title: Predictors of Workplace Bullying and Cyber-Bullying in New Zealand

authors: Gardner, Dianne

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background: The negative effects of in-person workplace bullying (WB) are well established. Less is known about cyber-bullying (CB), in which negative behaviours are mediated by technology. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the current research examined how individual and organisational factors were related to WB and CB at two time points three months apart. Methods: Data were collected by means of an online self-report survey. Eight hundred and twenty-six respondents (58% female, 42% male) provided data at both time points. Results: One hundred and twenty-three (15%) of participants had been bullied and 23 (2.8%) of participants had been cyber-bullied within the last six months. Women reported more WB, but not more CB, than men. Worse physical health, higher strain, more destructive leadership, more team conflict and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more WB. Managerial employees experienced more CB than non-managerial employees. Poor physical health, less organisational support and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more CB. Conclusion: Rates of CB were lower than those of WB, and very few participants reported experiencing CB without also experiencing WB. Both forms of bullying were associated with poorer work environments, indicating that, where bullying is occurring, the focus should be on organisational systems and processes.

text: Predictors of Workplace Bullying and Cyber-Bullying in New Zealand Background: The negative effects of in-person workplace bullying (WB) are well established. Less is known about cyber-bullying (CB), in which negative behaviours are mediated by technology. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the current research examined how individual and organisational factors were related to WB and CB at two time points three months apart. Methods: Data were collected by means of an online self-report survey. Eight hundred and twenty-six respondents (58% female, 42% male) provided data at both time points. Results: One hundred and twenty-three (15%) of participants had been bullied and 23 (2.8%) of participants had been cyber-bullied within the last six months. Women reported more WB, but not more CB, than men. Worse physical health, higher strain, more destructive leadership, more team conflict and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more WB. Managerial employees experienced more CB than non-managerial employees. Poor physical health, less organisational support and less effective organisational strategies were associated with more CB. Conclusion: Rates of CB were lower than those of WB, and very few participants reported experiencing CB without also experiencing WB. Both forms of bullying were associated with poorer work environments, indicating that, where bullying is occurring, the focus should be on organisational systems and processes.

year: 2016

title: Deconstructing the instrumental/identity divide in language policy debates

authors: May, Stephen

subjects: language policy

abstract: Debates about language and literacy policies are increasingly constructed at national levels in relation to their potential contribution to the ‘knowledge economy’, and to the ability of nation-states to compete economically in an increasingly globalised world. Invariably, this instrumental approach to language privileges the role of English as the current world language. Thus, in contexts where English is not spoken as a first language, English is increasingly viewed as the most important and/or useful additional language. In English-dominant contexts, monolingualism in English is seen as being a sufficient, even an ideal language model, while literacy in English comes to
stand for literacy (and related social mobility) per se. Where other languages are countenanced at all in these latter contexts, the instrumentalist approach continues to dominate, with so-called international and/or trading languages being constructed as the languages other than English most worth learning, or perhaps even as the only other languages worth learning.

The growing dominance of economistic, instrumental approaches to language policy, and the valorisation of English that is associated with them, clearly militate against ongoing individual and societal multilingualism. The languages most at risk here are so-called minority languages, particularly indigenous languages. In the new globalised world dominated by English, and where the perceived ‘usefulness’ of language is elided with language value, such languages are increasingly constructed as having neither. This paper deconstructs and critiques this positioning of indigenous and other minority languages, along with the wider instrumentality of much language
and literacy policy of which it forms a part. In light of this, it also explores how such languages can be actively, justifiably and effectively maintained and promoted, particularly in English-dominant contexts.

text: Deconstructing the instrumental/identity divide in language policy debates Debates about language and literacy policies are increasingly constructed at national levels in relation to their potential contribution to the ‘knowledge economy’, and to the ability of nation-states to compete economically in an increasingly globalised world. Invariably, this instrumental approach to language privileges the role of English as the current world language. Thus, in contexts where English is not spoken as a first language, English is increasingly viewed as the most important and/or useful additional language. In English-dominant contexts, monolingualism in English is seen as being a sufficient, even an ideal language model, while literacy in English comes to
stand for literacy (and related social mobility) per se. Where other languages are countenanced at all in these latter contexts, the instrumentalist approach continues to dominate, with so-called international and/or trading languages being constructed as the languages other than English most worth learning, or perhaps even as the only other languages worth learning.

