title: Correlates of Tertiary Student Life Satisfaction

authors: Raman, Jerode R

subjects: Life satisfaction

abstract: What determines life satisfaction for young people? Many studies have looked at factors that correlate with an individual’s level of life satisfaction however the vast majority of those studies focused on elderly populations. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships of a number of research variables with life satisfaction for a tertiary student population. The relationships would be determined by correlating the research variables with life satisfaction. General intelligence, romantic relationship, academic goals, academic performance, health status, religiosity and social contact were measured, and correlated with life satisfaction. The sample in the current study comprised 129 undergraduate students from the University of Waikato. It was found that general intelligence, religiosity and social contact did not have any significant correlations with any of the other research variables, including life satisfaction. Romantic relationship, academic goals, academic performance and health status were found to have a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction. Success in a select group of life domains had a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction for undergraduate tertiary students. Having a successful romantic relationship, focusing on academic activities and being in good physical health all correlated positively with life satisfaction for undergraduate tertiary students. Practical implications of the results as well as future research possibilities are discussed.

text: Correlates of Tertiary Student Life Satisfaction What determines life satisfaction for young people? Many studies have looked at factors that correlate with an individual’s level of life satisfaction however the vast majority of those studies focused on elderly populations. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships of a number of research variables with life satisfaction for a tertiary student population. The relationships would be determined by correlating the research variables with life satisfaction. General intelligence, romantic relationship, academic goals, academic performance, health status, religiosity and social contact were measured, and correlated with life satisfaction. The sample in the current study comprised 129 undergraduate students from the University of Waikato. It was found that general intelligence, religiosity and social contact did not have any significant correlations with any of the other research variables, including life satisfaction. Romantic relationship, academic goals, academic performance and health status were found to have a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction. Success in a select group of life domains had a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction for undergraduate tertiary students. Having a successful romantic relationship, focusing on academic activities and being in good physical health all correlated positively with life satisfaction for undergraduate tertiary students. Practical implications of the results as well as future research possibilities are discussed.

year: 2010

title: Effect of thermomechanical processing on the mechanical properties of cost-effective powder metallurgy titanium-based materials

authors: Romero Villarreal, Carlos

subjects: Titanium alloys

abstract: Despite their excellent balance of properties, titanium alloys are still a niche material whose range of applications is limited by the high cost of their manufacturing. With recent developments, powder metallurgy (PM) approaches, in particular the blended elemental (BE) route, are able to reduce considerably the cost of manufacturing while keeping a reasonable performance, mostly in terms of tensile strength and ductility. The cost reduction of the BE approach derives from the simplification of the process by removing a large amount of re-melting and ingot breakdown operations, regardless of the use of the approach as a net-shape technology. However, in terms of fatigue behaviour, the performance of these alloys is generally worse than conventional processes unless additional steps are applied. This thesis aims to study the mechanical behaviour, with emphasis on the fatigue behaviour, of two cost-effective titanium alloys in order to find the key processing, microstructural and texture parameters that control their performance, with the goal of achieving similar properties to conventional wrought alloys with a reduction of the cost. These alloys, a conventional Ti-6Al-4V composition and a non-conventional low-cost Ti-5Fe composition, were processed following the blended elemental approach and thermomechanical processing, via hot extrusion, was subsequently applied. A variety of microstructures and textures were achieved under different extrusion conditions, which were further modified by applying additional heat treatments.
The tensile behaviour of both Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-5Fe alloys is strongly dependent on the processing conditions. Fully lamellar microstructures (from processing in the β phase) showed similar strength levels but considerably lower ductility compared to alloys with bimodal microstructures and stronger texture (from processing in the α+β phase). In the case of Ti-5Fe, moreover, there was a Fe partitioning effect that, when the processing temperature is low enough, leads to a sharp increase in both the strength and the ability to deform past necking took place. Heat treatments in Ti-6Al-4V alloys were useful in order to increase the strength as well as to keep the ductility similar or even increase it to higher values. The tensile behaviour of Ti-5Fe alloys was more tuneable, achieving higher differences in strength and ductility with the as-extruded conditions, even though this happened by trading-off. Overall, Ti-6Al-4V alloys outperformed Ti-5Fe alloys as their strength was typically higher (associated to their higher amount of alloying elements) as well as their ductility, due to their higher ability to deform past necking, which was very limited for Ti-5Fe alloys in most cases.
The fatigue behaviour of the alloys was found to as dependent on the chemistry as on the microstructure and the texture. While the Ti-6Al-4V alloy is not affected by the residual porosity left after thermomechanical processing, the Ti-5Fe alloy shows pores in the region where fatigue damage begins. In the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, it was found that texturing had a much stronger effect on the fatigue strength of the alloy than microstructural refinement. Therefore, the PM Ti-6Al-4V alloy processed in the α+β phase had a higher fatigue strength than alloys processed in the β phase, regardless if the latter has fully lamellar or acicular microstructure. In the case of the Ti-5Fe alloy, two conditions processed in the α+β phase were studied, and it was found that the Fe concentration in transformed β (which is higher when there is a larger amount of primary α) had a critical effect on the fatigue behaviour, overriding the effect of texture or microstructural refinement. This leads to the Ti-5Fe alloy processed at a lower temperature in the α+β phase showing a much lower fatigue strength compared with the alloy processed just below the β transus, despite the fact that its texture and microstructure were, in theory, optimal for fatigue behaviour.
It is concluded that, in order to process cost-effective Ti alloys with fatigue performance comparable to wrought alloys with conventional compositions (with fatigue strength in the range of 650 MPa), thermomechanical processing in the α+β phase must be applied to make use of the strong texturing of the alloy. However, in the case of alloys containing β-eutectoid elements like Fe, the range of temperatures is limited as the partitioning of the alloying element results in severe reduction of the fatigue strength.

