bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Message threads: Exploring interpersonal communication through smartphones: how we weave our lives in a hypermediated world
Authors:   , Verkerk Jayn
Published: November 2021

This thesis is about human behaviour as it relates to computer mediated communication. Smartphones are an accepted part of everyday life. We use them to wake us up in the morning, we play games on them while we wait for the bus, and take photos with them. Smartphones also enable communication. We can phone while in transit, coordinate meeting up with friends, share our lives on social networking sites, and check in on email and text throughout the day.  How does this technology affect how we interact? In public situations we retain contact online, but this multitasking affects how we relate to others socially. Smartphone texting allows us to keep in constant touch with friends and family, though interaction is fragmented and asynchronous. As we are always available, and never alone, these open lines of communication also affect how we see ourselves.  In choosing the smartphone I critically question the attention and priority given to these devices in daily life. Mobile phones have changed the soundscape in public places: dialtones, beeps and people speaking in public on their phones is common. Users interact continually with their phones, store substantial data on them, communicate through, and consequently develop a bond to, the physical object. What could these ubiquitous portable computers tell us if, instead of being passive agents in a dependent relationship of user and phone, they actively listened, or could reflect back the nature of their role in our lives?
He mana taonga, he mana tangata: Māori taonga and the politics of Māori tribal identity and development
Authors:   , Hakiwai Arapata Tamati
Published: November 2021

In museum studies, museums have been examined in terms of their historical role in collecting and exhibiting the culture of colonized peoples, and their contemporary participation in identity politics, repatriation and relationships with source communities, but their role in indigenous tribal development has never been the focus of a major study. This thesis sets out to examine this phenomenon and thereby address a major gap in the literature. In New Zealand, Māori tribes are actively pursuing social, cultural and economic development initiatives as an expression of their mana motuhake or self-determination. The development ethos that is guiding many of these tribes has at its core the wellbeing of their people and the importance of their culture and tribal identity to social and economic development.  The research into this extraordinary politics of Māori tribal identity and development seeks to understand the role Māori taonga play both historically and within contemporary Māori communities as part of tribal self-determination and the advancement of Māori development and identity. The questions framing the study include the following: What is the nature of Māori taonga and what is their relationship with the politics of Māori tribal identity and development? What value are museums, collections of taonga or other cultural heritage in the process of iwi development which is taking place during the Waitangi claims process and Post Settlement phase?  Using a research methodology that incorporates a Kaupapa Māori paradigm, as well as methodologies used in museum studies and related fields, this research investigates the experiences of a number of Māori tribes with regard to their tribal taonga and cultural heritage projects including tribal exhibitions. Major case studies include Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou along with an examination of secondary sources such, as tribal websites, tribal visions and strategic plans, and other published materials.  The research findings demonstrate that taonga are important and enduring symbols of Māori identity, which are often used in the assertion and promotion of tribal self-determination and development. Māori tribal values such as mana, whakapapa, manaakitanga, tikanga, kōrero, whanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga along with taonga related kupu (words) shape and influence many tribal development strategies. The literature and interviews from tribal members confirm the enduring significance of taonga to whānau, hapū and iwi. The research demonstrates the role taonga play in sustaining the inter-generational continuity of tribal culture and the ‘connectedness’ of taonga to the wider culture, including the pivotal role they play in informing and shaping tribal development futures.
Real Time Blind Source Separation in Reverberant Environments
Authors:   , Sherry Timothy
Published: November 2021

An online convolutive blind source separation solution has been developed for use in reverberant environments with stationary sources. Results are presented for simulation and real world data. The system achieves a separation SINR of 16.8 dB when operating on a two source mixture, with a total acoustic delay was 270 ms. This is on par with, and in many respects outperforms various published algorithms [1],[2]. A number of instantaneous blind source separation algorithms have been developed, including a block wise and recursive ICA algorithm, and a clustering based algorithm, able to obtain up to 110 dB SIR performance. The system has been realised in both Matlab and C, and is modular, allowing for easy update of the ICA algorithm that is the core of the unmixing process.
Do New Zealand public library workers self-censor controversial library materials? - An exploration of their knowledge and views on the promotion of intellectual freedom in the library
Authors:   , Nieuwoudt Juanita
Published: November 2021

