title: Organic food choices and Protection Motivation Theory: addressing the psychological sources of heterogeneity

authors: Scarpa, Riccardo

subjects: choice modelling

abstract: Addressing generic preference heterogeneity for foods has been shown to improve statistical model fit, but it is relatively poor in terms of insights as to the sources of heterogeneity. The study presents various results from latent class analysis of stated choice data of food choice using carrots as a prototype. We evaluate the coherence of the underlying preference structure using as criteria the psychological constructs used in Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) (Roger, 1975) elicted by means of attitudinal responses. We estimate latent classes based on such responses using both simultaneous and two-stage procedures. The latter performs a segmentation more in line with expectations derived from PMT, in terms of both the number of classes and their preference structures. While simultaneous estimation improves the statistical fit it yields class structures that appear less reasonable.

text: Organic food choices and Protection Motivation Theory: addressing the psychological sources of heterogeneity Addressing generic preference heterogeneity for foods has been shown to improve statistical model fit, but it is relatively poor in terms of insights as to the sources of heterogeneity. The study presents various results from latent class analysis of stated choice data of food choice using carrots as a prototype. We evaluate the coherence of the underlying preference structure using as criteria the psychological constructs used in Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) (Roger, 1975) elicted by means of attitudinal responses. We estimate latent classes based on such responses using both simultaneous and two-stage procedures. The latter performs a segmentation more in line with expectations derived from PMT, in terms of both the number of classes and their preference structures. While simultaneous estimation improves the statistical fit it yields class structures that appear less reasonable.

year: 2011

title: Developing a quality workforce: Linking a strategic research agenda to industry
training; and Higher level skill needs and worker voice: Exploring new ground in skills
analysis.

authors: Cochrane, William

subjects: industrial relations

abstract: This presentation will pivot around the relationship between industry training, workplace productivity, worker voice, and the role of unions. Two, linked mini-papers will be presented. Both built on material presented to last year’s forum. The first minipaper summarises a template developed by the researchers in response to approaches from Industry Training Organisations. Its focus is on labour market skills forecasting. The second mini-paper breaks new ground. It outlines the broad thrust of a new research project that explores the more advanced skills required by workers in order to participate effectively in high performance (manufacturing) workplace schemes. Underpinning both mini-papers is the researchers’ central focus on the ways in which on-the-job union activity, the redesign of work, workers’ education and training, and employee involvement at the workplace can come together in order to provide workers with a ‘voice’ both in their work and in the wider society.
The mini-papers assume that workplace productivity is central not only to the growth of the New Zealand economy, but also to union renewal and the achievement of the union movement’s social agenda. But they also recognise that for unions and workers the present emphasis on the ‘knowledge society’ will fall short of their economic and social aspirations unless it looks well beyond the myopic horizon of narrow, inherently self-limiting, skills training. The presentation will end with an integrative conclusion.

text: Developing a quality workforce: Linking a strategic research agenda to industry
training; and Higher level skill needs and worker voice: Exploring new ground in skills
analysis. This presentation will pivot around the relationship between industry training, workplace productivity, worker voice, and the role of unions. Two, linked mini-papers will be presented. Both built on material presented to last year’s forum. The first minipaper summarises a template developed by the researchers in response to approaches from Industry Training Organisations. Its focus is on labour market skills forecasting. The second mini-paper breaks new ground. It outlines the broad thrust of a new research project that explores the more advanced skills required by workers in order to participate effectively in high performance (manufacturing) workplace schemes. Underpinning both mini-papers is the researchers’ central focus on the ways in which on-the-job union activity, the redesign of work, workers’ education and training, and employee involvement at the workplace can come together in order to provide workers with a ‘voice’ both in their work and in the wider society.
The mini-papers assume that workplace productivity is central not only to the growth of the New Zealand economy, but also to union renewal and the achievement of the union movement’s social agenda. But they also recognise that for unions and workers the present emphasis on the ‘knowledge society’ will fall short of their economic and social aspirations unless it looks well beyond the myopic horizon of narrow, inherently self-limiting, skills training. The presentation will end with an integrative conclusion.

year: 2005

title: Transitioning from kōhanga reo to kura

authors: Hohepa, Margie Kahukura

abstract: This is a collaborative cross-sector research project involving a kōhanga reo (Māori immersion early childhood language nest) kura (Māori language immersion school) and university-based researchers. It focuses on tamariki (children) moving from kōhanga reo to kura classrooms and will examine the development of an 'akoranga whakawhiti', a transition programme that will be based at Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Kuaka in Hamilton. The over arching research question for this project is: Pēhea rā te āhuatanga me te kounga o ngā whakawhitinga mai i te kōhanga ki te kura mō ngā tamariki, whānau, kaiako me te hāpori? - What do effective transitions from kōhanga reo to kura look like, feel like, and sound like, for tamariki, whānau, kaiako and the community? The project aims to provide important new insights into learning and teaching in Māori-medium settings and into ways of enhancing transitions from Maori-medium early childhood education to Māori medium classrooms.

text: Transitioning from kōhanga reo to kura This is a collaborative cross-sector research project involving a kōhanga reo (Māori immersion early childhood language nest) kura (Māori language immersion school) and university-based researchers. It focuses on tamariki (children) moving from kōhanga reo to kura classrooms and will examine the development of an 'akoranga whakawhiti', a transition programme that will be based at Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Kuaka in Hamilton. The over arching research question for this project is: Pēhea rā te āhuatanga me te kounga o ngā whakawhitinga mai i te kōhanga ki te kura mō ngā tamariki, whānau, kaiako me te hāpori? - What do effective transitions from kōhanga reo to kura look like, feel like, and sound like, for tamariki, whānau, kaiako and the community? The project aims to provide important new insights into learning and teaching in Māori-medium settings and into ways of enhancing transitions from Maori-medium early childhood education to Māori medium classrooms.

year: 2014