Spatial modelling of the relationship between respiratory admissions and ambient air pollution
- Authors: Pearce, Dora
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "The aims of this research were to investigate the association between air pollution and respiratory health effects using a spatial approach, and to derive a composite indicator of ambient air pollution."
- Description: Master of Information Technology by Research
- Authors: Pearce, Dora
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "The aims of this research were to investigate the association between air pollution and respiratory health effects using a spatial approach, and to derive a composite indicator of ambient air pollution."
- Description: Master of Information Technology by Research
Special needs, special play? Examining the agency of children with impairments in play-based learning in a special school
- Authors: Claughton, Amy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Play is an inherent part of childhood, often cast as an innate behaviour of children. Over the years, play has been scrutinised by theorists, researchers and educators alike in their attempts to understand how children engage in play, the role of play in development and how to identify, define and measure play. For children with impairments, play is frequently subjected to surveillance and compared to that of children whose development is considered typical. This thesis interrogates the play-based learning experiences of five children who attended a special educational school in rural Victoria, Australia. It examines the experiences that these children had in play and how teacher actions and responses enabled and supported their engagement in play-based learning. The theoretical framework for this study draws on critical ethnography underpinned by disability studies. Disability studies recognises the social model of disability, in which disability is a social construction. Using this model, impairment is distinct and separate from disability. In this study, socially constructed barriers that confront children in their play are identified as being created by attitudes, structures and environments (Bishop et al., 1999). These barriers are overlaid by the psycho-emotional dimensions of disability (C. Thomas, 1999) in an effort to represent the experiences of children as shaped by the actions and responses of others. This thesis introduces a new analytic tool in the learning portal framework. The learning portal framework aims to provide a platform through which teacher actions and responses can be analysed to understand how children are enabled to access play-based learning. The findings of this study indicate that children with impairments play in complex and nuanced ways. They show purpose in their play, are able to self-initiate, and independently investigate play-based learning experiences. Adult actions and responses often enable children with impairments to engage in play by offering opportunities and pathways for exploration. Indirect adult facilitation in play supports children’s ability to act in play with individuality and determination.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Claughton, Amy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Play is an inherent part of childhood, often cast as an innate behaviour of children. Over the years, play has been scrutinised by theorists, researchers and educators alike in their attempts to understand how children engage in play, the role of play in development and how to identify, define and measure play. For children with impairments, play is frequently subjected to surveillance and compared to that of children whose development is considered typical. This thesis interrogates the play-based learning experiences of five children who attended a special educational school in rural Victoria, Australia. It examines the experiences that these children had in play and how teacher actions and responses enabled and supported their engagement in play-based learning. The theoretical framework for this study draws on critical ethnography underpinned by disability studies. Disability studies recognises the social model of disability, in which disability is a social construction. Using this model, impairment is distinct and separate from disability. In this study, socially constructed barriers that confront children in their play are identified as being created by attitudes, structures and environments (Bishop et al., 1999). These barriers are overlaid by the psycho-emotional dimensions of disability (C. Thomas, 1999) in an effort to represent the experiences of children as shaped by the actions and responses of others. This thesis introduces a new analytic tool in the learning portal framework. The learning portal framework aims to provide a platform through which teacher actions and responses can be analysed to understand how children are enabled to access play-based learning. The findings of this study indicate that children with impairments play in complex and nuanced ways. They show purpose in their play, are able to self-initiate, and independently investigate play-based learning experiences. Adult actions and responses often enable children with impairments to engage in play by offering opportunities and pathways for exploration. Indirect adult facilitation in play supports children’s ability to act in play with individuality and determination.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Sperm donor limits : controlling for the 'relative risks' associated with the multiple use of donors in donor insemination (DI)
- Authors: Sawyer, Neroli
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "Investigates the central problem that most donor limits associated with multiple use of sperm donors in donor insemination (DI) vary considerably between jurisdictions, despite no evidence-base."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Sawyer, Neroli
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "Investigates the central problem that most donor limits associated with multiple use of sperm donors in donor insemination (DI) vary considerably between jurisdictions, despite no evidence-base."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Spiritual Art : evoking the numinous using a 3D computer game engine
- Authors: Nelson, Christopher
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The Seven Valleys is an interactive 3D installation based artwork inspired by mystical writings of the Bahá'í Faith. Created as a modification of the firstperson shooter Unreal Tournament 2003 (Epic, 2003) it subverts the original paradigm of the game to create an experience of the numinous, which in spirit, is diametrically opposed to the original intent of the gameplay design. This artwork presents an exploration of, and allusion to, the often subtle and illusive concepts found in the sacred treatise The Seven Valleys (Bahá'u'lláh, 1991) in which the user engages in an experiential journey through the work. The user is faced with conditions and situations that provide motivation to question, explore and attempt to fathom the abstract sense of the numinous. Each of The Seven Valleys contains its own individual mysteries while at the same time contributing its part to the telling of a collective story.
- Description: Master of Arts
- Authors: Nelson, Christopher
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The Seven Valleys is an interactive 3D installation based artwork inspired by mystical writings of the Bahá'í Faith. Created as a modification of the firstperson shooter Unreal Tournament 2003 (Epic, 2003) it subverts the original paradigm of the game to create an experience of the numinous, which in spirit, is diametrically opposed to the original intent of the gameplay design. This artwork presents an exploration of, and allusion to, the often subtle and illusive concepts found in the sacred treatise The Seven Valleys (Bahá'u'lláh, 1991) in which the user engages in an experiential journey through the work. The user is faced with conditions and situations that provide motivation to question, explore and attempt to fathom the abstract sense of the numinous. Each of The Seven Valleys contains its own individual mysteries while at the same time contributing its part to the telling of a collective story.
