http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/ The University of Queensland en Fez http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:295533 2013-04-03T09:08:55Z McDonough, Andrew William. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:275993 Examining the interactions between genetic differences and attention mechanisms in healthy participants may provide fundamental knowledge regarding the biological basis of human cognition. Recent behavioural studies suggest that DNA variation in the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1; a risk marker for ADHD) biases visuospatial attention in healthy children and children with ADHD. Visuospatial bias may also be influenced by demands on non-spatial attention resources. No prior studies have examined the influence of non-spatial attention load on visuospatial bias, conditional upon underlying genetics, in a non-clinical sample. This thesis directly addresses this question, guided by the a priori hypothesis that DAT1 genotype influences behavioural and electrophysiological markers of visuospatial bias. Healthy adults were asked to react to sudden onset peripheral targets while demand on non-spatial attention was manipulated via a central task. Participants were genotyped for a DAT1 polymorphism that confers risk for ADHD and were consequently assigned to a low-risk or high-risk genotype group. Peripheral target response times revealed a typical leftward spatial bias, indicative of right hemisphere dominance in spatial attention, for those with the low-risk genotype but not for those with the high-risk genotype. Initial evidence for disrupted right hemisphere visuospatial processing in those with the high-risk genotype was uncovered at an electrophysiological level; however this relationship was abolished by increased demand on non-spatial attention. These data support the argument that DAT1 genotype modulates the right hemisphere attention networks, thus modulating visuospatial bias. The current results contribute to our understanding of the biological basis spatial attention, and to our understanding of genetic risk factors in ADHD. 2012-06-21T00:00:00Z Newman, Daniel http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:295528 2013-04-03T08:42:00Z Fitzgerald, Michelle Lee. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:223670 2010-12-06T00:00:00Z Svetchnikova, Daria http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:294242 2013-03-20T08:50:27Z Hughes Melissa. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:299640 2013-05-10T12:58:45Z Mistri, Prashant Jagdish http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217519 2010-09-30T00:00:00Z Chowdhury, Farhana Osman. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217518 2010-09-30T00:00:00Z Yeo, Chengtze Terence. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:239967 Spontaneous facial mimicry, the synchronisation of facial expressions with others, helps to socially bond individuals. This thesis project investigated whether a shared social group membership increases mimicry among individuals, which has been under-researched. Thirty-one Caucasian-Australians and 32 Japanese participants viewed static photographs of facial expressions posed by Caucasian and Japanese persons, while facial muscle activity was measured via electromyography (EMG). A series of mixed measures MANOVAs revealed the distinct activity of cheek, eye, and eyebrow muscles towards each expression (happy, sad, and angry), supporting the occurrence of mimicry. Contrary to prediction, the ethnicity of the actors in the stimuli did not influence participants’ facial responses. However, differences in facial responses did emerge between participants from the two ethnic groups, showing that Japanese participants had greater eye muscle activity towards Japanese faces in general, and greater eyebrow activity towards Caucasian happy faces than Caucasian-Australian participants. No bias was found among Japanese participants on the cheek muscle, implying that they may have socially smiled to mask the bias. Findings imply the necessity in separating mimicry from one’s emotional reactions, both of which may occur spontaneously after exposure to faces. Nevertheless, the study provided an important first step in understanding spontaneous facial reactions which largely influence mimicry and emotional expressions which shape social interactions. 2011-04-06T00:00:00Z Mari Horiguchi http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222994 2010-11-30T00:00:00Z Martell, Rodrigo Javier. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:297997 2013-04-18T11:44:15Z Ahmed, Gulshan H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:263017 2011-12-06T00:00:00Z Shwe Tun, Maung http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:291664 2013-02-18T12:24:09Z Daniel Charles Quiggin http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222802 2010-11-29T00:00:00Z Kennedy, Tara Frances. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:218762 2010-10-20T00:00:00Z Albrow, Neil Christopher. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:276325 The ability to recognise previous events is essential to everyday life. Two rival theoretical accounts have characterised recognition memory in terms of a single strength-of-evidence dimension or two qualitatively different processes, termed familiarity and recollection. Despite robust debate concerning the evidence for and against single and dual-process (DP) theories in the psychological literature, the neuroimaging literature has tended to interpret recognition memory related brain activity as exclusively supporting a DP account. The aim of the current study was to test single and DP explanations of recognition memory related brain activity via the application of state-trace (ST) analysis, a method for determining the dimensionality of intervening variables that mediate the effect of IVs on two or more DVs (Bamber, 1979). A levels-of-processing (LOP) manipulation (Craik & Lockhart, 1972) was employed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to contrast proposed familiarity and recollection related brain activity in the perirhinal cortex and the hippocampus, respectively. Seventeen healthy participants performed a "deep" semantic or "shallow" orthographic judgement on single words presented one, two, or