text: Effect of thermomechanical processing on the mechanical properties of cost-effective powder metallurgy titanium-based materials Despite their excellent balance of properties, titanium alloys are still a niche material whose range of applications is limited by the high cost of their manufacturing. With recent developments, powder metallurgy (PM) approaches, in particular the blended elemental (BE) route, are able to reduce considerably the cost of manufacturing while keeping a reasonable performance, mostly in terms of tensile strength and ductility. The cost reduction of the BE approach derives from the simplification of the process by removing a large amount of re-melting and ingot breakdown operations, regardless of the use of the approach as a net-shape technology. However, in terms of fatigue behaviour, the performance of these alloys is generally worse than conventional processes unless additional steps are applied. This thesis aims to study the mechanical behaviour, with emphasis on the fatigue behaviour, of two cost-effective titanium alloys in order to find the key processing, microstructural and texture parameters that control their performance, with the goal of achieving similar properties to conventional wrought alloys with a reduction of the cost. These alloys, a conventional Ti-6Al-4V composition and a non-conventional low-cost Ti-5Fe composition, were processed following the blended elemental approach and thermomechanical processing, via hot extrusion, was subsequently applied. A variety of microstructures and textures were achieved under different extrusion conditions, which were further modified by applying additional heat treatments.
The tensile behaviour of both Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-5Fe alloys is strongly dependent on the processing conditions. Fully lamellar microstructures (from processing in the β phase) showed similar strength levels but considerably lower ductility compared to alloys with bimodal microstructures and stronger texture (from processing in the α+β phase). In the case of Ti-5Fe, moreover, there was a Fe partitioning effect that, when the processing temperature is low enough, leads to a sharp increase in both the strength and the ability to deform past necking took place. Heat treatments in Ti-6Al-4V alloys were useful in order to increase the strength as well as to keep the ductility similar or even increase it to higher values. The tensile behaviour of Ti-5Fe alloys was more tuneable, achieving higher differences in strength and ductility with the as-extruded conditions, even though this happened by trading-off. Overall, Ti-6Al-4V alloys outperformed Ti-5Fe alloys as their strength was typically higher (associated to their higher amount of alloying elements) as well as their ductility, due to their higher ability to deform past necking, which was very limited for Ti-5Fe alloys in most cases.
The fatigue behaviour of the alloys was found to as dependent on the chemistry as on the microstructure and the texture. While the Ti-6Al-4V alloy is not affected by the residual porosity left after thermomechanical processing, the Ti-5Fe alloy shows pores in the region where fatigue damage begins. In the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, it was found that texturing had a much stronger effect on the fatigue strength of the alloy than microstructural refinement. Therefore, the PM Ti-6Al-4V alloy processed in the α+β phase had a higher fatigue strength than alloys processed in the β phase, regardless if the latter has fully lamellar or acicular microstructure. In the case of the Ti-5Fe alloy, two conditions processed in the α+β phase were studied, and it was found that the Fe concentration in transformed β (which is higher when there is a larger amount of primary α) had a critical effect on the fatigue behaviour, overriding the effect of texture or microstructural refinement. This leads to the Ti-5Fe alloy processed at a lower temperature in the α+β phase showing a much lower fatigue strength compared with the alloy processed just below the β transus, despite the fact that its texture and microstructure were, in theory, optimal for fatigue behaviour.
It is concluded that, in order to process cost-effective Ti alloys with fatigue performance comparable to wrought alloys with conventional compositions (with fatigue strength in the range of 650 MPa), thermomechanical processing in the α+β phase must be applied to make use of the strong texturing of the alloy. However, in the case of alloys containing β-eutectoid elements like Fe, the range of temperatures is limited as the partitioning of the alloying element results in severe reduction of the fatigue strength.

year: 2020

title: For staff at the Eastern Institute of Technology, is Ōtātara a placeless geography? Or a geography of significance?

authors: Passey, Emma

subjects: Ōtātara

abstract: This thesis explores the experience of place for a group of tertiary employees in a regional area of New Zealand. Staff based at EIT Hawke’s Bay in Taradale, Napier can see the Ōtātara Pā Reserve from several vantage points on campus, and often visit because of its immediate proximity. Originally, joined and now adjacent, the cultural significance of this land for Māori over some centuries prior to Pākehā settlement, is still being uncovered. Through a series of interviews, the historical significance of this place is joined with the experiences of staff in being in this space. A range of meanings including belonging, attachment and sense of location were described by participants, showing the development over time of threads of connection for themselves, family, community and also staff members.

