13361 research outputs found
Sort by
A journey into school lunchbox decision-making: A mixed methods exploration of Australian parents
Get PDFIntroductionThis study aimed to understand parents' decision-making processes when packing their child's lunchbox, investigating barriers and facilitators of seeking nutrition information for food choices.MethodsAn online survey with Likert and open-ended questions was conducted via social media platforms. Descriptive quantitative analysis was conducted for the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was done for the qualitative data.ResultsOf 52 parent participants, 78% considered nutritional information when packing lunchboxes, relying mainly on food labelling (32%) and the Australian Nutrition Food Guide (12%). Most parents (64%) felt confident preparing healthy lunchboxes, focusing on fresh, high-fibre foods and avoiding preservatives. While 60% felt they did not need additional information, 40% were open to more guidance. Key themes included informed food choices, balancing nutrition with preferences, managing information overload, and practical approaches.ConclusionsParents demonstrated knowledge of healthy eating guidelines but faced challenges in balancing nutritious choices with children's preferences, cost, and providing a balanced diet.So What?Clear, accessible guidance on healthy lunchbox preparation needs to be provided. This helps with comprehensive food labelling, strategies for balancing nutrition with preferences, addressing cost challenges, and developing interventions to overcome barriers in food knowledge and availability
FRANCHISOR-FRANCHISEE CONFRONTATION IN A QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT
No full textThe air was thick and tense in the busy setting of a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR). Within the setting of the QSR environment characterized by the noise of customers and the sizzle of food, a professional conversation between Rob, the seasoned master franchisee , and Miland, the newly minted franchisee, took a heated turn. The conversation that was meant to revolve around improving business operations turned hostile when Rob demanded longer operating hours, a new billboard, and costly equipment upgrades. However, the matter got worse when Rob made personal remarks about Miland’s body language and facial expressions, crossing professional boundaries.Miland, growing increasingly stressed, responded assertively to the personal comments. The restaurant atmosphere, usually buzzing with the aroma of food and customer chatter, felt increasingly uncomfortable as the exchange intensified. “Don’t you dare talk about these things,” Miland responded, his voice firm and loaded with frustration, “You are not my boss; you are my business partner.” His voice echoed in the confined space. “Even if you were the boss, commenting on someone’s physical appearance, body language, and professional status in such a manner is unacceptable.” The argument was so intense that it nearly turned physical, illustrating just how quickly a professional dispute can escalate into personal conflict. Observing the hostile exchange, the restaurant staff froze, unsure whether to step in or stay silent. Miland’s wife, Deepika, who also worked in the restaurant, began to shiver, witnessing an unsettling side of her husband in a business built on their hard-earned money, hope, and long-term vision.<br/
The functional differentiation of the printed surf magazine in the digital age of leisure reading
Get PDFThis study utilises media substitution theory as the primary theoretical lens to investigate whether the leisure reading of printed surf magazines remains influential in surfing subculture in the face of digital media disruption. Using a mixed methods approach, data were derived from an online survey of 1039 Australian surfers followed by 17 semi-structured interviews. Comparisons were made between participants from the generational cohort Gen-Z and a combined cohort of older age groups. Findings revealed that despite Gen-Z’s habitual social media use, this generational cohort of Australian surfers has low levels of trust in social mediaand high levels of trust in surf magazines. The reading of surf magazines was found to exert influence on individual and group identity. Conclusions around the functional differentiation of surf magazines in this digital age reveal how and why the reading of surf magazines remains integral to the subculture and overall success of the surf industry. The findings are relevant to scholars interested in sport media leisure reading, the media channel choices of Gen-Z, as well as industry practitioners that target lifestyle, youth and niche leisure sport markets
Effects of emotional amplification on public perceptions of waste-to-energy incineration facilities: evidence from a behavioral survey experiment
No full textThis study explores the profound impact of emotional amplification on public attitudes towards waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration facilities through the lens of emotional contagion theory. A cohort of 240 participants initially underwent baseline assessments of their perceptions of WTE facilities. They were then exposed to stimuli designed to evoke positive or negative emotional responses, followed by reassessment to identify shifts in their perceptions and acceptance levels. Utilizing paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA, the analysis revealed that emotional amplification markedly influences public attitudes, with participants showing increased support or opposition depending on the emotional valence of the stimuli. These findings underscore the crucial role of emotions in shaping public opinion on WTE incineration facilities, offering essential insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and community leaders. The integration of emotional contagion theory with empirical research provides a novel perspective on the interplay between emotions and public perceptions in environmental discourse, advancing our understanding of the factors driving public opinion and aiding stakeholders in managing opposition incidents effectively.</p
Nostalgia and the positive valence system
No full textAccording to the regulatory model of nostalgia, nostalgia activates the positive valence system to countermand negative emotionality. However, no research has systematically examined whether nostalgia influences the diverse manifestations of the positive valence system. We addressed this issue in two preregistered studies (ΣN = 543). Participants completed trait nostalgia scales and the Positive Valence System Scale, comprising the following seven constructs: reward valuation, reward expectancy, effort valuation, action selection, reward anticipation, initial reward responsiveness, and reward satiation. In both studies, trait nostalgia was positively associated with all positive valence system constructs. When nostalgia was experimentally induced (Study 2), it increased reward valuation, action selection, and initial responsiveness. The results clarify nostalgia’s impact on the positive valence system and the implications of the regulatory model. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved
A Comparison of the Right to Protest and its Constitutional Protection: COVID and Beyond
