title: The general cognitive ability of Maori and European subjects: a comparative study of Queensland test performances and psychometric properties

authors: St George, Ross

abstract: Research was undertaken into the performances of New Zealand Maori and European children on the Queensland Test of Cognitive Abilities. In addition to studying the comparative performances of the two ethnic groups at six age levels, major psychometric properties of the instrument were investigated. Such data have an important bearing upon the issue of psychological equivalence across ethnic or culture group samples.
Seven hundred children (303 Maori and 397 European) aged between eight and a half and fourteen and a half years were tested with the Queensland Test. A small statistically significant ethnic group difference was found favouring the European children. Subsequent analyses indicated that the small difference was of little practical significance. Queensland Test subtest data were also analysed, This indicated that subtest performances were likely to be influenced by subject variables in a manner not necessarily evident in the overall test results. Gender differences in performance on the Pattern Matching Subtest were found and are consistent with other data. 
Queensland Test reliability, validity and item characteristics were researched for the two ethnic groups. 
To obtain test-retest reliability estimates and data on criterion related validity longitudinal studies were undertaken with four ethnically mixed class groups Standard 3 to Form 2). 
The Queensland Test was found to be equally reliable with both ethnic groups although the levels of reliability obtained were not considered entirely satisfactory. 
Validity data indicated that the same general intelligence construct could be employed in the interpretation of Queensland Test results with both European and Maori subjects. Content validity issues were considered and it was argued that in terms of both test content and measurement procedures the Queensland Test should provide an equally valid measure of general intelligence with both groups. 
The criterion related validity coefficients were of approximately the same order for each ethnic group although doubts were expressed about the adequacy of the criteria. Construct validity was investigated by considering the relationship of test performance to age and through factor analytic evidence. The analyses supported the view that the Queensland Test was primarily a measure of the same underlying construct within each ethnic group. In terms of prevailing psychological theories on human intelligence this construct was interpreted as being of a general intelligence nature.
Comparative data on item characteristics did not indicate any marked ethnic group differences. More apparent was the need to restructure particular subtests where items failed to discriminate adequately within both ethnic groups. It was concluded that the weight of evidence was in favour of the psychological equivalence of this ability measure with Maori and European children. 
Data for combined ethnic group samples have been reported, Pooled data were employed in some factor analyses and these supported a general intelligence interpretation of Queensland Test results. Preliminary norms were also derived from combined ethnic group data. 
Findings are discussed in relation to the concept of intelligence and its cross-cultural measurement, other Queensland Test research and recent cross-cultural studies on cognitive abilities in New Zealand.

text: The general cognitive ability of Maori and European subjects: a comparative study of Queensland test performances and psychometric properties Research was undertaken into the performances of New Zealand Maori and European children on the Queensland Test of Cognitive Abilities. In addition to studying the comparative performances of the two ethnic groups at six age levels, major psychometric properties of the instrument were investigated. Such data have an important bearing upon the issue of psychological equivalence across ethnic or culture group samples.
Seven hundred children (303 Maori and 397 European) aged between eight and a half and fourteen and a half years were tested with the Queensland Test. A small statistically significant ethnic group difference was found favouring the European children. Subsequent analyses indicated that the small difference was of little practical significance. Queensland Test subtest data were also analysed, This indicated that subtest performances were likely to be influenced by subject variables in a manner not necessarily evident in the overall test results. Gender differences in performance on the Pattern Matching Subtest were found and are consistent with other data. 
Queensland Test reliability, validity and item characteristics were researched for the two ethnic groups. 
To obtain test-retest reliability estimates and data on criterion related validity longitudinal studies were undertaken with four ethnically mixed class groups Standard 3 to Form 2). 
The Queensland Test was found to be equally reliable with both ethnic groups although the levels of reliability obtained were not considered entirely satisfactory. 
Validity data indicated that the same general intelligence construct could be employed in the interpretation of Queensland Test results with both European and Maori subjects. Content validity issues were considered and it was argued that in terms of both test content and measurement procedures the Queensland Test should provide an equally valid measure of general intelligence with both groups. 
The criterion related validity coefficients were of approximately the same order for each ethnic group although doubts were expressed about the adequacy of the criteria. Construct validity was investigated by considering the relationship of test performance to age and through factor analytic evidence. The analyses supported the view that the Queensland Test was primarily a measure of the same underlying construct within each ethnic group. In terms of prevailing psychological theories on human intelligence this construct was interpreted as being of a general intelligence nature.
Comparative data on item characteristics did not indicate any marked ethnic group differences. More apparent was the need to restructure particular subtests where items failed to discriminate adequately within both ethnic groups. It was concluded that the weight of evidence was in favour of the psychological equivalence of this ability measure with Maori and European children. 
Data for combined ethnic group samples have been reported, Pooled data were employed in some factor analyses and these supported a general intelligence interpretation of Queensland Test results. Preliminary norms were also derived from combined ethnic group data. 
Findings are discussed in relation to the concept of intelligence and its cross-cultural measurement, other Queensland Test research and recent cross-cultural studies on cognitive abilities in New Zealand.

