Description:
"This study comprises a formulated approach to the prediction of EFL reading comprehension. Based on a study of the interactions between bottom-up and top-down processing, between different sources of prior knowledge, and between the reader and the writer via the text, a schematic developmental model is devised to account for L2 reading comprehension. According to the model, the EFL, conceptual and sociocultural knowledge that an EFL text involves, and that the EFL reader brings to the reading task, determines the outcome of the EFL reading event."
Description:
"This study comprises a formulated approach to the prediction of EFL reading comprehension. Based on a study of the interactions between bottom-up and top-down processing, between different sources of prior knowledge, and between the reader and the writer via the text, a schematic developmental model is devised to account for L2 reading comprehension. According to the model, the EFL, conceptual and sociocultural knowledge that an EFL text involves, and that the EFL reader brings to the reading task, determines the outcome of the EFL reading event."
Description:
These projects deal with 2 different themes. Firstly the training of parents whose children suffer from DSM-IV attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder. Secondly therapy for the treatment of separation disorder.
Description:
These projects deal with 2 different themes. Firstly the training of parents whose children suffer from DSM-IV attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder. Secondly therapy for the treatment of separation disorder.
Description:
"This project is concerned with a visual exploration of the land of the Western Plains of Victoria and the nature of "the sacred" in that landscape. Specifically, I have explored these ideas through the medium of painting and works on paper. The studio practice has been informed both by my personal experiencs of this geographic region and by research into the histories associated with white settlement and the subsequent forms of erasue of aboriginal presence."
Description:
"This project is concerned with a visual exploration of the land of the Western Plains of Victoria and the nature of "the sacred" in that landscape. Specifically, I have explored these ideas through the medium of painting and works on paper. The studio practice has been informed both by my personal experiencs of this geographic region and by research into the histories associated with white settlement and the subsequent forms of erasue of aboriginal presence."
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
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
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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
This project is concerned with exploring a particular cluster of ideas and stories concerning Homecoming, most notably the presence of the Woman Who Waits for the traveller to return. Underlying the storied aspects of the visual work are the deeper intentions of soulfulness, personal therapy and social interaction. Although profoundly autobiographical, the metaphoric images I have produced are not only a means to touch others but are inclusive of a broader experience than simply my own. Throughout the following exegesis I draw on the disciplines of psychology, sociology, mythology and history, to explore the metaphoric presences of the deities Hestia and Hermes and their relationship to ideas of Home and Not - Home. Particular qualities associated with Home may, for the traveller, become symbolically embodied within the figure of The Woman Who Waits. This simple perception of The Woman Who Waits, and the process of waiting for the traveller to return was explored and expanded through autobiographic art practice combined with visual and theoretical research. Throughout the project the expression of emotive autobiographic issues through the running use of metaphor has been combined with increasing technical control and subtlety along with sustained explorations of spatial and compositional dynamics.
Description:
This project is concerned with exploring a particular cluster of ideas and stories concerning Homecoming, most notably the presence of the Woman Who Waits for the traveller to return. Underlying the storied aspects of the visual work are the deeper intentions of soulfulness, personal therapy and social interaction. Although profoundly autobiographical, the metaphoric images I have produced are not only a means to touch others but are inclusive of a broader experience than simply my own. Throughout the following exegesis I draw on the disciplines of psychology, sociology, mythology and history, to explore the metaphoric presences of the deities Hestia and Hermes and their relationship to ideas of Home and Not - Home. Particular qualities associated with Home may, for the traveller, become symbolically embodied within the figure of The Woman Who Waits. This simple perception of The Woman Who Waits, and the process of waiting for the traveller to return was explored and expanded through autobiographic art practice combined with visual and theoretical research. Throughout the project the expression of emotive autobiographic issues through the running use of metaphor has been combined with increasing technical control and subtlety along with sustained explorations of spatial and compositional dynamics.
Description:
"This study investigated the effect of unilateral cerebellar lesions on the performance of finger movement sequences in reaction time tasks."
Description:
"This study investigated the effect of unilateral cerebellar lesions on the performance of finger movement sequences in reaction time tasks."
