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Showing papers by "Edith Cowan University published in 1995"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of research and implications for teaching and learning is presented, focusing on the students' alternative beliefs in chemistry, and the effects of these beliefs on their learning process.
Abstract: (1995). Students' Alternative Conceptions in Chemistry: A Review of Research and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Studies in Science Education: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 69-96.

398 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight some of the potential uses of VR within the tourism industry, but also address the realistic shortcomings of VR technology, to determine when and whether VR is likely to offer the potential it promises.

204 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A study of 30 undergraduate nurses and their use of reflective diaries during a period of community health care practice and the findings are that, in the sample used, students do reflect on their practice according to Mezirow's levels of reflectivity, but that the highest number of reflections occur at the lower levels ofreflectivity.
Abstract: The writing of a reflective diary is viewed as an effective tool for promoting reflection and learning in students, and for self-assessment and evaluation of a clinical learning experience. This work is a study of 30 undergraduate nurses and their use of reflective diaries during a period of community health care practice. The theoretical basis of the study is based on Schon's work on reflection-in-action. The research tool, developed for the study of nursing practice by Powell, is based on Mezirow's levels of reflectivity. The findings are that, in the sample used, students do reflect on their practice according to Mezirow's levels of reflectivity, but that the highest number of reflections occur at the lower levels of reflectivity (94% of the total number of scores). However, although only 6% of the total number of scores were found at the higher levels of reflectivity, some 22 of the samples of 30 students did attain conceptual and theoretical reflectivity, the highest levels of reflectivity.

198 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A survey of the theory of coherent states (CS) and some of their generalizations, with emphasis on the mathematical structure, rather than on physical applications, can be found in this paper.
Abstract: We present a survey of the theory of coherent states (CS); and some of their generalizations, with emphasis on the mathematical structure, rather than on physical applications. Starting from the standard theory of CS over Lie groups, we develop a general formalism, in which CS are associated to group representations which are square integrable over a homogeneous space. A further step allows us to dispense with the group context altogether, and thus obtain the so-called reproducing triples and continuous frames introduced in some earlier work. We discuss in detail a number of concrete examples, namely semisimple Lie groups, the relativity groups and various types of wavelets. Finally we turn to some physical applications, centering on quantum measurement and the quantization/dequantization problem, that is, the transition from the classical to the quantum level and vice versa.

173 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
18 Oct 1995
TL;DR: Research has been undertaken by the authors to use the subcutaneous vascular network (vein pattern) of the back of the hand as a unique personal biometric for identification to provide positive identification in access control systems.
Abstract: Access control systems require positive identification of authorised persons for entry to restricted facilities. Possession of a card by an authorised person has been the traditional approach to high security access control. These cards range from simple magnetic swipe cards through to proximity smart cards for identification. More recently, serious attempts have been made to identify appropriate biometric characteristics of individuals to provide positive identification. The more popular biometric access control techniques have included facial images, hand geometry, fingerprints and retina patterns. Also, the dynamics of keyboard input, handwritten signature and voice patterns have been reasonably successful in identifying authorised persons. This paper describes research that has been undertaken by the authors to use the subcutaneous vascular network (vein pattern) of the back of the hand as a unique personal biometric for identification. An outline will be given of a prototype low cost automatic thermographic imaging system which has been developed by the authors to obtain vein patterns for positive identification. The paper includes consideration of the image acquisition, image processing and vein pattern matching strategies. A summary of experimental results concerning the acceptance and rejection rates for the system is also provided.

168 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a positive relationship was hypothesized between empathy for animals and belief in animal mind (i.e., beliefs about the extent to which animals have awareness, thoughts, and feelings).
Abstract: Aspects of empathy are examined, including the relationship between empathy and perceived similarity or identification. Cognitive judgments of similarity appear to predispose us to the experience of empathy. An important aspect of similarity where animals are concerned is their perceived mental endowment (Fenton & Hills 1988). Therefore, a positive relationship was hypothesized between empathy for animals and “belief in animal mind” (i.e., beliefs about the extent to which animals have awareness, thoughts, and feelings). In a sample comprising three groups (animal rights supporters, farmers, and urban public) the expected relationship was found, r(153) = .47, p < .001; however, it was not consistent across the subject groups. Analysis suggested that the relationship between perceived similarity and empathy is mediated by conflicting instrumental motivations. Implications of the results for humane and environmental education are discussed.

