List of Titles

Elements of sensation seeking and their relationship with two aspects of humour appreciation - Perceived funniness and overt expression

- Lourey, Emma, McLachlan, Angus

Authors: Lourey, Emma , McLachlan, Angus
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Personality and Individual Differences Vol. 35, no. 2 (2003), p. 227-287
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Description: The relationship between sensation seeking and the variables of perceived funniness of humour and overt expression of humour was investigated. The Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking [AISS; Arnett, Personality and Individual differences 16 (1994) 289] and two experimental variants of the Situational Humour Response Questionnaire (Martin & Lefcourt, 1984) were administered to 186 students aged between 18 and 47 years. Results revealed that, compared to low sensation seekers, high sensation seekers reported perceiving a variety of situations as being more funny and displaying more overt expression of humour in those situations. Additionally, partial correlation analyses indicated that self-assessments of overt expression of humour were significantly related to scores on the intensity sub-scale of the AISS but not with scores on the novelty sub-scale. The situation was reversed for perceived funniness, with a significant partial correlation between scores on that sub-scale and those on the novelty sub-scale but no partial correlation between intensity and perceived funniness. It was concluded that perceiving events as being funny offered sensation seekers a novel source of stimulation and that displaying overt expression of humour offered sensation seekers an additional mode of experiencing intense stimulation. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Description: 2003000468

Engaging the education sector: A policy orientation to stop damaging our schools

- Smyth, John

Authors: Smyth, John
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Learning Communities Vol. , no. 1 (2003), p. 22-40
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Description: In this paper the author makes a passionate 'plea for discontent', arguing that there is something fundamentally wrong with the overall direction of education policy as it is being applied to schools, and that new ways of re-engaging with it must be found. The author commences by arguing for a proposition, presenting some evidence from some research, and using that as a basis for suggesting a fundamental re-think in the way educational policy operates in relation to schools. In doing this, he underscores the centrality and significance of social capital as the basis for this re-engagement. The underlying question concerns how educational policy making is to be engaged so that it is central to institutional building. With the threat of losing schools as social institutions under the current regime of educational policy, the author argues that new ways of re-engaging educational policy beyond parallel discourses are needed. The underlying proposition is that schools that succeed are ones that have trusting relationships between school systems, teachers, parents and students. Trust between those making educational policy and schools, produces better outcomes for all, and trust is given expression through meaningful partnerships, authentic accountability, and distributed (or enabling) leadership. Social capital is central to any educational policy re-engagement with schools. The underlying argument of this paper is that schools have a social responsibility as places that 'manufacture hope' often in situations of increasing 'despair' and adversity.

Estimating distributed coding efficiently in orthogonal models of facial processing

- Watters, Paul

Authors: Watters, Paul
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Integrative Neuroscience Vol. 2, no. 2 (2003), p. 249-262
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Description: Orthogonal facial processing models attempt to mimic the local decomposition performed in the visual cortex by simple cell receptive fields. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the neurophysiological validity of orthogonal models of facial processing could be improved by implementing a "whitening" filter, based on current knowledge of similar filtering that occurs in the retina. By using a metric known as the "distributed coding efficiency index" (DCE), this study demonstrates that an orthogonal facial processing model significantly increased coding efficiency when a low-pass, zero-phase whitening filter was applied. The extent to which orthogonal decomposition of filtered data represents a realistic V1 model is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Description: 2003007807

Evidence for invasive carp mediated trophic cascade in shallow lakes of western Victoria, Australia

- Khan, Tariq, Wilson, Michael, Khan, Minal

Authors: Khan, Tariq , Wilson, Michael , Khan, Minal
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Hydrobiologia Vol. 506-509, no. (2003), p. 465-472
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Description: Lakes of western Victoria are typically shallow (2-3 m), slightly saline (3-8 ppt) and eutrophic (total phosphorus 0.1-5 mg l-1 and total nitrogen 3-8 mg l-1). These lakes are prone to algal blooms in late spring and summer. We conducted experiments in ponds to determine whether lake zooplankton exert enough grazing pressure to control algal blooms and also if carp predation can regulate zooplankton communities and increase algal biomass. Zooplankton grazing (high zooplankton, low zooplankton and control) and carp predation (carp, nutrient and control) experiments had three treatments and each treatment had three replicates. Algal numbers and biomass (28
Description: C1
Description: 2003000543