Description:
The fear and pain of medical procedures are a source of great distress to children. Techniques such as distraction, relaxation and guided imagery help children to cope, and in some cases, have a marked influence on the experience of fear and pain during painful medical procedures. However, the effects, embedded in the relationships between consciousness, imagery, fear and pain, are unclear, particularly with regard to the clinical (as opposed to the laboratory) reality of procedural pain. The aim of this thesis was to empirically account for the therapeutic effects of distraction, relaxation, and imagery on procedural fear and pain in children and to offer a model based on a constructive view of experience allied to recent advances in neurophysiology that could account for the effects. Two studies were undertaken to address this aim. The first study investigated the effects of cartoon distraction on fear and pain in children undergoing venepuncture. The second study investigated the independent and combined effects of relaxation and imagery on fear and pain in children also undergoing venepuncture. The studies indicated that relaxation, distraction and imagery reduced procedural fear. Procedural pain was not affected by relaxation but distraction showed positive effects as did imagery, particularly if procedural pain was defined in terms of its sensory and emotional components. These effects are explained using a model based on a top-down constructivist view of the psychology and neurophysiology of fear, pain, imagery and consciousness. The neurophysiological components of the model comprised the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and association areas within a working memory view of consciousness. The constructivist perspective held that during relaxation the child’s cognitive, emotional and sensorial quality were largely based on the ‘reality’ of the procedure room, but that during imagery and perhaps distraction, the qualia were located elsewhere. The thesis concludes with the relevance of the model for clinical practice and implications for further psychological and neurophysiological research.
Description:
The fear and pain of medical procedures are a source of great distress to children. Techniques such as distraction, relaxation and guided imagery help children to cope, and in some cases, have a marked influence on the experience of fear and pain during painful medical procedures. However, the effects, embedded in the relationships between consciousness, imagery, fear and pain, are unclear, particularly with regard to the clinical (as opposed to the laboratory) reality of procedural pain. The aim of this thesis was to empirically account for the therapeutic effects of distraction, relaxation, and imagery on procedural fear and pain in children and to offer a model based on a constructive view of experience allied to recent advances in neurophysiology that could account for the effects. Two studies were undertaken to address this aim. The first study investigated the effects of cartoon distraction on fear and pain in children undergoing venepuncture. The second study investigated the independent and combined effects of relaxation and imagery on fear and pain in children also undergoing venepuncture. The studies indicated that relaxation, distraction and imagery reduced procedural fear. Procedural pain was not affected by relaxation but distraction showed positive effects as did imagery, particularly if procedural pain was defined in terms of its sensory and emotional components. These effects are explained using a model based on a top-down constructivist view of the psychology and neurophysiology of fear, pain, imagery and consciousness. The neurophysiological components of the model comprised the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and association areas within a working memory view of consciousness. The constructivist perspective held that during relaxation the child’s cognitive, emotional and sensorial quality were largely based on the ‘reality’ of the procedure room, but that during imagery and perhaps distraction, the qualia were located elsewhere. The thesis concludes with the relevance of the model for clinical practice and implications for further psychological and neurophysiological research.
Description:
This thesis considers how applicable is the network paradigm to understanding the development of an information technology and technology industry in Ballarat, Australia.
Description:
"The project concerns itself with the human condition and the search for meaning, specifically, from the perspective of a woman artist. This search for meaning is expressed as a journey. The journey of a fictional woman protagonist through landscape is the metaphor used to convey these ideas."
Description:
"The central premise of this dissertation is that the process by which representations of witchcraft are formed within the neo-Pagan movement are indicative of the broader interrelationship of Romantic and Enlightenment themes in Western culture."
Description:
"The central premise of this dissertation is that the process by which representations of witchcraft are formed within the neo-Pagan movement are indicative of the broader interrelationship of Romantic and Enlightenment themes in Western culture."
Description:
The phenomenon and acceptance of electronic publishing has proliferated in the last five years due to the expansion in the use of the World Wide Web in the general community. The initial fears that newspapers would be decimated by the introduction of this technology have been proven groundless, but despite a high web presence by newspapers world wide, profitable models of cyber papers are elusive. In an online environment traditional relationships between newspaper advertising and editorial may not stand. Despite the considerable body of published literature concerning the movement of print newspapers to an online environment, little was found concerning online content. A need to re-evaluate what content and functions are considered to be desirable by print readers, in an online environment was identified as the main objective of this research. Evaluation the of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into areas such as developing effective models for profitable online newspapers. To achieve this objective, the research tools used were a content analysis, an online newspaper user survey and newspaper management personal interviews. The study looked at Victorian regional daily newspapers that also had online versions. By focussing on the regional newspapers, meaningful comparisons could be made between content, staff attitudes and readership interests. The content analysis measured the quantum and nature of the content of the print and online versions of the regional dailies during a one week period. This provided a measure of the type and source of the articles included both in print and online. Newspaper editorial staff interviews contributed a personalised view of content priorities, which was then contrasted with a web based questionnaire which measured user requirements in relation to content and interactivity. It was found from the survey that content alone would not provide a sufficient basis to build a profitable online regional newspaper site. The findings were analysed in relation to the literature, newspaper site content and editorial staff interviews. Despite regularly accessing online newspaper sites, it was found that users are unwilling to pay for the experience. Users indicated a desire for a higher level of interactivity, in addition to the content, which is currently provided, by online regional newspapers. Evaluation of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into the development of effective for profitable online newspapers.