- Description: Master of Arts
Spiritual awareness of professional nurses in the western region of Victoria: Investigation of a significant component of holistic heath care
- Authors: Lea, Dorothy
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: A desire to more fully understand the impact of altered states of spiritual health on the general health of patients has been a focus of recent research activity. Studies have explored the meaning of spirituality held by patients and nurses, the spiritual needs of patients, and methods of providing spiritual care in nursing. However, few studies have investigated nurses’ own spiritual health and the significance this may have on the provision of holistic nursing care. The aim of this study, therefore, was to inform nursing regarding the spiritual health of nurses and the influence that nurses’ own spiritual health has on their ability to provide holistic nursing care to their patients. The study was conducted in two phases using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Phase one consisted of a survey of Division 1 nurses currently employed in the Grampians region of Victoria to describe key dimensions of their spiritual health. This survey provided biographical data and, through the use of the “Shalom Measure of Spiritual Health”, discovered the ideal of spiritual health held by nurses as well as the nurses’ perception of patient needs pertaining to the achievement of spiritual health. Phase two utilised Naturalistic Inquiry to further explore the meaning of spirituality and spiritual health held by nurses, and the methods of achieving these for nurses and patients. The findings revealed that although nurses perceive the spiritual dimension of patient care to be important, they feel ill-equipped to provide this aspect of care. In addition, the major support for nurses, who themselves experience spiritual distress whilst at work, comes from colleagues. Further, prevailing health care systems in place do not always lend themselves to holistic approaches to care. This study identifies the need for nurse education to redress the clearly inadequate preparation nurses are given for this aspect of their role. Health care policy-makers and administrators also have a responsibility to consider all dimensions of care when designing and implementing health care guidelines and systems.
- Description: Master of Nursing
- Authors: Lea, Dorothy
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: A desire to more fully understand the impact of altered states of spiritual health on the general health of patients has been a focus of recent research activity. Studies have explored the meaning of spirituality held by patients and nurses, the spiritual needs of patients, and methods of providing spiritual care in nursing. However, few studies have investigated nurses’ own spiritual health and the significance this may have on the provision of holistic nursing care. The aim of this study, therefore, was to inform nursing regarding the spiritual health of nurses and the influence that nurses’ own spiritual health has on their ability to provide holistic nursing care to their patients. The study was conducted in two phases using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Phase one consisted of a survey of Division 1 nurses currently employed in the Grampians region of Victoria to describe key dimensions of their spiritual health. This survey provided biographical data and, through the use of the “Shalom Measure of Spiritual Health”, discovered the ideal of spiritual health held by nurses as well as the nurses’ perception of patient needs pertaining to the achievement of spiritual health. Phase two utilised Naturalistic Inquiry to further explore the meaning of spirituality and spiritual health held by nurses, and the methods of achieving these for nurses and patients. The findings revealed that although nurses perceive the spiritual dimension of patient care to be important, they feel ill-equipped to provide this aspect of care. In addition, the major support for nurses, who themselves experience spiritual distress whilst at work, comes from colleagues. Further, prevailing health care systems in place do not always lend themselves to holistic approaches to care. This study identifies the need for nurse education to redress the clearly inadequate preparation nurses are given for this aspect of their role. Health care policy-makers and administrators also have a responsibility to consider all dimensions of care when designing and implementing health care guidelines and systems.
- Description: Master of Nursing
Static code analysis of data-driven applications through common lingua and the Semantic Web technologies
- Authors: Ureche, Oana
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Web applications have become increasingly popular due to their potential for businesses' high revenue gain through global reach. Along with these opportunities, also come challenges in terms of Web application security. The increased rise in the number of datadriven applications has also seen an increased rise in their systematic attacks. Cyberattacks exploit Web application vulnerabilities. Attack trends show a major increase in Web application vulnerabilities caused by improper implementation of information-flow control methods and they account for more than 50% of all Web application vulnerabilities found in the year 2013. Static code analysis using methods of information-flow control is a widely acknowledged technique to secure Web applications. Whilst this technique has been found to be both very effective and efficient in finding Web application vulnerabilities, specific tools are highly dependent on the programming language. This thesis leverages Semantic Web technologies in order to offer a common language through source code represented using the Resource Description Framework format, whereby reasoning can be applied to securely test Web applications. In this thesis, we present a framework that extracts source code facts from various programming languages at a variable-level of granularity using Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) generated using language grammars and the ANTLR parser generator. The methodology for detecting Web application vulnerabilities implements three phases: entry points identification, tracing information-flow and vulnerability detection using the Jena framework inference mechanism and rules describing patterns of source code. The approach discussed in this thesis is found to be effective and practical in finding Web application vulnerabilities with the limitation that it can only detect patterns that are used as training data or very similar patterns. False positives are caused by limitations of the language grammar, but they do not affect the accuracy of the security vulnerability detection method in identifying the correct Web application vulnerability.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ureche, Oana
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Web applications have become increasingly popular due to their potential for businesses' high revenue gain through global reach. Along with these opportunities, also come challenges in terms of Web application security. The increased rise in the number of datadriven applications has also seen an increased rise in their systematic attacks. Cyberattacks exploit Web application vulnerabilities. Attack trends show a major increase in Web application vulnerabilities caused by improper implementation of information-flow control methods and they account for more than 50% of all Web application vulnerabilities found in the year 2013. Static code analysis using methods of information-flow control is a widely acknowledged technique to secure Web applications. Whilst this technique has been found to be both very effective and efficient in finding Web application vulnerabilities, specific tools are highly dependent on the programming language. This thesis leverages Semantic Web technologies in order to offer a common language through source code represented using the Resource Description Framework format, whereby reasoning can be applied to securely test Web applications. In this thesis, we present a framework that extracts source code facts from various programming languages at a variable-level of granularity using Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) generated using language grammars and the ANTLR parser generator. The methodology for detecting Web application vulnerabilities implements three phases: entry points identification, tracing information-flow and vulnerability detection using the Jena framework inference mechanism and rules describing patterns of source code. The approach discussed in this thesis is found to be effective and practical in finding Web application vulnerabilities with the limitation that it can only detect patterns that are used as training data or very similar patterns. False positives are caused by limitations of the language grammar, but they do not affect the accuracy of the security vulnerability detection method in identifying the correct Web application vulnerability.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Statistical assessment of Australian bushfire conditions : long-term changes and variability