158 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on Harrison's findings on the generalizability of research results related to budgetary participation and budget emphasis between cultures, two tests on the threeway interaction between budget emphasis, budgetary participation, and task characteristics (task uncertainty and task difficulty) affecting job-related tension and managerial performance were conducted in Singapore as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Based on Harrison's ( Accounting, Organizations and Society , pp. 1–15, 1992; Accounting, Organizations and Society , pp. 319–339, 1993) findings on the generalizability of research results related to budgetary participation and budget emphasis between cultures, two tests on the three-way interaction between budget emphasis, budgetary participation and task characteristics (task uncertainty and task difficulty) affecting job-related tension and managerial performance were conducted in Singapore. The results support a high budget emphasis and high budgetary participation combination in low task difficulty situations; and a high budgetary participation style, regardless of budget emphasis, in high task difficulty situations.

143 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicated that the experimental group was significantly less anxious and significantly more satisfied during radiation therapy than their counterparts in the control group, and the effects were maintained throughout the treatment period of up to 7 weeks.
Abstract: Facing treatment of cancer with radiation therapy causes anxiety for most prospective patients. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of preparatory patient education in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction during the course of treatment. A quasiexperimental time series design was used to compare two groups of 25 patients, matched according to treatment type and gender, who were commencing radiation therapy for the first time. The experimental group received two structured teaching interventions incorporating sensory and procedural information designed to familiarize the patient with the forthcoming experience. The theoretical basis for the intervention arose from Johnson's work (1973) on preparing patients for threatening events. The control group received the standard information that was current in the Radiation Therapy Department where the study was conducted. The results indicated that the experimental group was significantly less anxious and significantly more satisfied during radiation therapy than their counterparts in the control group, and the effects were maintained throughout the treatment period of up to 7 weeks.

139 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between phonological awareness (measured by tests of onset and rime, phonemic segmentation and phoneme deletion), verbal working memory and the development of reading and spelling.
Abstract: This paper describes a 2-year longitudinal study of 76 initially prereading children. The study examined the relationships between phonological awareness (measured by tests of onset and rime, phonemic segmentation and phoneme deletion), verbal working memory and the development of reading and spelling. Factor analyses showed that the verbal working memory tests which were administered loaded on two distinct but highly related factors, the first of which,simple repetition, involved the repetition of verbal items exactly as spoken by the experimenter, whereas the second,backwards repetition, involved repetition of items in reverse order. Factor analyses also showed that, whist the phonological awareness variables consistently loaded on the backwards repetition factor at the beginning and end of Grade 1, by Grade 2 the phonological awareness variables loaded on a separate factor which also included sentence repetition. Results of multiple regression analyses, with reading and spelling as a compound criterion variable, indicated that phonological awareness consistently predicted later reading and spelling even when both simple and backwards repetition were controlled. In contrast, verbal working memory did not consistently predict reading and spelling across testing times. Whilst there was some indication that verbal working memory, especially backwards repetition, measured during Grade 1 did predict reading and spelling in Grade 2, these effects were no longer evident when all three phonological variables were controlled. Nevertheless, with 4 individual reading and 2 individual spelling measures as the criterion variables, it was shown that phonological awareness was not quite such a consistent predictor of reading and spelling: it was most highly related to reading pseudowords and spelling real words; but it was not so highly related to spelling pseudowords, apparently because the processing demands of the task for the young children in the study were extremely high. Given the importance of verbal working memory for the completion of phonological awareness, reading and spelling tasks, in particular for spelling pseudowords, the findings are interpreted as providing some support for a theoretical position which posits that both phonological awareness and verbal working memory contribute to the early stages of literacy acquisition. Whilst the findings suggest some support for a general underlying phonological ability, there is also evidence that, as children learn to read and write, verbal working memory and phonological awareness become more differentiated.

111 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effect of the underwriter's reputation on the underpricing of industrial initial public offerings over the period 1980 to 1990 and found that firms with more information available are, on average, less underpriced.
