Showing papers by "Edith Cowan University published in 1994"
TL;DR: A robust MIMO terminal sliding mode technique and a few structural properties of rigid robotic manipulators are developed so that the output tracking error can converge to zero in a finite time, and strong robustness with respect to large uncertain dynamics can be guaranteed.
Abstract: In this paper, a robust multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) terminal sliding mode control technique is developed for n-link rigid robotic manipulators. It is shown that an MIMO terminal switching plane variable vector is first defined, and the relationship between the terminal switching plane variable vector and system error dynamics is established. By using the MIMO terminal sliding mode technique and a few structural properties of rigid robotic manipulators, a robust controller can then be designed so that the output tracking error can converge to zero in a finite time, and strong robustness with respect to large uncertain dynamics can be guaranteed. It is also shown that the high gain of the terminal sliding mode controllers can be significantly reduced with respect to the one of the linear sliding mode controller where the sampling interval is nonzero. >
853 citations
TL;DR: An analysis of the world literature on the children of first cousin marriages reveals that the depression of survival in offspring followed from birth to a median age of 10 years is constant, and there is no evidence for the action of conditional lethals.
Abstract: An analysis of the world literature on the children of first cousin marriages reveals that the depression of survival in offspring followed from birth (including late miscarriages; at about six months gestation or later) to a median age of 10 years is constant (4.4% +/- 4.6) across a wide range of values for population prereproductive mortality. There is thus no evidence for the action of conditional lethals. On the basis of these data, it is calculated that the average human is heterozygous for only 1.4 lethal equivalents capable of acting over this portion of the life cycle. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of genetic counseling, and the biomedical significance of variation in DNA.
294 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the "cultural dilemma" that women managers present from organizational, managerial and personal perspectives, and suggest that women can assist their situation by altering their mode of operation from a "victim" mentality to a "power" mentality.
Abstract: There is growing evidence in Australia that cultural factors are the final impediment to women′s progress into senior management. Examines the “cultural dilemma” that women managers present from organizational, managerial and personal perspectives. It is felt that women can assist their situation by altering their mode of operation from a “victim” mentality to one of a “power” mentality: by making up their minds whether they want to “share” power or get the male managerial culture to “yield” power; by making a concerted effort to close the nexus on the economic front; by educating chief executive officers as to imperative for cultural change; and by both using and supporting various government agencies and Equal Employment Opportunity Officers.
57 citations
TL;DR: Although the breastfeeding information booklet was found to be useful by 97% of the experimental group, there was no significant difference noted for breastfeeding duration between groups.
Abstract: Since very few tools used in health education are carefully evaluated, the aim of this study was to examine the effect that a breastfeeding information booklet had on breastfeeding behaviour Feedback about breastfeeding information needs from a preliminary study of 58 Perth mothers at 3 months postpartum provided the basis for the development of an information booklet The sample consisted of 150 mothers of full-term infants who were breastfeeding for the first time Upon discharge from hospital, a random sample of 75 mothers were sent the booklet These mothers and a control group (n= 75) were surveyed for 52 weeks to compare breastfeeding duration Although the breastfeeding information booklet was found to be useful by 97% of the experimental group, there was no significant difference noted for breastfeeding duration between groups Study findings have implications for clinical practice in highlighting the importance of breastfeeding information in increasing mothers’ confidence, providing suggestions for breastfeeding practice, and helping mothers not to feel alone in their concerns Further research should include investigations into the association between mothers reaching their intended goal for breastfeeding duration and being satisfied with the breastfeeding experience Success with breastfeeding tends to be measured by duration alone, but no research to date has specifically examined the criteria mothers use to determine if their breastfeeding experience was successful
40 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the impact of a constructivist science in-service program on an experienced and formal elementary science teacher and found that the teacher described in the vignette makes very little progress.