Description:
The phenomenon and acceptance of electronic publishing has proliferated in the last five years due to the expansion in the use of the World Wide Web in the general community. The initial fears that newspapers would be decimated by the introduction of this technology have been proven groundless, but despite a high web presence by newspapers world wide, profitable models of cyber papers are elusive. In an online environment traditional relationships between newspaper advertising and editorial may not stand. Despite the considerable body of published literature concerning the movement of print newspapers to an online environment, little was found concerning online content. A need to re-evaluate what content and functions are considered to be desirable by print readers, in an online environment was identified as the main objective of this research. Evaluation the of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into areas such as developing effective models for profitable online newspapers. To achieve this objective, the research tools used were a content analysis, an online newspaper user survey and newspaper management personal interviews. The study looked at Victorian regional daily newspapers that also had online versions. By focussing on the regional newspapers, meaningful comparisons could be made between content, staff attitudes and readership interests. The content analysis measured the quantum and nature of the content of the print and online versions of the regional dailies during a one week period. This provided a measure of the type and source of the articles included both in print and online. Newspaper editorial staff interviews contributed a personalised view of content priorities, which was then contrasted with a web based questionnaire which measured user requirements in relation to content and interactivity. It was found from the survey that content alone would not provide a sufficient basis to build a profitable online regional newspaper site. The findings were analysed in relation to the literature, newspaper site content and editorial staff interviews. Despite regularly accessing online newspaper sites, it was found that users are unwilling to pay for the experience. Users indicated a desire for a higher level of interactivity, in addition to the content, which is currently provided, by online regional newspapers. Evaluation of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into the development of effective for profitable online newspapers.
Description:
Recent publicity has focused on the problems created by the usage of illicit drugs in the community. The growing use of illicit drugs throughout the Grampians region and the lack of resources and professional services available to regional and rural areas raise many questions as to treatment options and the accessibility and appropriateness of drug and alcohol and mental health services. Despite the fact that mental health professionals in rural/regional areas are expected to deliver the most appropriate care to individuals with a comorbid drug and alcohol and psychiatric disorder, a number of these rural/regional mental health professionals have limited preparation and experience in dealing with dual diagnosis issues. This phenomenological study focuses on the area of dual diagnosis, specifically the experiences of health professionals who care for clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness and a coexisting drug and alcohol disorder. Results are described in the form of four themes, which emerged from data collected during in-depth interviews with 13 mental health professionals who care for clients with a dual diagnosis. The themes captured in this research will be described using metaphors as headings. The first theme Sink or swim represents mental health professionals’ initial preparation to care for this group of complex clientele. Treading water symbolises mental health professionals’ endeavours to keep their head above water and reflects on their feelings while endeavouring to do so. Rowing against the tide describes mental health professionals’ understanding of clients’ drug misuse, which impacts greatly on the level of care.
Description:
Recent publicity has focused on the problems created by the usage of illicit drugs in the community. The growing use of illicit drugs throughout the Grampians region and the lack of resources and professional services available to regional and rural areas raise many questions as to treatment options and the accessibility and appropriateness of drug and alcohol and mental health services. Despite the fact that mental health professionals in rural/regional areas are expected to deliver the most appropriate care to individuals with a comorbid drug and alcohol and psychiatric disorder, a number of these rural/regional mental health professionals have limited preparation and experience in dealing with dual diagnosis issues. This phenomenological study focuses on the area of dual diagnosis, specifically the experiences of health professionals who care for clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness and a coexisting drug and alcohol disorder. Results are described in the form of four themes, which emerged from data collected during in-depth interviews with 13 mental health professionals who care for clients with a dual diagnosis. The themes captured in this research will be described using metaphors as headings. The first theme Sink or swim represents mental health professionals’ initial preparation to care for this group of complex clientele. Treading water symbolises mental health professionals’ endeavours to keep their head above water and reflects on their feelings while endeavouring to do so. Rowing against the tide describes mental health professionals’ understanding of clients’ drug misuse, which impacts greatly on the level of care.
