate concern is high, but perceptions of others’ concern is lower. Immigrants and Australian-born participants have similarly high concern, but both groups underestimate how concerned immigrants are. Southern-Central-Asian identifiers are the …

Different Methods Of Winning, Losing, And Training In Combat Sports And Their Relationship With Overall Competitive Winningness, Oliver R. Barley, Craig A. Harms

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aimed to investigate how overall competitive winningness in combat sports depended on patterns of victory and loss, as well as training habits. Competitors (N = 280) from several combat sports participated in the study. The online survey included questions on self-reported patterns of victory (and loss), training habits, general demographics (e.g., age), and sport-specific information (e.g., stage of career and competitive style). Overall, it was found across four models that reflected diversity of winningness in combat sports that the most important predictors of competitive winningness were loss by points (negative), loss by submission (negative), loss (negative) or victory …

Editorial - Contemporary Marine Science, Its Utility And Influence On Regulation And Government Policy, Piers Larcombe, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Peter V. Ridd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of this Research Topic is to evaluate the quality of contemporary marine science and to examine relationships between science, regulation and government policy in the marine environment. The quality of marine science matters; not just to advance knowledge on understanding marine ecosystems, but also to guide marine management. ...

Further Development Of The Reflective Practice Questionnaire, Shane L. Rogers, Lon Van Winkle, Nicole Michels, Cherie Lucas, Hassan Ziada, Eduardo J. Da Silva, Amit Jotangia, Sebastian Gabrielsson, Silje Gustafsson, Lynn Priddis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This article provides an update of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ). The original RPQ consisted of 40-items with 10-sub-scales. In this article, the RPQ is streamlined into a 10-item single reflective practice construct, and a 30-item extended version that includes additional sub-scales of confidence, uncertainty/ stress, and work satisfaction. Methods: A total of 501 university students filled out an online questionnaire that contained the original Reflective Practice Questionnaire, and two general measures of reflection: The Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire. Results: Based on factor analysis, the RPQ was streamlined into a brief 10-item version, and an …

Predictors Of Life Satisfaction: A Nationwide Investigation In Iran, Nasim Salehi, Mohsen Joshanloo, Scott Lamont, Dean Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Iran is a developing country with low levels of economic development and globalization and is ruled by a theocratic government. To address the lack of national research on well-being in Iran, this retrospective observational study aims to examine life satisfaction and its main determinants among Iranian adults. Using World Gallup Poll data collected between 2006 and 2017, we examined life satisfaction as a cognitive aspect of subjective well-being in relation to various factors. Our results show that income is the strongest predictor of life satisfaction, followed by standard of living, gender, social support, age, negative affect, and education. In developing …

Queering Primary Initial Teacher Education, David Rhodes, Matt Byrne, Jason Boron

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research was designed to raise awareness, access and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual/aromantic and others who sit outside of the heteronormative binary (LGBTIQA+), inclusion for pre-service educators studying in Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Primary) ITE courses in one Australian university. The project involved the production of three video resources intended for inclusion in existing teacher education units. Whilst originally conceptualized as ’bite-sized‘ resources intended for use by pre-service educators, initial survey data from academic staff indicated the need to first develop the collective understanding of primary education LGBTIQA+ inclusion for the …

The Brief Solastalgia Scale: A Psychometric Evaluation And Revision, Bruce K. Christensen, Conal Monaghan, Samantha K. Stanley, Iain Walker, Zoe Leviston, Emily Macleod, Rachael M. Rodney, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Timothy Heffernan, Olivia Evans, Stewart Sutherland, Julia Reynolds, Alison L. Calear, Tim Kurz, Jo Lane

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Witnessing degradation and loss to one’s home environment can cause the negative emotional experience of solastalgia. We review the psychometric properties of the 9-item Solastalgia subscale from the Environmental Distress Scale (Higginbotham et al. (EcoHealth 3:245–254, 2006)). Using data collected from three large, independent, adult samples (N = 4229), who were surveyed soon after the 2019/20 Australian bushfires, factor analyses confirmed the scale’s unidimensionality, while analyses derived from Item Response Theory highlighted the poor psychometric performance and redundant content of specific items. Consequently, we recommend a short-form scale consisting of five items. This Brief Solastalgia Scale (BSS) yielded excellent model …

