title: Testing the infrequent purchases model using direct measurement of hidden consumption from food stocks

authors: Gibson, John

subjects: food consumption

abstract: Survey reports of zero expenditure result from either genuine non-consumption, or purchases undertaken too infrequently to observe during a survey, with hidden consumption from stocks. Infrequent purchase models rely on untested hypotheses to distinguish these types of zeros. We test such models with data from an unusual survey where food stocks are measured at the start and end of the survey reference period. Parameter estimates using these direct measures of hidden consumption out of stocks are compared with estimates from infrequent purchase models that attempt to recover this hidden consumption. The results suggest considerable bias when using the infrequent purchase models.

text: Testing the infrequent purchases model using direct measurement of hidden consumption from food stocks Survey reports of zero expenditure result from either genuine non-consumption, or purchases undertaken too infrequently to observe during a survey, with hidden consumption from stocks. Infrequent purchase models rely on untested hypotheses to distinguish these types of zeros. We test such models with data from an unusual survey where food stocks are measured at the start and end of the survey reference period. Parameter estimates using these direct measures of hidden consumption out of stocks are compared with estimates from infrequent purchase models that attempt to recover this hidden consumption. The results suggest considerable bias when using the infrequent purchase models.

year: 2012

title: Factors Affecting Students' Career Choice in New Zealand

authors: Pang, Natalia Grace May Hong

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing career decisions of tertiary students in New Zealand. The relationship between the factors and cultural values held by students was also ascertained. In addition, the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) was used to assess if perceived significant others’ influence increased their degree of belief as to whether they are able to successfully complete tasks necessary to make career decisions. Finally, the relatedness between students’ career choice and fields of study were examined.
	Participants of this study were full-time students, who were in the final academic year of their qualification. They were recruited, via e-mail invitations, to complete an online questionnaire, measuring four constructs – factors affecting career decision, cultural/personal values, perceived significant others’ influence, and CDSE. The final sample consisted of 151 respondents.
	Results showed that collectivistic values correlated significantly with extrinsic and altruistic factors while individualistic values correlated significantly with intrinsic values. Cultural values had no significant impact on perceived significant others’ influence. There were no gender differences in relation to perceiving the influence of significant others and both genders preferred seeking career advice from their mothers/stepmothers compared to their fathers/stepfathers. Only supportive relationships (a form of perceived significant others’ influence) correlated significantly with CDSE. Finally, relatedness between career decision and field of study increased with age and was higher in students enrolled in a field of study developing specific skills and in students pursuing post-graduate qualifications.
	Although no causal inferences may be drawn from the results of this study, this research has further contributed to the limited number of studies focusing on career decision making among students in New Zealand. It is hoped that the findings are able to provide some critical information to tertiary institutions, organisations, and career counsellors.

text: Factors Affecting Students' Career Choice in New Zealand The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing career decisions of tertiary students in New Zealand. The relationship between the factors and cultural values held by students was also ascertained. In addition, the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) was used to assess if perceived significant others’ influence increased their degree of belief as to whether they are able to successfully complete tasks necessary to make career decisions. Finally, the relatedness between students’ career choice and fields of study were examined.
	Participants of this study were full-time students, who were in the final academic year of their qualification. They were recruited, via e-mail invitations, to complete an online questionnaire, measuring four constructs – factors affecting career decision, cultural/personal values, perceived significant others’ influence, and CDSE. The final sample consisted of 151 respondents.
	Results showed that collectivistic values correlated significantly with extrinsic and altruistic factors while individualistic values correlated significantly with intrinsic values. Cultural values had no significant impact on perceived significant others’ influence. There were no gender differences in relation to perceiving the influence of significant others and both genders preferred seeking career advice from their mothers/stepmothers compared to their fathers/stepfathers. Only supportive relationships (a form of perceived significant others’ influence) correlated significantly with CDSE. Finally, relatedness between career decision and field of study increased with age and was higher in students enrolled in a field of study developing specific skills and in students pursuing post-graduate qualifications.
	Although no causal inferences may be drawn from the results of this study, this research has further contributed to the limited number of studies focusing on career decision making among students in New Zealand. It is hoped that the findings are able to provide some critical information to tertiary institutions, organisations, and career counsellors.