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Evolution of the boundary between the western and central Lachlan Orogen : Implications for tasmanide tectonics

- Spaggiari, Catherine, Gray, David, Foster, David, McKnight, Stafford

Authors: Spaggiari, Catherine , Gray, David , Foster, David , McKnight, Stafford
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 50, no. 5 (2003), p. 725-749
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Description: Differences in oblique overprinting, along-strike complexity as well as structural, metamorphic and timing constraints suggest that the boundary between the western and central subprovinces of the Lachlan Orogen, currently designated by the Governor Fault, cannot be a single structure. Previously limited data on the nature and kinematics of the fault/shear systems defining the boundary have led to varying scenarios for the tectonic evolution of the Lachlan Orogen. These scenarios either involve large-scale strike-slip displacement along the boundary with subsequent overthrusting or convergence of oppositely vergent thrust-systems with limited strike-slip translation. Geometrical constraints, fabric chronology and kinematic indicators in both the Mt Wellington (Melbourne Zone) and Governor (Tabberabbera Zone) Fault Zones indicate that maximum displacements relate to thrusting and duplex formation, followed by minor strike-slip faulting perhaps in response to slightly oblique collision of the Melbourne and Tabberabbera structural zones. Collision of these zones took place between ca 400 and 390 Ma. At Howqua, structural relationships indicate that collision involved northeast-directed thrusting of the Melbourne Zone (Mt Wellington Fault Zone) over the Tabberabbera Zone (Governor Fault Zone), and was followed by regional, northwest-trending, open folding. These structures overprint the dominant fabrics and metamorphic assemblages that are interpreted to relate to disruption and underthrusting of Cambrian oceanic/arc crust during closure of a marginal basin. Major deformation in the Tabberabbera Zone took place from ca 445 Ma and was associated with mélange formation, underplating and imbrication or duplexing (Governor Fault Zone, East Howqua segmennt). At slightly higher crustal levels, and following deposition of Upper Ordovician black shale and chert sequences (ca 440 Ma), Tabberabbera Zone evolution included offscraping of a serpentinite body (Dolodrook segment) that may have been either a Marianas-style seamount or transform fault zone within the Cambrian oceanic/arc crust. Major thrusting in the Mt Wellington Fault Zone was underway sometime after ca 420 Ma, and in contrast to the Governor Fault Zone, no mélange or broken formation was produced, metamorphism was at slightly higher temperatures and deformation probably occurred under higher strain states.
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Description: 2003000547

Experiential learning in social science theory : An investigation of the relationship between student enjoyment and learning

- McEachern, Steven, Blunsdon, Betsy, Reed, Ken, McNeil, Nicola

Authors: McEachern, Steven , Blunsdon, Betsy , Reed, Ken , McNeil, Nicola
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Higher Education Research & Development Vol. 22, no. 1 (2003), p. 43-56
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Description: This paper provides an analysis of student experiences of an approach to teaching theory that integrates the teaching of theory and data analysis. The argument that supports this approach is that theory is most effectively taught by using empirical data in order to generate and test propositions and hypotheses, thereby emphasising the dialectic relationship between theory and data through experiential learning. Bachelor of Commerce students in two second-year substantive organisational theory subjects were introduced to this method of learning at a large, multi-campus Australian university. In this paper, we present a model that posits a relationship between students’ perceptions of their learning, the enjoyment of the experience and expected future outcomes.
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Description: 2003000604

Families, cultural resources and the digital divide : ICTs and educational (dis)advantage

- Angus, Lawrence, Snyder, Ilana, Sutherland-Smith, Wendy

Authors: Angus, Lawrence , Snyder, Ilana , Sutherland-Smith, Wendy
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Australian Journal of Education Vol. 47, no. 1 (2003), p. 18-39
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Description: By concentrating on cases of family engagement with information communication technologies at a very local level, this paper tries to illustrate that issues related to 'access' and social disadvantage require extremely sophisticated and textured accounts of the multiple ways in which interrelated critical elements and various social, economic and cultural dimensions of disadvantage come into play in different contexts. Indeed, to draw a simple dichotomy between the technology haves and have-nots in local settings is not particularly generative. It may be the case that, even when people from disadvantaged backgrounds manage to gain access to technology, they remain relatively disadvantaged.
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Description: 2003000499

Field trials of the efficacy of 'Grain 96-1': A methyl anthranilate bird repellent

