title: Executive dysfunction and cognitive impairment in a large community-based sample with Multiple Sclerosis from New Zealand: A descriptive study

authors: Drew, Margaret A.

subjects: multiple sclerosis

abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the central nervous system, and in New Zealand an estimated 4000 people are currently affected. This study was conducted to examine executive functioning, memory and general ability in a community-based sample of 95 participants with MS. The sample included those with relapsing–remitting, secondary progressive, chronic progressive and benign MS with an average duration of illness of 11.8 years. Only 9% of the participants showed no indication of cognitive impairment with most exhibiting mild executive dysfunction across the range of shifting, inhibition, fluency and working memory categories. As this became more widespread, all other measures of cognitive ability and memory also showed evidence of deterioration, but in some, this may have been due to slowed information processing. Overall, there was a high degree of variability in the levels of performance and there was no ‘typical’ pattern of deficits associated with MS. Thus, a proportion of those living with MS may have to cope with noticeable and unpredictable cognitive decline in addition to their physical disabilities.

text: Executive dysfunction and cognitive impairment in a large community-based sample with Multiple Sclerosis from New Zealand: A descriptive study Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the central nervous system, and in New Zealand an estimated 4000 people are currently affected. This study was conducted to examine executive functioning, memory and general ability in a community-based sample of 95 participants with MS. The sample included those with relapsing–remitting, secondary progressive, chronic progressive and benign MS with an average duration of illness of 11.8 years. Only 9% of the participants showed no indication of cognitive impairment with most exhibiting mild executive dysfunction across the range of shifting, inhibition, fluency and working memory categories. As this became more widespread, all other measures of cognitive ability and memory also showed evidence of deterioration, but in some, this may have been due to slowed information processing. Overall, there was a high degree of variability in the levels of performance and there was no ‘typical’ pattern of deficits associated with MS. Thus, a proportion of those living with MS may have to cope with noticeable and unpredictable cognitive decline in addition to their physical disabilities.

year: 2008

title: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model

authors: Lockyer, Tim

abstract: This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

text: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

year: 2001

title: Reclaiming Kaitiakitanga : An intergenerational perspective of Kaitiakitanga within Te Parawhau

authors: Walker, Erana

subjects: Kaitiakitanga

abstract: Kaitiakitanga is a concept that is utilised widely throughout the Māori world for the protection and preservation of cultural aspects to Māori. Through years of application by westernised mainstream processes the value has largely been restricted to the realms of environmental protection. This restriction has often been the result of misinterpretation of Kaitiakitanga and its relevance as a concept to Māori. The purpose of the thesis is to question how the perspective of Kaitiakitanga is constructed in the minds of representatives from the hapū of Te Parawhau. To test for variance, the research spans across two generations of hapū members. Using Whakawhiti Kōrero for data collection as well as Kaupapa Māori methodology as guidance, the thesis explores perspectives of two generations of Te Parawhau descendants around Kaitiakitanga and how it can be developed to aid in the growth and prosperity of the hapū. Key themes highlighted by the analysis encompass ideas of connectedness as well as spiritual, physical, environmental and human elements of responsibility and obligation. The thesis introduces a distinct Te Parawhau analytical framework for its analysis of rich kōrero by hapū members in relation to Kaitiakitanga. Through this framework the value of Kaitiakitanga is tested for relevance to Te Parawhau and its future development. The world view of Te Parawhau has formed the basis of participant perspectives around Kaitiakitanga and leads the researcher to consider that such knowledge is important to the future functionality of Māori value’s. The thesis concludes to show that there are indeed differences in application and perspectives of Kaitiakitanga within the hapū of Te Parawhau.

text: Reclaiming Kaitiakitanga : An intergenerational perspective of Kaitiakitanga within Te Parawhau Kaitiakitanga is a concept that is utilised widely throughout the Māori world for the protection and preservation of cultural aspects to Māori. Through years of application by westernised mainstream processes the value has largely been restricted to the realms of environmental protection. This restriction has often been the result of misinterpretation of Kaitiakitanga and its relevance as a concept to Māori. The purpose of the thesis is to question how the perspective of Kaitiakitanga is constructed in the minds of representatives from the hapū of Te Parawhau. To test for variance, the research spans across two generations of hapū members. Using Whakawhiti Kōrero for data collection as well as Kaupapa Māori methodology as guidance, the thesis explores perspectives of two generations of Te Parawhau descendants around Kaitiakitanga and how it can be developed to aid in the growth and prosperity of the hapū. Key themes highlighted by the analysis encompass ideas of connectedness as well as spiritual, physical, environmental and human elements of responsibility and obligation. The thesis introduces a distinct Te Parawhau analytical framework for its analysis of rich kōrero by hapū members in relation to Kaitiakitanga. Through this framework the value of Kaitiakitanga is tested for relevance to Te Parawhau and its future development. The world view of Te Parawhau has formed the basis of participant perspectives around Kaitiakitanga and leads the researcher to consider that such knowledge is important to the future functionality of Māori value’s. The thesis concludes to show that there are indeed differences in application and perspectives of Kaitiakitanga within the hapū of Te Parawhau.

year: 2016