The first objective of this study is to investigate how much knowledge public library workers have of the role of libraries in upholding intellectual freedom. Secondly, to establish whether, and for what reasons library workers would opt to self-censor in the face of controversial library materials. Lastly, to determine whether library workers require further information and training in order to achieve the professional anti-censorship standards as promoted by LIANZA.  I used a qualitative methodology to collect data and conducted nine interviews with library workers from public libraries situated in the central North Island. They were asked to share their views on twelve books - selected for their controversial content - to determine which, if any, self-censorship actions they would take in respect of each individual title. They were asked to give reasons for self-censorship actions. They were also asked to share their knowledge of intellectual freedom in libraries.  The key findings for the first objective were that all the participants were familiar with the concept of intellectual freedom in libraries, but none of them were aware of the content of the LIANZA statement or their own library’s policy. Almost all the participants relied heavily on their management for information in this regard, even if the information is conveyed informally.  Secondly, the participants often selected self-censorship actions, with the main reasons being a personal distaste of the item or fear of offending library users.  Lastly almost all the participants said that they felt sufficiently informed on intellectual freedom in libraries and required no further training.
Developing the New Zealand Soundmap: An exploration of soundmap practice, site listening, locative media and the sound environment
Authors:   , Keys Richard Benjamin
Published: November 2021

This text is an exegesis written in accompaniment to the development of the New Zealand Soundmap. The origin and development of soundmap practice and the emergence and development of related environmental sound practices are detailed. The exegesis concludes with an exposition of the development of the New Zealand Soundmap itself.  Soundmap practice emerged from the sonic explorations of the World Soundscape Project, who coming out of Simon Fraser University of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, pioneered the first soundmaps in the early 1970’s.  From its origins soundmap practice has spread and developed into its current form as a new media practice. This thesis deals with the development of a regional web-based soundmap for New Zealand.  Various discursive strains from media studies, sonic arts, and phenomenological philosophy are woven together to explain the impetus, and value of soundmap practice and related environmental sound practices such as soundwalks and site-listening. The thesis ends with a critical analysis of successes and failures of the project towards its stated goal: to facilitate awareness of an engagement with the local sound environment.
News & the politics of satire: TV3's 7 Days
Authors:   , Robêrt Elyse Katherine
Published: November 2021

As New Zealand’s favoured satirical television show 7 Days reconstitutes the week’s current affairs and offers up a valuable counter narrative to traditional news media through its remixing of the conventions of news and the panel quiz show. Whilst many academics have studied satirical television in the US and UK contexts very little attention has been paid to the collection of New Zealand television satire and local audiences’ preference for satire over other local comedy forms. In comparing the three television systems several characteristics emerge as unique to 7 Days and New Zealand’s satiric tradition; an affinity for self-deprecating humour, the targeting of hubris, and the assailing of tall poppy syndrome; the hailing and sustenance of public feeling, and thereby the nourishment of nationalism and a communal ‘Kiwi’ identity.  Television satire dealing in news and review is a well-established practice but is often referred to in academia and popular culture as simply a ‘genre’ when it rather operates as somewhere between a discourse and a genre. Television satire is born of a strong literary tradition but literary criticisms fail to adequately address the functions of contemporary satire; its affective powers, the limits of its uptake, and the ideological footing of its critiques. Examples from US and UK television are considered as precursors to New Zealand satire, and a close analysis of 7 Days reveals that it is not only the conventions of genre that limit satire’s incarnations but also an unstable broadcasting history and an uncertain future.
Tensional processes and perception of form in three selected compositions by Kaija Saariaho
Authors:   , Jenkins Brad
Published: November 2021

