Memory, Induction, and Strategic Behaviour in Economic and Social Situations. This project will provide economists, game theorists and other social scientists with a theoretical framework to model players with limited memories, and to model the process by which they develop their subjective views. By giving a formal treatment of the problem of induction, it will help us to understand how people might come to have different views on the world. By capturing new aspects of bounded memory, it will e ....Memory, Induction, and Strategic Behaviour in Economic and Social Situations. This project will provide economists, game theorists and other social scientists with a theoretical framework to model players with limited memories, and to model the process by which they develop their subjective views. By giving a formal treatment of the problem of induction, it will help us to understand how people might come to have different views on the world. By capturing new aspects of bounded memory, it will extend our understanding of agents with bounded rationality. The emergence of sophisticated strategic concepts and behavioural implications of these subjective views in society can also be described and discussed in this framework. Read moreRead less
Agency and Change in Institutionalised Organisations: The role of volunteers as institutional agents in the non-profit sector. This project intends to test recent developments in neoinstitutional organisational theory. The theoretical model developed is designed to address two questions bedvilling the genre: the role of human agency in institutional processes, and understanding institutional change. These questions are addressed in two ways: first, it takes voluntarism as an example of agency ....Agency and Change in Institutionalised Organisations: The role of volunteers as institutional agents in the non-profit sector. This project intends to test recent developments in neoinstitutional organisational theory. The theoretical model developed is designed to address two questions bedvilling the genre: the role of human agency in institutional processes, and understanding institutional change. These questions are addressed in two ways: first, it takes voluntarism as an example of agency in action; and second, it is located in the non-profit sector, an organisational field undergoing significant change. The project employs a micro-sociological methodological orientation rarely used in neoinstitutional research; that of non-participant observation and conversation analysis.Read moreRead less
Generalised quantum models of complexity with application to cognitive systems. Non-separable systems surround us. Our transportation, taxation, schooling, environmental and social policies are all interrelated, and it is increasingly recognised that we cannot consider them in isolation. Such systems are generally deemed complex, and it is often impossible to separate them from one another. Despite this, many of our most advanced modelling techniques are grounded in principles of separability a ....Generalised quantum models of complexity with application to cognitive systems. Non-separable systems surround us. Our transportation, taxation, schooling, environmental and social policies are all interrelated, and it is increasingly recognised that we cannot consider them in isolation. Such systems are generally deemed complex, and it is often impossible to separate them from one another. Despite this, many of our most advanced modelling techniques are grounded in principles of separability and non-contextuality. This project will develop a new set of models of non-separable systems and complexity that will in turn lead to new frontier technologies and theories.Read moreRead less
The many faces of threat: An investigation of animal, interpersonal and intergroup threat. Threat to personal safety can take a number of guises, a snake in the grass, an angry neighbour or, increasingly often in our modern world, a stranger who looks different. The present project will investigate the manner in which we respond to these threats, whether these responses can be modulated and what determines the threatening nature of an event. A better understanding of how we react to real or p ....The many faces of threat: An investigation of animal, interpersonal and intergroup threat. Threat to personal safety can take a number of guises, a snake in the grass, an angry neighbour or, increasingly often in our modern world, a stranger who looks different. The present project will investigate the manner in which we respond to these threats, whether these responses can be modulated and what determines the threatening nature of an event. A better understanding of how we react to real or perceived threats, in particular those involving other humans, will aid our understanding of human behaviour in an ever faster changing environment, both in our region and more broadly. Read moreRead less
The role of the internet in building social capital amongst homosexually active men: virtual communities in HIV prevention. Social capital comprises features of social organisation such as civic participation, norms of reciprocity and trust in others that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit, including health and wellbeing. The proposed research focuses on the role of the internet in producing the networks that engender social inclusion and community connectedness. There is scepticism about ....The role of the internet in building social capital amongst homosexually active men: virtual communities in HIV prevention. Social capital comprises features of social organisation such as civic participation, norms of reciprocity and trust in others that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit, including health and wellbeing. The proposed research focuses on the role of the internet in producing the networks that engender social inclusion and community connectedness. There is scepticism about whether the 'virtual community' of the Internet can build social capital. The study will explore the potential benefits as well as harms to those homosexually active men who use the internet to access health information, meet sexual partners and build friendships that affirm gay identity and community inclusion.Read moreRead less