Abstract: This paper addresses the parallel between the changes in students' and teachers' learning advocated by constructivist science educators. It begins with a summary of the epistemology of constructivism and uses a vignette drawn from a set of case studies to explore the impact of a constructivist science in‐service programme on an experienced and formal elementary science teacher. Judged by constructivist standards, the teacher described in the vignette makes very little progress. The irony of applying a constructivist critique to his work, however, is that it fails to treat the teachers' imperfect knowledge of teaching with the same respect as constructivists treat students' imperfect learning of science. The remainder of the paper explores this constructivist paradox, and suggests that‐like students' knowledge of science‐teachers' knowledge of constructivist science teaching is likely to grow through slow and gradual re‐formation of their established understanding of classroom theory and practice.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the teachers' knowledge perspective to interpret qualitative data from two successful collaborative relationships in schools and found that personal qualities, underscored by mutual trust and respect for knowledge, form the basis for successful relationships in teaching, operating in different ways, for different purposes for different people.
Abstract: Studies of teachers working together have exposed the capricious nature of collaborative activity: sometimes it seems to work well; at other times collaboration actually works against improvement. Success in collaborative relationships is best understood through an appreciation of how teachers form and use knowledge. The teachers’ knowledge perspective is used in this paper to interpret qualitative data from two successful collaborative relationships in schools. Evidence supports the contention that personal qualities, underscored by mutual trust and respect for knowledge, form the basis for successful relationships in teaching, operating in different ways, for different purposes, for different people. Providing that teachers are approached with respect, collaboration holds promise as a slow (but powerful) path towards educational change.
36 citations
TL;DR: The distribution of the Tasmanian giant freshwater lobster Astacopsis gouldi was established from two independent sources of information: taxonomically reliable observations (including collections in museums), and anecdotal information provided by fishers as mentioned in this paper.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of five first person oral narratives of Aboriginal children of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia recorded outside the classroom, which are compared both with a first-person oral narrative of a non-Aboriginal child and with teacher-led interactions in the classes of which these children were members.
Abstract: It is argued that Aboriginal children’s English is different inside and outside the classroom largely because characteristically, inside the classroom the Aboriginal children do not have the freedom to determine the discourse pattern which they have outside the classroom. This is illustrated on the basis of an analysis of five first person oral narratives of Aboriginal children of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia recorded outside the classroom, which are compared both with a first person oral narrative of a non-Aboriginal child and with teacher led interactions in the classes of which these children were members. The Aboriginal children’s discourse exhibits ‘tracking,’ a culture-specific way of organising narrative, which is widely exhibited in Aboriginal communities. It is implied that education of speakers of Aboriginal English needs to be sensitive to such discoursal features which are not shared by other English speakers.
33 citations
18 Jul 1994
TL;DR: A method is developed to tune and optimise the membership functions of fuzzy logic controllers by using genetic algorithms using the set of fuzzy If-Then rules of the truck back-upper problem.
Abstract: A method is developed to tune and optimise the membership functions of fuzzy logic controllers by using genetic algorithms. The set of fuzzy If-Then rules and their membership functions of the truck back-upper problem is considered. >
32 citations
TL;DR: Aboriginal people dwelling in many parts of Australia command a range of English varieties, which are known collectively as Aboriginal English (Sandefur, 1983; Kaldor and Malcolm, 1991) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Aboriginal people dwelling in many parts of Australia command a range of English varieties, which are known collectively as Aboriginal English (Sandefur, 1983; Kaldor and Malcolm, 1991). These varieties give evidence of a past history of pidginization and, in some cases, creolization and decreolization. Associated with the use of Aboriginal English are a range of discourse strategies which often make communication with speakers of Standard Australian English problematic. These strategies are evidenced in the structure of conversation and in various forms of verbal art. This paper will focus on the discourse genres and strategies associated with Aboriginal English and their implications for cross-cultural communication and for education.
31 citations
01 Jan 1994
TL;DR: It is argued that the direction and nature of the teaching and learning in many of these courses is counter‐productive and unable to provide the skills and expertise required from new teaching graduates, and the IT component within teacher education must become an integral part of the programme.
Abstract: Although computers have become common features of schools worldwide, their impact on education and learning has been far less than what could be expected from such a versatile and powerful technology. A significant deterrent has been teachers’ lack of skills and expertise with the new technologies but although computer education is increasingly becoming a significant component within teacher education programmes, this paper will argue that the direction and nature of the teaching and learning in many of these courses is counter‐productive and unable to provide the skills and expertise required from new teaching graduates. The paper posits that these skills can best be developed and achieved through instructional programmes in teacher education that mirror the models that student teachers will be required to embrace in their own classrooms. In order to achieve this, the IT component within teacher education must become an integral part of the programme.
