title: Developing a research culture in a polytechnic: An action research case study

authors: Bruce Ferguson, Pip

abstract: This study is about the process of research culture development within a New Zealand polytechnic in the period 1992 - 1999. Prior to 1990, polytechnics tended to focus on vocational and technical, rather than academically-oriented, education. But with the passing of the 1990 Education Amendment Act they were offered the possibility of granting degrees. This required the rapid acquisition of research skills, which had previously not been strongly evident in staff, who tended to pride themselves on quality teaching.  
Working as a staff developer within the institution, I chose to use the action research approach as a compatible way for staff who had previously not carried out research, to learn the skills that the new environment demanded. The central question of my study is, “How effective is action research as a way of helping to develop a tertiary research culture?” While action research has previously been used extensively to improve teaching practice in educational institutions, it has not been used specifically to facilitate the development of research skills as a way of helping to develop a research culture. The study describes how I was able to introduce this method by teaching a certificated course, working within the quality assurance processes of the polytechnic, and constrained by its requirements to scrutinise the work of action researchers. I used interviews with the 1993 – 1995 graduates to contribute to this study.  
Michel Foucault’s tools, including his concepts of the panoptic gaze and of the linking of power and knowledge, have assisted me with my analysis of how the institution functions and shown me how I can operate as a ‘specific intellectual’ in an appropriate way. I have used interviews with a range of staff, and scrutiny of historical archives, to determine the appropriateness of my project. To carry out research in an institution where this has not been the norm is a challenging task. Basil Bernstein’s schema, showing how curricula, assessment methods and teaching practices combine to build up and shape departmental identities, was helpful to me in recognising the marginalisation that new researchers in an institution such as ours can face.  The study has, overall, shown that action research – based on the reflective practice that is common in New Zealand polytechnic teaching – is a sound and familiar way of developing the research skills that many polytechnic educators now need to acquire.

text: Developing a research culture in a polytechnic: An action research case study This study is about the process of research culture development within a New Zealand polytechnic in the period 1992 - 1999. Prior to 1990, polytechnics tended to focus on vocational and technical, rather than academically-oriented, education. But with the passing of the 1990 Education Amendment Act they were offered the possibility of granting degrees. This required the rapid acquisition of research skills, which had previously not been strongly evident in staff, who tended to pride themselves on quality teaching.  
Working as a staff developer within the institution, I chose to use the action research approach as a compatible way for staff who had previously not carried out research, to learn the skills that the new environment demanded. The central question of my study is, “How effective is action research as a way of helping to develop a tertiary research culture?” While action research has previously been used extensively to improve teaching practice in educational institutions, it has not been used specifically to facilitate the development of research skills as a way of helping to develop a research culture. The study describes how I was able to introduce this method by teaching a certificated course, working within the quality assurance processes of the polytechnic, and constrained by its requirements to scrutinise the work of action researchers. I used interviews with the 1993 – 1995 graduates to contribute to this study.  
Michel Foucault’s tools, including his concepts of the panoptic gaze and of the linking of power and knowledge, have assisted me with my analysis of how the institution functions and shown me how I can operate as a ‘specific intellectual’ in an appropriate way. I have used interviews with a range of staff, and scrutiny of historical archives, to determine the appropriateness of my project. To carry out research in an institution where this has not been the norm is a challenging task. Basil Bernstein’s schema, showing how curricula, assessment methods and teaching practices combine to build up and shape departmental identities, was helpful to me in recognising the marginalisation that new researchers in an institution such as ours can face.  The study has, overall, shown that action research – based on the reflective practice that is common in New Zealand polytechnic teaching – is a sound and familiar way of developing the research skills that many polytechnic educators now need to acquire.