- Authors: Biswas, Soubhik
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In the wake of increasing bushfire impacts in recent decades across the Australian landscape, questions arise regarding the role played by weather conditions, climate variability and long-term climate change. This thesis seeks to quantify the following components that can influence fire risk: (1) the effects of weather and mean climate conditions, (2) large-scale drivers of natural climate variability, (3) the influence of extreme weather events and (4) the contribution of long-term anthropogenic climate change. Bushfire risks associated with weather and climate factors in Australia are generally assessed using indices such as the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI). The FFDI is used in this study, calculated from daily values of rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and wind speed, providing a generalised approach for combining those four weather factors known to influence fire behaviour. This study also aims to fill several knowledge gaps in the literature. For example, a comprehensive study of climatology, variability and trends in Australia's fire weather conditions was never attempted before using a high-resolution and a very long-term fire weather dataset. The fire weather conditions were analysed using a long-term FFDI dataset constructed from 20th Century reanalysis climatic data with bias correction applied because reconstructed weather datasets like 20th Century reanalysis products often show systemic biases. Various statistical bias correction approaches based on quantile-quantile matching were compared, and a spline-based method was selected due to its higher precision in correcting a distribution for the purposes of this study. The relationship of this calibrated FFDI dataset with the climate drivers of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) was analysed. Results are mapped to show the regional and seasonal fluctuations in the severe fire weather across Australia during different combinations of ENSO, IOD, and SAM phases. During the austral spring and summer seasons, the highest frequency of severe fire weather conditions occurred for the combination of positive ENSO (i.e., El Nino), positive IOD and negative SAM. The calibrated FFDI dataset derived from bias-corrected Twentieth Century Reanalysis data was further used to study the long-term climate change trends in Australian fire weather conditions. A general positive trend in the number of extreme FFDI days was reported across Australia, except for New South Wales in Spring where a statistically non-significant negative trend was observed. Temperature and relative humidity were found to be the most critical climatic variables influencing fire weather trends across the country, noting that relative humidity is partly based on temperature. The applications of this work range from being useful for various stakeholders in framing new climate change adaptation policies to being used for seasonal outlooks and planning by fire management teams.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Biswas, Soubhik
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In the wake of increasing bushfire impacts in recent decades across the Australian landscape, questions arise regarding the role played by weather conditions, climate variability and long-term climate change. This thesis seeks to quantify the following components that can influence fire risk: (1) the effects of weather and mean climate conditions, (2) large-scale drivers of natural climate variability, (3) the influence of extreme weather events and (4) the contribution of long-term anthropogenic climate change. Bushfire risks associated with weather and climate factors in Australia are generally assessed using indices such as the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI). The FFDI is used in this study, calculated from daily values of rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and wind speed, providing a generalised approach for combining those four weather factors known to influence fire behaviour. This study also aims to fill several knowledge gaps in the literature. For example, a comprehensive study of climatology, variability and trends in Australia's fire weather conditions was never attempted before using a high-resolution and a very long-term fire weather dataset. The fire weather conditions were analysed using a long-term FFDI dataset constructed from 20th Century reanalysis climatic data with bias correction applied because reconstructed weather datasets like 20th Century reanalysis products often show systemic biases. Various statistical bias correction approaches based on quantile-quantile matching were compared, and a spline-based method was selected due to its higher precision in correcting a distribution for the purposes of this study. The relationship of this calibrated FFDI dataset with the climate drivers of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) was analysed. Results are mapped to show the regional and seasonal fluctuations in the severe fire weather across Australia during different combinations of ENSO, IOD, and SAM phases. During the austral spring and summer seasons, the highest frequency of severe fire weather conditions occurred for the combination of positive ENSO (i.e., El Nino), positive IOD and negative SAM. The calibrated FFDI dataset derived from bias-corrected Twentieth Century Reanalysis data was further used to study the long-term climate change trends in Australian fire weather conditions. A general positive trend in the number of extreme FFDI days was reported across Australia, except for New South Wales in Spring where a statistically non-significant negative trend was observed. Temperature and relative humidity were found to be the most critical climatic variables influencing fire weather trends across the country, noting that relative humidity is partly based on temperature. The applications of this work range from being useful for various stakeholders in framing new climate change adaptation policies to being used for seasonal outlooks and planning by fire management teams.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Stay or go? Young people’s agency and mobility in and out of small towns
- Authors: Parkin, Ember
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This doctoral thesis examines young people’s place attachments in two small Victorian towns. This qualitative ethnographic study uses auto-driven photo-elicitation to understand young people’s sense of place and futures in their home towns of Castlemaine and Maryborough. These case study towns are of a similar size, geography and heritage fabric. However, they are home to starkly different social indicators and economic policy contexts. The study seeks to understand how the cultural features of small towns affect young people’s place attachment and also how place relationships might subsequently affect young people’s sense of futures through their desired and intended locations and aspirations. To achieve this, the thesis explores young people’s social constructions of place. The photoelicitation method enables close attention to be paid to young people’s engagement with their home towns. This thesis argues that agency or lack of agency is a significant factor in strengthening or diminishing young people’s place attachments. Previous research suggests that one result of place attachment is that people will seek to remain being in a place. For young people in this study there appears to be an inverse relationship. Young people who had a broad and holistic sense of place engagement and attachment also had a broad sense of future possibilities and thus, intended to leave their home towns in pursuit of personal growth and education. Whereas young people who had a more limited sense of attachment or engagement had a narrower sense of future possibilities and were less likely to desire to leave their home town. The study contributes to knowledge about the ways in which place engagement can affect young people’s social and physical mobility.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Parkin, Ember
