VIURRSpace (Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University)
Not a member yet
25170 research outputs found
Sort by
Qualitative Exploration of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Creation of Informed Police Officer Training in Canada
No full text2024Abstract Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the leading cause of developmental disability in Canada and individuals with FASD are 30 times more likely to come in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) and police officers as victims, witnesses, and suspects/accused parties (McLachlan et al., 2019). Within the Ontario, Canada, context, my overarching interdisciplinary research question asks: How can the experiences of justice-involved individuals with FASD be utilized to assist in the development of training and education for police officers to recognize the behaviours associated with the secondary disabilities of FASD such that officers can utilize FASD-informed responses, including alternatives to incarceration and community referrals. My Participatory Action Research (PAR) strives to shift officer perspective, decrease stigma, and increase consideration for the use of diversion and restorative justice measures for FASD youth and adult offenders. From an interdisciplinary perspective, this research relies on several theoretical frameworks including symbolic interactionism and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory of Human Development. Once framed, this research deploys action research qualitative research methodology and in-depth interviews with: 1) five participants formally or informally diagnosed with FASD whose interactions with police officers via respective arrests or interactions; and 2) two participants who are currently employed as FASD co-ordinators in x agency. Data analysis results in the emergence of nine main themes which focuses on participants’ perceptions of police and the desire for patience and respect during police interactions, specifically during arrest. The perceptions from this small selective sample indicate a robust opportunity to increase police-community relations during all interactions with individuals with FASD. This research contributes to the academic literature as the literature review unveils minimal research conducted on the consistency of training or education modules created and delivered to Canadian police officers regarding FASD, the behaviours associated with FASD and the secondary disabilities arising from the condition. This research contributes to the applied and professional arena with the creation of a standardized police training and education module outlining the relevant behaviours associated with FASD. As a policing practitioner and scholar, the resultant module provides an actionable opportunity for officers to provide constructive alternatives to incarceration.Keywords: FASD; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; police-community relations; FASD and justice; police training on FASD; FASD and criminogenic behaviour; overrepresentation in correctional facilities; stigmatization due to behaviour; FASD-informed police trainin
An Assessment of Supply Chain Resilience Capabilities in Nigeria's Downstream Oil and Gas Sector
No full text2024At the request of the author, this graduate work is not available to view until January 31, 2026.
Nigeria's downstream oil and gas sector (O&G), a critical driver of economic growth, faces an intricate web of challenges that continue to disrupt the O&G supply chain and impede its contribution to the national economy. Despite implementing deregulation in 2023 as a one-size-fits-all strategy to improve the O&G supply chain performance against various disruptions, fuel scarcity and price volatility persist. This qualitative study investigates supply chain capabilities in the downstream O&G sector in Nigeria through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholder organizations in Nigeria's downstream O&G sector. The study identifies the challenges disrupting Nigeria's O&G supply chain in the downstream O&G sector, including infrastructural challenges, security and social issues, external and global factors, and a lack of good governance and responsible management. The study categorizes supply chain resilience capabilities into three main categories. Pre-disruption capabilities include risk management, accurate forecasting, supply chain visibility and monitoring, collaboration and information sharing, technology and digitalization, infrastructural readiness, expertise and training, and regulatory policies and compliance. During-disruption capabilities encompass inventory and distribution management, supply chain flexibility, collaboration and communication, technology and digitalization. Post-disruption capabilities include technology digitalization, collaboration, supply chain flexibility, and performance indicators. The study suggests integrating organizational-level recommendations with system-level recommendations to achieve supply chain resilience, which includes aspects of infrastructural readiness, good governance, and responsible management. The study's findings address gaps in business practices and policy formulation in enhancing the resilience of Nigeria's downstream oil supply chain, with significant positive impacts on households, businesses, and the broader Nigerian economy.At the request of the author, this graduate work is not available to view until January 31, 2026
[Book review] Arboreality
No full textThis book review was orginally published by The British Columbia Review: https://thebcreview.ca/2024/04/04/2122-mcfarland-campbell/Dana McFarland reviews Arboreality by Rebecca Campbell (Hamilton: Stelliform Press, 2022)
Food security in British Columbia: Understanding its limitations through policy analysis
No full textScientific advancements and the process of globalization that occurred over the past century has significantly changed the way people grow, acquire, and consume food. It is expected that food production must increase even more as the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. However, close to 1/3rd of all food that is produced ends up as waste. This issue is exacerbated given that close to 12% of the global population, which reached 8.0 billion in 2022, suffers from poverty. To have people go hungry while edible food ends up in the landfill is paradoxical and the main purpose of this thesis. This paper examines current food waste reduction strategies used by municipalities within British Columbia, specifically focusing on the City of Vancouver. The research comprises a literature review, semi-structured interview, and analysis of four case studies determined by the findings of the research.Thesis/major project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University
Superdiversity as a superpower: Honouring IBPOC stories in provincial literary assessment practices
No full textPosterPoster exploring what can be learned about the experiences of IBPOC learners undertaking high-stakes provincial assessments through information evident within surveys and interviews when interpreted through co-autoethnographical and autoethnographical lenses.Master of Education in Educational Leadershi
