Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Start date: 2010Subject: search.filters.subject.SOCIAL SCIENCES

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 312
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The uptake of advance care planning by older adults in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu Campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Brown, Wendy
    Advance Care Planning refers to planning for end-of-life care in a proactive and comprehensive manner, preferably using a planning template. This is the first nationwide study since the formal introduction of Advance Care Planning to New Zealand in 2010, to look at the level of uptake among older adults in New Zealand. Four thousand and twenty-eight participants were surveyed about completion of living wills, enduring powers of attorney and advance care plans. Participants were also asked who they had discussed end-of-life matters with. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential methods, including analysising demographic data for correlations with Advance Care Planning activities. Following the survey, nine participants were chosen by convenience sample to be interviewed. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview data. The interviews explored the contextual factors and decision-making processes underpinning end-of-life-care choices. The study found that uptake was low for all forms of planning documentation although enduring powers of attorney were the most commonly completed document. Advance Care Plan discussions occurred very regularly, with nearly half of the participants having discussions in the six months preceding the survey. These were most often with family and friends and seldom with health professionals. Bivariate correlation analysis showed weak to moderate correlations between age, physical health, gender, ethnicity, and Advance Care Plan activities. Logistic regression was used to explore the completion of advance care planning templates. This revealed that the most influential factors were completing a living will or enduring power of attorney; having a discussion with a legal representative; speaking with a spiritual advisor; and being non-Māori. The qualitative interviews found seven major themes covering knowledge of ACP, the process and timing of planning, independence, who should be part of the planning process and what had been learned from previous experiences. Overall, this study reveals that, despite health promotion efforts, uptake of formal Advance Care Planning remains low in New Zealand. Further work is needed to educate the public about Advance Care Planning and to support health professionals to initiate and maintain the ACP process.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Studies in historical geography, agrifood/forestry & geographic thought in New Zealand : a thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Letters of Massey University
    (Massey University, 2016) Roche, Michael
    The work presented for this thesis includes journal articles, book chapters, and one book produced over the span of 30 years and falls into three main domains; historical geography, contemporary agrifood/forestry research, and studies in the history of geographic thought. The historical geography work is further divided into research on forest history in New Zealand, on society and environment, largely in New Zealand in the last decade of the 19th century and early decades of the 20th century, and writing on the discharged soldier settlement scheme. The agrifood research spans from pipfruit to the meat industry. The associated forestry research ranges from afforestation policy, to privatization, corporate forestry, and forest governance. The history of geographic thought research considers the beginnings and distinguishing characteristics of geography in New Zealand. These bodies of work make a sizable and diverse contribution to the geographical literature and to interdisciplinary enquiries amongst geographers, environmental historians, and rural sociologists.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Early childhood teachers' beliefs and experiences of identification and referral for early intervention services in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Baxter, Stacey
    This research addresses a gap in the literature related to the role of early childhood teachers in the identification and referral of children for specialist early intervention, particularly in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Extending on the prior work of Aspden (2003), this replicative study explored early childhood teachers’ experiences, attitudes and beliefs regarding the identification of children’s additional needs and subsequent referral for specialist early intervention. Two research questions framed this study: (1) what are early childhood teachers’ experiences related to identification and referral? and; (2) what factors, attitudes and beliefs influence early childhood teachers’ identification and referral practices? Seventy-eight early childhood teachers participated in an online survey. Key findings suggested that teachers’ identification and referral confidence was strongly influenced by a complex set of personal and external factors that included concerns around parental reaction and the adequacy of service provisions. Teachers reported low overall levels of confidence in specialist service provisions, creating a potential access barrier for children with additional needs. The findings support the ongoing need for teacher consultation in terms of current and future changes to the systems around specialist early intervention as well as enhanced professional support and development that targets teachers need for knowledge of and connection with specialist agencies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth in New Zealand Surf Lifesavers : an analysis of age, gender, social support, & self-efficacy : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Rooke, Aimee
