Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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The role of the graduate pedagogical leader with children from birth to thirty months
No full textThe development of a graduate-leader role in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce has been a significant policy issue in England since 1997. Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) was introduced as a full graduate role from 2006 (CWDC, 2006) and replaced by Early Years Teacher (EYT) Status from 2013 (NCTL, 2013a). This study is situated during a time period when Early Years Professional (EYP) was the graduate leader role. EYPs were to be leaders of pedagogical practice with children from birth to five within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This was a distinctive role from leadership/management of an ECEC setting. A study by Mathers et al. (2011), evaluating EYPS, considered the graduate leader role with the different age groups within the EYFS and found there to be less evidence of EYPs working with children under 30 months. Many babies and toddlers are now in some form of non-parental care settings for at least part of the week and ECEC provision for them has been noticeably politically neglected (Powell and Goouch, 2012). Children from B-30m are at a critical stage of development, with enormous capacity for exploration and learning about their worlds but also in need of appropriate care (Degotardi and Pearson, 2014).
This study was a response to Mathers et al.’s call for further research on graduate leadership with children from B-30m. Through collective case study and adopting a multi-method approach, the experiences and perspectives of six EYPs, who led pedagogical practice with children under the age of 30 months, were recorded and documented to give voice to their understanding of the EYP role. Drawing on principles of constructivist grounded theory, using an iterative approach the data was analysed, coded and categorised to identify specific aspects of the EYPs’ pedagogical leadership. Two inter-related dimensions of leadership emerged: relationships (with the children, parents, within the team and with other professionals); and trustworthiness (through pedagogical knowledge, strategic leadership skills, reflective practice and in their values and pedagogical beliefs). The study also found the thread of professional care running through these two dimensions and concluded that a model of mindfully caring leadership offered a conceptual framework for pedagogical leadership with children B-30m. This model is also considered to have contemporary relevance to the newer ECEC graduate role of EYT. Further research on how EYTs work with children B-30m is one of the recommendations of this study.</p
Defining Graduate Employability in Playwork – Employers’ Perspectives
No full textThis research study is concerned with employers’ perspectives on graduate employability in playwork, and seeks to identify the skills, knowledge and attitudes which employers require of their prospective playwork, graduate employees. Sixteen employers were interviewed in total. All were based in England, and collectively represented ten different types of provision, which ranged from those directly offering play opportunities for children through to organisations providing support and development services. Specialist employers were also included from a prison play organisation, a hospital, a school and a social care provider. Transcripts were typed up and, using thematic analysis, a framework describing the knowledge, skills and attitudes was developed. It was acknowledged that some employers did not fully appreciate the level of learning required by undergraduates as they near achievement of their degree, and also that some responses identified attributes that could not be taught, or necessarily learnt, as a result of higher education. Nevertheless, a coherent and comprehensive description of employability for the playwork graduate, from employers’ perspectives, has been reached
Disconnected: How Are New Technologies Distancing Us From Ourselves?
No full textThis critical reflection explores the emergence of Digital Health technologies within the Information Era, applying the Foucauldian concept of bio-power and calling upon technologies from Apple and the film Her, among others, as examples. In turn, examining whether Digital Health technologies can improve individual well-being or are in fact a side-effect of hyper-rational, capitalist ideology which ultimately leads to the breakdown of social relations.</p
Engagement in Child and Adolescent Weight Management Programmes
No full textIntroduction: Engagement denotes the extent to which, and how, individuals and families participate in a weight management (WM) programme. Data suggest that between 8-83% of families do not complete the paediatric WM programme which they initiated, but the underlying mechanisms which drive participant engagement are poorly understood. This thesis aims to 1) establish if participant-and programme-characteristics are associated with various engagement trajectories in paediatric WM programmes, and 2) explain the factors associated with initial-and continued-programme engagement. The Model of Retention – translated from Higher Education – underpins this thesis.
