title: Student Culture and Binge Drinking

authors: McEwan, Brett James

subjects: alcohol

abstract: New Zealand student culture has had a strong tradition of alcohol use.  Research, both in New Zealand and internationally, has identified halls of residence student drinkers as at more risk of alcohol-related harm than their same age non-resident and non-student peers.  This research project investigates the relationship between student culture and binge drinking behaviour within the University of Waikato's halls of residence student population.  It combines qualitative and quantitative methods encompassing focus groups, individual face-to-face interviews, and a survey questionnaire completed by sixty percent of the resident student population.  The resulting data are set within the context of existing literature on student drinking behaviour and student culture, and the analysis is undertaken using a combination of grounded theory and statistical analysis. 

The study reveals that binge drinking behaviour was viewed by the majority of residents as a normal component of student culture, with one-half of male residents who drink and one-third of female drinking residents becoming intoxicated on a weekly basis.  Contrary to the popular perception that student drinking behaviour is an uncontrolled activity however, the majority of residents' practised 'controlled intoxication' while drinking.  Overall, most residents enjoyed their drinking experiences and showed a high level of tolerance towards many alcohol-related harms.  There is clear evidence that resident drinking behaviour impacts adversely upon residents, with one-half of residents having experienced academic and/or physical harms, and twenty percent reporting sexual encounters they later regretted.  One-third of residents had also felt unsafe due to the drinking behaviour of others.  

Adopting the precepts of a social-ecological approach, this thesis argues that a range of multi-level harm-minimisation strategies targeting resident drinking behaviour are required, in conjunction with renewed efforts to effect change in the New Zealand drinking culture.  Fifteen alcohol-intervention initiatives are recommended which variously target the individual drinker, the halls of residence environment, the institutional environment, and the local community drinking environment.  The national drinking environment is also pursued through recommendations advocating legislative change to make it an offence to be intoxicated in a public place, and through social marketing strategies which encourage peer feedback, the shaming of intoxicated behaviour, and the continued emphasis on the association between drinking and its adverse effects.

text: Student Culture and Binge Drinking New Zealand student culture has had a strong tradition of alcohol use.  Research, both in New Zealand and internationally, has identified halls of residence student drinkers as at more risk of alcohol-related harm than their same age non-resident and non-student peers.  This research project investigates the relationship between student culture and binge drinking behaviour within the University of Waikato's halls of residence student population.  It combines qualitative and quantitative methods encompassing focus groups, individual face-to-face interviews, and a survey questionnaire completed by sixty percent of the resident student population.  The resulting data are set within the context of existing literature on student drinking behaviour and student culture, and the analysis is undertaken using a combination of grounded theory and statistical analysis. 

The study reveals that binge drinking behaviour was viewed by the majority of residents as a normal component of student culture, with one-half of male residents who drink and one-third of female drinking residents becoming intoxicated on a weekly basis.  Contrary to the popular perception that student drinking behaviour is an uncontrolled activity however, the majority of residents' practised 'controlled intoxication' while drinking.  Overall, most residents enjoyed their drinking experiences and showed a high level of tolerance towards many alcohol-related harms.  There is clear evidence that resident drinking behaviour impacts adversely upon residents, with one-half of residents having experienced academic and/or physical harms, and twenty percent reporting sexual encounters they later regretted.  One-third of residents had also felt unsafe due to the drinking behaviour of others.  

Adopting the precepts of a social-ecological approach, this thesis argues that a range of multi-level harm-minimisation strategies targeting resident drinking behaviour are required, in conjunction with renewed efforts to effect change in the New Zealand drinking culture.  Fifteen alcohol-intervention initiatives are recommended which variously target the individual drinker, the halls of residence environment, the institutional environment, and the local community drinking environment.  The national drinking environment is also pursued through recommendations advocating legislative change to make it an offence to be intoxicated in a public place, and through social marketing strategies which encourage peer feedback, the shaming of intoxicated behaviour, and the continued emphasis on the association between drinking and its adverse effects.

year: 2009

title: The Bispectral Index: A measure of depth of sleep?

authors: Sleigh, James W.

subjects: BIS

abstract: How does physiological sleep affect the Bispectral Index (BIS)? We collected electroencephalographic (EEG) data from five subjects during the early part of the night, comparing the changes in the BIS with the conventional EEG stages of sleep. We found that the BIS was a consistent marker of depth of sleep. Light sleep occurred at BIS values of 75–90, slow-wave sleep occurred at BIS values of 20–70, and rapid eye movement sleep occurred at BIS values of 75–92. The effects of natural sleep on the BIS seem to be similar to the effects of general anesthesia on the BIS. The BIS may have a role in monitoring depth of sleep. Implications: Electroencephalographic data were collected from five subjects during sleep. We found that the Bispectral Index decreased during increasing depth of sleep in a fashion very similar to the decrease in Bispectral Index that occurs during general anesthesia. This study further highlights the electroencephalographic similarities of states of sleep and general anesthesia.

text: The Bispectral Index: A measure of depth of sleep? How does physiological sleep affect the Bispectral Index (BIS)? We collected electroencephalographic (EEG) data from five subjects during the early part of the night, comparing the changes in the BIS with the conventional EEG stages of sleep. We found that the BIS was a consistent marker of depth of sleep. Light sleep occurred at BIS values of 75–90, slow-wave sleep occurred at BIS values of 20–70, and rapid eye movement sleep occurred at BIS values of 75–92. The effects of natural sleep on the BIS seem to be similar to the effects of general anesthesia on the BIS. The BIS may have a role in monitoring depth of sleep. Implications: Electroencephalographic data were collected from five subjects during sleep. We found that the Bispectral Index decreased during increasing depth of sleep in a fashion very similar to the decrease in Bispectral Index that occurs during general anesthesia. This study further highlights the electroencephalographic similarities of states of sleep and general anesthesia.

year: 1999

title: A Pilot investigation into the assessment of changes in the psycholinguistic abilities of new-entrant Māori school children using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities

authors: St George, William Vivian Ross

abstract: The role of language as the principal medium of instruction within the New Zealand (N .Z.) educational system has recently received increasing attention both from researchers and those responsible for the formulation of our national educational policy. In particular, much attention has been directed toward the Maori pupil and the use of the English language as the medium for his instruction. The range of literature on this question includes controlled research studies on English usage by Maori children, educational policy statements concerning the - medium of instruction to be employed in New Zealand schools and writings of a more speculative, and potentially political nature, questioning educational policy and the role of language in "Maori education".

text: A Pilot investigation into the assessment of changes in the psycholinguistic abilities of new-entrant Māori school children using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities The role of language as the principal medium of instruction within the New Zealand (N .Z.) educational system has recently received increasing attention both from researchers and those responsible for the formulation of our national educational policy. In particular, much attention has been directed toward the Maori pupil and the use of the English language as the medium for his instruction. The range of literature on this question includes controlled research studies on English usage by Maori children, educational policy statements concerning the - medium of instruction to be employed in New Zealand schools and writings of a more speculative, and potentially political nature, questioning educational policy and the role of language in "Maori education".

year: 1969