The primary feature that gives ‘spectral music’ its stylistic uniqueness within the field of art music is the blurring of the traditionally distinct roles of harmony and timbre, through the use of chords derived from the naturally occurring overtones of instrumental timbre (often referred to as timbre chords). Development of these chords typically occurs very gradually, meaning it is often difficult to perceive the overall form of a spectral work based on the progression through its constituent timbre chords. This approach contrasts with the traditional reliance in both art music and other Western music styles on perceivable pitch-based development as a primary means of providing musical tension and form. Composers of spectral music must rely on the manipulation and development of other musical parameters to provide sufficient interest through ‘foreground ornamentation’ while its underlying harmonic/timbral macrostructure unfolds beneath.  This analysis shows how key musical parameters are manipulated over time to provide tension and resolution (or, in Wallace Berry’s terminology, ‘progressive and recessive processes’ ¹ ), giving spectral works a perceivable, dynamic form. Parameters examined include rate of harmonic change, dynamics, spectral/registral spread, rhythmic activity, sound/noise, spectral density and harmonicity/inharmonicity (the latter two providing a spectral analogue to conventional notions of dissonance). Particular focus is placed on the rate of harmonic change in the selected works and changes in the harmonicity/inharmonicity (through spectral distortion) of harmonic material that give spectral music its distinctive harmonic character. The way in which these ‘parameter curves’ intersect with one another is also examined.  For this study, three works by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho are analysed. The works cover a range of forces and display varying degrees of overtly ‘spectral’ influence: Nymphéa (1987) for string quartet and electronics, Du Cristal (1990) for orchestra, and Cendres (1998) for piano, cello and flute. Analysis of the background levels of parametric change reveal how Saariaho manages to maintain microstructural interest in her spectral works while adhering to an underlying macrostructural plan. Findings from this analysis will also be discussed in relation to how they have influenced my own creative output for my MMA portfolio.
Seeing Eye to Eye? The presentation and understanding of interpretation at a New Zealand heritage site
Authors:   , Caddigan Elise
Published: November 2021

Old St Paul’s is an iconic New Zealand heritage site managed by Heritage New Zealand.¹ It is a site that tells both national and local stories and draws a wide range of international and domestic visitors. Key recommendations made by the New Zealand Ministry of Tourism in their 2010 and 2015 strategies were that the country is no longer automatically perceived as ‘authentic’² by international visitors, and that heritage in New Zealand should be striving to deliver engaging, educational and rich cultural and social experiences.  Using Old St. Paul’s as a case study, this research asks if New Zealand heritage sites are providing exhibitions, interpretation and stories that successfully communicate the site management’s presentation goals to visitors. This relationship is evaluated through the exhibitions and interpretation used by site management, and compared with visitor understanding and their experience of these.  This research uses interviews and visitor surveys to gauge the management/visitor relationship at Old St. Paul’s. An in-depth interview with the site’s manager is analysed and presented comparatively against the results gained from conducting visitor surveys. This research provides an investigation into contemporary heritage practice in New Zealand and offers a pilot study for future development in the heritage sector. Furthermore, it is suggested that heritage sites could adopt similar summative practices to those used in the museum sector in order to monitor visitor satisfaction and the perception of quality.
Rape complainants on trial: Defence questioning approaches and witness emotionality
Authors:   , McManamon Lauren Patricia
Published: November 2021