Ideas in the literature of place were considered including attachment to meaningful locations and landscape. A particular interest in the thesis was bringing this more general literature into focus for a New Zealand place, which has substantial Māori history connections including for participants of both Māori and Pākehā backgrounds. Several methodological issues were discussed within a series of interviews including cultural appropriateness and representation. The researchers transition from an English cultural upbringing, to developing and extending indigenous landscape knowledge, illustrates the changing recognition and involvement in an increasingly bi-cultural New Zealand, and demonstrates the implications of this in understanding place attachment.

Findings from this research were organised in three main chapters. The first, recounted historical material about Ōtātara, Māori and Pākehā times, exploring ideas of place and belonging. It also provided a natural anchor for the second and third chapters, which reported the findings of EIT staff enjoying being within, and feeling the presence of that history. Several themes emerged and were summarised as embodied landscape experiences, and the intriguing dimensions of social relationships and place for these tertiary staff.
Place is important across the social sciences as it is for other disciplines. It evokes on the one hand aspirations and ideals of an aesthetic and spiritual nature but at the same time, reminds human beings of their literal and biological being in time and space. The present study has contributed to this wider narrative by looking at one example and in one national bi-cultural setting.

The question posed at the start of the thesis considered whether EIT staff view Ōtātara as a place of significance or a geography which does not matter. The historical connections and physical closeness between EIT and Ōtātara, mean that the Institution and the landscape are inextricably linked. People are equally bonded to this place through culture and lived experiences. Often unconscious or incidental associations are handed down through the generations, within the organisation and throughout the wider community.
How we now occupy this place in a modern world, how we share the (hi)stories and become authors of new ones, will have a profound influence on the ways that staff continue to connect and develop feelings of belonging. Related to this, an idea about an institutional-wide hīkoi around the boundaries of the campus and Ōtātara is offered as an addendum. Our responsibility as educators is to signal to future generations that this is a landscape of significance ensuring that Ōtātara continues to be acknowledged as a taonga for EIT employees, and that it is nurtured in the same way as it nurtures us.

text: For staff at the Eastern Institute of Technology, is Ōtātara a placeless geography? Or a geography of significance? This thesis explores the experience of place for a group of tertiary employees in a regional area of New Zealand. Staff based at EIT Hawke’s Bay in Taradale, Napier can see the Ōtātara Pā Reserve from several vantage points on campus, and often visit because of its immediate proximity. Originally, joined and now adjacent, the cultural significance of this land for Māori over some centuries prior to Pākehā settlement, is still being uncovered. Through a series of interviews, the historical significance of this place is joined with the experiences of staff in being in this space. A range of meanings including belonging, attachment and sense of location were described by participants, showing the development over time of threads of connection for themselves, family, community and also staff members.

Ideas in the literature of place were considered including attachment to meaningful locations and landscape. A particular interest in the thesis was bringing this more general literature into focus for a New Zealand place, which has substantial Māori history connections including for participants of both Māori and Pākehā backgrounds. Several methodological issues were discussed within a series of interviews including cultural appropriateness and representation. The researchers transition from an English cultural upbringing, to developing and extending indigenous landscape knowledge, illustrates the changing recognition and involvement in an increasingly bi-cultural New Zealand, and demonstrates the implications of this in understanding place attachment.

Findings from this research were organised in three main chapters. The first, recounted historical material about Ōtātara, Māori and Pākehā times, exploring ideas of place and belonging. It also provided a natural anchor for the second and third chapters, which reported the findings of EIT staff enjoying being within, and feeling the presence of that history. Several themes emerged and were summarised as embodied landscape experiences, and the intriguing dimensions of social relationships and place for these tertiary staff.
Place is important across the social sciences as it is for other disciplines. It evokes on the one hand aspirations and ideals of an aesthetic and spiritual nature but at the same time, reminds human beings of their literal and biological being in time and space. The present study has contributed to this wider narrative by looking at one example and in one national bi-cultural setting.

The question posed at the start of the thesis considered whether EIT staff view Ōtātara as a place of significance or a geography which does not matter. The historical connections and physical closeness between EIT and Ōtātara, mean that the Institution and the landscape are inextricably linked. People are equally bonded to this place through culture and lived experiences. Often unconscious or incidental associations are handed down through the generations, within the organisation and throughout the wider community.
How we now occupy this place in a modern world, how we share the (hi)stories and become authors of new ones, will have a profound influence on the ways that staff continue to connect and develop feelings of belonging. Related to this, an idea about an institutional-wide hīkoi around the boundaries of the campus and Ōtātara is offered as an addendum. Our responsibility as educators is to signal to future generations that this is a landscape of significance ensuring that Ōtātara continues to be acknowledged as a taonga for EIT employees, and that it is nurtured in the same way as it nurtures us.

year: 2021