No full textThis article considers the right to protest, and the way in which it is currently regulated by some Australian states. The legislation confers great discretion on decision makers in terms of whether to grant permission for a proposed protest. The article makes the argument that the discretion is so broad so that its exercise is, on one view, effectively unreviewable. The High Court has struck down provisions as constitutionally invalid where decisions made pursuant to it purport to be effectively unreviewable. It is also argued that legislation cast in such broad terms is contrary to the rule of law
Inclusive learning spaces in Australian schools: an exploration of stakeholder participation, perspectives and priorities
No full textMost Australian children with disability who attend school are enrolled in mainstream schools, yet insights into their spatial experiences of school environments are limited. This research explored the experiences of students with disability in various school settings, focusing on the physical enablers and barriers to their participation (C. Imms et al., 2017). Data were collected via 18 focus groups with stakeholder groups that included students and young adults with disability (18+ years), parents, disability representative organisations, special school principals and educators. Focus groups were analysed by a team with backgrounds in education, architecture, and health/disability, using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Analysis revealed three themes: 1) genuine commitment to inclusive education, 2) spaces that are available, accessible and adaptable, offering variety and choice, and 3) recognising diversity and the need for responsive settings for teaching and learning. The findings highlighted the need for spaces that can adapt to individual learners, emphasising the importance of forming partnerships with key stakeholders. Co-design processes involving people with disabilities were seen as vital for identifying barriers and enablers to students' meaningful participation. Teacher professional development focused on supporting students' spatial and environmental needs was also recognised as essential for inclusive education.</p
Environmental Features and Trajectories of Physical Activity Over 10 Years in Mid-Age Australian Adults
No full textBackground: Our aim was to determine adult's trajectories of meeting 150 minutes per week of physical activity (PA) and assess associations between environmental features (and changes in these) with trajectory membership.Methods: We used data from the How Areas in Brisbane Influence HealTh and AcTivity (HABITAT) cohort study, Australia. Data on PA were assessed in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016 among individuals aged 45-60 years. At each survey, data on length of bike paths, area of parks, residential density, street connectivity, land use mix, and number of street lights were measured. PA trajectories were determined using group-based trajectory modeling. Group differences were analyzed based on median and interquartile range (IQR) of environmental features and associations were assessed through multinomial logistic regression.Results: We identified 4 trajectories of meeting PA guidelines: low (14.4%), decreasing (13.7%), increasing (30.4%), and high (41.5%). Median (IQR) values of environmental features were very similar among trajectory groups (P > .05) with relatively little change between initial (2007) and final (2016) timepoints. Associations with trajectory membership were observed for bike path length among participants in the mid-tertile of the low trajectory group compared with the high trajectory (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.84); and for street connectivity in the low (OR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.87), and increasing trajectory groups (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.94).Conclusion: In the context of this "livable city," environmental features did not thoroughly predict patterns of PA among mid-age adults. Environmental predictors of PA deserve further attention, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, as active friendly environments have important connotations for various types of PA
Successfully integrating sustainability into medical science education with mixed-method iterative approaches
Get PDFStudents, accrediting bodies, and institutions are increasingly calling for educators to include planetary health (PH) in medical and health professions curricula. With the World Health Organization identifying climate change as the single biggest health threat facing humanity, health professionals must be prepared for the impacts of a changing climate, biodiversity loss, and pollution. There is an expectation that they will also need to practice sustainable and climate-resilient healthcare. Following limited beneficial outcomes in a first attempt to include PH content in an introductory Physiology subject for health sciences and medicine pathway students at an Australian university, we utilized an educational research design theory and design-based research methodology to develop, implement, and evaluate the integration of PH into a Physiology subject. Key stakeholders (students and tutors) provided ongoing feedback at regular points before, during, and at the end of the 12-week semester. Based on the findings, we offer evidence-based recommendations for integrating PH into an existing subject that avoids overloading an already busy curriculum. Recommendations include providing a clear definition of PH at the start of the semester, embedding a weekly "fact" in lecture slides, engaging learners in discussions during tutorials, linking PH concepts during hands-on practical laboratories, and establishing a dedicated PH learning objective for the subject.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Planetary health can be integrated into current medical and health professions subjects without the need to remove existing content or excessively impact staff and student time commitments. It is possible to meet student, faculty, employer, and accreditor expectations of preparing graduates to work in a changing healthcare system.</p
A mixed-methods strategy to analyse the dynamics of safety violations of the construction workers in Hong Kong
No full textThere is a lack of research specifically addressing safety violations among construction workers in Hong Kong. This study, therefore, aims to address the research gap and provide insight into the causes of safety violations. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to achieve research objectives and leverage the benefits of each method.Using a Theory of Planned Behaviour framework and High Reliability Organising (HRO), this research adopted a questionnaire survey to test the relationships among the constructs, which obtained 365 valid responses.Subsequently, 37 semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain insight into workers’ perspectives.The research results confirmed reliability and validity of the employed methods. Intention significantly affects the occurrence of safety violations. Among cognitive determinants of safety violations, two factors have a notable influence on intention, with Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) being the most critical factor. HRO, as the distal factor that impacts cognitive determinants of safety violations, initiates a transformative approach to construction safety management that emphasises continuous reflection and improvement. Practical strategies are recommended to target PBC and attitude to improve workers’ intentions. It is also recommended that training be designed to cater to contextual features of different work groups, such as young and elderly workers