Sexual offending has always been a crime that is difficult to prosecute. Despite efforts to reform the criminal justice process, prosecuting sexual offending remains problematic (McDonald & Souness, 2011). In particular, the trial process has a reportedly traumatising effect on complainants, and this dissuades others from going to court. This issue is exacerbated in cases where the perpetrator and victim are acquainted. Compared to unknown perpetrators, there is more of a perceived possibility that the complainant consented. This puts her testimony under heightened scrutiny and makes her credibility all the more salient to the trial. Cross-examination therefore becomes an important point in the trial. However it is also identified as the point in the process where the complainant becomes retraumatised. While there is a consensus that the cross-examination is traumatic, no studies have analysed how trauma unfolds in the courtroom. This research offers some insight into aspects of cross-examination that distress complainants and potentially inhibit the prosecution of sexual offending. It uses three New Zealand District Court cross-examinations where the perpetrator is an ex-partner. The study firstly presents findings on how defence counsel construct questions and what information they house within them. It finds that defence counsel predominantly ask questions that request confirmation. These questions were used in series to construct inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony. They were also used to mount challenges and accusations. Furthermore this study makes preliminary observations that defence counsel questions house prejudicial stereotypes about rape. Such questions misrepresent the reality of sexual offending and serve to undermine the complainant’s credibility. Secondly, the study presents preliminary findings from two cases in which the defence reissued questions in pursuit of a particular response. This occurred where the complainant resisted answering on the terms of the question. The defence treated this as inadequate and subsequently reissued the question. When defence pursued responses in this way, complainants displayed signs of emotionality in the courtroom. It was also found that after continual resistance in two cases the defence concluded the line of questioning with a three-part list. The list challenged the complainant’s credibility. This study makes preliminary observations that complainants display emotion when the counsel tells them their answers are inadequate and reissue questions repeatedly. Initial insight is offered into how defence counsel conduct the cross-examination and how it impacts the prosecution of sexual offending. This study also recommends improved education and awareness-raising for justice sector professionals to address complainant trauma and rape myths in cross-examination.
Exploring the role Social Media plays in the student learning experience of 2014 university life in NZ
Authors:   , Panekham Aloundeth
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore how university students and lecturers use social media to support their learning and particularly to understand how such emerging technologies usage impacts student learning experience and class communication. In this research, social media tools under consideration are social networking sites, media sharing sites, creation and publishing tools, social bookmarking, and the Internet messaging.  This research employed purposive selection to obtain the quality of data from semi-structured interviews of twelve students and four lecturers from the Victoria University of Wellington who are known to have experience of using social media tools in their courses.  The study identified two major usages of social media to support learning activities, five key usage activities for students and four major usage activities for lecturers. Students’ choices and usages of social media applications were more diverse compared to the lecturers. The usages and preferences of students from different disciplines were varied. Moreover, there were numbers of social media interactions and communication among the students and their peers. Even though the interaction and communication between students and lecturers through social media was minimum due to the limited uses of social media for formal learning in class by lecturers and students, the lecturers and students expressed that the usage of social media helped improve class communication. Students’ engagement was only area that affected by social media choices and communication using social media by lecturers. The choices and communication by students would affect greater and wider aspects of student learning experience such as learning ability, communication and collaboration, problem solving, access to information, and productivity. Even though the usage of social media to support learning by students and lecturers did not impact student learning experience equally, the findings suggest that it helps facilitate learning activities, benefit students, and enhance the student learning experience to some extent.
Impact of Information Culture and Information Behaviour on Information Quality
Authors:   , Sinitsyna Anna
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Although Information Quality (IQ) is a widely discussed topic, people’s influence on the Information Quality remains insufficiently explored. There are many indicators in the academic literature that people play an important role in creating and maintaining information, however, there is a lack of studies investigating how people’s behaviour and attitude towards information influence the Information Quality within the organisation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of Information Culture and Information Behaviour dimensions on Information Quality.  Design/methodology/approach: An online survey has been conducted among office workers of Wellington based medium and large companies. Adapted from previous research questionnaires have been used to determine people’s perceptions of the Information Culture of the companies, the Information Behaviour of employees and Information Quality.  Findings: Research reveals that Information Culture has moderate positive impact on Information Quality. Information Behaviour has a strong positive relationship with Information Quality.  Research limitations/implications: Research has drawn attention to Information Quality problems, but this time from a slightly different angle focusing on the impact of Information Culture and Information Behaviour on Information Quality. The presented study provides an insight into what factors of Information Culture and Information Behaviour are the most favourable for maintaining good quality information. This knowledge is important for organisations that seek ways of improving Information Quality. However, due to the limited time framework, the small sample and taking into account that this paper is probably the first research of its kind, the results need further investigation by other research studies.  Originality/value: The presented research appears to be the first of this kind and provides valuable knowledge into how employees might influence the quality of the information, which is the strategic resource of contemporary organisations.
The influence of data management, organisation culture and organisation motivation on the likeliness of Business Intelligence adoption
Authors:   , van den Berg Ria
Published: November 2021

Business Intelligence has become a powerful business tool that describes the business environment, the organisation, its situation in terms of markets, customers, competitors and its financial situation. The objective of BI is to increase the overall performance of the organisation through an informed decision making process. This research study objective is to identify the organisational factors that will increase the likeliness of BI adoption by small-to-medium enterprises (SME’s) in New Zealand. Existing research studies however, focus predominantly on the challenges and benefits of BI technologies adoption. Importantly this study do not define BI as purely a technology but defines it as methods, processes and technology that work together to gain intelligent insight from business information. The organisational factors identified that formed the hypotheses of the research model included data management, organisation culture and organisation motivation. These factors were identified through factor analysis that included technology adoption models and existing research studies specifically related to SME BI and technology adoption. The outcome of the research has identified that only organisation motivation in the context of competitiveness and perception of BI’s value and benefits can significantly influence the likeliness of BI adoption. New Zealand SME’s form the backbone of the country’s economy and also operate in extreme competitive niche markets. The adoption of BI practice and the use of information as a strategic resource will enable SME’s to be more innovative and competitive.
An analysis of the issues and benefits in EDRMS Implementation - A case study in a NZ public sector organisation
Authors:   , Yin Binwei
Published: November 2021