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This doctoral thesis examines young people’s place attachments in two small Victorian towns. This qualitative ethnographic study uses auto-driven photo-elicitation to understand young people’s sense of place and futures in their home towns of Castlemaine and Maryborough. These case study towns are of a similar size, geography and heritage fabric. However, they are home to starkly different social indicators and economic policy contexts. The study seeks to understand how the cultural features of small towns affect young people’s place attachment and also how place relationships might subsequently affect young people’s sense of futures through their desired and intended locations and aspirations. To achieve this, the thesis explores young people’s social constructions of place. The photoelicitation method enables close attention to be paid to young people’s engagement with their home towns. This thesis argues that agency or lack of agency is a significant factor in strengthening or diminishing young people’s place attachments. Previous research suggests that one result of place attachment is that people will seek to remain being in a place. For young people in this study there appears to be an inverse relationship. Young people who had a broad and holistic sense of place engagement and attachment also had a broad sense of future possibilities and thus, intended to leave their home towns in pursuit of personal growth and education. Whereas young people who had a more limited sense of attachment or engagement had a narrower sense of future possibilities and were less likely to desire to leave their home town. The study contributes to knowledge about the ways in which place engagement can affect young people’s social and physical mobility.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Stella’s story : writing a fictional representation of historic poland set during the Second World War
- Authors: Clinnick, Andrew
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: For my Ph.D. Literature thesis, I have produced a historical novel titled Stella’s Story, supported by an exegesis, which explores the Polish experience of WWII. Both novel and exegesis will challenge common misconceptions as perpetuated by the popular mainstream Western media—as expressed in such works as The German New Order in Poland (1943) and God’s Playground (1981), and novels such as Sophie’s Choice (1979) and The Polish Officer (2005)—that, during WWII, Poland was a predominant white-Catholic nation, bullied by the Nazis. Instead, I demonstrate that, rather than being homogenous or a caricature of a passive victim, Poland was a diverse and multi-cultural nation, where eclectic sectors of society resisted Nazi-German rule, despite the complexities wrought by Poland’s own history of antisemitism and the threat posed by those Poles who collaborated with the Nazis. This exegesis will also examine the outsider experience and the contribution to Poland’s wartime effort by women; as well as the relationship between oral history, myth and the historical records. Finally, this exegesis will explore the methods I have used to create a historical fiction about Nazi-occupied Poland.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Clinnick, Andrew
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: For my Ph.D. Literature thesis, I have produced a historical novel titled Stella’s Story, supported by an exegesis, which explores the Polish experience of WWII. Both novel and exegesis will challenge common misconceptions as perpetuated by the popular mainstream Western media—as expressed in such works as The German New Order in Poland (1943) and God’s Playground (1981), and novels such as Sophie’s Choice (1979) and The Polish Officer (2005)—that, during WWII, Poland was a predominant white-Catholic nation, bullied by the Nazis. Instead, I demonstrate that, rather than being homogenous or a caricature of a passive victim, Poland was a diverse and multi-cultural nation, where eclectic sectors of society resisted Nazi-German rule, despite the complexities wrought by Poland’s own history of antisemitism and the threat posed by those Poles who collaborated with the Nazis. This exegesis will also examine the outsider experience and the contribution to Poland’s wartime effort by women; as well as the relationship between oral history, myth and the historical records. Finally, this exegesis will explore the methods I have used to create a historical fiction about Nazi-occupied Poland.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Stock market predictions based on quantified intermarket influences
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the feasibility and capability of neural network-based approaches for predicting the direction of the Australian Stock market index (the target market). It includes several aspects: univariate feature selection from the historical time series of the target market, inter-market analysis for finding the most relevant influential markets, investigations of the effect of time cycles on the target market and the discovery of the optimal neural network architectures. Previous research on US stock markets and other international markets have shown that the neural network approach is one of most powerful techniques for predicting stock market behaviour. Neural networks are capable of capturing the non-linear stochastic and chaotic patterns in the stock market time series data. This study discovered that the relative return series of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, show 6-day cycles during the studied period of about 14 years. Multi-layer feedforward neural networks trained with a backpropagation algorithm were used for the experiments. Two major testing methods: testing with randomly selected test data and forward testing, were examined and compared. The best neural network developed in this study has achieved 87%, 81% 83% and 81% accuracy respectively in predicting the next-day direction of the relative return of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market. The architecture of this network consists of 33 input features, one hidden layer with 3 neurons and 4 output neurons. The best input features set includes the relative returns from 1 to 6 days in the past of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, the day of the week, and the previous day’s relative return of the Close prices of the US S&P 500 Index, US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, US Gold/Silver Index, and the US Oil Index.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the feasibility and capability of neural network-based approaches for predicting the direction of the Australian Stock market index (the target market). It includes several aspects: univariate feature selection from the historical time series of the target market, inter-market analysis for finding the most relevant influential markets, investigations of the effect of time cycles on the target market and the discovery of the optimal neural network architectures. Previous research on US stock markets and other international markets have shown that the neural network approach is one of most powerful techniques for predicting stock market behaviour. Neural networks are capable of capturing the non-linear stochastic and chaotic patterns in the stock market time series data. This study discovered that the relative return series of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, show 6-day cycles during the studied period of about 14 years. Multi-layer feedforward neural networks trained with a backpropagation algorithm were used for the experiments. Two major testing methods: testing with randomly selected test data and forward testing, were examined and compared. The best neural network developed in this study has achieved 87%, 81% 83% and 81% accuracy respectively in predicting the next-day direction of the relative return of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market. The architecture of this network consists of 33 input features, one hidden layer with 3 neurons and 4 output neurons. The best input features set includes the relative returns from 1 to 6 days in the past of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, the day of the week, and the previous day’s relative return of the Close prices of the US S&P 500 Index, US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, US Gold/Silver Index, and the US Oil Index.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Strangers in a strange land : Converging and accommodating Celtic identities in Ballarat 1851-1901
- Authors: Croggon, Janice
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This thesis examines the paths by which four Celtic ethnic identities, Cornish, Welsh, Scottish and Irish, responded to the specific society and culture of the Victorian goldfields between 1850-1901. The individual Celtic groups intersected, harmonised and contested with each other in a process through which they retained their identities and yet managed to move towards becoming part of a larger, more-encompassing unity."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Croggon, Janice
