title: An evaluation of oVRcome, a low-cost vrtual reality exposure therapy app

authors: Wallace, Rory

subjects: app

abstract: Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) is an understudied disorder that affects 0.2% of people, with extreme (non-phobic) fear affecting up to 8% of people. The most effective treatment for specific phobias is exposure therapy. One exposure therapy approach, virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), has become a viable treatment alternative to traditional in vivo or imaginal exposure therapy in recent years. However, using VRET to treat emetophobia has not yet been explored. I used a within-subjects, multiple-baseline-across-participants design with six participants to evaluate the emetophobia programme of oVRcome, a low-cost, Aotearoa New Zealand-based VRET app. After using the oVRcome VRET app, all participants’ phobia severity reduced on one or both measures, with two participants scoring below the threshold for a likely phobia diagnosis. The emetophobia programme of the oVRcome VRET app was effective at reducing emetophobia severity, and my results support research showing eHealth apps can be a low-cost and effective treatment for a range of psychological issues.

text: An evaluation of oVRcome, a low-cost vrtual reality exposure therapy app Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) is an understudied disorder that affects 0.2% of people, with extreme (non-phobic) fear affecting up to 8% of people. The most effective treatment for specific phobias is exposure therapy. One exposure therapy approach, virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), has become a viable treatment alternative to traditional in vivo or imaginal exposure therapy in recent years. However, using VRET to treat emetophobia has not yet been explored. I used a within-subjects, multiple-baseline-across-participants design with six participants to evaluate the emetophobia programme of oVRcome, a low-cost, Aotearoa New Zealand-based VRET app. After using the oVRcome VRET app, all participants’ phobia severity reduced on one or both measures, with two participants scoring below the threshold for a likely phobia diagnosis. The emetophobia programme of the oVRcome VRET app was effective at reducing emetophobia severity, and my results support research showing eHealth apps can be a low-cost and effective treatment for a range of psychological issues.

year: 2024

title: Religion in the Te Aroha district

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: The Christians of the district were split into a variety of denominations, though only a few had strong followings. Opinions varied about the religious zeal of miners, and although the first services to be held after the initial rush to the new goldfield were well attended, this may at least in part have been out of curiosity. 
The Protestant denominations were notable for ecumenical activities, notably in the temperance movement, running societies for the young, and evangelical crusades. They encouraged religious education, and the only Sunday School, run by the Wesleyans, was attended by children from other denominations. Special meetings and entertainments held by Protestants to attract converts and to strengthen the faith of believers were regularly held and attended by many, even some Catholics. In general, relations between Protestants and Catholics were warm, and there were some ‘mixed marriages’. 
Details are given of the development of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic churches, covering the erection and expansion of church buildings, their clergy, the expansion of their congregations, and special activities, both social and religious – the former because of the constant need to raise funds. It is impossible to prove the extent and depth of belief, but the moral behaviour of some residents meant that continual efforts were seen as necessary to get them to change their ways.

text: Religion in the Te Aroha district The Christians of the district were split into a variety of denominations, though only a few had strong followings. Opinions varied about the religious zeal of miners, and although the first services to be held after the initial rush to the new goldfield were well attended, this may at least in part have been out of curiosity. 
The Protestant denominations were notable for ecumenical activities, notably in the temperance movement, running societies for the young, and evangelical crusades. They encouraged religious education, and the only Sunday School, run by the Wesleyans, was attended by children from other denominations. Special meetings and entertainments held by Protestants to attract converts and to strengthen the faith of believers were regularly held and attended by many, even some Catholics. In general, relations between Protestants and Catholics were warm, and there were some ‘mixed marriages’. 
Details are given of the development of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic churches, covering the erection and expansion of church buildings, their clergy, the expansion of their congregations, and special activities, both social and religious – the former because of the constant need to raise funds. It is impossible to prove the extent and depth of belief, but the moral behaviour of some residents meant that continual efforts were seen as necessary to get them to change their ways.

year: 2016

title: The teaching and learning of te reo Māori in a higher education context: Intensive fast track immersion versus gradual progressive language exposure

authors: Nock, Sophie

subjects: grading of students

abstract: I report here on a comparison of the course grades of Bachelors degree students who are following two different pathways towards a major in te reo Māori - a traditional pathway in which language courses at different levels are spread over three or four years, and an intensive, fast-track, language immersion pathway in which courses in te reo Māori are concentrated into the first year of the degree programme. My findings are that, overall, in terms of course grades at level three, students following the intensive, fast-track, language-immersion pathway out-perform other students in te reo Māori course assessments. Thus, so far as course grades are concerned, many students appear to benefit from the fast track pathway. Whether course grades can be related to proficiency achievements and whether immediate gains are reflected in long-term gains is something that remains to be investigated.

text: The teaching and learning of te reo Māori in a higher education context: Intensive fast track immersion versus gradual progressive language exposure I report here on a comparison of the course grades of Bachelors degree students who are following two different pathways towards a major in te reo Māori - a traditional pathway in which language courses at different levels are spread over three or four years, and an intensive, fast-track, language immersion pathway in which courses in te reo Māori are concentrated into the first year of the degree programme. My findings are that, overall, in terms of course grades at level three, students following the intensive, fast-track, language-immersion pathway out-perform other students in te reo Māori course assessments. Thus, so far as course grades are concerned, many students appear to benefit from the fast track pathway. Whether course grades can be related to proficiency achievements and whether immediate gains are reflected in long-term gains is something that remains to be investigated.

year: 2006