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the issues occurred and benefits gained during this recent Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) implementation within the resolution team, legal team and ministerial services team of a New Zealand public organisation so that it can benefit future organisation-wide implementation.  Design/Methodology/approach – Interview questions were developed based on literature review and semi-structured interview was used to collect data from key users of affected business units as well as EDRMS administrators. Interview results were then compared with pre-defined critical successful factors (CSFs) which include: top management support, mature recordkeeping practices, business classification schemes and effective user cooperation, on-going training and support, Well-planned change strategy and communication to find if there is any potential gap within this implementation.  Findings – Issue such as: Lack of early user buy-in or Lack of senior management support arising during the implementations was direct result of violating EDRMS CSFs. Thus, for future deployment, project team needs to correct the issue based on CSFs. However, there are also benefits gained during this implementation which include: Improves overall information quality and efficiency and Enhancing the retention of knowledge base, etc.  Practical implications – Before creating a new file in the EDRMS system, users need to do a search first to check if there is any existing file to avoid duplication. Moreover, business rules around naming convention should be in place before the implementation to guide the users to properly name EDRMS files or folders to avoid duplication.  Originality/value – This paper will assist the case organisation or any other NZ public organisations for any future EDRMS deployment.
An Organisational Study of the Free Kindergarten and Playcentre Movements in New Zealand
Authors:   , Meade Anne Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

The free kindergarten and playcentre organisations were subjects of case studies for an examination of strategic choice processes in voluntary organisations, using an open-systems theoretical framework. The patterns of strategic choices in each movement, over time, were described; then four recent decision processes and their consequences analysed. The data about the strategic choice processes gathered by participant observation were validated by three small surveys: one of 138 parents of pre-school children, one of 62 free kindergarten and playcentre staff, and one of 162 playcentre and kindergarten volunteers.  General conclusions are that the patterns of strategic choice processes both reflect and influence each organistion's structure and functioning. Both voluntary organisations are constrained from making strategic choices which would satisfy the demands of prospective clientele who desire new forms of early childhood education services – the playcentre movement is constrained by its ideology and its method of delivering pre-school education via parent participation in all aspects of the organisation; and the kindergarten movement is constrained by the accumulation of many rules which inhibit the organisation's ability to adapt to changing social conditions. The playcentre organisation's pattern of decision making has been ahead of its time in the extent of members' participation, and so also has it been with its dual education programme – children and parents learning together; but the kindergarten organisation's children's programme – children and parents learning together; but the kindergarten oganisation's children's programme is better matched with the greater demand for kindergarten pre-school education.
Exploring the challenges involved in migrating from an on-premises ECM solution to a SaaS based ECM
Authors:   , Ali Muhammad Farooq
Published: November 2021

Purpose: The objective of this research is to investigate the challenges that are acting as barriers to the adoption of a SaaS based ECM solution, mainly from an Information Technology viewpoint, in the wake of ‘cloud first’ policy that had been launched by the New Zealand government with the intent to maximize efficiencies across the public sector.  Methodology: Qualitative research was chosen for this research and outputs from the semi-structured interviews are compared with literature in order to highlight the commonalities and potentially highlighting any additional ones that exist with regards to the challenges that are associated with the adoption of a cloud based ECM service.  Practical Implications: This research will help organizations that have on-premises ECM solutions in making informed decisions through being aware of the challenges that act as barriers to adopting a SaaS based ECM solution through migrating from an on-premises ECM application.  Originality/Value: ECM in the context of a service based offering has been relatively little discussed in the literature. This research adds to the literature by examining ECM through the lens of cloud computing and investigates the challenges that are influencing its adoption.
‘That’s My Stuff’: Pasifika Literature and Pasifika Identity
Authors:   , Wilson Courtney
Published: November 2021