four times at study. Subsequently, studied and unstudied items were presented for an old or new decision in conjunction with a high or low confidence rating. Analyses of hit rates (HRs) revealed significant effects of study condition and presentation with greater proportions of high confidence ratings for "deeply" encoded and repeated items. ST analysis provided support for a one-dimensional account of the behavioural data. fMRI data analyses revealed significant changes in perirhinal cortex and hippocampal activity for DP theory dependent contrasts at study and test. However, separate ST analyses at study and test revealed little support for any relationship between the perirhinal cortex and hippocampal regions that showed significant activity. Failure to observe any consistent pattern indicates fMRI signals perhaps reflected vi additional sources of variability. The results are not consistent with either single-process (SP) or DP model accounts, questioning the interpretation of DP theory dependent contrasts as relevant measures of recognition memory related brain activity. 2012-06-25T00:00:00Z Petruzzelli, Zoe http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:219691 No abstract available 2010-11-03T00:00:00Z Ross, Andrew M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217656 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z Liem, Albertus Joseph. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:239838 Child behaviour problems are common in children with a developmental disorder. Previous evidence suggests that behavioural parenting programs are effective with parents of children, aged 2-10 years, with a developmental disorder. Forty-nine parents of children with a developmental disorder attended a 5-hour Stepping Stones Triple P seminar series program which explained parenting strategies targeted specifically at parents of children with a developmental disorder. Parents were asked to rate the acceptability of the seminar series, the usefulness of the parenting strategies and their intention to participate in further Stepping Stones Triple P programs after the seminar series. Barriers which prevented parents from participating in the program were also identified. It was found that the SSTP seminar series is an acceptable format for delivering a broad, educational parenting program to parents of a child with a developmental disorder. Furthermore, the strategies presented in the seminar series were useful for parents of a child with a developmental disorder with a substantial proportion of parents reporting successfully using both the positive parenting strategies and the strategies for managing misbehaviour. The seminar series fits within the Triple P model with some parents indicating the seminar series was sufficient for their needs whilst others indicating their intention to seek further SSTP programs. The SSTP seminar program could, therefore, be a useful addition to the suite of Triple P programs for parents of a child with a developmental disorder and has the potential to be a cost effective, public health program that can be delivered to a large number of parents of children with a range of developmental disorders across a variety of locations. 2011-04-06T00:00:00Z Kym Barrett http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:239879 Previous research has demonstrated that stereotype threat negatively impacts the performance of women on difficult mathematical tests (Spencer, Steele, & Quinn, 1999). The aim of the current study was to replicate stereotype threat effects on the maths performance of female students and explore whether self-doubt mediates this relationship. Self-doubt was measured explicitly and implicitly to investigate whether the implicit measure would have better predictive validity than explicit self-doubt. To control for individual differences, the moderating effects of mathematics identification and stigma-consciousness were also examined. Sixty three undergraduate female students from the University of Queensland were exposed or not exposed to a verbal stereotype threat manipulation. Results unexpectedly revealed that stereotype threat did not impact women's math performance. Moreover, selfdoubt, math identification and stigma-consciousness did not significantly impact the relationship between stereotype threat and performance. However, a number of methodological and theoretical explanations can account for these findings. These results leave an interpretation about the methodology and measures used in this study, as well as the nature of self-doubt, especially implicit self-doubt. Directions for future dedicated to stereotype threat will be discussed in light of the current and past findings, and limitations of the present research. 2011-04-06T00:00:00Z Leslie Galaud http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:223097 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Lai, Voon Foong. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:221666 2010-11-19T00:00:00Z Sheridan, Mark A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:221581 2010-11-18T00:00:00Z Storie, Alastair. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222566 2010-11-26T00:00:00Z Hulsman, Jenine Emma. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222958 2010-11-30T00:00:00Z Mullins, Joseph. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217501 2010-09-29T00:00:00Z Leng, Crystal H. T. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:223307 2010-12-03T00:00:00Z Barlow, Darren A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:224186 2010-12-10T00:00:00Z Mansfield, Glenn W. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:261344 2011-11-14T00:00:00Z Walthall, J. C. (John Christopher) http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:260853 2011-11-09T00:00:00Z Vandersee, Brian Edward http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:218841 2010-10-21T00:00:00Z Dudurovic, Rade. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:275458 The purpose of this thesis was to explain previously reported high levels of psychological distress, alcohol misuse, and job dissatisfaction in lawyers. Five lawyer-relevant stressors (time pressure, emotional demands, billing targets, emphasis on profits, and competitiveness) as well three resources (control, pay, and praise), were examined, along with the lawyer-relevant individual difference variable of overcommitment. Main effects of all stressors, resources, and overcommitment on depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, and job dissatisfaction were hypothesised, as well as a series of two-way and three-way interactions among overcommitment and the stressors and resources. Participants were 448 Australian lawyers who completed an online questionnaire distributed to them by their State or Territory Law Society. Results revealed significant relationships between the stressors, resources, and overcommitment on depression, anxiety, and job dissatisfaction, with the exception of billing targets, which was only predictive of job dissatisfaction. Main effects of time pressure and emotional demands on alcohol misuse were further detected. Significant two-way interactions revealed that the positive effects of time pressure and emotional demands on depression, anxiety, and job dissatisfaction were more marked for high overcommitted lawyers, as were the positive effects of low pay and low control on anxiety. Significant three-way interactions among overcommitment and certain lawyer-specific stressors and control and praise were detected, indicating that high overcommitted lawyers experienced more psychological distress in certain combinations of high stressors and low resources, compared to less overcommitted lawyers. Contrary to predictions, in the presence of high demands, high control and high praise significantly increased levels of psychological distress for high overcommitted lawyers. The implications of these results for the occupational-stress literature, as well as the practical applications for the legal profession, are discussed. 2012-06-08T00:00:00Z Bergin, Adele http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:218482 2010-10-15T00:00:00Z Marchingo, Shevaune. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217337 2010-09-28T00:00:00Z Hardcastle, W. J. (William John) http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:239972 Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report significantly higher levels of stress and distress compared to any other parenting group. Research investigating the effectiveness of stress management programs for this population is limited, however a preliminary study highlights the beneficial effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Twenty-two parents of children with ASD completed a brief one-day ACT workshop targeted specifically to parents of children with ASD. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the workshop in reducing parenting stress and general psychological distress as well as increasing acceptance. Participant outcomes were measured at three assessment points, Time 1 pre intervention, Time 2 post intervention, and at a six-week follow-up, Time 3. Qualitative goal attainment data was analysed to provide additional information regarding parent values and achieving goals in line with these values, two fundamental ACT processes. Participants reported significantly lower levels of parent adjustment problems and depressive symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2 and these decreases were maintained at Time 3. The increase in acceptance from Time 1 to Time 2 was not significant, and parenting stress did not significantly differ between time points. Qualitative data indicated that parents reported an increase in the degree of goal attainment from Time 2 to Time 3. These results suggest the possible effectiveness of a brief ACT intervention for parents of children with ASD but caution must be used due to the small sample size and lack of a control condition. Future research should implement an ACT workshop in conjunction with an effective child-focussed intervention, such as Triple P. 2011-04-06T00:00:00Z Hocking, Melissa http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:276654 The purpose of this study was to extend previous research investigating the association between multiple role occupancy and mental health to a new population, emerging adults. Specifically, this research examines the relationship between the number of roles that an emerging adult occupies (distinct from the specific type of roles) and mental health, and examines gender differences. Three measures of mental health; life satisfaction, depression and anxiety, are regressed on the number of roles occupied. Separate regression analyses are then conducted for men and women. Participants were 309 first year psychology students, under the age of 30, at the University of Queensland, Australia. Hypothesis 1, based on role enhancement theory, predicted that multiple role occupancy would be linked to better mental health. Specifically, it was predicted that number of roles would be associated positively with life satisfaction and negatively with depression and anxiety. Secondly, based on limited prior research, it was hypothesised that that there would be a difference in the strength of the association between multiple role occupancy and mental heath for men and women: specifically, it was predicted that the relationship would be greater for men than for women. Overall, results revealed support for hypothesis 1, a multiple regression analysis found that life satisfaction, depression and anxiety accounted for a small but significant amount of the variance in the number of roles an individual occupies. Results did not support hypothesis 2, as although a gender difference was found, it was in opposition to predictions: the relationship between the number of roles occupied and mental health was found to be significant for women but not for men. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical applications, limitation and recommendations for future research. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Amber Willett http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222964 2010-11-30T00:00:00Z Coote, Michelle. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:299064 2013-05-01T12:40:40Z Lau, Yue Hung Adrian http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:299057 2013-05-01T12:08:04Z Lebbink, Gerrit Albert Luke http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217332 2010-09-28T00:00:00Z Harrison, Margaret Joan. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:224383 2010-12-13T00:00:00Z Allan, W. A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:273780 2012-05-09T00:00:00Z Hensinger, Winfried. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:224416 2010-12-13T00:00:00Z Gibbs, Alwyn Francis. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:211168 This study was conducted in two shires of Laidley and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley in 1986. The research method used was a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to four hundred primary producers. The response rate received was 49.5 percent which is quite reasonable for a random sample of a non-specific interest group. The study area was divided into six zones based on the 198 respondents’ assessment of the enterprise from which they derived major income. The main approach of this project was a situational analysis o the Lockyer Valley. Central to this research was identification of the pressure and extent of problems relating to several aspects of land use, notably soil erosion, weed infestation; availability and quality of water and more general community-based problems. The characteristics of farm households, the role of family members in decision-making and tasks related to farm as well as home, were also included in this study. The Lockyer Valley is a major production area of vegetables as well as a mixed farming area. Natural pasture, which was extensively found in Zone 6, was largely used for cattle grazing. Generally, rural women were better educated than their husbands, and the ratio of educational level of husband and wife was higher than previous research findings. A large number of producers and their wives have taken off-farm work, and women tended to spend more time in off-farm employment. Only 6.1 percent of producers’ children had completed tertiary education and the majority of all sons were working on the farm. Partnership was found to be the major type of property ownership and inter-generational transfer of the property was the future plan. The producers who were from a non-farm upbringing and who had already taken up off-farm work intended to leave their properties at some time in the future. With the running of the farm business , 35 percent of rural women worked full-time in partnership with their husbands, and 42 percent worked part-time. However, 23 percent of rural women were homemakers and were not involved in running the farm business. The association between decision-making of husband and wife and situational factors such as ownership, involvement in farm tasks, record-keeping, education, on-farm upbringing and age were analysed. Joint involvement of wives in decision-making was to be related to ownership, farm tasks and record-keeping. However, husbands were more likely to take a major role in decision-making if they were more educated and had an on-farm upbringing. Age was found to be a factor affecting joint decision-making, although this result conflicted with findings of earlier research. The opinions of the farm community in identifying the problems of the specific small area in the Lockyer Valley were revealed. Lantana was the most severe weed problem in the whole catchment. The catchment area also had problems with wattle. The recommended control method of lantana was replacement by improved pasture, but it was adopted by few primary producers. Soil erosion in the form of gullies, bank erosion, sheet erosion, salinity and flooding were some of the problems perceived by the local community. Regular ‘slash and burn’ was practised by most of the producers. This is one of the causes of land degradation. Bore, creek and river, and dam were the main water sources for farm supply and irrigation. Only 60 percent of bored had adequate water supply and good water quality. Farm dam and creek/river sources were less reliable due to the inadequate availability of water. Consequently, operators at about half the cropped farms had to stop growing some vegetables which were previously commercially successful. Within the context of farm family needs, emphasis was placed on conservation of water, because of the erosion and water problems. The community’s opinion on community development activities emphasised the involvement of farm families. Finally, suggestions for the extension program which should be emphasised on rural development by means of community participation were included. The bases for further studies was also provided in this report. 2010-08-05T00:00:00Z Oo, Khin http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:294890 2013-03-26T12:00:12Z Tainton, Sarah. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:216929 2010-09-22T00:00:00Z Spearritt, Placid. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:282541 2012-09-27T00:00:00Z Thatcher, Alan Christopher http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:239753 The current study assessed the relationship between conversational ability and children’s acceptance of post-event misleading information. Twenty-five children (Mage=64.20 months, SD= 4.23 months) participated in this three-phase study, developed to align with Loftus’ (1975) original suggestibility paradigm. In Phase 1 (Day 1), the children were read a storybook and then in Phase 2 (that afternoon), were introduced to misleading information through a post-event questionnaire. In the third phase of the study (Day 7), children were assessed on their ability to accurately recall information from the storybook. In addition, children completed a conversational maxim task to determine their overall conversational ability. The conversational maxim task assessed children’s ability to detect violations of the four Gricean conversational maxims: quality, quantity, manner, and relation. Age was found to significantly correlate with conversational ability, r=.52, p=.009. However, conversational ability was not found to relate to overall levels of suggestibility. This study has important implications for understanding the language conditions under which children may be able to provide reliable testimonies within current legal settings. 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z Courtney Buchanan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:297877 2013-04-17T09:57:45Z Blanco, Salvatore Daniel http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:217200 2010-09-27T00:00:00Z Freney, J. R. (John Raymond)