The growing dominance of economistic, instrumental approaches to language policy, and the valorisation of English that is associated with them, clearly militate against ongoing individual and societal multilingualism. The languages most at risk here are so-called minority languages, particularly indigenous languages. In the new globalised world dominated by English, and where the perceived ‘usefulness’ of language is elided with language value, such languages are increasingly constructed as having neither. This paper deconstructs and critiques this positioning of indigenous and other minority languages, along with the wider instrumentality of much language
and literacy policy of which it forms a part. In light of this, it also explores how such languages can be actively, justifiably and effectively maintained and promoted, particularly in English-dominant contexts.

year: 2005

title: Urban Māori Whānau Connection / Re Connection to Cultural Confidence Via Wānanga

authors: Maihi, Bonnie

abstract: The  purpose  of this research is to explore and interrogate  dynamics  involved  with positive health and transformation of urban Māori whānau and the challenges of pursuing this using the medium of wānanga. The research component of this thesis rest around a recent series of whānau wānanga held and embarked on in partnership with my whānau through a journey of re-connecting back to our whakapapa, marae and our culture. Current statistics for Māori reflect health and well-being as a site of continuous struggle and one where much work is necessary to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori. While equitable outcomes are an ‘in the future’ dream what remains is asking what steps do we have to take as a whānau? What is the Māori culture that we must capture, know, and strive for, in our whānau journey of self-discovery?

The theoretical framework guiding this thesis is that of Kaupapa Māori. Within Kaupapa Māori theory acknowledgement and recognition of the effects of colonisation, destruction of culture and power 
imbalances are known as a given, with no need to question the validity of whether or not these are true accounts. A comprehensive literature review covering wānanga, Māori culture, Māori health &  well-being, sustainability and more is included in this study. In terms of the research component, five significant themes have been sourced from a series of semi-structured interviews to best represent the experiences of my whānau members pertaining to connection to whakapapa; te reo Māori; tikanga Māori and marae. They are as follows: structural inequality; influences on Māori identity; cultural confidence; whānau capacities; and resistive strategies.

Results identified spaces of progress and spaces that needed strengthening in relation to whānau building cultural confidence and connection to a Māori identity. In conclusion, this thesis ascertains a need for whānau to foster appreciation for lifelong learning and a compassionate approach for those teaching as key markers for nurturing and reconnecting urban Māori whānau to their cultural roots.

text: Urban Māori Whānau Connection / Re Connection to Cultural Confidence Via Wānanga The  purpose  of this research is to explore and interrogate  dynamics  involved  with positive health and transformation of urban Māori whānau and the challenges of pursuing this using the medium of wānanga. The research component of this thesis rest around a recent series of whānau wānanga held and embarked on in partnership with my whānau through a journey of re-connecting back to our whakapapa, marae and our culture. Current statistics for Māori reflect health and well-being as a site of continuous struggle and one where much work is necessary to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori. While equitable outcomes are an ‘in the future’ dream what remains is asking what steps do we have to take as a whānau? What is the Māori culture that we must capture, know, and strive for, in our whānau journey of self-discovery?

The theoretical framework guiding this thesis is that of Kaupapa Māori. Within Kaupapa Māori theory acknowledgement and recognition of the effects of colonisation, destruction of culture and power 
imbalances are known as a given, with no need to question the validity of whether or not these are true accounts. A comprehensive literature review covering wānanga, Māori culture, Māori health &  well-being, sustainability and more is included in this study. In terms of the research component, five significant themes have been sourced from a series of semi-structured interviews to best represent the experiences of my whānau members pertaining to connection to whakapapa; te reo Māori; tikanga Māori and marae. They are as follows: structural inequality; influences on Māori identity; cultural confidence; whānau capacities; and resistive strategies.

Results identified spaces of progress and spaces that needed strengthening in relation to whānau building cultural confidence and connection to a Māori identity. In conclusion, this thesis ascertains a need for whānau to foster appreciation for lifelong learning and a compassionate approach for those teaching as key markers for nurturing and reconnecting urban Māori whānau to their cultural roots.

year: 2016