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This thesis examines the paths by which four Celtic ethnic identities, Cornish, Welsh, Scottish and Irish, responded to the specific society and culture of the Victorian goldfields between 1850-1901. The individual Celtic groups intersected, harmonised and contested with each other in a process through which they retained their identities and yet managed to move towards becoming part of a larger, more-encompassing unity."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Stress resilience : meaning, measurement, and the effects of physical activity
- Authors: O’Donohue, Josephine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In rodent models of human behaviour, physical activity builds stress resilience. In contrast, human studies physical activity and stress resilience have been limited, and when investigated, provided mixed results. These inconsistencies may be due to the ambiguous use of the term stress resilience in human studies, making it difficult to quantify. Therefore, I aimed to assess the effect of physical activity on stress resilience in humans, after first evaluating operational definitions of stress resilience. Initially, I evaluated the use of stress resilience across the literature to provide a definition that is consistent with the research base (Chapter 2). I subsequently defined stress resilience as an active process of adapting to unpredictable and uncontrollable stimuli. In Chapter 3, I systematically reviewed measures previously used to capture stress resilience in humans, including trait-based questionnaires, as well as affective and cardiorespiratory responses to stressful conditions. In Study 1 (Chapter 4) of this dissertation, I then assessed the convergent validity of these stress resilience measures , including the Brief Resilience Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, as well as various responses (i.e., affective balance, systolic blood pressure, rate pressure product, and multiple indices of heart rate variability) to three stressor conditions (i.e., no stress, auditory startles, and stressful video clips). Results of Study 1 indicated that no measure captured all elements of stress resilience, although some indices of heart rate variability were related to changes in affective balance and systolic blood pressure was related to the Brief Resilience Scale. Across two studies, I then evaluated the effect of physical activity on stress resilience using the measures from Study 1. Through a cross-sectional study (Study 2, Chapter 5), I found no difference between active participants (n = 16) and less active participants (n = 14) across stress resilience measures. Additionally, in Study 3 (Chapter 6), I found that an 8-week moderate physical activity intervention had no effect on these stress resilience measures in 14 participants from desk-based occupations. I did, however, find an increase in mood and reduction in systolic blood pressure post-intervention, compared to pre-intervention scores. I also discussed the feasibility of various recruitment techniques, intervention purity and adherence, as well as stress resilience measurement protocols for future intervention studies. Overall, this dissertation has provided a critical evaluation of the use and measurement of stress resilience, with findings indicating that physical activity may not enhance stress resilience in humans. I discuss differences in my findings, compared to rodent research, including the potential effects of environment enrichment and increased severity of measurement protocols in animal models. I also discuss limitations of stress resilience conceptualisation and provide suggestions for future research to navigate these challenges.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: O’Donohue, Josephine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In rodent models of human behaviour, physical activity builds stress resilience. In contrast, human studies physical activity and stress resilience have been limited, and when investigated, provided mixed results. These inconsistencies may be due to the ambiguous use of the term stress resilience in human studies, making it difficult to quantify. Therefore, I aimed to assess the effect of physical activity on stress resilience in humans, after first evaluating operational definitions of stress resilience. Initially, I evaluated the use of stress resilience across the literature to provide a definition that is consistent with the research base (Chapter 2). I subsequently defined stress resilience as an active process of adapting to unpredictable and uncontrollable stimuli. In Chapter 3, I systematically reviewed measures previously used to capture stress resilience in humans, including trait-based questionnaires, as well as affective and cardiorespiratory responses to stressful conditions. In Study 1 (Chapter 4) of this dissertation, I then assessed the convergent validity of these stress resilience measures , including the Brief Resilience Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, as well as various responses (i.e., affective balance, systolic blood pressure, rate pressure product, and multiple indices of heart rate variability) to three stressor conditions (i.e., no stress, auditory startles, and stressful video clips). Results of Study 1 indicated that no measure captured all elements of stress resilience, although some indices of heart rate variability were related to changes in affective balance and systolic blood pressure was related to the Brief Resilience Scale. Across two studies, I then evaluated the effect of physical activity on stress resilience using the measures from Study 1. Through a cross-sectional study (Study 2, Chapter 5), I found no difference between active participants (n = 16) and less active participants (n = 14) across stress resilience measures. Additionally, in Study 3 (Chapter 6), I found that an 8-week moderate physical activity intervention had no effect on these stress resilience measures in 14 participants from desk-based occupations. I did, however, find an increase in mood and reduction in systolic blood pressure post-intervention, compared to pre-intervention scores. I also discussed the feasibility of various recruitment techniques, intervention purity and adherence, as well as stress resilience measurement protocols for future intervention studies. Overall, this dissertation has provided a critical evaluation of the use and measurement of stress resilience, with findings indicating that physical activity may not enhance stress resilience in humans. I discuss differences in my findings, compared to rodent research, including the potential effects of environment enrichment and increased severity of measurement protocols in animal models. I also discuss limitations of stress resilience conceptualisation and provide suggestions for future research to navigate these challenges.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Structural analysis of Online Romance Scams by applying the transtheoretical model in conjunction with the theory of personal love stories
- Authors: Kopp, Christian
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The internet has become an important communications platform which people choose for personal interactions. One of the most popular manifestations is the creation and maintenance of social relationships using social and dating websites. Unscrupulous operators have identified its potential for reaching vulnerable people and have started using it as platform for their criminal activity in the form of so-called Online Romance Scams. Quickly, this cybercrime has become very successful and thus an increasing threat in the social networking environment. The Online Romance Scam causes considerable financial and emotional damage to the victims. In this research we introduce a theory which helps to explain the success of this scam. In a similar way to the “The Nigerian Letter”, we propose that the scam techniques appeal to strong emotions, which are clearly involved in Romantic relationships. We also assume that the same success factors of normal relationships contribute to the success of the Romance Scam. Previous research into normal relationships has identified personal “love stories” as an important factor for the development of relationships. We have suggested that these personal love stories will have a key role in fraudulent relationships. The aim of this research is to explore Online Romance Scams as a type of ‘virtual love’ which initially creates happiness for the victim in a virtual romantic relationship, but tragically then causes the victim to be separated from his or her savings. Using narrative research methodology, this research will establish a model of the Romance Scam structure and its variations regarding human romantic attitudes. During the research program, the analysis of publicly available data from the internet were used, and as a consequence of this, appropriate ethical usage of research data is discussed. Findings of this research will contribute to the knowledge of the Online Romance Scam as significant crime, and provide information about the structure and the development of the modus operandi which can be used to identify an online relationship as a scam at an early phase in order to prevent significant harm to the victim.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kopp, Christian
