title: Using behavioural specifications to support model-checking

authors: Liu, Bowen

subjects: Formal methods,Cucumber,Behavioural Speficication

abstract: Safety-critical interactive systems provide many beneﬁts for human daily life, but erroneous safety-critical interactive systems can lead to serious consequences to the users. Thus building these systems requires that we ensure a high level of correctness. Formal models can be used to ensure that safetycritical systems are developed correctly. However, when models of the systems are being built, there is no guarantee that the modelled system fully satisﬁes the user requirements. If the systems are not what business stakeholders truly desire, new errors can be made. Behaviour-Driven-Development is often applied to ensure the requirements of thesystemareproperlyunderstoodandmaintainedbyusingBehaviouralSpeciﬁcations. These speciﬁcations use natural language, and so, are well suited for expressing user requirements. They can be used as the basis for test generation but do not provide the guarantees of correctness that formal methods can provide. In this work, we develop an approach that takes advantage of the expressivity of behaviour speciﬁcations and combines it with the use of formal methods. We use Behavioural Speciﬁcations to create First-Order-Logic predicates of the requirements. These predicates can be used with formal methods, either to support the creation of the formal models or to ensure the user requirements and speciﬁcations are consistent.

text: Using behavioural specifications to support model-checking Safety-critical interactive systems provide many beneﬁts for human daily life, but erroneous safety-critical interactive systems can lead to serious consequences to the users. Thus building these systems requires that we ensure a high level of correctness. Formal models can be used to ensure that safetycritical systems are developed correctly. However, when models of the systems are being built, there is no guarantee that the modelled system fully satisﬁes the user requirements. If the systems are not what business stakeholders truly desire, new errors can be made. Behaviour-Driven-Development is often applied to ensure the requirements of thesystemareproperlyunderstoodandmaintainedbyusingBehaviouralSpeciﬁcations. These speciﬁcations use natural language, and so, are well suited for expressing user requirements. They can be used as the basis for test generation but do not provide the guarantees of correctness that formal methods can provide. In this work, we develop an approach that takes advantage of the expressivity of behaviour speciﬁcations and combines it with the use of formal methods. We use Behavioural Speciﬁcations to create First-Order-Logic predicates of the requirements. These predicates can be used with formal methods, either to support the creation of the formal models or to ensure the user requirements and speciﬁcations are consistent.

year: 2019

title: Influences of graphical image pairing on product preference

authors: Meng, Xiaosha

abstract: Many advertisements appear to rely on higher-order respondent conditioning to alter preference for a product brand. Given that higher-order conditioning is difficult to achieve, there may be other processes, such as those involved in stimulus equivalence, at work. The current experiment paired six “brand” stimuli with three different types of pictures. Three brands were paired directly with the pictures and the other three paired indirectly, using a stimulus equivalence procedure. The three types of pictures were “negative” (typical consequences of ingesting excessive sugar, such as heart disease, tooth decay, and diabetes), “neutral” (pictures of geometrical shapes) and “positive” pictures (pictures related to health and fitness). This research used a respondent procedure, which is more similar to real marketing methods than operant procedures, as used in previous research in this area. A preference assessment was conducted to evaluate transfer of function from the picture to the brands by investigating whether the pairings influenced participants’ preference for branded soft drinks. The results showed that negative pictures shifted preference more than positive pictures and direct pairing was more effective than an indirect pairing procedure.

text: Influences of graphical image pairing on product preference Many advertisements appear to rely on higher-order respondent conditioning to alter preference for a product brand. Given that higher-order conditioning is difficult to achieve, there may be other processes, such as those involved in stimulus equivalence, at work. The current experiment paired six “brand” stimuli with three different types of pictures. Three brands were paired directly with the pictures and the other three paired indirectly, using a stimulus equivalence procedure. The three types of pictures were “negative” (typical consequences of ingesting excessive sugar, such as heart disease, tooth decay, and diabetes), “neutral” (pictures of geometrical shapes) and “positive” pictures (pictures related to health and fitness). This research used a respondent procedure, which is more similar to real marketing methods than operant procedures, as used in previous research in this area. A preference assessment was conducted to evaluate transfer of function from the picture to the brands by investigating whether the pairings influenced participants’ preference for branded soft drinks. The results showed that negative pictures shifted preference more than positive pictures and direct pairing was more effective than an indirect pairing procedure.