Description:
This thesis describes the initiation and evolution of an action research project, which investigates the adoption and diffusion of Internet technologies in a regional Australian tourism network. The research evolved out of a portal development consultancy. The aim of the study was two-fold: to investigate the nature of the change process when a collaborative network seeks to adopt e-commerce; and to determine how the change process differed in the face of incremental change (adding some e-commerce solutions to the network), or radical change (changing the overall business model). The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the economic, strategic and social potential of regional business networks in the current techno-economic climate. The study builds on Rogers' (1995) seminal work on the diffusion of innovations and makes a unique contribution to existing diffusion studies by its focus on the nature of the network links as the unit of analysis; and by its application of an action-oriented methodology to untangle the effects of the embedded network structure on diffusion. The study suggests a strong relationship between diffusion and network positioning, both in terms of place (status and position in the network) and space (the geographic make-up of the network). Diffusion further hinged on network cohesion, actors' trust in and engagement with the network. Adoption of e-commerce was obstructed by actors’ worldview; lack of time, reflexive learning, and commitment to change. The incorporation in the study’s diffusion framework of contextual moderators such as network position, worldview, trust, time and commitment considerably extends Rogers’ traditional diffusion framework. Based on its emergent analysis framework, the study introduces a dynamic change model towards sustainable regional network development. It is suggested that both the diffusion framework and the regional innovation model developed in this study may, either jointly or separately, be applicable beyond the tourism and service sector.
Description:
This thesis describes the initiation and evolution of an action research project, which investigates the adoption and diffusion of Internet technologies in a regional Australian tourism network. The research evolved out of a portal development consultancy. The aim of the study was two-fold: to investigate the nature of the change process when a collaborative network seeks to adopt e-commerce; and to determine how the change process differed in the face of incremental change (adding some e-commerce solutions to the network), or radical change (changing the overall business model). The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the economic, strategic and social potential of regional business networks in the current techno-economic climate. The study builds on Rogers' (1995) seminal work on the diffusion of innovations and makes a unique contribution to existing diffusion studies by its focus on the nature of the network links as the unit of analysis; and by its application of an action-oriented methodology to untangle the effects of the embedded network structure on diffusion. The study suggests a strong relationship between diffusion and network positioning, both in terms of place (status and position in the network) and space (the geographic make-up of the network). Diffusion further hinged on network cohesion, actors' trust in and engagement with the network. Adoption of e-commerce was obstructed by actors’ worldview; lack of time, reflexive learning, and commitment to change. The incorporation in the study’s diffusion framework of contextual moderators such as network position, worldview, trust, time and commitment considerably extends Rogers’ traditional diffusion framework. Based on its emergent analysis framework, the study introduces a dynamic change model towards sustainable regional network development. It is suggested that both the diffusion framework and the regional innovation model developed in this study may, either jointly or separately, be applicable beyond the tourism and service sector.
Description:
The principle motivation of this work is to define an open PV architecture that will enable a variety of visualisation schemes to interoperate and that will encourage the generation of PV systems and research into their efficacy. Ultimately this may lead to more effective pedagogy in the field of computer programming and hence remove a barrier to students entering the profession.
Description:
The principle motivation of this work is to define an open PV architecture that will enable a variety of visualisation schemes to interoperate and that will encourage the generation of PV systems and research into their efficacy. Ultimately this may lead to more effective pedagogy in the field of computer programming and hence remove a barrier to students entering the profession.
Description:
"This study explores the role of rehabilitation as a link between illness and health by describing global and subjective change after rehabilitation."
Description:
"This study explores the role of rehabilitation as a link between illness and health by describing global and subjective change after rehabilitation."
Description:
Anecdotal and other evidence indicates that public attitudes to retail banks have been affected by changes in banking practices. There is a perceived gap between the public statements by banks as to services offered and customers' expectations and experience. By being "authorised" under legislation to operate, banks are seen to occupy a special position within the business community in Australia. The banking industry has stated that any negative attitudes to retails banks will be corrected once customers understand the need for change. "From summary"
Description:
Anecdotal and other evidence indicates that public attitudes to retail banks have been affected by changes in banking practices. There is a perceived gap between the public statements by banks as to services offered and customers' expectations and experience. By being "authorised" under legislation to operate, banks are seen to occupy a special position within the business community in Australia. The banking industry has stated that any negative attitudes to retails banks will be corrected once customers understand the need for change. "From summary"