year: 1999

title: Sports Fans' Evaluations of Sporting Code Innovations

authors: Musgrave, Christopher Rex

subjects: Professional Sport

abstract: Today's professional sports are frequently evolving and changing their design, structure and format. Many such innovations have been spurred on by the opportunity to capitalise financially on new markets and increase profit. This study used both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (depth interviews) methods in order to examine fans' attitudes towards the current state of Rugby Union, Rugby League, Netball, Soccer and Cricket. The findings for Rugby Union concluded that the recent experimental law variations have succeeded in what they were introduced to do. Fans believe that Rugby is more exciting to watch than ever before and that it is now a faster and more attack-focused contest. Fans believe that Rugby League has improved following the introduction of the video referee and in particular by the use of two on-field referees. They believe that it is now a more exciting and faster game. Fans also believe that salary caps are good for Rugby League and help to increase competition and spread the wealth of talent among the teams. Netball fans are excited by possible new innovations and show support for the inclusion of power plays, two point goals, rolling substitutions and increased physical contact. Fans believe that Soccer needs to adopt technology in order to help its officials but they also admire the traditionalism of the code. Surprisingly, fans show support for increasing the sizes of Soccer‟s goals in order to make it easier for teams to score. Fans show support for Twenty20 cricket and seem undeterred by recent match fixing scandals. There is also evident support for the introduction of Beach Cricket to New Zealand. Analysing fans' attitudes towards professional sport's product innovations has led to a final implication and conclusion for the administrators and governing bodies of professional sport. That is, it would be wise to keep the traditional codes and their formats as traditional as possible. However, evolve the same sport in to a completely separate format in order to financially capitalise on different markets. Twenty20 cricket is a perfect example of this.

text: Sports Fans' Evaluations of Sporting Code Innovations Today's professional sports are frequently evolving and changing their design, structure and format. Many such innovations have been spurred on by the opportunity to capitalise financially on new markets and increase profit. This study used both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (depth interviews) methods in order to examine fans' attitudes towards the current state of Rugby Union, Rugby League, Netball, Soccer and Cricket. The findings for Rugby Union concluded that the recent experimental law variations have succeeded in what they were introduced to do. Fans believe that Rugby is more exciting to watch than ever before and that it is now a faster and more attack-focused contest. Fans believe that Rugby League has improved following the introduction of the video referee and in particular by the use of two on-field referees. They believe that it is now a more exciting and faster game. Fans also believe that salary caps are good for Rugby League and help to increase competition and spread the wealth of talent among the teams. Netball fans are excited by possible new innovations and show support for the inclusion of power plays, two point goals, rolling substitutions and increased physical contact. Fans believe that Soccer needs to adopt technology in order to help its officials but they also admire the traditionalism of the code. Surprisingly, fans show support for increasing the sizes of Soccer‟s goals in order to make it easier for teams to score. Fans show support for Twenty20 cricket and seem undeterred by recent match fixing scandals. There is also evident support for the introduction of Beach Cricket to New Zealand. Analysing fans' attitudes towards professional sport's product innovations has led to a final implication and conclusion for the administrators and governing bodies of professional sport. That is, it would be wise to keep the traditional codes and their formats as traditional as possible. However, evolve the same sport in to a completely separate format in order to financially capitalise on different markets. Twenty20 cricket is a perfect example of this.

year: 2011

title: Turangawaewae/ Tu'ungava'e: Echoes of a place to stand and belong

authors: Brown Pulu, Teena J.

subjects: Maori

abstract: This paper examines the ways in which Pacific communities in Auckland are located and conceptualised by others in contrast to the ways in which they locate and conceptualise themselves. In particular, it looks at the ways in which, in the face of homeland fracture and socio-economic marginality, neighbourhoods are being reclaimed as places of belonging-ness, places in which informal alliances among Māori and Pacific groups are being forged. It also explores the problematic, often ambiguous, nature of these alliances.

text: Turangawaewae/ Tu'ungava'e: Echoes of a place to stand and belong This paper examines the ways in which Pacific communities in Auckland are located and conceptualised by others in contrast to the ways in which they locate and conceptualise themselves. In particular, it looks at the ways in which, in the face of homeland fracture and socio-economic marginality, neighbourhoods are being reclaimed as places of belonging-ness, places in which informal alliances among Māori and Pacific groups are being forged. It also explores the problematic, often ambiguous, nature of these alliances.

year: 2002-09