Love Maths, Why Not? Developing Students’ Positive Learning Identities and Engagement in Mathematics. Mathematics is the foremost enabling science that underpins research, development and innovation in every aspect of society. Recent trends in mathematics education show that attitude, confidence and a sense of personal relevance play an influential role in student engagement and achievement. Yet Australian students’ achievement in mathematics has plateaued, and participation in mathematics is st ....Love Maths, Why Not? Developing Students’ Positive Learning Identities and Engagement in Mathematics. Mathematics is the foremost enabling science that underpins research, development and innovation in every aspect of society. Recent trends in mathematics education show that attitude, confidence and a sense of personal relevance play an influential role in student engagement and achievement. Yet Australian students’ achievement in mathematics has plateaued, and participation in mathematics is steadily declining. This study combines innovative pedagogical research in mathematics with research of positive learning identity and engagement to develop knowledge about educational practices that sustain the attention and positive engagement of our nations’ future mathematicians, scientists and mathematically fluent citizenry. Read moreRead less
Ethical restoration after oppressive violence: a philosophical account. Contemporary political ethics has to face the question of how to repair relations that have broken down after crimes, oppression and political violence. Using the work of European and feminist philosophers to examine historical and recent cases including post-liberation France, post-genocide Rwanda and post-colonial Australasia and neighbouring countries, this project aims to develop a philosophical account of ethical restor ....Ethical restoration after oppressive violence: a philosophical account. Contemporary political ethics has to face the question of how to repair relations that have broken down after crimes, oppression and political violence. Using the work of European and feminist philosophers to examine historical and recent cases including post-liberation France, post-genocide Rwanda and post-colonial Australasia and neighbouring countries, this project aims to develop a philosophical account of ethical restoration, focusing on just punishment, forgiveness, reconciliation, building trust and atonement.Read moreRead less
The Atacama and Australian mining companies: identity, intercultural communication and negotiation in northern Chile. The involvement by state administrations and global corporations in planning for social responsibility in mining and the resulting negotiations with citizens - especially groups identified as indigenous - brings a range of people into dialogue. However, these contexts are under-researched. The proposed project will contribute an independent study of relationships between Chilean ....The Atacama and Australian mining companies: identity, intercultural communication and negotiation in northern Chile. The involvement by state administrations and global corporations in planning for social responsibility in mining and the resulting negotiations with citizens - especially groups identified as indigenous - brings a range of people into dialogue. However, these contexts are under-researched. The proposed project will contribute an independent study of relationships between Chilean citizens, Australian mining companies and the state in northern Chile. It seeks to provide theoretical insights and offer practical information in academic and plain language for local negotiators, global business and state administration: a timely analysis given recently (2008) signed Free Trade Agreement with Chile.Read moreRead less
School-wide approaches for developing social and emotional wellbeing: New understandings of positive identities, emotions and learning in adolescents. School disengagement, suspensions, and emotional problems among adolescents have increased steadily. The Australian Government’s strategic research priority of maximising social and economic participation, therefore, is an urgent need. In partnership with the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment, this project aims to test ho ....School-wide approaches for developing social and emotional wellbeing: New understandings of positive identities, emotions and learning in adolescents. School disengagement, suspensions, and emotional problems among adolescents have increased steadily. The Australian Government’s strategic research priority of maximising social and economic participation, therefore, is an urgent need. In partnership with the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment, this project aims to test how embedding social and emotional wellbeing into school-wide policies, classroom practices, and self and social strategies of students enhances learning, behavioural, and social outcomes. Implementing whole of school approaches to enhance social participation and wellbeing will build resilient youth and ultimately the social and academic capacity of Australia’s young people.Read moreRead less
Cosmopolitan encounters in contemporary Australia. Australian society is increasingly subject to global forces and flows. This study explores how far-reaching, global changes are articulated locally within a range of Australian cities and towns. Using the concept of the ‘cosmopolitan encounter’, it investigates the nature and meaning of encounters with cultural difference in Australian communities.