- Kentish, Barry, Robertson, Dean, Temby, Ian

Authors: Kentish, Barry , Robertson, Dean , Temby, Ian
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Plant Protection Quarterly Vol. 18, no. 2 (2003), p. 55-59
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Description: Effectiveness of 'Grain 96-1', a methyl anthranilate (methyl 2 aminobenzonate, MA) based bird repellent, was examined to quantify the reduction in consumption of treated oats. Field trials at Horsham, Victoria, demonstrated more birds, mainly Long-billed Corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris), were observed feeding on untreated compared to treated (0.4% and 0.8% w/w MA) oats. However, there was no significant difference in the quantity of 0.4% (w/w) MA treated oats consumed by birds compared to untreated. Treatment of oats at a higher concentration (0.8% w/w MA) significantly reduced the quantity consumed (t = 15.97, d.f. = 3, P<0.001) compared with untreated oats. Relationship of bird behaviour to the effectiveness of methyl anthranilate as a bird repellent is discussed.
Description: 2003000553

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Flowering, fruiting, germination and seed despersal of the newly emerging weed Solanum mauritianum Scop. (solanaceae) in the wet tropics of north Queensland

- Florentine, Singarayer, Westbrooke, Martin, Craig, M.

Authors: Florentine, Singarayer , Westbrooke, Martin , Craig, M.
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Plant Protection Quarterly Vol. 18, no. 3 (2003), p. 116-120
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Description: Solanum mauritianum (wild tobacco) has recently become a weed of major concern in some agricultural production areas, and tropical rainforest restoration sites, of the Atherton Tablelands, north Queensland. Until recently, little was known about the ecology of this species. A study was conducted to examine: Ii) the flowering, fruiting pattern, (ii) seed germination pattern, (iii) density of soil stored seed bank, and (iv) potential avian seed dispersers of S. mauritianum. Flowering and fruiting patterns were studied on-randomly selected plants within the study site over a period of 35 days. A germination study was performed on green (unripe) and yellow (ripe) fruits with seeds from green fruits germinating faster than seeds collected from yellow fruits. The density of genninable seeds in the soil seed bank was determined from 94 samples collected beneath the canopy of 24 randomly selected S. mauritianum plants. Of seedlings Ihat germinated, 73% were S. mauritianum and seedling density of S. mauritiallum averaged 16 000 seedlings per hectare. To determine the role of birds in the dispersal of S. mauritianum seeds, observations were made of all birds visiting eleven fruit-bearing plants. To examine the bird's excrement, birds were captured in mist-nets, their excrement collected and any seeds present identified. A total of 340 seeds from 15 plant species were obtained. Four tropical rainforest birds (Australian king parrots (
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Description: 2003000548

From gender inversion to choice and back changing perceptions of the aetiology of lesbianism over three historical periods

- Gottschalk, Lorene

Authors: Gottschalk, Lorene
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Women's Studies International Forum Vol. 26, no. 3 (2003), p. 221-233
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Description: This study examined the dominant cultural beliefs about the aetiology of lesbian sexual orientation and identity over three historical periods and sought to establish the relationship between such dominant beliefs and women's perceptions and understanding about how they became lesbians. The findings from this study add weight to arguments that women are influenced by popular ideas about homosexuality in terms of their experiences during the process of becoming lesbians, how they interpret the aetiology of their lesbianism, and the lifestyle choices they make. Throughout the 20th century, the underlying belief about the aetiology of homosexuality has been that it is essential or biologically based, although biological theories were mitigated by the theories of feminism during the 1970s. For women who became lesbians in the 1950s and 1960s, a belief in a biological basis was overwhelmingly the dominant account. In the 1970s and early 1980s, choice was the dominant account, and in the 1990s, there is a tendency to go back to biological explanations. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Description: 2003000602

Galvanic and acoustic vestibular stimulation activate different populations of vestibular afferents