18 Jul 1994
TL;DR: The proposed architecture can construct an input-output mapping in the form of fuzzy if-then rules and is compared with an artificial neural networks controller and pure limited-rule fuzzy rule controller for the truck back-upper problem.
Abstract: A general method is developed to generate fuzzy rules by using genetic algorithms (GAs) and a fuzzy logic controller (FLC). By using GAs as a learning procedure and a FLC as the system's performance evaluator, the proposed architecture can construct an input-output mapping in the form of fuzzy if-then rules. The performance of the new architecture is compared with an artificial neural networks controller and pure limited-rule fuzzy rule controller for the truck back-upper problem. >
01 Jan 1994
TL;DR: One hundred and fifty regular class grade six and seven children responded to a magnitude scale instrument after viewing a video depicting a teacher interviewing a student playing the role of a target child with a mild intellectual disability.
Abstract: One hundred and fifty regular class grade six and seven children responded to a magnitude scale instrument after viewing a video depicting a teacher interviewing a student playing the role of a target child with a mild intellectual disability. The study was conducted in two schools, one traditional, the other progressive. Subjects (male and female) were randomly exposed to one of two teacher attitude conditions (positive or neutral) and one of two child attitude conditions (confident or non-confident). The social acceptance of a child with a mild intellectual disability was seen to be dependent upon an interaction reflected in the school attended, the teacher's attitude and the regular class children's gender. Similarly, acceptance of integration was dependent upon the school attended, the teacher's attitude and the target child's attitude. These interactions highlight the importance of the school factor and the teacher's attitude on regular class peers' attributions of children with a mild intellectual d...
TL;DR: Investigation of student activity and performance revealed that students had little difficulty in using the Mammals CD ROM multimedia encyclopedia as an information source, and students demonstrated a capacity to analyse the multimedia sources and to gather relevant information from them.
Abstract: Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the capacity of young students to extract meaningful information from non‐text based sources when using a hypermedia package in an inquiry activity. Instructions and directions were given to the children and they were encouraged to use the non‐text sources. Observation of student activity and performance revealed that students had little difficulty in using the Mammals CD ROM multimedia encyclopedia as an information source. All students demonstrated a capacity to analyse the multimedia sources and to gather relevant information from them. There were differing levels of analysis shown by students. This was caused more by the forms of information required in projects than an incapacity to use the multimedia sources.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the experiences of 92 mid-career mid-life women in management and professional positions in a range of organisations and found that gender in the workplace can be seen to be dynamic; it is constantly being defined and redefined, constructed and reconstructed, reproduced and resisted in the interwoven gendered regimes of workplaces and home.
Abstract: A theory of gender must include an analysis of the interweaving of personal life and social structure. It is in this context that the complex relationship between women and work can be explored. This study integrates a number of different theoretical perspectives — primarily sociological and psychological — in an effort to describe and understand the dynamic interaction of forces in the careers and lives of women managers and professionals. It traces the ways in which the structuring of identity interacts with the sexual division of labour and the structures of power in these women's lives. The study analyses the experiences of 92 mid-career mid-life women in management and professional positions in a range of organisations. The data were gathered through both in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The major conclusions which are drawn suggest that gender in the workplace can be seen to be dynamic; it is constantly being defined and redefined, constructed and reconstructed, reproduced and resisted in the interwoven gendered regimes of workplaces and home.
TL;DR: Research among family day care providers in Western Australia reports on knowledge and skills used in their work, and their perceptions of their roles as mothers and workers, and indicates that the women believe themselves to be highly skilled child carers whose work is undervalued by society.
Abstract: In family day care, licensed providers care for small groups of children in the carer's own home. The service was established as a low-cost, ideologically acceptable alternative to centre-based care. This article reports on research among family day care providers in Western Australia, specifically the knowledge and skills they use in their work, and their perceptions of their roles as mothers and workers. Results to date indicate that the women believe themselves to be highly skilled child carers whose work is undervalued by society. Although family day care has been seen as supportive of traditional notions of mothering, providers draw upon both this dominant discourse of the always- available mother, and a resistant discourse allowing even mothers the right to fair recognition of their work.
TL;DR: Findings indicate that nurses' value the uniqueness of the client and, where possible, tend to initiate educational processes that actually empower individuals, but disconfirming experiences are associated with demands on nurses' work schedules, low client motivation and non-compliance.