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The internet has become an important communications platform which people choose for personal interactions. One of the most popular manifestations is the creation and maintenance of social relationships using social and dating websites. Unscrupulous operators have identified its potential for reaching vulnerable people and have started using it as platform for their criminal activity in the form of so-called Online Romance Scams. Quickly, this cybercrime has become very successful and thus an increasing threat in the social networking environment. The Online Romance Scam causes considerable financial and emotional damage to the victims. In this research we introduce a theory which helps to explain the success of this scam. In a similar way to the “The Nigerian Letter”, we propose that the scam techniques appeal to strong emotions, which are clearly involved in Romantic relationships. We also assume that the same success factors of normal relationships contribute to the success of the Romance Scam. Previous research into normal relationships has identified personal “love stories” as an important factor for the development of relationships. We have suggested that these personal love stories will have a key role in fraudulent relationships. The aim of this research is to explore Online Romance Scams as a type of ‘virtual love’ which initially creates happiness for the victim in a virtual romantic relationship, but tragically then causes the victim to be separated from his or her savings. Using narrative research methodology, this research will establish a model of the Romance Scam structure and its variations regarding human romantic attitudes. During the research program, the analysis of publicly available data from the internet were used, and as a consequence of this, appropriate ethical usage of research data is discussed. Findings of this research will contribute to the knowledge of the Online Romance Scam as significant crime, and provide information about the structure and the development of the modus operandi which can be used to identify an online relationship as a scam at an early phase in order to prevent significant harm to the victim.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Structural properties and labeling of graphs
- Dafik
- Authors: Dafik
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The complexity in building massive scale parallel processing systems has re- sulted in a growing interest in the study of interconnection networks design. Network design affects the performance, cost, scalability, and availability of parallel computers. Therefore, discovering a good structure of the network is one of the basic issues. From modeling point of view, the structure of networks can be naturally stud- ied in terms of graph theory. Several common desirable features of networks, such as large number of processing elements, good throughput, short data com- munication delay, modularity, good fault tolerance and diameter vulnerability correspond to properties of the underlying graphs of networks, including large number of vertices, small diameter, high connectivity and overall balance (or regularity) of the graph or digraph. The first part of this thesis deals with the issue of interconnection networks ad- dressing system. From graph theory point of view, this issue is mainly related to a graph labeling. We investigate a special family of graph labeling, namely antimagic labeling of a class of disconnected graphs. We present new results in super (a; d)-edge antimagic total labeling for disjoint union of multiple copies of special families of graphs. The second part of this thesis deals with the issue of regularity of digraphs with the number of vertices close to the upper bound, called the Moore bound, which is unobtainable for most values of out-degree and diameter. Regularity of the underlying graph of a network is often considered to be essential since the flow of messages and exchange of data between processing elements will be on average faster if there is a similar number of interconnections coming in and going out of each processing element. This means that the in-degree and out-degree of each processing element must be the same or almost the same. Our new results show that digraphs of order two less than Moore bound are either diregular or almost diregular.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Dafik
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The complexity in building massive scale parallel processing systems has re- sulted in a growing interest in the study of interconnection networks design. Network design affects the performance, cost, scalability, and availability of parallel computers. Therefore, discovering a good structure of the network is one of the basic issues. From modeling point of view, the structure of networks can be naturally stud- ied in terms of graph theory. Several common desirable features of networks, such as large number of processing elements, good throughput, short data com- munication delay, modularity, good fault tolerance and diameter vulnerability correspond to properties of the underlying graphs of networks, including large number of vertices, small diameter, high connectivity and overall balance (or regularity) of the graph or digraph. The first part of this thesis deals with the issue of interconnection networks ad- dressing system. From graph theory point of view, this issue is mainly related to a graph labeling. We investigate a special family of graph labeling, namely antimagic labeling of a class of disconnected graphs. We present new results in super (a; d)-edge antimagic total labeling for disjoint union of multiple copies of special families of graphs. The second part of this thesis deals with the issue of regularity of digraphs with the number of vertices close to the upper bound, called the Moore bound, which is unobtainable for most values of out-degree and diameter. Regularity of the underlying graph of a network is often considered to be essential since the flow of messages and exchange of data between processing elements will be on average faster if there is a similar number of interconnections coming in and going out of each processing element. This means that the in-degree and out-degree of each processing element must be the same or almost the same. Our new results show that digraphs of order two less than Moore bound are either diregular or almost diregular.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Student acquisition of social skills through teacher modelling
- Authors: Tocknell, Carol
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Using the perspective of school leaders, teachers and students, this research questions whether Victorian Government schools provide opportunities, in the form of explicit teacher modelling, for the development of student social skills and social competence. The essence of this study was to determine whether students feel they can thrive at school and whether they believe there are opportunities for them to succeed. Two Victorian Government secondary schools were involved in the study and eight male and ten female students aged 12–14 years volunteered to be interviewed over the course of their first year in secondary school. Teachers and principals at the schools were also interviewed. The research found that students do not identify teachers as role models for social skills. However, school leaders believe that teachers are behaviour role models for students. Students and teachers were found to place value on positive teacher–student relationships. The variance of social-skills instruction in secondary schools and classrooms points to significant differences between intent and practice of such instruction within schools. It seems there are considerable differences in the perception of the Australian Curriculum‘s Personal and social capability domain within schools and between individual teachers‘ classrooms. This limits opportunity for students to develop social skills, as there appears to be no strategic whole-school social–emotional curriculum plan, few resources to implement such plans and no professional development for teachers in this area. This research describes the opportunities that are available for secondary students at Victorian Government schools to develop social skills and social competence. The research contributes to, and informs teacher pedagogy and contributes to knowledge on the value placed on social competence by students, teachers and school leaders. It also provides insight into the importance that students place on teacher interpersonal skills, the subsequent engagement of students with teachers and their sense of connectedness and belonging to their school.