Study 1: Methods – Secondary data of 2948 MoreLife participants (age: 10.44±2.80 years, BMI SDS: 2.48±0.87 units, white ethnicity: 70.52 %) were used. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression examined the predictors of attendance and engagement groups (e.g. early dropout, late dropout, completion…) respectively. Results – Six variables were associated with engagement (Programme: group size, delivery period, & programme year; Participant: BMI SDS, Ethnicity, & IMD score). Programme characteristics were stronger predictors of engagement than participant characteristics, and the predictors varied between engagement groups. A small proportion of the variance in engagement was explained by the final predictors.
Study 2: Methods – Qualitative data were collected from 31 families (parents and children) across three paediatric WM programmes (MoreLife, SHINE, and Weigh To Go) at the early-and late-programme stages. The Model of Retention guided the lines of inquiry and data analysis framework. Results – Six factors were central to engagement: 1) having support; 2) self-efficacy in one’s ability to attend; 3) coping with the demands of programme engagement; 4) controlling engagement decisions; 5) experiencing benefits from engagement; and, 6) having an engagement promoting programme design. The importance and dominance of these factors varied between the early-and lateprogramme stages, and moreover, between parents and children.
Conclusions: Participant engagement was demonstrated to be a complex phenomenon; one that is challenging to predict and currently better explained through qualitative investigation. This thesis, and the collective discussion within, illuminate methods of improving WM programme engagement through design and delivery modification. The Model of Retention offers a means of comprehensively explaining engagement. Finally, this thesis provides a conceptual framework for discussing programme engagement.</p
Food Consumption and Environmental Degradation: Beyond Our Control?
No full textMass food consumption has been one of the foremost issues concerning environmental degradation. The food production industry has been detrimental, high amounts of waste and deforestation have played a damaging role in the ecology of our planet. This reflection tackles this issue with reference to the sign value food consumption has in our consumerist culture. Recognising the role of sign values in creating the problem, this reflection proposes that perhaps a way forward is possible if we attempt to change the sign values of more ecologically aware foods, though admittedly that this would be a formidable feat to achieve.</p
Mumbai...Global City of Extremes
No full textIn ‘Mumbai…Global City of Extremes’, Lindley explores the impact of global neo liberalism on the economy, poverty and environment in India. The paper explores how Mumbai, despite being a key ‘nodal point’ in the global economy, is marked by extremes of poverty and inequality. Lindley suggests that as India develops and is further integrated into the global economy it is confronted with a range of new risks and challenges in relation to environmental sustainability. While further modernisation may offer potential relief to the poor, the impact on the environment may actually serve to reinforce economic inequalities rather than reduce them.</p
Development of Digital Art Techniques to Test Perception of Photorealistic Computer Generated Characters
No full textThis thesis reviews and discusses the creation of photorealistic virtual human faces and tests audience perception of a series of specifically developed visual assets. This provides a detailed look at the human perception of such visuals. In addition, specific techniques required to produce and render the photorealistic visuals are investigated. Viewer testing informs the development of a series of computer-generated (CG) animated assets, through which the thesis introduces a range of metrics that shape the viewers’ experience. Moreover, technical and creative recommendations to the artist are provided in relation to developing similar assets.
The literature review considers how visuals of a realistic, although non-real, nature can in certain circumstances elicit a negative response in the viewer. This response can manifest as a feeling of repulsion, rather than empathy, towards the CG subject. Mori’s (1970) theory of the “uncanny valley effect” is considered as a hypothesis for predicting this response. This negative response is problematic for an artist attempting to develop photorealistic visuals. The uncanny valley effect is looked at in detail and established work in the field is built upon to consider animated visuals in addition to static images. Previous research does not fully address the perception of animated characters. This thesis shows how the addition of motion may affect viewer perception of the visuals. Moreover, the impact of image composition is taken into account.
Optimal asset generation processes are determined, employing relevant technologies, artistry and techniques. This was steered by experience and perception of the visuals. The methodology employed saw appropriately targeted individuals complete questionnaires and self-report documents to identify their objective feelings towards sample visual media. Test data was gathered, analysed and used to identify key visual triggers in the imagery. Accrued data informed the approach to develop refined CG assets, which were again tested.
