title: Qualitative telephone interviews: Strategies for success

authors: Farooq, Muhammad Bilal

subjects: telephone interview

abstract: The use of the telephone in qualitative interviews is discouraged by traditionalists who view it as an inferior data collection instrument. However these claims have not been supported by empirical evidence and qualitative researchers who have used and compared the telephone to the face-to-face mode of interviewing present a different story. This study attempts to build on the limited existing research comparing the issues involved and the data collected using the telephone and face-to-face interview modes. The study evaluates the criticisms of traditionalists in the light of existing research. The study then presents the observations of the researcher based on a research project that involved 43 telephone, 1 Skype and 6 face-to-face interviews. These observations as well as the limited prior research are used to develop strategies for the effective use telephone interviews in qualitative research. The study concludes that for certain studies the telephone if used with the strategies recommended here provides qualitative researchers with a sound data collection instrument.

text: Qualitative telephone interviews: Strategies for success The use of the telephone in qualitative interviews is discouraged by traditionalists who view it as an inferior data collection instrument. However these claims have not been supported by empirical evidence and qualitative researchers who have used and compared the telephone to the face-to-face mode of interviewing present a different story. This study attempts to build on the limited existing research comparing the issues involved and the data collected using the telephone and face-to-face interview modes. The study evaluates the criticisms of traditionalists in the light of existing research. The study then presents the observations of the researcher based on a research project that involved 43 telephone, 1 Skype and 6 face-to-face interviews. These observations as well as the limited prior research are used to develop strategies for the effective use telephone interviews in qualitative research. The study concludes that for certain studies the telephone if used with the strategies recommended here provides qualitative researchers with a sound data collection instrument.

year: 2015

title: Sediment aluminium content of Lakes Rotorua and Rotoehu: 2020 monitoring survey

authors: Tempero, Grant Wayne

abstract: The application of aluminium sulphate (alum) to freshwater systems is commonly undertaken in order to restrict the availability of dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP), thereby reducing phytoplankton growth. Alum treatment of inflows to Lake Rotorua was initiated in 2006 and to Lake Rotoehu in 2011. As of December 2020, a total of 773 tonnes of aluminium had been dosed to Lake Rotorua and 124 tonnes to Lake Rotoehu. Improvements in water quality have been subsequently observed in Lake Rotorua with values of the Trophic Lake Index (TLI) decreasing from 4.8 to 4.2. In contrast, water quality has not significantly improved in Lake Rotoehu and alum dosing was halted from July 2018 to December 2020 while a review was conducted.
The University of Waikato was contracted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to conduct on-going monitoring of sediment aluminium concentrations in lakes Rotorua and Rotoehu as part of their resource consent conditions for alum dosing of inflows to these lakes. In addition to sediment total aluminium content, the proportion of amorphous (non-crystalline) aluminium was assessed. Amorphous aluminium is recognised as the fraction of total aluminium able to adsorb dissolved phosphorus, sequestering it from the water column. It was assumed that increased proportions of amorphous aluminium were primarily derived from alum dosing. 
Fifteen sediment cores were taken from Lake Rotorua in December 2020. Previous surveys had reported little aluminium accumulation in the main basin of Lake Rotorua, with aluminium accumulation primarily occurring near the outlet to the Utuhina Stream and the 45 m deep crater north of Motutara Point. Based on this information, coring locations were modified from previous surveys with seven near-shore and crater sites sampled and the number of main basin sites sampled reduced to eight. The background sediment aluminium content for the main basin of Lake Rotorua is approximately 5 g Al kg-1 dry weight. The current survey supports the findings of previous sediment surveys with the main depositional areas for alum derived aluminium being the surface (1–4 cm depth) sediments of Te Ruapeka Bay, which can reach 12 g Al kg⁻¹ and the crater north of Motutara Point at ~8 g Al kg⁻¹. There was no apparent accumulation of aluminium beyond background levels to the east of Sulphur Bay or in the main basin of Lake Rotorua.
In Lake Rotoehu, seven sites were surveyed in December 2020, extending from the mouth of the Waitangi Stream out into the main basin of the lake. Results were similar to those reported by Tempero and Hamilton (2016), with background sediment aluminium content approximately 5-6 g Al kg⁻¹. Alum derived aluminium was primarily accumulating in Te Wairoa
Bay close to the discharge point of the Waitangi Stream with levels exceeding 25 g Al kg⁻¹ However, the two-year cessation of alum dosing resulted in a small decline of ~5 g Al kg⁻¹ in the surface sediments. Despite a five-fold increase in total aluminium content in Te Wairoa Bay over background levels, amorphous aluminium content appears to have declined due to the 2-year halt in alum dosing and aging of alum floc to the mineral gibbsite. There was no evidence of aluminium accumulation in the main basin of Lake Rotoehu.