Abstract: This paper provides evidence on underpricing in Australia using 340 industrial initial public offerings over the period 1980 to 1990. It aims to explain why underpricing is consistent with rational behaviour by focusing on differential information across IPO firms. We measure differential information along two dimensions, the quality and the quantity of information. We propose that the quality of information is reflected in the reputation of independent advisers to the preparation of the issuing firm's prospectus. Three such independent external advisers are examined: the investigating accountant, the underwriter, and the expert. The results provide strong support for the reputation effect of the underwriter on underpricing. Although there is evidence showing a negative relation between underpricing and the reputation of the investigating accountant and the expert, it is not significant. Our results also support the differential quantity of information hypothesis. Firms with more information available are, on average, less underpriced.

94 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, linkage analysis was performed on 22 Bulgarian families with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) ascertained through the hemodialysis centers of two medical schools.
Abstract: Linkage analysis was performed on 22 Bulgarian families with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) ascertained through the hemodialysis centers of two medical schools. A total of 128 affected and 59 unaffected individuals, and 54 spouses have been investigated using eight polymorphic markers linked to PKD1 and nine markers to PKD2. The results demonstrate locus heterogeneity with 0.67 as the maximum likelihood value of alpha, i.e., the proportion of families linked to PKD1. In five families, the results suggest linkage to PKD2, and observed recombinants place the gene between loci D4S1544 and D4S1542. In one family, two double recombinants for closely linked markers on chromosome 16 and on chromosome 4 give evidence for the lack of link-age to either PKD1 or PKD2, thus suggesting the involvement of a third locus. Analysis of clinical data in the PKD1 group versus the unlinked group shows no significant differences in the severity of the disease.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The presence of two different mutations carried by the same CF allele has been demonstrated in four out of 44 Bulgarian CF patients during a systematic search of the entire coding sequence of the CFTR gene, suggesting that double mutant alleles may be more common than expected and could account for some of the problems in phenotype-genotype correlations.
Abstract: The presence of two different mutations carried by the same CF allele has been demonstrated in four out of 44 Bulgarian CF patients during a systematic search of the entire coding sequence of the CFTR gene. Two of the double mutant alleles include one nonsense and one missense mutation and although the nonsense mutation can be considered to be the main defect, the amino acid substitutions are good candidates for disease-causing mutations as well. One double mutant carries two missense mutations whose contribution to the CF phenotype is difficult to evaluate. The findings suggest that double mutant alleles may be more common than expected and could account for some of the problems in phenotype-genotype correlations. Such alleles may have important implications for molecular diagnosis and genetic counselling.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
27 Nov 1995
TL;DR: A new robust adaptive sliding mode tracking control scheme using an RBF neural network is proposed for rigid robotic manipulators to achieve robustness and asymptotic error convergence.
Abstract: A new robust adaptive sliding mode tracking control scheme using an RBF neural network is proposed for rigid robotic manipulators to achieve robustness and asymptotic error convergence. A key feature of this scheme is that the prior knowledge of the upper bound of the system uncertainties is not required. An adaptive RBF neural network is used to learn the upper bound of system uncertainties. The output of the neural network is then used as a compensator parameter in the sense that the effects of the system uncertainties can be eliminated and asymptotic error convergence can be obtained for the closed loop robotic control system.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1995
TL;DR: In this paper, a new perspective on information technology programs in pre-service education, suggesting that the majority of such programs are constructed on weak and sometimes ill-defined premises, is presented.
Abstract: This paper argues for a new perspective on information technology programmes in pre‐service education, suggesting that the majority of such programmes are constructed on weak and sometimes ill‐defined premises. It provides an assessment of the nature and relative effectiveness of current information technology programmes, as well as noting those factors and characteristics which are likely to impact significantly on the use of information technology by students on teaching practice as well as by beginning teachers. In the light of the findings of research, a framework for the design and implementation of information technology programmes is described.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
18 Oct 1995
TL;DR: An investigation into the development of an imaging system which can store, analyse, retrieve, and match high resolution digital images of cartridge cases to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ballistics records and assist the tracing of firearms used in criminal activities by law enforcement agencies is described.