year: 2018

title: Te kawa whakauru ora: Transformative pathways to flourishing whānau

authors: Raharuhi, Te Urukeiha

subjects: flourishing whānau

abstract: Flourishing is more than a combination of wellbeing factors or the absence of disease. It is a state of vitality, optimism and potential. We flourish when we feel positive about our ability to make choices to improve our lives. We flourish when we have opportunities to make valuable contributions to those we care most about, in ways that are meaningful to us. 

There is a wealth of research about whānau wellbeing. However, it is difficult to discern how it directly benefits whānau. Furthermore, deficit approaches to whānau wellbeing research publicise negative stereotypes that are alienating for Māori and detrimental to our flourishing. Te Kawa Whakauru Ora explores a process of identifying transformative pathways to flourishing whānau. It is not a generic approach that represents whānau as homogenous. Nor does it equate whānau with household or nuclear family. This research inquiry into flourishing whānau occurs within the scope of whakapapa and explores diversity within my whānau. 

This research inquiry compares whānau participation in individual wellbeing activities with participation in whānau events. Whānau events are identified by whānau as the only occasions where we experience whakapapa, whanaungatanga and aspects of flourishing that are unique to our collective wellbeing. The research inquiry then focuses on trialling a process of identifying pathways to flourishing whānau through participation in whānau events. When we participate in whānau events, we simultaneously access many aspects of flourishing to varying degrees. Te reo Māori and Māori concepts that are accessible to all whānau regardless of our level of proficiency, are tools to raise our awareness about these. When coupled with an existing research framework, a process for time series analysis of flourishing whānau is created, allowing us to document and compare the contexts of flourishing experienced at different events. 

The trial process of identifying transformative pathways to flourishing whānau is described in detail throughout this thesis to engage with whānau wanting to document the contexts within which they access flourishing. The research process recognises that the potential for pathways to be transformative increases when these are identified by each whānau. This thesis is thus different from existing research about whānau wellbeing because it demonstrates and strengthens whānau research capability.

text: Te kawa whakauru ora: Transformative pathways to flourishing whānau Flourishing is more than a combination of wellbeing factors or the absence of disease. It is a state of vitality, optimism and potential. We flourish when we feel positive about our ability to make choices to improve our lives. We flourish when we have opportunities to make valuable contributions to those we care most about, in ways that are meaningful to us. 

There is a wealth of research about whānau wellbeing. However, it is difficult to discern how it directly benefits whānau. Furthermore, deficit approaches to whānau wellbeing research publicise negative stereotypes that are alienating for Māori and detrimental to our flourishing. Te Kawa Whakauru Ora explores a process of identifying transformative pathways to flourishing whānau. It is not a generic approach that represents whānau as homogenous. Nor does it equate whānau with household or nuclear family. This research inquiry into flourishing whānau occurs within the scope of whakapapa and explores diversity within my whānau. 

This research inquiry compares whānau participation in individual wellbeing activities with participation in whānau events. Whānau events are identified by whānau as the only occasions where we experience whakapapa, whanaungatanga and aspects of flourishing that are unique to our collective wellbeing. The research inquiry then focuses on trialling a process of identifying pathways to flourishing whānau through participation in whānau events. When we participate in whānau events, we simultaneously access many aspects of flourishing to varying degrees. Te reo Māori and Māori concepts that are accessible to all whānau regardless of our level of proficiency, are tools to raise our awareness about these. When coupled with an existing research framework, a process for time series analysis of flourishing whānau is created, allowing us to document and compare the contexts of flourishing experienced at different events. 

The trial process of identifying transformative pathways to flourishing whānau is described in detail throughout this thesis to engage with whānau wanting to document the contexts within which they access flourishing. The research process recognises that the potential for pathways to be transformative increases when these are identified by each whānau. This thesis is thus different from existing research about whānau wellbeing because it demonstrates and strengthens whānau research capability.

year: 2025