- Authors: Tocknell, Carol
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Using the perspective of school leaders, teachers and students, this research questions whether Victorian Government schools provide opportunities, in the form of explicit teacher modelling, for the development of student social skills and social competence. The essence of this study was to determine whether students feel they can thrive at school and whether they believe there are opportunities for them to succeed. Two Victorian Government secondary schools were involved in the study and eight male and ten female students aged 12–14 years volunteered to be interviewed over the course of their first year in secondary school. Teachers and principals at the schools were also interviewed. The research found that students do not identify teachers as role models for social skills. However, school leaders believe that teachers are behaviour role models for students. Students and teachers were found to place value on positive teacher–student relationships. The variance of social-skills instruction in secondary schools and classrooms points to significant differences between intent and practice of such instruction within schools. It seems there are considerable differences in the perception of the Australian Curriculum‘s Personal and social capability domain within schools and between individual teachers‘ classrooms. This limits opportunity for students to develop social skills, as there appears to be no strategic whole-school social–emotional curriculum plan, few resources to implement such plans and no professional development for teachers in this area. This research describes the opportunities that are available for secondary students at Victorian Government schools to develop social skills and social competence. The research contributes to, and informs teacher pedagogy and contributes to knowledge on the value placed on social competence by students, teachers and school leaders. It also provides insight into the importance that students place on teacher interpersonal skills, the subsequent engagement of students with teachers and their sense of connectedness and belonging to their school.
Student mobility and transition : setting your compass for success
- Authors: Murrell, Kerry
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: With increasing levels of student mobility within Victorian schools, many educational settings experience frequent changes to their student population. These changes are often met with an ad hoc array of practices implemented by schools in an attempt to adequately manage them. This thesis addresses the impact of student mobility on an educational community and its stakeholders in Victoria, Australia. The research was undertaken in five Victorian government schools that encompassed diverse geographical locations and socio-economic profiles. Key stakeholders include: school principals, teachers and education support staff, mobile students, parents/carers of mobile students, non-mobile students and their families. Each group offered a unique perspective regarding student mobility and transition processes. Participants in this study were involved in interviews and focus groups, and completed a questionnaire. Socio-economic status was identified as a predominant factor in student mobility for both families and schools. This was evidenced by high levels of often unpredictable mobility in socio-economically disadvantaged and significantly disadvantaged participating schools. The participating non-disadvantaged school experienced mobility related specifically to perceived academic gain or parental promotion. Regardless of socio-economic status, each group was reliant on other stakeholders to be successful. No stakeholder groups stood alone as being able to successfully navigate the process of mobility and transition independently. This study, through the thematic analysis of the data collected, has uncovered many actionable and achievable recommendations for families, schools and the education system itself both within Victoria and nationwide. The participants in this research clearly indicated a need for a more strategic and planned approach to mobility. Educational communities must respond proactively in order to provide optimal academic, social and emotional outcomes for students in these circumstances.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Murrell, Kerry
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: With increasing levels of student mobility within Victorian schools, many educational settings experience frequent changes to their student population. These changes are often met with an ad hoc array of practices implemented by schools in an attempt to adequately manage them. This thesis addresses the impact of student mobility on an educational community and its stakeholders in Victoria, Australia. The research was undertaken in five Victorian government schools that encompassed diverse geographical locations and socio-economic profiles. Key stakeholders include: school principals, teachers and education support staff, mobile students, parents/carers of mobile students, non-mobile students and their families. Each group offered a unique perspective regarding student mobility and transition processes. Participants in this study were involved in interviews and focus groups, and completed a questionnaire. Socio-economic status was identified as a predominant factor in student mobility for both families and schools. This was evidenced by high levels of often unpredictable mobility in socio-economically disadvantaged and significantly disadvantaged participating schools. The participating non-disadvantaged school experienced mobility related specifically to perceived academic gain or parental promotion. Regardless of socio-economic status, each group was reliant on other stakeholders to be successful. No stakeholder groups stood alone as being able to successfully navigate the process of mobility and transition independently. This study, through the thematic analysis of the data collected, has uncovered many actionable and achievable recommendations for families, schools and the education system itself both within Victoria and nationwide. The participants in this research clearly indicated a need for a more strategic and planned approach to mobility. Educational communities must respond proactively in order to provide optimal academic, social and emotional outcomes for students in these circumstances.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Students' perceptions of learning science : the light and pedagogy of a social classroom / Linda Darby
- Authors: Darby, Linda
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "This study investigated the perceptions and expectations of students in a Year 7 science class in an attempt to elicit and make sense of what constitutes a learning environment conducive to engagement with science learning, and what role the teacher's pedagogy might play in the development."
- Description: Master of Education
- Authors: Darby, Linda
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "This study investigated the perceptions and expectations of students in a Year 7 science class in an attempt to elicit and make sense of what constitutes a learning environment conducive to engagement with science learning, and what role the teacher's pedagogy might play in the development."