Pasifika literature is an expanding, dynamic field which, like other Pasifika creative productions, is often seen as representative of exciting new directions, and reflective of a nascent generation of young Pasifika who are firmly established in New Zealand. This thesis considers the relationship between Pasifika literature and Pasifika identity, tracing some ways that Pasifika literature articulates, references, and mediates Pasifika identity through the creative work of two prominent New Zealand-born Pacific scholar-poets: Karlo Mila (Tongan, Palangi, Samoan) and Selina Tusitala Marsh (Samoan, Tuvaluan, French, English). Both these women are highly acclaimed, award winning poets and academics who are well respected in their respective Pacific communities. Reading their creative works firstly as examples of a mixed-race Pasifika literature and then as Pasifika feminist texts offers compelling insights into their worlds as young ‘brown’ women in New Zealand. Their work makes a significant contribution to Pacific literature and New Zealand literature, and offers many points of entry for exploring what it might mean to be a Pasifika person in Aotearoa today. This work is furthered in a final chapter, which gestures towards a new generation of Pasifika writers. By referencing some of the new writing being produced by young Pasifika, in particular the work of Grace Taylor and Courtney Sina Meredith, I illustrate how Mila and Marsh’s writing has opened up necessary creative spaces for Pasifika voices to be heard and their senses of identity to be affirmed. Ultimately, the connections between Pasifika literature and Pasifika identities that have been explored in this thesis continue to be strengthened and developed by a new generation of young Pasifika writers, who continue to affirm identities that are fluid, open, and progressive.
Good intentions: A case study of social inclusion and its evaluation in local public art galleries
Authors:   , Baker Claire Adele
Published: November 2021

The new museology and need for greater accountability for public funding have prompted debate about the purpose of museums and their contributions to the wellbeing of society. Research has convincingly demonstrated that experiences of art can be positive for people, however visitor studies suggest audiences of public art galleries remain predominantly narrow in range and traditional non-users have not become regular visitors. Internationally, the issue of democratic access in public art galleries has become more important, resulting in a growing interest in greater public participation and a need to show social outcomes. When social inclusion goals were embedded in and mandated through British policy, significant progress was made; but what about the New Zealand situation?  This dissertation investigates how two public art galleries in New Zealand’s capital city advance and evaluate social inclusion. A case study of Wellington City Council and its public art galleries, City Gallery Wellington and Toi Pōneke Gallery, was used to explore the social inclusion policy and practices in relation to international developments. Interviews were conducted with eight staff of these and related institutions and an inductive method was used to analyse the data, framed by a social justice perspective.  This research found that the transformational potential of Wellington City Council’s galleries is limited by unclear policy and professionals’ relatively narrow understandings of social inclusion through museums. Results suggested the galleries rely predominantly on exhibitions about ethnic cultures as a form of audience development and it is likely that museums in other regions of the country would show similar traits. It appears that social inclusion and its measurement is not a priority of New Zealand public art galleries, echoed by the lack of integration across local and central government on this issue. This study argues that evaluation is necessary not only to justify public funds, but also to provide a measurement framework for a greater range of social inclusion practice within our valuable cultural institutions. The research contributes to museum and community studies literature by producing modest, yet original data about museum evaluation and policy, and provides insights for central and local government and the museum sector in terms of measuring the social impact of public art galleries. Overall, this dissertation reiterates the critical view of the disjuncture between museum theory, policy and practice, and ends by discussing some practical steps to bring these into closer alignment.
Interaction within the Therapeutic Relationship: Exploring the Relationship between the Music Therapy Practices of a Music Therapy Student and the Concepts Used in Intensive Interaction
Authors:   , How Shona Louise
Published: November 2021

This research project explores the relationship between the music therapy practices of a music therapy student and intensive interaction, a teaching model of communication used with children, young people and adults who experience challenges with learning and relating to others.  Secondary analysis of clinical records (session notes and video footage) was used in this theoretical research, using both inductive and deductive methods of micro-analysis to explore the relationship between the two approaches. Themes included two relatively distinct forms of interactive communication – communication which predominantly used music and communication which used other modes. These two groups were then divided into further themes including: elements of music and improvisational musical techniques; visual cues; vocal activity; gestures and body language; movement activity and time/space. These themes were then correlated and compared with the corresponding features and descriptions of improvisational music therapy and intensive interaction.  The findings suggest there is a relationship between the concepts used intensive interaction and the improvisational music therapy practices of the music therapy student; they both share features of the naturalistic processes of ‘infant-caregiver interactions’ within the elements of music, with both parties fine-tuning to one another’s rhythmic, melodic, textural and temporal nuances. However, improvisational or creative music therapy combines more complex usage of the elements of music including musical form, structure and texture to provide an interpersonal experience through a therapeutic relationship. That relationship is reliant on the music therapist’s sophisticated skills to combine emotion and music within the improvisational process. The strengths and limitations of the study are stated along with implications for training and further research in the field of music therapy and special education.
Democracy in authoritarian states? Political change and regime stability in Malaysia and Singapore
Authors:   , Kunaraja Aaron Anandarajah S.
Published: November 2021