    Introduction. New Zealand surf lifeguards are exposed to a range of potentially traumatic events including search and rescue, trauma and medical care, and body retrievals. Although extensive training is required and peer support programmes are in place, little is known about the impact this work may have as there is a lack of published literature focusing on surf lifeguards. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was available to all current, paid and volunteer lifeguards, 17 years and older. Information was gathered on personal and surf lifesaving trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, posttraumatic growth (PTG), perceived social support and perceived self-efficacy. Statistical analyses were performed to explore hypothesized relationships between these constructs and demographic variables. Results: A total of 181 lifeguards 17 years and older (M = 26.96, SD = 12.45), were included in the final analysis. Males reported significantly higher trauma exposure, yet females presented with higher posttraumatic stress symptoms. 7.8% of adolescents and 1.8% of adults scored above 40 on the PTSD measure suggesting probable PTSD. Adolescent participants reported both higher posttraumatic stress and PTG. Total trauma exposure, including surf lifesaving events, failed to show a significant relationship with trauma outcomes. However, personal traumatic events alone did show a small but significant relationship with both posttraumatic stress and PTG. The expected relationships between social support and self-efficacy with posttraumatic stress were not verified. Social support and self-efficacy did show a small but significant positive relationship with PTG. No moderation effect was found for either social support or self-efficacy. Exploratory analysis did show that age moderated the relationship between trauma exposure and both posttraumatic stress and PTG. Discussion. Results suggest that being younger may facilitate PTG but it may also make some vulnerable to posttraumatic stress symptoms under high trauma conditions. Traumatic events within Surf lifesaving were not related to trauma outcomes suggesting that personal trauma may have a stronger impact than lifeguard related trauma. The lack of evidence supporting the impact of social support and self-efficacy may be due to limitations in the measures used. Results and limitations are discussed with a focus on how this unique population could benefit from future research.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Food for thought : increasing nutritional diversity by adapting to droughts in Timor-Leste's permaculture/agroecology garden schools : a research project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Marra, Peter
    The main aim of the research was to explore community resilience, and specifically whether and how garden schools that use permaculture/agroecology principles may be usefully contributing to adaptation to climate change and nutritional diversity in Timor-Leste. The research also aimed to investigate the challenge of implementing garden schools in Timor-Leste. Specifically, targets of the Sustainable Development Goals relating to water conservation, resilience and food security were utilized to measure the progress of garden schools. The above is embedded in a conceptual agroecology framework that assesses the resilience of food growing systems in relation to climate change as the schools utilize permaculture/agroecology principles, with permaculture being a form of agroecology. Timor-Leste is now faced with extreme climate patterns as a result of climate change that can lead to more prolonged droughts. This study used a qualitative methodolology, which included interviews of teachers with school gardens, to help understand how teachers and their students are adapting to these droughts. The study also examines nutritional diversity in schools and the benefits and challenges of implementing school gardens. Furthermore, the study explores the transfer of nutritional and gardening knowledge from schools to the community to increase community resilience. The research revealed that garden schools internationally improve students’ scientific understanding and agricultural knowledge and their taste for locally grown fruit and vegetables. The school gardens in Timor-Leste have multiple benefits with regard to improving educational outcomes and community resilience as a school garden transforms a schoolyard into a green laboratory for students to learn about nutrition, mathematics and linguistics.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    How prepared are New Zealanders to achieve adequate consumption in retirement? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Banking at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Lissington, Robert John