year: 1977

title: Indigenous languages shaping multi-lingual interfaces

authors: Keegan, Te Taka Adrian Gregory

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper reports on an investigation into the indigenous language usage of two bilingual/multilingual digital libraries. Results show that the indigenous language was significantly used by clients and indicate why clients chose to use the indigenous language. Feedback from clients has suggested how the interface should be improved to assist both indigenous and non-indigenous language usage. These results serve as an example of how indigenous languages are shaping multilingual interfaces.

text: Indigenous languages shaping multi-lingual interfaces This paper reports on an investigation into the indigenous language usage of two bilingual/multilingual digital libraries. Results show that the indigenous language was significantly used by clients and indicate why clients chose to use the indigenous language. Feedback from clients has suggested how the interface should be improved to assist both indigenous and non-indigenous language usage. These results serve as an example of how indigenous languages are shaping multilingual interfaces.

year: 2008

title: Testing for bubbles in time series data using long historical series

authors: Hu, Yang

subjects: thesis with publication

abstract: The concept of asset price bubble has drawn a large amount of academic attention. A bubble is commonly defined as where the asset price is not justified by expectations of the fundamentals. The empirical characteristics of a bubble are widely regarded as a dramatic rise in asset prices in the early periods along with a sudden collapse, which have been observed in a wide range of financial markets including commodity, real estate and stock.
This thesis attempts to examine several well-noticed bubble episodes in history, for example, the Mississippi Bubble in 1719, the South Sea Bubble in 1719-20, Japan’s asset price bubble during the 1980s and the more recent US real estate bubble in the early 2000s. One of the greatest contribution of this thesis is that it has provided econometric-based evidence to support the existence of these famous episodes for the first time using recently developed econometric tests. The origination and collapse dates for these identified episodes are coincided with the traditional view of famous bubbles.
This thesis not only tests for the existence of bubbles but also seeks to provide some empirical evidence to support the existence of bubble spillovers/contagion using the most-documented bubble episodes. The first example considered in this thesis is whether financial bubbles/crises spill-over to housing markets in Amsterdam, Norway and France. The second example is considered for a number of British financial organisations during the South Sea episode in 1719-20 (e.g., the South Sea Company, the Bank of England, East India Company, London Assurance, Million Bank, the Royal African Company and the Royal Exchange Assurance). The South Sea Bubble seems to migrate to other organisations as the British share market was speculative for that period. The timings of some identified episodes can be viewed as possible evidence of spillovers or contagion for this important period in England. The third example looks at the Japan’s real estate and stock markets during the 1980-90s. Based on econometric tools, the findings indicate signs of bubble migration from Japan’s stock market to its real estate market for the first time. Even if this phenomenon has been observed in the literature, none of existing studies provide any solid evidences to support this claim.
This thesis investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship between house prices and economic fundamentals in the US based on quantile cointegration approaches for the first time. The presence of cointegration between house prices and fundamentals would imply convergence to a stable equilibrium relationship, suggesting a temporary run-up or drop in house prices would eventually come back to the equilibrium. By making use of quantile autoregressive distributed lag model (QARDL), this research explores the cointegration relationship across the whole
conditional distribution.

text: Testing for bubbles in time series data using long historical series The concept of asset price bubble has drawn a large amount of academic attention. A bubble is commonly defined as where the asset price is not justified by expectations of the fundamentals. The empirical characteristics of a bubble are widely regarded as a dramatic rise in asset prices in the early periods along with a sudden collapse, which have been observed in a wide range of financial markets including commodity, real estate and stock.
This thesis attempts to examine several well-noticed bubble episodes in history, for example, the Mississippi Bubble in 1719, the South Sea Bubble in 1719-20, Japan’s asset price bubble during the 1980s and the more recent US real estate bubble in the early 2000s. One of the greatest contribution of this thesis is that it has provided econometric-based evidence to support the existence of these famous episodes for the first time using recently developed econometric tests. The origination and collapse dates for these identified episodes are coincided with the traditional view of famous bubbles.
This thesis not only tests for the existence of bubbles but also seeks to provide some empirical evidence to support the existence of bubble spillovers/contagion using the most-documented bubble episodes. The first example considered in this thesis is whether financial bubbles/crises spill-over to housing markets in Amsterdam, Norway and France. The second example is considered for a number of British financial organisations during the South Sea episode in 1719-20 (e.g., the South Sea Company, the Bank of England, East India Company, London Assurance, Million Bank, the Royal African Company and the Royal Exchange Assurance). The South Sea Bubble seems to migrate to other organisations as the British share market was speculative for that period. The timings of some identified episodes can be viewed as possible evidence of spillovers or contagion for this important period in England. The third example looks at the Japan’s real estate and stock markets during the 1980-90s. Based on econometric tools, the findings indicate signs of bubble migration from Japan’s stock market to its real estate market for the first time. Even if this phenomenon has been observed in the literature, none of existing studies provide any solid evidences to support this claim.
This thesis investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship between house prices and economic fundamentals in the US based on quantile cointegration approaches for the first time. The presence of cointegration between house prices and fundamentals would imply convergence to a stable equilibrium relationship, suggesting a temporary run-up or drop in house prices would eventually come back to the equilibrium. By making use of quantile autoregressive distributed lag model (QARDL), this research explores the cointegration relationship across the whole
conditional distribution.

year: 2019