In Political Science literature, Malaysia and Singapore have consistently been classified as semi-democracies; combining elements of democracy such as regularly-held elections with restrictions on civil liberties more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes. Semi-democracy or competitive authoritarianism in both countries have been relatively stable with extended periods of strong economic performance. However, recent developments in the country’s political scene have cast some doubt on the resilience of such a system.  In the case of Malaysia, the last two elections have shown a consistent loss in support for the ruling Barisan Nasional or National Front coalition which has been in power since independence in 1957. It also appears that restrictions on civil liberties have been lifted, albeit partially. The ‘complacency’ that existed among the middle class previously has largely given way while civil society is playing a much more prominent role in public discourse.  Singapore has also experienced similar developments, though not to the extent to the extent of the ‘political tsunami’ in Malaysia. Nevertheless the ruling PAP had its lowest share of the popular vote in decades in the 2011 elections and Singaporean society is increasingly vocal about grievances regarding income inequality.  Keeping in mind that there has been little structural change to the electoral system that still heavily favours the incumbent government and that key institutions of the state are still controlled by the ruling party, are both countries in a transition process to a more democratic system or will the ruling coalition retain power through these structural and institutional arrangements for the foreseeable future? In other words, will two of the world’s longest-running competitive authoritarian or semi-democratic states be resilient enough to withstand the pressures for change?
Democratic Transition in the Development Context: The Case Study of Tonga
Authors:   , Osborne Jonathan B.
Published: November 2021

In 2010 the Kingdom of Tonga experienced a democratic transition that saw the balance of power shift from a hereditary monarchy to the people. Elections were held that for the first time would result in a majority of Tonga’s Parliament comprising of democratically-elected politicians. Parliament was given the responsibility of nominating a Prime Minister from amongst its own ranks, who would in turn became responsible for nominating the Cabinet. These powers were formerly held by Tonga’s hereditary monarchy, whose role was reduced to one more akin to that performed by the modern monarchs of Europe. Since the 1960s, Tonga has received an increasing amount of overseas aid, especially from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and, latterly, China. Historically, donors have not been overtly concerned with issues of democracy in developing countries, instead relying on the modernist notion that economic development would lead to democratic development. Since the 1980s, however, donors have become increasingly interested in the issue of democracy in developing countries, as a result of the good governance agenda and its successor paradigm, the aid effectiveness agenda. This thesis explores the impact of donors on Tonga’s 2010 democratic transition, concluding that the effect of donors manifested in a variety of direct and indirect ways. A retrospective analysis identifies aspects of Tonga’s 2010 democratic transition that could have been improved, and actions that donors should consider taking if faced with similar circumstances in the future. Finally, the thesis considers how donors can assist the consolidation of Tongan democracy, concluding that support should be targeted towards sustainable economic development, the rule of law, and the public service.
Improving the quality of science education in Tanzanian junior secondary schools: The stakeholders' perspectives, issues, and promising practices
Authors:   , Kalolo John Fungulupembe
Published: November 2021

Improving quality science education (SE) in many countries across the world has been a focus of international inquiry. Though Tanzania, like many other countries, has placed an increasing focus on improving the quality of SE experiences in its schools, little has been made to achieve this goal. This means the process of providing quality SE remains problematic and challenging. This study explores promising practices for improving the quality of SE in Tanzanian junior secondary schools (JSS) from the perspectives of 67 key SE stakeholders involving: educators, policy makers, parents, students, science alumni and selected education officers. In order to address the issue, the study used a mixed method approach involving interviews and questionnaires (with all respondents except students); document review, and focus group discussions (with students). A pragmatic perspective, with an emphasis on creating a more relevant, contextual, responsive and functional SE experiences in schools, was used as a lens. The study was conducted in two concurrent (embedded) phases within two regions in Tanzania beginning with in-depth interviews with policy makers and followed by intensive study of schools. All phases of data collection generated qualitative and quantitative data sets, which were then analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics respectively. The findings of this research identified that despite policy articulation, the understanding and delivery of quality SE in Tanzanian JSS has remained debatable, divisive and antagonistic controversy over its meaning, value, nature, features and measures. As such, a comprehensive framework is needed to harmonise the existing and diverse conceptions of what quality SE is among different stakeholders. The findings also revealed that there are several contextual challenges rooted in the processes of planning, delivery, assessment and monitoring of quality SE practices in schools. Respondents identified these challenges as limiting the efforts to provide quality SE. Employing comprehensive and multiple frameworks to address the issue of quality SE is likely to help in making school SE experiences become as relevant, context responsive and functional as possible. This thesis hybridises an American pragmatism and uses it in linking and integrating collective and different perspectives towards identifying promising practices for quality SE in Tanzanian JSS.
The midwife of truth: The nature of irony and a rationale for its prevalence in the Gospel of John
Authors:   , Bell Bruce W.
Published: November 2021

The Gospel of John is renowned for its pervasive use of irony. While this phenomenon is widely recognized by scholars, there have been only a few attempts to explain the “how” of Johannine irony and no meaningful attempt to explain its “why.” The last major treatment of the topic was by Paul Duke in his 1985 work, Irony in the Fourth Gospel, which provides an account of how Johannine irony works through an analysis of local and extended ironies. Other examinations, such as Gail O’Day’s Revelation in the Fourth Gospel in 1986, explore irony as a corollary of some other thematic concern. The reticence of scholars to delve deeper into the nature of Johannine irony is understandable given that as Duke puts it, irony laughs at all pretensions, especially the pretension of claiming to have grasped irony.  This study undertakes the demanding but necessary task of describing irony to a level that allows meaningful engagement with ironic texts, while accepting that it remains ultimately indefinable. Particular attention is paid to historical shifts of understanding of the nature of irony and the implications this has for appreciating irony at a conceptual level. From a survey of the Johannine scholarship, a comprehensive but non-exhaustive overview of the Fourth Gospel’s use of irony is derived. No previous work has attempted to approach the subject in this way. The main advantage of doing so is that it allows for the identification of broad patterns of irony and the way it functions in the narrative. This in turn provides a framework for proceeding to an examination of particular texts and the identification of a possible rationale.  The present study assesses several hypotheses to explain why the author of the Fourth Gospel makes such sustained use of irony. The preferred hypothesis is that it is intrinsically linked to a predominant Johannine theme of alētheia (truth). Drawing on the conceptual link between irony and truth, it argues that the truth theme is a deliberate literary strategy employed by the author to entice the reader to seek certain propositional truths within the narrative. This ultimately serves the author’s desire to evoke revelation and response in line with the Gospel’s purpose statement in 20:31.  The argument that irony serves the Johannine truth theme is tested with particular reference to the Prologue (1:1-18) and the Passion Narrative (chapters 18-19). The study establishes that irony serves as the link between appearance and reality in the narrative. Its subtle and engaging qualities make irony the most suitable vehicle to testify to the Gospel’s propositional statements in a manner that fulfils the author’s stated Christological (a revelation of Jesus’ true identity) and soteriological (a response that leads to salvation) purposes.
Imperfect Repair Strategies for Two-Dimensional Warranty
Authors:   , Varnosafaderani Sima Rouhollahi
Published: November 2021

When a repairable product under warranty fails, the manufacturer (warrantor) has the choice to either repair or replace the failed product. When repairing a failed product, the degree of repair which affects the working condition of the product can vary, and this is assumed to have an impact on the cost of the repair. The main motivation of this study is to develop a warranty repair strategy that minimizes the costs associated with servicing the warranty. In this research, the product coverage is represented by a two-dimensional rectangular region with a free-replacement warranty. We propose an imperfect repair strategy that suggests employing imperfect repairs of a predefined degree, in prespecified subregions of the warranty region. The aim is to then minimize the expected warranty servicing cost to the manufacturer by determining the optimal partitioning of the warranty region for the chosen degrees of repair. Two imperfect repair models are considered, and for both, the expressions for the distribution of the times to imperfect repair and the expected warranty servicing cost per product sold are derived. We numerically illustrate our findings and compare the expected costs of the proposed imperfect repair strategy with those of previously developed repair-replacement warranty strategies.