- Bacsi, Ann M, Watson, Shaun, Colebatch, James G

Authors: Bacsi, Ann M , Watson, Shaun , Colebatch, James G
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Clinical Neurophysiology Vol. 114, no. 2 (2003), p. 359-365
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Description: OBJECTIVE: To deduce whether similar or distinct populations of vestibular afferents are activated by acoustic and galvanic vestibular stimulation by comparing the effectiveness of 'matched' stimuli in eliciting vestibulospinal reflexes. METHODS: Twelve subjects (5 men, 7 women) underwent individual 'matching' of 2 ms tone burst and galvanic stimuli, using vestibulocollic reflexes so that corrected reflex amplitudes to tone burst and galvanic stimuli were within 10% of each other. These same intensities were then administered using 20 ms durations to determine whether they were equally effective in evoking vestibulospinal responses. RESULTS: Corrected reflex amplitudes for vestibulocollic responses to tone burst and galvanic stimulation were not significantly different for the right (P=0.45) or left (P=0.68) sides. All subjects had vestibulospinal responses to galvanic stimulation (average intensity 4.0 mA for both sides). The short latency (SL) and medium latency (ML) components of the vestibulospinal reflexes were larger after galvanic compared to tone burst stimulation in 11 of 12 subjects (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite evoking equal-sized vestibulocollic reflexes, there was a clear dissociation between the magnitude of tone burst and galvanic-induced vestibulospinal reflexes. Galvanic stimulation evoked SL and ML reflexes in all subjects. Tone burst stimuli evoked only small SL reflexes and, in most cases, no ML reflexes. Acoustically-evoked vestibulocollic reflexes are likely to be due to saccular excitation. The limited effectiveness of longer tone burst stimuli to evoke ML vestibulospinal reflexes suggests that saccular afferents have, at most, only a minor role in the production of these reflexes. We conclude that galvanic stimulation is more effective in eliciting vestibulospinal reflexes than tone burst stimulation, and that the two methods activate different populations of vestibular afferents.

Generalised anxiety disorder : Relationships with Eysenck's, Gray's and Newman's theories

- Gomez, Rapson, Francis, Lee M.

Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Francis, Lee M.
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Personality and Individual Differences Vol. 34, no. 1 (2003), p. 3-17
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Description: This study examined how the presence and severity of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) were associated with trait anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion. A total of 40 individuals with a diagnosis of GAD and 40 non-GAD control participants completed self-rating questionnaires covering GAD symptoms, trait anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion. Results indicated that the GAD group had significantly higher scores for neuroticism and trait anxiety, and significantly lower scores for extraversion than the control group. Among individuals with GAD, the severity of GAD was positively associated with trait anxiety and neuroticism, and negatively with extraversion. Also, the additional variance contributed by neuroticism and extraversion over trait anxiety was significant, while trait anxiety made no additional contribution over that made by neuroticism and extraversion. The interaction of neuroticism and extraversion failed to contribute to both the presence and the severity of GAD. These findings are discussed in terms of how the personality models of Eysenck, Gray, and Newman are related to the presence and severity of GAD. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Description: 2003000568

Global transition strategies in eastern Europe : Moving to market relations

- Marangos, John

Authors: Marangos, John
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Development Vol. 46, no. 1 (2003), p. 112-117
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Description: John Marangos conceptualizes the transition from a centrally administered economy to one based on market relations, thereby providing the basis of modelling the process. The transition is viewed as a holistic process. As such, it must incorporate first of all the reason for the adoption of market relations. Also the initial conditions of each country should be incorporated in the modelling process, in addition to the political and ideological structures. These elements of the transition process have been ignored in the transition economic literature.
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Description: 2003000606

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Growing exports via online communities and regional web-portals : A case from the Central Highlands region of Victoria

- Thompson, Helen

Authors: Thompson, Helen
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of New Business Ideas and Trends Vol. 1, no. 2 (2003), p. 44-58
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Description: Despite a rise of interest in information communications technology (ICT) and in community informatics (CI) initiatives, these are not ‘magic bullets’ or ‘quickfix solutions’ for SMEs or even larger organisations, communities, or industries. There is growing recognition of the need to go beyond anecdotal evidence and to assess more effectively the change brought about by providing access to and utilisation of ICT in communities. Denison et al. (2002) have presented a taxonomy that differentiates between various types of ICT and community networking initiatives. The application of this schema to a cluster of community informatics initiatives originating from the Central Highlands region of Victoria proves to be useful. A single case study is then presented which reviews the evolution of GrowExport.com, one of the online communities within that cluster. The diverse factors that are involved in establishing sustainable online services are examined. Access to a comprehensive toolset specifically designed to meet the skills and infrastructure gaps that often exist in regional areas has been important. The active involvement of community members in designing, implementing and sustaining web-based services has also been important. By generating debate and discussion and by sharing the critical learning from specific cases it is hoped that others can be better informed about the major characteristics and the diverse factors which impact on the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of CI initiatives in a regional and rural context.
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Description: 2003000615

How well does accrual accounting fit the public sector?

