title: Exploring pre-service teachers' understanding of statistical variation: Implications for teaching and research

authors: Sharma, Sashi

subjects: statistics education

abstract: Concerns about the importance of variation in statistics education and a lack of research in this topic led to a preliminary study which explored pre-service teachers’ ideas in this area. The teachers completed a written questionnaire about variation in sampling and distribution contexts. Responses were categorised in relation to a framework that identified levels of statistical thinking. The results suggest that while many of the students appeared to acknowledge variation, they were not able to provide adequate explanations. Although the pre-service teachers have had more real-life experiences involving statistics and have been involved in the study of statistical concepts at secondary school level, they still demonstrated the same misconceptions as those of younger students reported in research literature. While more students showed competence on the sampling question, they were less competent on the distribution task. This could be due to task format or contextual issues. The paper concludes by suggesting some implications for further research and teaching.

text: Exploring pre-service teachers' understanding of statistical variation: Implications for teaching and research Concerns about the importance of variation in statistics education and a lack of research in this topic led to a preliminary study which explored pre-service teachers’ ideas in this area. The teachers completed a written questionnaire about variation in sampling and distribution contexts. Responses were categorised in relation to a framework that identified levels of statistical thinking. The results suggest that while many of the students appeared to acknowledge variation, they were not able to provide adequate explanations. Although the pre-service teachers have had more real-life experiences involving statistics and have been involved in the study of statistical concepts at secondary school level, they still demonstrated the same misconceptions as those of younger students reported in research literature. While more students showed competence on the sampling question, they were less competent on the distribution task. This could be due to task format or contextual issues. The paper concludes by suggesting some implications for further research and teaching.

year: 2007

title: Sub-surface stratigraphy of Stella Passage, Tauranga Harbour.

authors: Moon, Vicki G.

abstract: Port of Tauranga Ltd supported two initiatives designed to develop a greater understanding of the distribution of sediments below Stella Passage (Figure 1), particularly relating to areas that may require future dredging:
(1) As part of INTERCOAST PhD research by Ehsan Jorat, Port of Tauranga provided logistic support for a series of high-resolution Cone Penetration Test (CPT) soundings along a transect on the western margin of Stella Passage in February – March 2012;
(2) Port of Tauranga provided part-funding of a Summer Scholarship student (Amy Christophers) over the 2012/13 summer, particularly to look at pre-existing cores and core descriptions.
In addition, the University of Waikato undertook a series of sub-bottom seismic profile measurements in Stella Passage as part of a Summer Scholarship funded by the University over the 2012/13 summer.
This report summarises the current state of these investigations.

text: Sub-surface stratigraphy of Stella Passage, Tauranga Harbour. Port of Tauranga Ltd supported two initiatives designed to develop a greater understanding of the distribution of sediments below Stella Passage (Figure 1), particularly relating to areas that may require future dredging:
(1) As part of INTERCOAST PhD research by Ehsan Jorat, Port of Tauranga provided logistic support for a series of high-resolution Cone Penetration Test (CPT) soundings along a transect on the western margin of Stella Passage in February – March 2012;
(2) Port of Tauranga provided part-funding of a Summer Scholarship student (Amy Christophers) over the 2012/13 summer, particularly to look at pre-existing cores and core descriptions.
In addition, the University of Waikato undertook a series of sub-bottom seismic profile measurements in Stella Passage as part of a Summer Scholarship funded by the University over the 2012/13 summer.
This report summarises the current state of these investigations.

year: 2013

title: Collectivism, cultural identity and employee mental health: A study of New Zealand Māori

authors: Brougham, David M.

subjects: Anxiety

abstract: Māori are a collectivistic people living within a largely individualistic country. The present study tested whether Māori who practice higher levels of workplace collectivism feel greater alignment with their overall cultural beliefs, and report better mental health results because of their lower levels of anxiety and depression. Three hundred and thirty-six Māori employees were surveyed, and a regression analysis showed significant direct effects, with collectivism accounting for a sizable 20 % of the variance in both anxiety and depression. Two moderators relating to cultural knowledge and cultural language were also tested. Significant two-way interactions were found: high collectivism and high cultural knowledge led to low depression, and high cultural knowledge and high cultural language skills led to low depression and anxiety. A three-way interaction was found between anxiety, collectivism and cultural knowledge and/or language: low anxiety was reported by respondents with high collectivism and either high cultural knowledge or cultural language. Overall, the study highlights the importance of collectivism and cultural identity for Māori employees' mental health

text: Collectivism, cultural identity and employee mental health: A study of New Zealand Māori Māori are a collectivistic people living within a largely individualistic country. The present study tested whether Māori who practice higher levels of workplace collectivism feel greater alignment with their overall cultural beliefs, and report better mental health results because of their lower levels of anxiety and depression. Three hundred and thirty-six Māori employees were surveyed, and a regression analysis showed significant direct effects, with collectivism accounting for a sizable 20 % of the variance in both anxiety and depression. Two moderators relating to cultural knowledge and cultural language were also tested. Significant two-way interactions were found: high collectivism and high cultural knowledge led to low depression, and high cultural knowledge and high cultural language skills led to low depression and anxiety. A three-way interaction was found between anxiety, collectivism and cultural knowledge and/or language: low anxiety was reported by respondents with high collectivism and either high cultural knowledge or cultural language. Overall, the study highlights the importance of collectivism and cultural identity for Māori employees' mental health

year: 2012