text: Sediment aluminium content of Lakes Rotorua and Rotoehu: 2020 monitoring survey The application of aluminium sulphate (alum) to freshwater systems is commonly undertaken in order to restrict the availability of dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP), thereby reducing phytoplankton growth. Alum treatment of inflows to Lake Rotorua was initiated in 2006 and to Lake Rotoehu in 2011. As of December 2020, a total of 773 tonnes of aluminium had been dosed to Lake Rotorua and 124 tonnes to Lake Rotoehu. Improvements in water quality have been subsequently observed in Lake Rotorua with values of the Trophic Lake Index (TLI) decreasing from 4.8 to 4.2. In contrast, water quality has not significantly improved in Lake Rotoehu and alum dosing was halted from July 2018 to December 2020 while a review was conducted.
The University of Waikato was contracted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to conduct on-going monitoring of sediment aluminium concentrations in lakes Rotorua and Rotoehu as part of their resource consent conditions for alum dosing of inflows to these lakes. In addition to sediment total aluminium content, the proportion of amorphous (non-crystalline) aluminium was assessed. Amorphous aluminium is recognised as the fraction of total aluminium able to adsorb dissolved phosphorus, sequestering it from the water column. It was assumed that increased proportions of amorphous aluminium were primarily derived from alum dosing. 
Fifteen sediment cores were taken from Lake Rotorua in December 2020. Previous surveys had reported little aluminium accumulation in the main basin of Lake Rotorua, with aluminium accumulation primarily occurring near the outlet to the Utuhina Stream and the 45 m deep crater north of Motutara Point. Based on this information, coring locations were modified from previous surveys with seven near-shore and crater sites sampled and the number of main basin sites sampled reduced to eight. The background sediment aluminium content for the main basin of Lake Rotorua is approximately 5 g Al kg-1 dry weight. The current survey supports the findings of previous sediment surveys with the main depositional areas for alum derived aluminium being the surface (1–4 cm depth) sediments of Te Ruapeka Bay, which can reach 12 g Al kg⁻¹ and the crater north of Motutara Point at ~8 g Al kg⁻¹. There was no apparent accumulation of aluminium beyond background levels to the east of Sulphur Bay or in the main basin of Lake Rotorua.
In Lake Rotoehu, seven sites were surveyed in December 2020, extending from the mouth of the Waitangi Stream out into the main basin of the lake. Results were similar to those reported by Tempero and Hamilton (2016), with background sediment aluminium content approximately 5-6 g Al kg⁻¹. Alum derived aluminium was primarily accumulating in Te Wairoa
Bay close to the discharge point of the Waitangi Stream with levels exceeding 25 g Al kg⁻¹ However, the two-year cessation of alum dosing resulted in a small decline of ~5 g Al kg⁻¹ in the surface sediments. Despite a five-fold increase in total aluminium content in Te Wairoa Bay over background levels, amorphous aluminium content appears to have declined due to the 2-year halt in alum dosing and aging of alum floc to the mineral gibbsite. There was no evidence of aluminium accumulation in the main basin of Lake Rotoehu.

year: 2021

title: Waikirikiri Marae: Shared experiences of the wharemate

authors: Rua, Hare

subjects: Māori

abstract: In Te Urewera, wharemate (shelters in which the deceased receive their final farewells) have traditionally been temporary structures. In the 1980s, a new practice was introduced in the Ruātoki valley with the erection of permanent wharemate facilities. One was erected at Waikirikiri marae (tribal meeting grounds and associated buildings) in 1989. Knowledge and discussion regarding wharemate at Waikirikiri marae have changed over the years, and a whole generation has not been fortunate enough to experience tikanga (correct procedures, customary practices) that prevailed prior to the introduction of the permanent wharemate building that is there today. These changes are recorded in this paper through the shared stories of three kaumātua (elders) from Waikirikiri.

This paper is a summary of Hare Rua’s thesis study, the data for which was collected in 2009. This work forms part of the Tangi Research Programme, a collaboration between the School of Māori and Pacific Development and the Māori and Psychology Research Unit at The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

text: Waikirikiri Marae: Shared experiences of the wharemate In Te Urewera, wharemate (shelters in which the deceased receive their final farewells) have traditionally been temporary structures. In the 1980s, a new practice was introduced in the Ruātoki valley with the erection of permanent wharemate facilities. One was erected at Waikirikiri marae (tribal meeting grounds and associated buildings) in 1989. Knowledge and discussion regarding wharemate at Waikirikiri marae have changed over the years, and a whole generation has not been fortunate enough to experience tikanga (correct procedures, customary practices) that prevailed prior to the introduction of the permanent wharemate building that is there today. These changes are recorded in this paper through the shared stories of three kaumātua (elders) from Waikirikiri.

This paper is a summary of Hare Rua’s thesis study, the data for which was collected in 2009. This work forms part of the Tangi Research Programme, a collaboration between the School of Māori and Pacific Development and the Māori and Psychology Research Unit at The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

year: 2010