year: 2014

title: The Effects of a Shared Reading Intervention on the English Reading Skills of Year One Students in a Level Two Māori-medium Educational Context

authors: Te Arihi, Kylie

subjects: English Reading Skills

abstract: One of the biggest challenges confronting literacy education in Aotearoa  New Zealand is accommodating the differences in English reading-related variables at school entry to produce equitable outcomes in later reading achievement (Wilkinson, Freebody, & Elkins, 2000).  English-medium schools in Aotearoa struggle to negotiate effective literacy practices that validate and cater for the cognitive, cultural, and linguistic differences children bring to the process of learning to read in English.  Whereas, the role of English reading instruction in Māori-medium schools has been an under-researched and controversial issue.  How to accommodate for these differences to achieve equitable English reading outcomes in a year 1 level 2 Māori-medium context is the theme that this research seeks to explore.
	This Masters thesis reports on a shared reading intervention that explicitly teaches phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge to examine its effects on the English reading skills of year 1 students in a level 2 Māori-medium setting.  The research implemented a Kaupapa Māori framework and used interviews, surveys, reliable literacy measures, and research-based literacy instruction to explore reading acquisition for this particular cohort.  Thus, the purposes of the study were (a) to glean an in-depth understanding of the literacy and language practices that potentially shaped the participants English reading–related variables, (b) to examine the range of English reading-related skills for this cohort, and (c) to determine the effects of the intervention on their English reading skills.
	Eight students were divided and matched with a pair according to their reported pre-test phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge scores, and then randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 4) or treatment control (n = 4) group.  The intervention programme was carried out over a six week period and comprised 12, 30 minute lessons that integrated phonological and alphabetic based decoding skills within the shared reading approach.  The duration of the treatment control programme was also carried out over a six week period and comprised 12, 30 minutes lessons that integrated semantic, syntactic, and visual graphophonic sources of information to recognise words.  The results indicated the breadth and depth of English reading skills in year 1 level 2 Māori-medium contexts are diverse and the children had a positive attitude and sense of efficacy towards reading.  A comparison of the test results between the intervention and treatment control group demonstrated that a shared reading intervention that focused explicitly on phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge is effective in raising letter-naming knowledge, pseudoword decoding, phonemic awareness, and invented spelling.  The results are discussed in light of theoretical assumptions about reading acquisition that underlie word-base and text-base approaches to word recognition.
	Overall, this study supports the development and reform of training and professional development opportunities in phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge to better support, inform, and educate Aotearoa reading teachers.  This study contributes to the knowledge of English reading acquisition that validate the depth and breadth of early cognitive and linguistic differences to increase equitable English reading outcomes in level 2 Māori-medium contexts.

text: The Effects of a Shared Reading Intervention on the English Reading Skills of Year One Students in a Level Two Māori-medium Educational Context One of the biggest challenges confronting literacy education in Aotearoa  New Zealand is accommodating the differences in English reading-related variables at school entry to produce equitable outcomes in later reading achievement (Wilkinson, Freebody, & Elkins, 2000).  English-medium schools in Aotearoa struggle to negotiate effective literacy practices that validate and cater for the cognitive, cultural, and linguistic differences children bring to the process of learning to read in English.  Whereas, the role of English reading instruction in Māori-medium schools has been an under-researched and controversial issue.  How to accommodate for these differences to achieve equitable English reading outcomes in a year 1 level 2 Māori-medium context is the theme that this research seeks to explore.
	This Masters thesis reports on a shared reading intervention that explicitly teaches phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge to examine its effects on the English reading skills of year 1 students in a level 2 Māori-medium setting.  The research implemented a Kaupapa Māori framework and used interviews, surveys, reliable literacy measures, and research-based literacy instruction to explore reading acquisition for this particular cohort.  Thus, the purposes of the study were (a) to glean an in-depth understanding of the literacy and language practices that potentially shaped the participants English reading–related variables, (b) to examine the range of English reading-related skills for this cohort, and (c) to determine the effects of the intervention on their English reading skills.
	Eight students were divided and matched with a pair according to their reported pre-test phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge scores, and then randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 4) or treatment control (n = 4) group.  The intervention programme was carried out over a six week period and comprised 12, 30 minute lessons that integrated phonological and alphabetic based decoding skills within the shared reading approach.  The duration of the treatment control programme was also carried out over a six week period and comprised 12, 30 minutes lessons that integrated semantic, syntactic, and visual graphophonic sources of information to recognise words.  The results indicated the breadth and depth of English reading skills in year 1 level 2 Māori-medium contexts are diverse and the children had a positive attitude and sense of efficacy towards reading.  A comparison of the test results between the intervention and treatment control group demonstrated that a shared reading intervention that focused explicitly on phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge is effective in raising letter-naming knowledge, pseudoword decoding, phonemic awareness, and invented spelling.  The results are discussed in light of theoretical assumptions about reading acquisition that underlie word-base and text-base approaches to word recognition.
	Overall, this study supports the development and reform of training and professional development opportunities in phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge to better support, inform, and educate Aotearoa reading teachers.  This study contributes to the knowledge of English reading acquisition that validate the depth and breadth of early cognitive and linguistic differences to increase equitable English reading outcomes in level 2 Māori-medium contexts.

year: 2014