Test One, Real or CG, gauges the accuracy of human perception in determining real (photographic) imagery from (CG) imagery. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of how and why viewers’ decisions and opinions were made. The test also aids the development of future research in identifying the key elements that inform the test subject's decisions.
Test Two, Is it in The Detail?, establishes whether a viewer requires an entire image or a fragment of an image to determine whether an image is real or CG. Here an informed decision is reached about whether the whole picture or merely close-ups of the key features delivers greater accuracy. Additional emphasises is given to the rationale for these differences.
Test Three, Photorealistic Character, takes the earlier tests a stage further, with the addition of movement. Participants judged a digital human asset in terms of realism in its static form and then again while in motion. The results of each exposure to the visuals were then compared. An additional comparison between full frame and close-up sections of animation was also conducted. Masahiro Mori’s (1970) uncanny valley theory regarding differences between perceptions of static and moving virtual humans is discussed here in relation to the recorded data.
The thesis shows that movement and composition of visuals have an impact on viewer perception of CG humans. The test data also confirms that the accuracy of the motion impacts upon the perceived human-likeness of the visuals.</p
Graduate Voices: Exploring Numerate Professionals’ Mathematics Education Experiences and Challenges
No full textCertain graduate professions require evidence of specific mathematics skills or components. For example, Teachers (QTS), Registered Nurses (NMC), Pharmacists (GPhC), Radiographers (SOR) and Psychologists (BPS). These professions represent successful outcomes for an educational trajectory and are in a minority as “numerate graduates” (Durrani and Tariq, 2012, p. 3). Nevertheless, a conundrum exists whereby members of these professions have had, or still have, difficulties with mathematics. This thesis explores the relationship with mathematics, and mathematics education, of eight such graduates who have been in their professions for more than five years. The participants’ demographic is under-represented in the literature and they are not involved, as stakeholders, in mathematics education. Hence, the study is framed as exploratory. An interpretivist approach to inquiry is adopted, utilising analysis of narrative methods to develop thematic networks. In-depth interviews, focused around the construction of a personal timeline (Adriansen, 2012) were used to facilitate the participants telling stories of their experience with mathematics. The inquiry is presented as being a valuable undertaking without pre-supposing what conclusions, if any, may be drawn. Two thematic networks are presented, entitled 'Purpose' and 'Identity' which are explored in relation to the participants' experiences and to relevant literature. Given the professional nature of this doctorate, literature is also reviewed which relates to the field of higher education mathematics support. The experiences related by the participants span many decades yet they have clear accord with one another and with current literature on mathematics education. It seems evident that disempowering and inequitable tendencies within mathematics education, and compulsory education particularly, seem to be 'sticky' in nature and seem to have been replicated, or preserved, over many years and in many contexts. From the analysis, participants' understanding of levels of difficulty within mathematics (the 'yard-stick' effect) together with the motivation to 'make amends' as well as their own conceptualisation of types of mathematics are emphasised. Furthermore, recommendations for practitioners are made regarding awareness of the imperfect nature of assessment and the need for learning to be meaningful.</p
The Implications of Constructing Identity Within the Online Sphere
No full textIdentities are arguably the most complex they have ever been with rise of the information society. Therefore, this contribution will delve into the concept of profiling, and how it shapes identities through profiling, whether this is through online media profiles or consumer profiles created by online shopping.</p
Climate Change: Late/Liquid Modern Individualisation and Risk in Globalisation
No full textA key characteristic of late capitalism has been the furthering of individualization (Bauman, 2000). From this it has become quite easy for sociologists and the general population to disregard the importance of structures (Cartmel and Furlong, 2007). Structures such as ethnicity, gender, and class still have an impact on the life chances of new generations, whilst the structures of consumerism and the growth of global capital are leading to catastrophic changes in global climate. The global risk of climate change is not a new threat, but is one that is worsening, so much so that it has been named as the largest threat to the global economy (Elliot, 2016). However, as individual interests and the furthering of life chances take precedence, it seems this problem will only worsen until there becomes an imminent reason that stimulates global community interest. This reflection will examine how the process of individualisation, as a result of consumer led economic interest, has led to the perpetuation of climate change.</p