- Carnegie, Garry, West, Brian

Authors: Carnegie, Garry , West, Brian
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Australian Journal of Public Administration Vol. 62, no. 2 (Jun 2003), p. 83-86
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Description: In this 'controversy' we challenge the unqualified application of full accrual accounting within the Australian public sector. In particular attention is directed to the recognition and valuation for financial reporting purposes of public sector resources that are of a non-financial nature, such as library and museum collections. Our main contention is that attempting to recognise such resources at monetary values within the financial reports of public sector organisations is a contrived, imprecise and inappropriate practice that threatens to occlude rather than enable the accountability of public sector institutions and their managers. Building from this accountability theme, we present perspectives on promoting accountability for the technical accounting practices which have been imposed within the public sector.
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Description: 2003000618

I can run faster than him because I have faster shoes : Perceptions of competence and gender role stereotyping in children's imaginary friends

- Coetzee, Hilda, Shute, Rosalyn

Authors: Coetzee, Hilda , Shute, Rosalyn
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Child Study Journal Vol. 33, no. 4 (2003), p. 257-272
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Description: This study aimed to replicate the findings of Harter and Chao (1992) of a gender difference in the competence of the imaginary friends created by children, and to examine their suggestion that this gender difference is due to children's understanding of gender role stereotypes. There were 61 children (20 boys and 41 girls) between the ages of 3 years and 7 years who participated. The gender difference was not replicated, as not only girls, but also boys, rated their imaginary friend as less competent than themselves. However, children's spontaneous comments were indicative of a gender difference in how children perceived this lower competence--in terms of nurturing (girls) or self-favoring social comparison (boys). Other gender differences in children's imaginary friends were also apparent. The relative competence of child and 'friend' was not related to how flexible children were in terms of gender-role stereotyping, and this adds to a growing body of evidence failing to demonstrate a link between children's gender stereotypes and their behavior.
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Description: 2003006018

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If it's not on, is it still on? A model of condom use for rural Australian adolescents

- Jenkins, Megan, McLaren, Suzanne

Authors: Jenkins, Megan , McLaren, Suzanne
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: International Journal of Rural Psychology Vol. 4, no. (2003), p. 1-16
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Description: Recent research indicates that rural Australian adolescents experience a number of barriers to their health, and in particular, their sexual health. Consequently, the present study aimed to examine levels of sexual health knowledge, sexual activity, condom use and attitudes towards condoms in a rural, adolescent population. In addition, the research tested a comprehensive model of condom use. One hundred and thirty six 15 to 19 year old students, 51 males (M age = 16.75, SD =.74 ) and 85 females (M age = 16.73, SD = .85), from schools in five towns of population not more than 6000 residents completed a survey package that included demographic information, a Sexual Health Knowledge Scale, the Condom Attitudes Scale and the Adolescent and Young Adult contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale. Results indicated that overall knowledge levels were low, with males knowing significantly less than females. Sixty-five percent of the participants had engaged in sexual intercourse, with over half of those reporting being inconsistent users or non-users of condoms. Within the context of the model, knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention to use condoms, all contributed to predicting condom use. Results suggest that rural adolescents require education and assistance to obtain and use condoms in a non-threatening environment.
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Description: 2003000490

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Impact of health and safety representative training on concepts of accident causation and prevention

- Culvenor, John, Cowley, Stephen, Harvey, Jack

Authors: Culvenor, John , Cowley, Stephen , Harvey, Jack
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Occupational Health and Safety - Australia and New Zealand Vol. 19, no. 3 (2003), p. 279-292
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Description: In South Australia, health and safety representatives (HSRs) may undertake three levels of training, commencing at basic level, then progressing through advanced level to continuing level. A survey of 1,200 HSRs in SA was conducted to assess their beliefs about accident causation and accident prevention. In regard to accident causation, the survey found that HSRs showed a tendency to favour behavioural causation over workplace environment or systems-type causation. In regard to accident prevention, HSRs at all levels of training had a preference for low-order controls. However, there appears to be some shift in thinking by the time HSRs have completed all levels of training (that is, to the continuing training level), though the thinking of most remains distinctly safe-worker in orientation.
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Description: 2003003020

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