    The majority of New Zealand retirees are happy with their current level of retirement income; however, the critical issue is “Will their financial resources last?” This question provides the catalyst for this thesis, requiring a definition for, and a way of measuring retirement adequacy that is appropriate for New Zealanders. Government-funded NZ Superannuation forms the foundation of New Zealanders’ retirement income, sufficient to cover basic needs and prevent retirees falling below the poverty line. Some (passive) retirees find that NZ Superannuation is sufficient to meet their needs, achieving retirement adequacy regardless of their financial behaviour and actions. However, others (active) retirees, desiring a higher retirement income, are required to make financial decisions and take action to augment their NZ Superannuation in order to achieve the lifestyle and level of consumption desired in retirement. While retiree retirement adequacy can be calculated with a degree of certainty, that is not the case for pre-retirees as future employment, income, and health are susceptible to change. This study found the Consumption Replacement approach was to be a more appropriate methodology than Income Replacement for measuring retirement adequacy. Financial calculations using data collected from an on-line survey of 1,044 respondents found that 60.4% of all ‘current’ retirees and 48.6% of 'active’ retirees were likely to be adequately prepared for retirement, by being able to maintain pre-retirement lifestyle and consumption in retirement. Significant retirement adequacy factors drawn from the data were used to develop the Financial Preparedness for Retirement (FPfR) Index to compare the preparedness of retirees to pre-retirees. This study found that fewer pre-retirees (32.1%) were likely to achieve retirement adequacy than retirees. Significantly, nine out of ten inadequately prepared pre-retirees would need to save more than 25% of their current household income pre-retirement in order to achieve their required retirement saving accumulation targets. The conclusion reached is that New Zealand pre-retirees are less prepared financially for retirement than current retirees. Findings from this thesis will help provide a greater understanding of retirement preparedness amongst policymakers, government agencies, educationalists, financial institutions, professional financial advisers, and others, both internationally and in New Zealand.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Vicarious futurity : parents' perspectives on locating strength in adolescents with autism : this thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Hastie, Jan
    Research into Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has largely taken place within the biomedical model of illness and disease. It has focussed on young children, based on the understanding that early intervention provides the most positive outcomes for social, cognitive, and communication development. However, this has tended to overlook the need for research throughout the life span, including adolescence and adulthood, where very poor outcomes develop. This study provides a space for parents to identify the strengths of adolescents with ASD and challenges the assumptions that the lived experience of ASD is associated mostly with dysfunctional family life. By identifying strengths in adolescents with ASD, parents engaged with conceptions of how these strengths might generate a positive perspective on the future for their adolescent child. Ten parents were asked to take or collect five photographs each of what they perceived as strengths that their adolescent displayed. A semi-structured interview was then carried out to explore the images. Analysis of the interviews was guided by a hermeneutic phenomenological epistemology where the researcher attempts to make sense of the participant’s experience. The data was analysed by latent thematic analysis that is theorised as an examination of the underlying ideas, assumptions and conceptualisations of the semantic content of the data. The research found that the identified strengths of adolescents with ASD were those valued in functional and cultural terms by the family and supported daily family functioning in the home, at school, and other mainstream systems. Furthermore, parents identified it was ASD itself that constituted the inherent strength for the adolescent and promoting suitable attributes of the disorder was beneficial for family life. The strengths of adolescents with ASD reinforced the parent’s belief in a more positive future as their adolescent grows into adulthood. The principal implication of this research is that the professional systems supporting adolescents with ASD would benefit from shifting their conventional understanding of ASD and negative family experiences. By doing so, these systems could facilitate more positive attitudes towards ASD and harness these attitudes towards better support for parental well-being.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Making relationships count : exploring how Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand can use monitoring and evaluation to develop trust-based relationships with tangata whenua partners : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development, Institute of Development Studies, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) Leuthart, Gretchen
    A culture of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is now widespread in the development sector. Organisations are expected to measure progress and monitor results in order to determine the impact of their interventions. Yet despite relationships being central to effective development, there are very few frameworks or indicators to help measure the quality of trust - as the foundation of relationships. This research investigates ways to measure trust-based relationships. Drawing on a case study of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand (Caritas), along with an extensive literature review, this report explores how Caritas can use M&E to reflect trust-based relationships with tangata whenua partners. Perspectives on M&E and specifically measuring trust, are explored from an Indigenous and Maori world view. Semi-structured interviews with five people representing Caritas and two of its Maori partners disclose behaviours that deepen trust. Through this exploration, an ongoing conversation about culturally competent M&E and the centrality of trust-based relationships in expanding evaluation practice is revealed. The insights expressed are presented as ten indicators of trust. Together with a foundational layer relying on cultural competence and shared vision, these