title: The role of control in risk perception on rural roads

authors: Starkey, Nicola J.

subjects: Illusion of control

abstract: Risk perception plays an important role in driver behaviour, particularly for speed choice. Risk perception studies use a range of techniques from on-road data collection to ratings of still photos, however participants’ratings differ depending on the study methodology, possibly due to their perception of control. To explore this we conducted a multiple methods study to investigate drivers’perceptions of risk on rural roads. One group of participants drove (Drivers, n = 13) a 180 km route along rural roads (accompanied by a research assistant) and provided verbal risk ratings at thirteen locations of interest. A second group (Passengers, n = 10) provided ratings at the same points when travelling as a passenger in a vehicle (driven by a research assistant). The third group (Observers, n = 14) were shown videos of the same rural roads (filmed from the drivers’perspective) and also provided risk ratings at the same locations. A week later participants were invited to the laboratory to review the video footage and comment on factors that contributed to the risk ratings. Overall, the Observers gave the highest risk ratings and Drivers the lowest. The Observers also provided twice the number of comments to justify their risk rating compared to the other two groups. The results suggest that control, and on-road experience play a significant role in how perceptions of driving risk are formed and the degree of risk experienced.These findings also bring into question the accuracy of using video-based tasks to assess drivers’ risk perception (and speed choice), particularly if the findings are used to inform on-road safety interventions.

text: The role of control in risk perception on rural roads Risk perception plays an important role in driver behaviour, particularly for speed choice. Risk perception studies use a range of techniques from on-road data collection to ratings of still photos, however participants’ratings differ depending on the study methodology, possibly due to their perception of control. To explore this we conducted a multiple methods study to investigate drivers’perceptions of risk on rural roads. One group of participants drove (Drivers, n = 13) a 180 km route along rural roads (accompanied by a research assistant) and provided verbal risk ratings at thirteen locations of interest. A second group (Passengers, n = 10) provided ratings at the same points when travelling as a passenger in a vehicle (driven by a research assistant). The third group (Observers, n = 14) were shown videos of the same rural roads (filmed from the drivers’perspective) and also provided risk ratings at the same locations. A week later participants were invited to the laboratory to review the video footage and comment on factors that contributed to the risk ratings. Overall, the Observers gave the highest risk ratings and Drivers the lowest. The Observers also provided twice the number of comments to justify their risk rating compared to the other two groups. The results suggest that control, and on-road experience play a significant role in how perceptions of driving risk are formed and the degree of risk experienced.These findings also bring into question the accuracy of using video-based tasks to assess drivers’ risk perception (and speed choice), particularly if the findings are used to inform on-road safety interventions.

year: 2020

title: N-Heterocyclic carbene gold(I) and silver(I) adducts of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄]

authors: Henderson, William

subjects: platinum complexes

abstract: Reaction of the metalloligand [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes IPrAuCl, IMesAuCl and IMesAgCl in methanol gave the first examples of metal adducts of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] that contain NHC ligands, namely [Pt₂(μ-S) ₂ (PPh₃)₄AuL]⁺ (L = IPr, IMes) and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄AgIMes]⁺. The complexes were isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts. Reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄]  with excess IPrAuCl in refluxing methanol yielded only the mono-adduct, in contrast to the behaviour with the gold(I) phosphine complex Ph₃PAuCl, which undergoes double addition giving [Pt₂(μ-SAuPPh₃)₂(PPh₃)₄]²⁺. The X-ray structure of [Pt₂(μ-S) ₂(PPh₃)₄AuIPr]PF₆ was determined and reveals that the ‘free’ sulfide is substantially sterically protected by the IPr ligand, accounting for the low reactivity towards addition of a second AgIPr⁺ moiety.

text: N-Heterocyclic carbene gold(I) and silver(I) adducts of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] Reaction of the metalloligand [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes IPrAuCl, IMesAuCl and IMesAgCl in methanol gave the first examples of metal adducts of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] that contain NHC ligands, namely [Pt₂(μ-S) ₂ (PPh₃)₄AuL]⁺ (L = IPr, IMes) and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄AgIMes]⁺. The complexes were isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts. Reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄]  with excess IPrAuCl in refluxing methanol yielded only the mono-adduct, in contrast to the behaviour with the gold(I) phosphine complex Ph₃PAuCl, which undergoes double addition giving [Pt₂(μ-SAuPPh₃)₂(PPh₃)₄]²⁺. The X-ray structure of [Pt₂(μ-S) ₂(PPh₃)₄AuIPr]PF₆ was determined and reveals that the ‘free’ sulfide is substantially sterically protected by the IPr ligand, accounting for the low reactivity towards addition of a second AgIPr⁺ moiety.

year: 2011-11-30

title: Te Ira Atua: The spiritual spark of the child

authors: Rameka, Lesley Kay

abstract: “E ai ki tā te Māori he atua tonu kei roto i te mokopuna ina whānau mai ana ia ki tēnei ao” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 35). This quote is from the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s early childhood curriculum policy statement, Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Matauranga mo ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum (Ministry of Education, 1996). It speaks of the godliness or spiritual essence each child inherits from their ancestors when they are born (Early Childhood Development, 1999; Reedy, 2003). From a traditional Māori perspective, not only is the child endowed with spiritual potential or a divine spirit, but the world the child is born into is also endowed with spiritual influences.

text: Te Ira Atua: The spiritual spark of the child “E ai ki tā te Māori he atua tonu kei roto i te mokopuna ina whānau mai ana ia ki tēnei ao” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 35). This quote is from the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s early childhood curriculum policy statement, Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Matauranga mo ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa/Early Childhood Curriculum (Ministry of Education, 1996). It speaks of the godliness or spiritual essence each child inherits from their ancestors when they are born (Early Childhood Development, 1999; Reedy, 2003). From a traditional Māori perspective, not only is the child endowed with spiritual potential or a divine spirit, but the world the child is born into is also endowed with spiritual influences.

year: 2015