Using remote sensing technologies for vegetation assessments in the cultivated oil & gas lease reclamation certification process
No full textThe current prescribed methodology for performing vegetation assessments on cultivated wellsites for the reclamation certification process requires gathering and analyzing field samples. This time consuming activity can only take place during a very narrow time window. As a result, only a limited number of vegetation assessments can be performed on cultivated wellsites each year. Research was conducted into the efficacy of utilizing remote sensing technology to perform vegetation assessments. Multispectral imagery from both satellite and UAV platforms was investigated. Satellite imagery was eventually abandoned due to its geolocation inaccuracy at the scale required for wellsite evaluations. Multispectral imagery from UAV sensors was used to create a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the wellsite area (Onsite) and a portion of the surrounding field (Offsite). NDVI was chosen as a reliable indicator of crop health. The Onsite NDVI sample populations were compared to the Offsite NDVI sample populations using a number of statistical tests. These tests include a Mean and Minimum Test, Z-Test, FTest to Compare Two Variances and Getis-Ord Gi* Analysis. The research found that a combination of the Mean and Minimum Test, Z-Test, F-Test to Compare Two Variances and Getis-Ord Gi* Analysis provided a comprehensive and rigorous method of comparing the health of the Onsite crop to that of the Offsite
Neurodiversity affirming relationships
Get PDFAlthough children who are neurodivergent have unique experiences that can inform social skill strategies, their perspectives are often not exclusively focused on in research studies. This qualitative study explores insights into neurodiversity affirming and effective relationship-building methods by listening to the stories of eleven people, both neurotypical and neurodivergent, who attended the same social skills program. This narrative inquiry seeks to understand their perspectives and expectations that someone may have when attending a social skills intervention group. Stories include experiences from neurodivergent participants and neurotypical peer-mentors. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, and data analysis used coding via inductive reasoning to develop themes. Four themes emerged from the data: exploring relationship-building, peer interactions, teacher modelling, and the dual learning experience. This study offers an example of research that can be conducted with students who have autism and other neurodivergences and suggests ideas for further exploration with attention to teaching practice related to fostering relationships among all students
The power of playfulness: the interpretation of teacher playfulness from the perspective of Autistic students
Get PDFCreating positive learning environments for students who are autistic is essential to their education rights as individuals. This study suggests that teacher playfulness in an inclusive education setting can be a supportive pedagogical approach for teachers to use when teaching autistic students. The study is done using an interpretive phenomenological approach which highlights the experiences and interpretations of participants, who were autistic students.
Participants describe their experiences with playful and non-playful teachers. Study findings affirmed that participants preferred playful teachers over non-playful teachers. Participants noted how teacher playfulness supports them in feeling connected, safe, engaged, and happy. Overall, four key themes emerged across participants: cultivating safety and belonging, the power of laughter, fostering a supportive learning environment, and compassionate connection
Bringing parents into the fold
No full textEffective communication between learning support teachers and parents is pivotal for the development and progress of students with special educational needs. This project presents a plain-language handbook and reproduceable materials to aid learning support teachers in this endeavour. Within the theoretical framework of Ecological Systems Theory, and grounded in contemporary educational research, the handbook provides guidance for facilitating clear, empathetic, constructive, collaborative communication with parents and other professionals within the school. It emphasizes the importance of eliminating power imbalances, practising cultural sensitivity, working constructively through conflict, and being responsive to parent communication preferences. By equipping educators with these tools, the handbook aims to enhance the educational experience for students, provide parents with a deeper understanding of the educational process, and ultimately draw on parents as partners in the education process by – when appropriate – bringing them into the fold of the school team
Building resiliency of the coastal Douglas-fir zone through ecological linkages: A landscape connectivity analysis of Vancouver Island
No full textVancouver Island and Gulf Islands host a diverse landscape consisting of four biogeoclimatic zones (BEC), home to numerous species and ecological communities at risk. One zone of particular biological significance is the Coastal-Douglas fir (CDF) zone, which has experienced extensive development, resulting in the loss of critical habitat essential for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. This research aimed to assess the current state of, map landscape connectivity, and identify key ecological linkages across Vancouver Island with a focus on CDF. A gap analysis based on the IUCN’s 30 by 30 conservation goal, revealed that as of 2023, only 8.82% of the CDF zone is protected. Landscape connectivity was modeled using a ‘species agnostic’ approach in Omniscape, applying circuit theory to a resistance surface to map connectivity across the region. Multiple moving window sizes were tested, showing smaller window sizes overrepresented connectivity, while larger sizes led to the loss of important linkages. A 15 km was found to be the most appropriate size for capturing connectivity in the Study Area. A sensitivity analysis highlighted that slope was a limiting factor for connectivity. Model validation, using a Roosevelt elk telemetry data, indicated that current density values at actual elk locations were significantly different from random locations for 12 out of the 15 individuals (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p<0.05), suggesting that the model accurately represented species movement. A quantile classification of the model outputs identified the top 15% of current density values, which were considered important ecological linkages for conservation. These areas are crucial for facilitating species movements and dispersal, supporting adaptation to climate change, and enhance resilience to environmental disturbances. The results of this study provide insights into landscape connectivity and offer guidance for conservation efforts aimed at meeting the 30 by 30 goal, ensuring the protection and management of critical habitat for biodiversit