- Description: Master of Education
Studies towards improved spray drying of
- Authors: Ghandi, Amir
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: Spray drying is relatively cost effective, energy efficient and high throughput drying system, however, it is damaging to bacteria. This study investigated approaches and methods to improve the survival of lactic acid bacteria by modifying the drying conditions and/or adding protective substances to enhance bacterial survival and culture activity in spray dried culture powders. (Taken from Abstract)
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ghandi, Amir
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: Spray drying is relatively cost effective, energy efficient and high throughput drying system, however, it is damaging to bacteria. This study investigated approaches and methods to improve the survival of lactic acid bacteria by modifying the drying conditions and/or adding protective substances to enhance bacterial survival and culture activity in spray dried culture powders. (Taken from Abstract)
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Study of apoptosis in langerhans cell histiocytosis
- Authors: Sims, Ioulia
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. The single-sited form of LCH located in bone (also called Eosinophilic granuloma (EoG)) is known to have a high incidence of spontaneous regression. This observation instigated research into apoptosis in LCH. Apoptosis is genetically orchestrated process of cell death. In healthy organisms it is balanced and responsible for the cells’ turnover. Dis-balance of apoptosis can lead to cells’ over-proliferation (causing cancer) or cells’ excessive death (neurological disorders) as well as to other pathological conditions. The aim of the project was to examine the differences between LCH and non-LCH inflammatory diseases (controls). The ultimate goal of this research is the better understanding of the programmed cell death in LCH. Such knowledge could point to therapeutical targets and treatment strategies in the range of the diseases including cancer.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Sims, Ioulia
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. The single-sited form of LCH located in bone (also called Eosinophilic granuloma (EoG)) is known to have a high incidence of spontaneous regression. This observation instigated research into apoptosis in LCH. Apoptosis is genetically orchestrated process of cell death. In healthy organisms it is balanced and responsible for the cells’ turnover. Dis-balance of apoptosis can lead to cells’ over-proliferation (causing cancer) or cells’ excessive death (neurological disorders) as well as to other pathological conditions. The aim of the project was to examine the differences between LCH and non-LCH inflammatory diseases (controls). The ultimate goal of this research is the better understanding of the programmed cell death in LCH. Such knowledge could point to therapeutical targets and treatment strategies in the range of the diseases including cancer.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Superannuation in Australia : a mixed methods study into engagement of superannuants
- Authors: Clinton, Teresa
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Compulsory superannuation is a significant component of the Australian Government’s strategy to encourage citizens to take responsibility for funding their retirement. This project extends current knowledge regarding superannuants financial literacy and their preparedness to engage in the decision process that is embodied in the main communication document received from superannuation funds: the benefit statement. The purpose of this study involved two research questions. The first asked: What are the characteristics and determinants of a benefit statement as a form of financial communication to superannuants? The study aimed to determine if the benefit statement is fit for purpose and involved an examination of industry benefit statements. Institutional Theory was used to explain why benefit statements take their current form. The second research question considers to what extent superannuants understand and engage with the benefit statement? A survey of academics working at Australian public universities was undertaken to explore their financial literacy, understanding and extent of engagement they have with their superannuation via the benefit statement. The OECD/NIFE (2018, p. 4) definition of financial literacy was used for this research study as it incorporates “a combination of awareness, knowledge, skill, attitude and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial wellbeing”. The Theory of Planned Behaviour provides an explanation and a greater understanding of attitude and behaviour between demographics for example, age, gender, and education level that contribute to engagement with superannuation. A content analysis was used for research question 1, and found that due to legalisation requirements, a similar format has been adopted by most funds. There was however a lack of information which would allow superannuants the ability to track their preparedness for the amount required to fund retirement. With regard to the second research question, the results from the high socioeconomic group revealed that engagement with superannuation is not reflected by gender or education but rather age approaching retirement. As retirement approaches engagement increases. The attitude of participants towards superannuation was positive with most displaying high levels of self-efficacy however, a pre- and post-survey self-evaluation of financial literacy questions revealed a statistically significant decrease in scores indicating survey respondents were not actually aware of their lack of understanding of superannuation. The combined results from the survey and the content analysis indicate that the quality of disclosure is not sufficient to influence superannuants’ active engagement with their superannuation. This study highlights that engagement with superannuation is driven by personal circumstances and individual differences and the benefit statement needs to be more personally relevant to a broader range of individuals to encourage engagement with retirement planning. The findings help to understand heterogeneity in individuals’ propensity to engage with superannuation and provide an insight into their attitudes and behaviour. The research offers a contribution to the literature on superannuation fund benefit statement disclosure practices and provides an insight for policymakers on the effect these statements they have on superannuants.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Clinton, Teresa
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Compulsory superannuation is a significant component of the Australian Government’s strategy to encourage citizens to take responsibility for funding their retirement. This project extends current knowledge regarding superannuants financial literacy and their preparedness to engage in the decision process that is embodied in the main communication document received from superannuation funds: the benefit statement. The purpose of this study involved two research questions. The first asked: What are the characteristics and determinants of a benefit statement as a form of financial communication to superannuants? The study aimed to determine if the benefit statement is fit for purpose and involved an examination of industry benefit statements. Institutional Theory was used to explain why benefit statements take their current form. The second research question considers to what extent superannuants understand and engage with the benefit statement? A survey of academics working at Australian public universities was undertaken to explore their financial literacy, understanding and extent of engagement they have with their superannuation via the benefit statement. The OECD/NIFE (2018, p. 4) definition of financial literacy was used for this research study as it incorporates “a combination of awareness, knowledge, skill, attitude and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial wellbeing”. The Theory of Planned Behaviour provides an explanation and a greater understanding of attitude and behaviour between demographics for example, age, gender, and education level that contribute to engagement with superannuation. A content analysis was used for research question 1, and found that due to legalisation requirements, a similar format has been adopted by most funds. There was however a lack of information which would allow superannuants the ability to track their preparedness for the amount required to fund retirement. With regard to the second research question, the results from the high socioeconomic group revealed that engagement with superannuation is not reflected by gender or education but rather age approaching retirement. As retirement approaches engagement increases. The attitude of participants towards superannuation was positive with most displaying high levels of self-efficacy however, a pre- and post-survey self-evaluation of financial literacy questions revealed a statistically significant decrease in scores indicating survey respondents were not actually aware of their lack of understanding of superannuation. The combined results from the survey and the content analysis indicate that the quality of disclosure is not sufficient to influence superannuants’ active engagement with their superannuation. This study highlights that engagement with superannuation is driven by personal circumstances and individual differences and the benefit statement needs to be more personally relevant to a broader range of individuals to encourage engagement with retirement planning. The findings help to understand heterogeneity in individuals’ propensity to engage with superannuation and provide an insight into their attitudes and behaviour. The research offers a contribution to the literature on superannuation fund benefit statement disclosure practices and provides an insight for policymakers on the effect these statements they have on superannuants.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy