title: New Zealand trends in animal behaviour research

authors: Guadarrama-Maillot, Veronica

subjects: animal behaviour literature

abstract: To identify trends in research on pure ethology (fundamental issues in animal behaviour) in New Zealand, we combined manual and database searches of the five ethological journals with the greatest impact factors (Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Ethology and Behaviour) published from 1937 to (and including) 2007. We counted all articles giving a New Zealand address for the first-listed and/or reprint author. Our analyses showed (1) a total of 131 articles in the five journals, with Animal Behaviour, the journal of preference, containing nearly half of the articles collected; (2) a sharp and steady increase in articles published per year; (3) all four of Tinbergen’s questions received attention, with mechanistic and functional studies being more common than studies of development and evolutionary history; (4) a recent resurgence of mechanistic research, representing 67% of all studies in the period from 2003–07; (5) a balance in research focusing on the proximate and ultimate causes of behaviour, shifting towards proximate research in the early 1990s; (6) many New Zealand institutions published papers in the five journals, although universities were the main contributors; (7) only a small subset of the research (28.8%) was done with overseas collaboration; (8) a total of 139 authors were involved in the research reviewed (when all authors for each paper were considered without taking address into account); (9) a maturation of the sampled research by the early 1990s (i.e., when "descriptive" and "explanatory" papers were supplemented with "synthesis" papers); and (10) a large number of investigations (55%) used birds as the study subject. Ethology in New Zealand, as represented in the five leading animal behaviour journals, was found to be a diverse, dynamic and growing field.

text: New Zealand trends in animal behaviour research To identify trends in research on pure ethology (fundamental issues in animal behaviour) in New Zealand, we combined manual and database searches of the five ethological journals with the greatest impact factors (Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Ethology and Behaviour) published from 1937 to (and including) 2007. We counted all articles giving a New Zealand address for the first-listed and/or reprint author. Our analyses showed (1) a total of 131 articles in the five journals, with Animal Behaviour, the journal of preference, containing nearly half of the articles collected; (2) a sharp and steady increase in articles published per year; (3) all four of Tinbergen’s questions received attention, with mechanistic and functional studies being more common than studies of development and evolutionary history; (4) a recent resurgence of mechanistic research, representing 67% of all studies in the period from 2003–07; (5) a balance in research focusing on the proximate and ultimate causes of behaviour, shifting towards proximate research in the early 1990s; (6) many New Zealand institutions published papers in the five journals, although universities were the main contributors; (7) only a small subset of the research (28.8%) was done with overseas collaboration; (8) a total of 139 authors were involved in the research reviewed (when all authors for each paper were considered without taking address into account); (9) a maturation of the sampled research by the early 1990s (i.e., when "descriptive" and "explanatory" papers were supplemented with "synthesis" papers); and (10) a large number of investigations (55%) used birds as the study subject. Ethology in New Zealand, as represented in the five leading animal behaviour journals, was found to be a diverse, dynamic and growing field.

year: 2008

title: Ein wahleignungstest für minderjährige?

authors: Munn, Nicholas

subjects: Political Science

abstract: In der modernen demokratischen Praxis gelten Alphabetisierungstests und andere Mechanismen, um Bürgerinnen und Bürger vom aktiven Wahlrecht auszuschließen, weithin und zurecht als verpönt. Dennoch scheinen zumindest einige Testformen ein probates Mittel darzustellen, um die Urteilsfähigkeit von Menschen mit bestimmten Defiziten zu erfassen. Der Beitrag diskutiert einen Vorschlag für ein Eignungstestregime, welches nur auf gegenwärtig von politischer Beteiligung ausgeschlossene junge Menschen angewendet wird, und setzt sich mit einer Reihe von Einwänden gegen einen solchen Vorschlag auseinander. Zuletzt macht er geltend, dass ein Eignungstestregime sowohl für die solcherart einbezogenen Individuen als auch für die demokratischen Staaten, die es implementieren würden, von Vorteil wäre.

text: Ein wahleignungstest für minderjährige? In der modernen demokratischen Praxis gelten Alphabetisierungstests und andere Mechanismen, um Bürgerinnen und Bürger vom aktiven Wahlrecht auszuschließen, weithin und zurecht als verpönt. Dennoch scheinen zumindest einige Testformen ein probates Mittel darzustellen, um die Urteilsfähigkeit von Menschen mit bestimmten Defiziten zu erfassen. Der Beitrag diskutiert einen Vorschlag für ein Eignungstestregime, welches nur auf gegenwärtig von politischer Beteiligung ausgeschlossene junge Menschen angewendet wird, und setzt sich mit einer Reihe von Einwänden gegen einen solchen Vorschlag auseinander. Zuletzt macht er geltend, dass ein Eignungstestregime sowohl für die solcherart einbezogenen Individuen als auch für die demokratischen Staaten, die es implementieren würden, von Vorteil wäre.

year: 2015

title: Different coloured tears: Dual cultural identity and Tangihanga – A directed study

authors: Edge, Kiri

subjects: bereavement

abstract: Although whānau/family that are configured by both Pākehā and Māori identities number significantly within New Zealand, there has been little or no attention paid to the ways in which these identities influence the bereavement processes that will inevitably impact upon the lives of these whānau/family. The present study explored the experiences of an individual, whose whānau/family included two life ways; Māori and Pākehā. Of specific focus was the ways in which these identities influenced his bereavement subsequent to the death of his beloved wife, who was of Māori descent. One elderly male Pākehā participant was interviewed, using an open-ended narrative approach. The interview was semi structured around five broad themes, but the focus was upon the participant’s experiences and his preference in expressing these. The data analysis utilised a thematic process, which allowed the participant’s experiences to determine the emergent themes. The results depicted the diversity of issues that may be raised for dual cultural whānau/family within bereavement processes. Two central themes are discussed in relation to intercultural conflict and the eventual resolution that was created. Decision making processes, cultural and language differences played significant roles within the conflict and exclusion experienced by the participant. Communication and compromise provided resolution to the prior conflicts experienced. This created positive and unexpected outcomes which resulted in increased understandings and the strengthening of links between the participant, his whānau/family and his wife’s marae.

text: Different coloured tears: Dual cultural identity and Tangihanga – A directed study Although whānau/family that are configured by both Pākehā and Māori identities number significantly within New Zealand, there has been little or no attention paid to the ways in which these identities influence the bereavement processes that will inevitably impact upon the lives of these whānau/family. The present study explored the experiences of an individual, whose whānau/family included two life ways; Māori and Pākehā. Of specific focus was the ways in which these identities influenced his bereavement subsequent to the death of his beloved wife, who was of Māori descent. One elderly male Pākehā participant was interviewed, using an open-ended narrative approach. The interview was semi structured around five broad themes, but the focus was upon the participant’s experiences and his preference in expressing these. The data analysis utilised a thematic process, which allowed the participant’s experiences to determine the emergent themes. The results depicted the diversity of issues that may be raised for dual cultural whānau/family within bereavement processes. Two central themes are discussed in relation to intercultural conflict and the eventual resolution that was created. Decision making processes, cultural and language differences played significant roles within the conflict and exclusion experienced by the participant. Communication and compromise provided resolution to the prior conflicts experienced. This created positive and unexpected outcomes which resulted in increased understandings and the strengthening of links between the participant, his whānau/family and his wife’s marae.

year: 2010-01