Abstract: This paper reports a small-scale phenomenological study of registered nurses' experiences with their client education role. Its purpose was to investigate phenomena associated with actual experiences as they were encountered by participants. A review of the literature provides an overview of client education in terms of its definition and utility, and draws attention to the notion of compliance and the influence of power in health provider-client relationships. Phenomenology offers an appropriate methodological framework for investigating symbolic experiences, and three central concepts are yielded from aggregate data in the form of confirming experiences, disconfirming experiences and educational processes. Findings indicate that nurses' value the uniqueness of the client and, where possible, tend to initiate educational processes that actually empower individuals. However, disconfirming experiences are associated with demands on nurses' work schedules, low client motivation and non-compliance. Physician interjection is also perceived as problematical, resulting in feelings which undermine the nurses' professional integrity, and which lead to a diminished sense of self-worth.
TL;DR: A working definition, the key assumption and an orientation to group care and family work compatible with family centred group care practice are articulated and a set of practice guidelines and identification of the key characteristics of family centring group care agencies are identified.
Abstract: This article cites the international research evidence that supports family centred group care practice. A working definition, the key assumption and an orientation to group care and family work compatible with family centred group care practice is then articulated. This is followed by a set of practice guidelines and identification of the key characteristics of family centred group care agencies.
TL;DR: The results suggest that Elisadiscs are a reliable alternative to venepuncture for monitoring immunity to diphtheria and tetanus and would be useful for sample collection in remote areas and from children.
Abstract: Large-scale surveys of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases may be limited by the inconvenience and expense involved in collection of blood by venepuncture. An alternative method of collecting blood on filter paper for measurement of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus is described. The precut filter disks (Elisadiscs), originally developed for serological diagnosis of disease in pigs, have advantages over previously described methods in that they allow safe handling of minimal volumes of blood (5 microliters) which can be conveniently quantified. To compare values obtained by venepuncture and fingerprick, paired samples were collected from 60 subjects and diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin concentrations were measured by ELISA. There was no significant difference detected between samples collected by the two methods. The results suggest that Elisadiscs are a reliable alternative to venepuncture for monitoring immunity to diphtheria and tetanus and would be useful for sample collection in remote areas and from children.
TL;DR: A study of undergraduate genetics students' conceptual and procedural knowledge and how that knowledge influences students' success in pedigree problem solving indicates that many students lack the knowledge needed to test hypotheses relating to X-linked modes of inheritance using either patterns of inheritance or genotypes.
Abstract: This paper reports on a study of undergraduate genetics students' conceptual and procedural knowledge and how that knowledge influences students' success in pedigree problem solving Findings indicate that many students lack the knowledge needed to test hypotheses relating to X-linked modes of inheritance using either patterns of inheritance or genotypes Case study data illustrate how these knowledge deficiencies acted as an impediment to correct and conclusive solutions of pedigree problems
TL;DR: The contextual turn, growing from past approaches in the research and practice of public health, is addressed and geographers and public health practitioners will find it advantageous to work collaboratively toward creating healthy places.
Abstract: At the end of the twentieth century, with concern being expressed about the global environmental crisis, the world is being seen as the home for diverse cultures who share a common responsibility, the sustenance of place. The future health of communities lies in this recognition of the importance of creating and sustaining viable places on local, national, and global scales. The contextual turn, growing from past approaches in the research and practice of public health, is addressed. Geographers and public health practitioners will find it advantageous to work collaboratively toward creating healthy places. It is especially important to reconsider the senses of place from viewpoints of indigenous and nonindigenous peoples in Australia and Canada, to redefine whose health, whose place.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the conclusions of a study into new possibilities for the provision of information literacy education to remote external students through the use of new communication technologies, which was conducted at Edith Cowan University during the first half of 1993.
Abstract: This paper presents the conclusions of a study into new possibilities for the provision of information literacy education to remote external students through the use of new communication technologies. The study was conducted at Edith Cowan University during the first half of 1993. The survey results are presented together with some conclusions about future directions for user education in academic libraries.
TL;DR: In this paper, the claimed goals and outcomes of early childhood and child care programs are examined using a functional perspective in which actual outcomes are analysed as functions and the benefits and problems experienced in these different models are discussed.