Abstract: Characteristic markings on the cartridge and projectile of a bullet are produced when a gun is fired. Over thirty different features within these markings can be distinguished, which in combination produce a "fingerprint" for identification of a firearm. This paper describes an investigation into the development of an imaging system which can store, analyse, retrieve, and match high resolution digital images of cartridge cases. A computerised imaging system for ballistics identification will produce efficiencies in time and personnel, and permit a more precise audit of firearms within a country. The project has produced good quality high resolution digitised images of cartridge cases. The development of the optical system to optimise image quality has been crucial for the image identification phase. By classifying cartridge image attributes, it is possible to store the unique "signatures" of cartridge cases for identification. Appropriate image processing provides the signatures for the image library. The FIREBALL forensic ballistics interactive database incorporates a graphics user interface (GUI) to obtain precise ballistics metrics of cartridge case class characteristics. This project will significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ballistics records and assist the tracing of firearms used in criminal activities by law enforcement agencies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the potential of hyper media as an instructional medium is provided and an overview of instructional design considerations to guide developers and designers of hypermedia systems are provided.
Abstract: The use of hypermedia as an instructional medium is growing rapidly with developments and enhancements in instructional and computing technologies. Much of the popularity of the medium is derived from its capacity to convey large amounts of information to learners in structured and associated ways which promote student centred and independent learning. Recent developments in multimedia technologies and software, and enhanced networking facilities through the Internet, have led to new and exciting opportunities for hypermedia systems development. This paper provides an overview of the potential of hypermedia as an instructional medium and discusses research that has investigated learning outcomes. It provides an overview of instructional design considerations to guide developers and designers of hypermedia systems.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a cross-national data from 1,068 Grade 11 students (223 from Australia, 135 from the former East Germany, 114 from Costa Rica, 213 from former West Germany, 293 from USA and 90 from Austria) were collected by questionnaire in a study relating to perceptions about cheating, defined in terms of what constitutes cheating, perceptions of why cheating occurs, and perceptions of how cheating can be discouraged.
Abstract: Cross-national data from 1,068 Grade 11 students (223 from Australia, 135 from the former East Germany, 114 from Costa Rica, 213 from the former West Germany, 293 from the USA and 90 from Austria) were collected by questionnaire in a study relating to perceptions about cheating. Cheating perceptions were defined in terms of three aspects: perceptions of what constitutes cheating, perceptions of why cheating occurs, and perceptions of how cheating can be discouraged. Known sources of bias were taken into account before data collection and during data analysis to produce an anti-cheating perception scale (from strong to weak) with sound psychometric properties. The results showed that Australians, with their cultural emphasis on the “fair go mate” syndrome combined with personal achievement, tended towards the stronger end of the scale, and the West Germans, with their cultural emphasis on cooperative learning to succeed, tended towards die weaker end, with students from the other countries falling...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the results of a qualitative, cross-sectional study involving a survey of 549 teachers' perceptions of the Unit Curriculum system in 22 metropolitan state senior high schools in Perth, Western Australia.
Abstract: Reports the results of a qualitative, cross‐sectional study involving a survey of 549 teachers′ perceptions of the Unit Curriculum system in 22 metropolitan state senior high schools in Perth, Western Australia, in the context of system‐wide change, within a centralized educational system. Surveyed perceptions of six general variables applied to the specific case of the Unit Curriculum system. These variables are: perceived cost benefit to the teacher; perceived practicality in the classroom; alleviation of fears and concerns; participation in school decisions on aspects affecting the classrooms; perceived support from senior staff; and feelings towards the previous system compared to the new system. Suggests these variables offer pointers to educational administrators on how best to tailor system‐wide changes so that teachers will be more receptive to the changes in the implementation stage.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the face of the criminal is assumed to be an aboriginal person, and the face was assumed to belong to the aboriginal culture of the Australian aboriginal community, and culture of crime and violence.
Abstract: (1995). The face of the criminal is aboriginal. Journal of Australian Studies: Vol. 19, Cultures of Crime and Violence: The Australian Experience, pp. 76-94.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The results indicated that the 152 nurses sampled considered themselves to have moderate to low assertiveness skills, and a significant negative correlation was found between the level of assertiveness and the perception of barriers inhibiting assertive behaviour.