indicators form a framework with trust at the centre. The ten signs of trust are; face to face, going beyond the minimally required, challenging and questioning, understanding time, interacting in the in-between spaces, listening genuinely, committing as an organisation, contributing funds and contributing new knowledge and connections. This report concludes that building strong, trusting relationships matters. They do count in order to achieve development that enables shared learning, empowerment and self determination. Cross cultural collaboration will be more meaningful when behaviours taht impact on trust are identified and regularly monitored. The emergent framework can be a practical tool for Caritas to use in monitoring and evaluating trust with its tangata whenua partners. It presents an opportunity to explore and reflect on dimensions of trust from a tangata whenua perspective, opens up the space for more dialogue with partners and invites a more collaborative approach towards doing development.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploring the effects of outdoor activities and connectedness with nature on cognitive styles and creativity : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Leong, Lai Yin Carmen
    The natural environment’s potential to improve education, work, and lifestyles is receiving increasing attention by policy makers and practitioners. Psychological research has demonstrated that stress reduction, attention restoration, and increased creativity can result from exposure to nature. Such evidence notwithstanding, the precise psychological mechanisms explaining these effects remain unclear. This thesis provides a systematic examination of how contact with nature might affect humans. Four studies were conducted. Study 1 reports two meta-analyses (N = 10701, k = 100) involving: (i) 66 studies using preand post-test designs, and (ii) 32 experimental studies that include a control group. Although outdoor activities have been found overall to affect personal and social outcomes positively, there has been limited research into the effects on cognitive variables of exposure to outdoor environments. To address this gap in the literature, I aim to investigate whether contact with nature (in two dimensions–the psychological attachment to nature and the physical exposure to it) is associated with processes related to creativity (i.e., cognitive styles and divergent thinking creativity). Study 2 (N = 138) tests the relationship between connectedness with nature and cognitive styles and reports a significant positive association between connectedness with nature and both innovative and holistic thinking styles. Building on this finding, Study 3 (N = 185) not only replicates the results of Study 2 by controlling for wellbeing processes, but includes a new creativity test to examine the link between connectedness with nature and creative processes (connectedness with nature is found to be positively linked with divergent-thinking creativity). As these three studies employ cross-sectional data where causality cannot be inferred, the last study involves an experimental design. Study 4 (N = 93) manipulates active versus passive engagement with nature and examines the mediating impact of connectedness with nature on the link between outdoor activities and divergentthinking creativity. Some theoretical explanations as to how nature might affect our creativity are proposed. Potential limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. The findings are intended to provide supporting evidence for the relationship between nature and creativity, and hopefully inform educational pedagogy and lifestyle choices likely to enhance creativity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    What makes a good label? : the effect of wine label design on product evaluation and purchasing behaviour : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Jaud, David Alexandre
    Companies spend billions annually on packaging and labelling, yet little is known about how and why specific features of package design influence consumer responses. This thesis identifies, across two projects, what wine label elements or themes should be used, where and when. First, while the use of fantasy themes is increasing across product categories, it is unclear how consumers react to fantasy labels. Across five studies, the results unite seemingly contradicting theories predicting the effects of fantasy labels on product evaluation and purchasing behaviour by uncovering an important boundary condition: product quality signal, in line with the principle of hedonic dominance. The results suggest that for low quality products, fantasy labels backfire (consistent with research on metacognition). For products average in quality, fantasy and non-fantasy labels do not differ in their performance. Yet, in the presence of a high quality signal, fantasy labels impact product evaluation and purchasing behaviour positively. This positive effect is sequentially driven by the evocation of the imaginary and affect, in line with research on mental simulation. Second, it is unclear to what extent elements of wine label design affect sales relative to other marketing mix effects. Specifically, we use wine transactional data for 127 SKUs across two liquor stores in New Zealand, covering 105 weeks. The findings suggest that some specific label elements have strong effects on sales. Specifically, extra text, as a quality cue, has the strongest positive effect. Overall, after price, the combination of image(s) and extra text has the strongest (negative) effect on sales. In line with research on processing fluency, this research also shows whether and when to use simple versus complex elements (typeface, label structure, mode of information). This thesis has important implications for wine companies and retailers.