Massey Documents by Type

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

Browse

Filters

2022 - 20253

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.efficacy

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The relationships between efficacy beliefs (self, teacher, and collective) and the planning and teaching of computational thinking : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Massey University (distance), New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025-03-30) Macann, Victoria
    Computational thinking is recognised as a vital skill to adequately prepare students for future jobs in contemporary society. Students need to develop advanced computational skills, and teachers need the knowledge and skills to integrate CT into their classroom instruction. This multiple case study aimed to understand the relationships between self, teacher, and collective efficacy beliefs and how primary/ elementary level school leaders and teachers plan and teach computational thinking (CT). Drawing upon Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the research identifies how various contextual and domain-specific factors shape self, teacher, and collective efficacy beliefs. Self-efficacy beliefs refer to an individual's confidence in their own ability to successfully execute the actions required to achieve specific goals or handle particular situations. Teacher efficacy beliefs are a specific application of the broader concept of self-efficacy in the context of teaching. Teacher efficacy beliefs refer to a teacher's confidence in their ability to foster student learning, manage classrooms, and overcome challenges related to teaching. Collective efficacy is the shared belief among a group of people in their combined ability to achieve goals or address challenges and extends the concept of self-efficacy from the individual to the group level. In particular, a focus of the study was how the sources of efficacy judgements were either supported or undermined by various factors, contributing to self, teacher, and collective efficacy of the participants. This research is important because there is less research focused on the assessment of all four sources of self-efficacy, and limited research on how teachers describe teaching experiences that impact their efficacy beliefs. From two New Zealand based cases, and one case in the United States (US), findings confirm the multifaceted nature of efficacy beliefs, and highlights the significance of factors such as professional development (PD), resource availability, time constraints, collaboration, and leadership support on teachers and school leaders’ efficacy judgements. Enactive mastery experiences were the most commonly described source of efficacy judgement in relation to these factors. This research offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors shaping efficacy beliefs in CT education, thereby informing strategies for increasing teacher support, refining professional development practices, and creating effective educational policies for CT integration in schools/school districts.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a novel long-acting bupivacaine formulation for cornual nerve block in calves
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-12-01) Venkatachalam D; Kells N; Chambers P; Jacob A; Ward N; Singh P; Soto-Blanco B
    Local anesthetics are commonly used in farm animals to provide analgesia for painful procedures but can cause adverse effects at high systemic concentrations. The pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a long-acting sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) bupivacaine formulation following cornual nerve block in calves were compared to lidocaine. Fourteen calves were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups (i) 5% Bupivacaine-SAIB (BUP-SAIB), n = 7; or (ii) 2% lidocaine (LID), n = 7. Cornual nerve block was performed, and duration of effective analgesia was evaluated by nociceptive threshold testing using a hand-held pressure algometer. Blood samples were collected at various time points and plasma concentrations were analyzed by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model. The mechanical nociceptive thresholds showed that the novel formulation could desensitize the skin around the horn bud for 18.77 ± 8.88 h (range 8-36 h), compared to 0.79 ± 0.34 h (range 0.5-1.5 h) with lidocaine. The mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of bupivacaine was 152.03 (SD 37.34) ng/mL and its Tmax was 0.39 (SD 0.13) h. The half-life of elimination was 32.79 ± 11.00 h and the rate of clearance was 0.12 ± 0.03 L h-1. No toxicity signs were seen after treatment in either group. The novel formulation produced long-lasting analgesia of several times greater duration than that produced by lidocaine. This study showed that the safety and efficacy of the SAIB formulation justifies further studies in a larger population of animals.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating organic control methods for bronze beetle (Eucolaspis sp.) in New Zealand organic apple production : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Horticultural Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Wyatt, Sarah Margaret
    Bronze beetle (Eucolaspis sp.), an insect native to New Zealand (NZ), is one of the most prevalent threats to the NZ organic apple industry. In organic orchards, bronze beetle can potentially damage or destroy 40-50% of the crop. At Bostock New Zealand, a large organic company that produces approximately 90% of NZ’s organic apples, the beetle causes losses of approximately ‡6 million per year. The lack of effective control methods available for use in organic production systems exacerbates the population numbers and severity of this pest. Two separate experiments were carried out to help alleviate this problematic pest. The first was a laboratory bioassay trial comparing the efficacy of three conventional insecticides with three organic insecticides containing the active ingredients spinosad (Entrust™ SC Naturalyte™ 240), pyrethrin (PYNZ28 EC), and azadirachtin (NeemAzal-T/S™ 40 EC). The objective of this experiment was to determine if any of the organic insecticides had the potential to provide an acceptable level of control in controlled conditions. If so, they should be investigated commercially. The organic insecticide Entrust SC Naturalyte (commonly called Entrust) provided over 90% control five days after application to leaves, a level of control similar to all three conventional insecticides trialled (Vayego® 200 SC, Calypso® 480 SC, and Avaunt® 300 WDG). NeemAzal-T/S, the organic insecticide containing azadirachtin, also showed some potential but at a lower level compared to Entrust, as the control achieved was over 80% seven days after direct application to leaves. The second experiment investigated the host plant attraction of bronze beetle, as it is known that they use plant volatiles to locate host plants. Based on this, apple, plum, and blackberry leaves were compared (with a clean air control) to identify which of these crops was the most attractive to bronze beetle. The purpose of this was to investigate the possibility of using these crops as attractants in a potential organic control programme. However, there were few responses to treatments, and all four treatment options appeared equally attractive to bronze beetle during this experiment, with any differences attributed to random variability.