Abstract: The role of nursing involves interaction with clients, peers and other health professionals. This role is enhanced when nurses have a good command of communication skills. An essential component of effective communication is the ability to behave assertively. Several studies have indicated that nurses lack assertiveness skills. This lack of assertiveness results in diminished effectiveness of communication and compromised patient care. The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers, identified in the literature, that prevent nurses from being assertive and to determine nurses' perceptions of how these barriers prevent them behaving assertively. The design of the study was a cross-sectional, correlational survey whereby the relationships between identified variables could be systematically investigated. Assertiveness was assessed using the Assertiveness Behaviour Inventory Tool (ABIT), and the Barriers to Assertive Skills in Nurses (BASIN) were assessed using an instrument developed for the study by the investigators. The validity and reliability testing of the BASIN instrument is discussed. The results indicated that the 152 nurses sampled considered themselves to have moderate to low assertiveness skills, and a significant negative correlation was found between the level of assertiveness and the perception of barriers inhibiting assertive behaviour. The study concluded that assertiveness training is needed for qualified nurses and that further testing of the ABIT and BASIN instruments will result in reliable measures for research and educational evaluation of nurses following assertiveness training.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper used latent trait theory to construct a variable which describes and conceptualizes practitioner perspectives of the deputy principalship in the self-managing school, which provided the knowledge base for describing the professional horizon of school practitioners with respect to the traditional and emergent facets of education.
Abstract: The deputy principalship remains one of the least understood roles in the schools of contemporary education systems. Research which contributes to theory building about the deputy principalship has been hampered by the lack of survey instruments with known psychometric properties. Reports an exploratory study which uses latent trait theory to construct a variable which describes and conceptualizes practitioner perspectives of the deputy principalship in the self‐managing school. The logic of constructing the variable is explained in terms of the requirements of the measurement model employed. A sample of 403 deputy principals, 179 principals and 138 teachers in government primary schools in Western Australia provided data for analysing the actual and ideal perceptions of these practitioners in terms of the variable as conceptualized. In this way, the variable provided the knowledge base for describing the “professional horizon” of school practitioners with respect to the traditional and emergent facets of...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper explored performance on a variety of mental computation tasks using two presentation formats (visual and oral) using students at four grade levels between grades 2 and 9 in three countries (Australia, Japan, United States).
Abstract: The study was conducted to explore performance on a variety of mental computation tasks using two presentation formats (visual and oral). Students at four grade levels between grades 2 and 9 in three countries (Australia, Japan, United States) were given a group administered mental computation test consisting of two parts (oral presentation format, visual presentation format).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Bank management, from a finance theory perspective, is generally acknowledged to involve the management of four major balance sheet risks: liquidity risk, interest rate risk, capital risk and credit risk as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Bank management, from a finance theory perspective, is generally acknowledged to involve the management of four major balance sheet risks: liquidity risk, interest rate risk, capital risk and credit risk (Hempel et al, 1989). Of these, credit risk has commonly been identified as the key risk in terms of its influence on bank performance (Sinkey, 1992, p.279) and bank failure (Spadaford, 1988).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Girls tended to be less positive than boys about the usefulness of computers in the classroom and their attitude scores were even more polarized after the year's experiences, highlighting the potential role that patterns of computer use in classrooms may play in the formulation of children's attitudes toward and perceptions of computers.
Abstract: Children's attitudes toward and perceptions of the use of computers were monitored in two upper primary classrooms over a nine-month period, following the introduction of computer use. Unstructured...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study investigated the effects of using props to illustrate the meaning of sentences in a syntactic awareness task in which subjects were required to correct ungrammatical sentences, arguing that the use of props reduces the processing capacity required to complete the task.
Abstract: The study investigated the effects of using props to illustrate the meaning of sentences in a syntactic awareness task in which subjects were required to correct ungrammatical sentences. Forty preschool children (aged 4; 11 to 5; 11) were asked to correct 20 sentences, IO of which were illustrated using props, and IO of which were not. Children scored significantly higher in the props condition though the proportion of meaning-changing errors to total errors was not significantly lower in this condition. It is argued that the use of props, by providing contextual support, reduces the processing capacity required to complete the task. © 1995, Cambridge University Press. All right reserved.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Whether the use of a postural support nappy (PSN) would reduce the features of ‘flattened posture’ in the lower extremities of infants <31 weeks gestation who are nursed prone is investigated.