Abstract: This paper examines the claimed goals and outcomes of early childhood and child care programmes. The discussion of outcomes uses a functional perspective in which actual outcomes are analysed as functions. Child care is presented as having a multifunctional nature whereas early childhood education is shown to focus on a smaller group of functions. Following this comparison of outcomes a discussion of ideology follows. Education and care programmes evolved from quite different historical bases and the different ideologies associated with these are still evident today. Having analysed the major issue, an examination of the positive and negative aspects of amalgamating early childhood care and education programmes follows. In New Zealand and South Australia services are already amalgamated but in Western Australia services remain separate. Some of the benefits and problems experienced in these different models are discussed. Finally some of the required parameters for successful amalgamation are presented.
TL;DR: This article investigated the levels of phonemic awareness that accounted for differences between children with learning disabilities and children of average reading ability of the same chronological age level (CA) and younger children at the same reading age level.
Abstract: This comparative study investigated the levels of phonemic awareness that accounted for differences between children with learning disabilities (LD) and children of average reading ability of the same chronological age level (CA) and younger children of average reading ability at the same reading age level (RA). Two planned comparisons were implemented. All three groups were assessed on three levels of phonemic awareness represented as a hierarchical set: awareness of onset and rime, simple phonemic awareness, and compound phonemic awareness. Compared to the RA group, the LD group performed significantly worse only on the first level of phonemic awareness, the awareness of onset and rime. Results of a stepdown analysis revealed that compared with the CA matched group, the LD group performed significantly worse on compound phonemic awareness with all preceding variables partialled from the analysis. Implications for diagnosis and remediation of learning disabilities is explicated.
TL;DR: In 1992, the Australian Federal Government established an Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management Skills to make recommendations for improving the skills of managers, and the task force commissioned the production of a core MBA curriculum unit on Effective Organizations: Gender Issues in Management.
Abstract: In 1992 the Australian Federal Government established an Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management Skills to make recommendations for improving the skills of managers. The task force commissioned the production of a core MBA curriculum unit on Effective Organizations: Gender Issues in Management. Although gender stereotyping has not traditionally been considered as a strategic business issue within MBA programmes, this topic was considered a critical component of the development of leadership and management skills, and a fundamental element in the drive towards greater organizational effectiveness. In developing the unit, the researchers identified both a reluctance and lack of preparedness on the part of both academics and industry management to deal with these issues. The resulting package therefore recognizes the sensitivities associated with the subject, and the difficulties of addressing gender issues in management. It also offers a range of delivery options, and has potential for uptake in co...
TL;DR: The Perth Educational Television (PET) Project as mentioned in this paper delivered educational television to schools in Perth during 1993 through a narrowcast system using Multipoint Distribution System (MDS) technology, and a comprehensive program was delivered from Edith Cowan University and beamed through the metropolitan area of Perth in a trial project that investigated the potential of a pay TV service for education.
Abstract: The Perth Educational Television (PET) Project delivered educational television to schools in Perth during 1993 through a narrowcast system using Multipoint Distribution System (MDS) technology. A comprehensive program of 200 hours of television was delivered from Edith Cowan University and beamed through the metropolitan area of Perth in a trial project that investigated the potential of a pay TV service for education. This paper describes the context in which the PET Project was undertaken. It discusses the organisation and activity within the participating schools and investigates the value, potential and viability of future educational pay TV systems.
TL;DR: This article found that while members of the judiciary supported compensatory processes to minimise this disadvantage, the responses from the other groups were not so supportive of such measures, concluding that even with the most scrupulous attention to legal rights and following of due processes people with an intellectual disability may still be disa...
Abstract: Studies in Australia and throughout the world have shown that people with an intellectual disability are over‐represented in the criminal justice system. In long term research being carried out through Edith Cowan University, field workers, police and the judiciary were interviewed about people with an intellectual disability and the criminal justice system. These interviews were followed up with a questionnaire on the same issues and the policies of the agencies in the field. All groups interviewed agreed that people wrth an intellectual disability have several characteristics which would disadvantage them when coming into contact with the criminal justice system. However, while members of the judiciary supported compensatory processes to minimise this disadvantage, the responses from the other groups were not so supportive of such measures. It was concluded that even with the most scrupulous attention to legal rights and following of due processes people with an intellectual disability may still be disa...