The Impact Of Positive And Negative Psychological Affect And Overconfidence From Major Family Events On New Venture Survival, Pi-Shen Seet, Wee-Liang Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper investigates how family events interacting with entrepreneurs’ psychological affect and overconfidence impact new venture viability. We use panel data from the Australian Household, Income and Labor Dynamics survey, focusing on family event-induced psychological affect entrepreneurs experience as a predictor of new venture survival. Our accelerated failure time model shows that although negative family events interact with entrepreneur overconfidence to spur cautious behaviour, positive events interacting with overconfidence have the biggest impact (negative) on new ventures. The study enhances our understanding of the embeddedness of family in the entrepreneurial process and challenges past research by revealing how positive family …

Youth And Community Work For Climate Justice: Towards An Ecocentric Ethics For Practice, J. Gorman, A. Baker, T. Corney, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper traces an expanded ethical perspective for youth and community work (YCW) practice in response to the climate and biodiversity crises. Discussing ecological ethics, we problematise the liberal humanist emphasis on utilitarianism and reject it as inappropriate for YCW in these times. Instead, we argue for an ecocentric practice ethic which intrinsically values the non-human world. To advance an ecocentric ethical perspective for YCW we draw on decolonial and posthuman theory. Inspired by a Freirean dialogical approach, we apply these theoretical domains as lenses to problematise YCW practice, seeking a generative dialogue between perspectives. Through this, we identify three …

Decision-Making In Balancing Fire Safety Hazards Against Security Threats Within The Built Environment, Richard Kathage, David J. Brooks, Michael Coole

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The built environment faces challenges from fire hazards and threats by malicious actors. Risks presented from these hazards and threats are managed through the practices of fire safety and physical security. Whilst distinct disciplines, both impact the built environment systems, resulting in potential conflict. To manage this conflict, a complex process is required. Through the framework of Governmentality, using a mixed methods approach, the study explored the process which fire safety engineers and security practitioners undertake to manage this conflict. The study produced a conceptual model that explains how practitioners operate and manage risk associated with fire safety hazards and …

Ghanaian Values In Motion: A Content Analysis Of Slogans On Commercial Vehicles In Accra, Abraham Kenin, Vivian Dzokoto, Annabella Osei-Tutu, Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Slogans on commercial vehicles are a common sight in Ghana. These material artefacts can provide insight into beliefs and values about the sociocultural, spiritual, and political experiences of life in the contemporary Ghanaian context. In this study, we collected and analysed a total of 438 commercial vehicles’ slogans from 5 main transportation terminals in the Accra metropolitan area. Our thematic analysis of these slogans shows a major emphasis on religious and spiritual values to the extent that most of the recorded slogans serve as positive affirmations of religious values and sources of spiritual encouragement. The dominance of religious references in …

Kids, Courts And Canines: Evaluating The Justice Facility Dog Program Through A Therapeutic Lens In The Perth Children's Court, Suzanne Rock, Natalie Gately

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Court environments can be stressful and induce anxiety in victims, witnesses, and other court users. Taking heed from justice facilities in other jurisdictions, the Children's Court of Western Australia introduced Winston, a justice facility dog, at the Perth Children's Court facility to help reduce the stress and anxiety of victims, witnesses, and court users. This article presents survey (n = 55) and interview data (n = 17) from staff and stakeholders who reported positive changes in the court atmosphere, with limited negative impacts on the running of the court. Surveys were also conducted with child victims/survivors (n = 13), caregivers …

The Value Of Work For Doctors In Pakistan: Towards A Framework For Ensuring Decent Work, Abid Hussain, Esme Franken, Tim Bentley, Uma Jogulu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The critical frontline work of doctors in Pakistan was overlooked and undervalued by the government, hospitals, and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Media reports and studies highlight that public sector doctors in Pakistan facing new societal, professional, and organisational challenges, compunding to the inherent demands of workpotentially leading to its undervaluation. This study, explores how the work of doctors is (under)valued in Pakistan’s public sector hospitals, and how this aligns to the underpinnings of decent work. 27 semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors in Pakistan’s public sector hospitals. We found that serving others, recognition and appreciation, and …

Young Children And The Creation Of A Digital Identity On Social Networking Sites: Scoping Review, Valeska Berg, Diana Arabiat, Evalotte Morelius, Lisa Kervin, Maggie Zgambo, Suzanne Robinson, Mark Jenkins, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

There is limited understanding of the concept of the digital identity of young children created through engagement on social networking sites.

Objective:

The objective of this scoping review was to identify key characteristics of the concept of digital identity for children from conception to the age of 8 years on social networking sites.

Methods:

This scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The key databases searched were EBSCO, Web of Science, ProQuest ERIC, and Scopus. Gray literature sources (National Grey Literature Collection, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, …