Abstract: Objectives: To determine whether the use of a postural support nappy (PSN) would reduce the features of ‘flattened posture’ in the lower extremities of infants <31 weeks gestation who are nursed prone. Methodology: Randomized, observer blind, controlled trial conducted at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia. Infants were randomly assigned and stratified by gestational age to be nursed in a conventional nappy (n= 29) or a PSN (n= 31) when in the prone position. The features of ‘flattened posture’ were measured as angles and assessed by blinded observers prior to commencement of the intervention, 4 weeks post intervention, then bi-weekly until discharge. Results A significant reduction in the features of ‘flattened posture’ occurred in the PSN group after 4-6 weeks of intervention and stabilized by 8 weeks until discharge. No changes were detected in the control group. No significant difference was observed between infants <29 weeks gestation compared to infants of 29-30 weeks gestation in either treatment group. Conclusions: Use of the PSN in infants <31 weeks gestation who are nursed in the prone position significantly reduces the features of ‘flattened posture’ in the lower extremities. This is of benefit in the short term, and follow up of these infants into childhood will demonstrate whether the long-term effects of ‘flattened posture’ can be prevented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors determined the impact of late career unemployment on families and found that substantial numbers of unemployed had accomplished their life goals; spouses and children were emotionally involved in their partners' and parents' experience of unemployment; job loss caused discord to customary ways of family living; role reversal particularly by males was not always willingly accepted; loss of income led to material deprivation; and marital conflict often occurred over financial issues.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the impact of late career unemployment on families. Original qualitative and quantitative data were derived from three modes of investigation: group discussions with older unemployed persons; in-depth interviews with coordinators of job-help organisations; and the administration of a lifestyle questionnaire. The findings revealed that: substantial numbers of unemployed had accomplished their life goals; spouses and children were emotionally involved in their partners’ and parents’ experience of unemployment; job loss caused discord to customary ways of family living; role reversal particularly by males was not always willingly accepted; loss of income led to material deprivation; and marital conflict often occurred over financial issues. It was concluded that in most cases unemployment struck in an unpleasant way at the heart of family life.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a variable structure compensator is used for the feedback control of rigid robotic manipulators to eliminate the effects of the unknown portion of the plant and guarantee that the output tracking error converges to zero with desired transient error response on the sliding mode.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a survey of clergy which indicated the nature and incidence of abuse as a pastoral concern for clergy, the extent to which they were equipped to deal with it, and their perceived needs with regard to training.
Abstract: The responsibility of the religious community to take proactive measures to face up to the issue of violence in the family was addressed by the Anglican Church in Western Australia. This paper describes a survey of clergy which indicated the nature and incidence of abuse as a pastoral concern for clergy, the extent to which they were equipped to deal with it, and their perceived needs with regard to training. Analysis of this descriptive data provided the framework for the development of a training program. Trialling and evaluation of the program resulted in the publication of a curriculum package to equip clergy and church workers to respond appropriately to the pastoral needs of the abused, and to take the opportunity to reflect on their related beliefs and values. A similar approach is recommended for community or professional groups wishing to become familiar with the characteristics, causes, and outcomes of domestic violence.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report an exploratory examination of the attitudes of business academics toward the need for inclusion of ethics in the business curriculum and report that while there is, as yet, no centre of concentrated will and ability to set the process of curricula change in motion, there is widespread interest and recognition of the need.
Abstract: Emanating from some of the major business failures of the 1980s has been a growing disquiet at the absence of a concern for ethics in the business community. A possible cause for the apparent immorality of actions taken by some businesses is the absence of ethics from the training programs provided to business managers and professionals. It may be that whilst some practices of the 1980s were those of immoral persons, the wider and underlying problem is one of amoral behaviour. That is, our business system operates without an ethical base, and this occurs, in part, because business ethics is excluded from the curricula of the institutions responsible for the training and further education of business managers and professionals. The successful introduction of business ethics into the curricula requires a sufficient body of academics who believe that the learning of business ethics is both necessary and possible. Research data shows that few Australian universities have a formal program in business ethics. This paper reports an exploratory examination of the attitudes of business academics toward the need for inclusion of ethics in the business curriculum. The response to the survey suggests that while there is, as yet, no centre of concentrated will and ability to set the process of curricula change in motion, there is widespread interest and recognition of the need. Several constraints are identified, including the instrumentalist ethos of our institutions.