Creating a climate for change: from cognition to consensus. Climate change is a significant contemporary issue, and communicating the complexities of the terminology and the data is a major modern challenge. This project will apply principles of cognitive and social psychology to determine the most effective methods for promoting an understanding of the scientific dimensions of the issue. The research is significant because it provides a coherent theoretical framework for identifying the psychol ....Creating a climate for change: from cognition to consensus. Climate change is a significant contemporary issue, and communicating the complexities of the terminology and the data is a major modern challenge. This project will apply principles of cognitive and social psychology to determine the most effective methods for promoting an understanding of the scientific dimensions of the issue. The research is significant because it provides a coherent theoretical framework for identifying the psychological mechanisms underlying cognition and commitment at both an individual and collective level. The outcome will be a body of evidence that will inform strategies and policies for communication of complex scientific questions.Read moreRead less
Controlling empirical factors to measure educational achievement in invariant units. Over a million students take part in National and State assessments which are used to compare schools and to determine tertiary entrance. The aim of the project is to study and control the factors that affect the unit in which achievement is measured so that such comparisons and decisions are based on more valid and precise information.
Creating perceptual experts in Australia's policing and security agencies. This project aims to create the next generation of experts in Australia’s policing and national security agencies, by improving crime scene evidence interpretation. Agencies are under pressure to develop more rigorous training practices that go beyond mere intuition and tradition. This project will use a novel approach that directs learning toward the most diagnostic perceptual cues. Expected outcomes include a solid empi ....Creating perceptual experts in Australia's policing and security agencies. This project aims to create the next generation of experts in Australia’s policing and national security agencies, by improving crime scene evidence interpretation. Agencies are under pressure to develop more rigorous training practices that go beyond mere intuition and tradition. This project will use a novel approach that directs learning toward the most diagnostic perceptual cues. Expected outcomes include a solid empirical basis for national training programs designed to create experts that are accurate, reliable, and continuously improving. Improving the training of experts will ensure the integrity of forensics as evidentiary tools available to police, lead to more reliable courtroom convictions and help safeguard Australia from terrorism and crime.Read moreRead less
Innovative measurement approaches to optimise the comparability of large-scale and high-stakes performance assessments. Over 1.2 million Australian school children participate in national and high-stakes state assessments each year. This project aims to produce improved and novel methods for assessing students using open-ended tasks so that educators can more accurately compare students’ achievements and track their progress. In turn, this aims to support decision makers to enable better educati ....Innovative measurement approaches to optimise the comparability of large-scale and high-stakes performance assessments. Over 1.2 million Australian school children participate in national and high-stakes state assessments each year. This project aims to produce improved and novel methods for assessing students using open-ended tasks so that educators can more accurately compare students’ achievements and track their progress. In turn, this aims to support decision makers to enable better educational outcomes. The investigators aim to refine a rubric used in the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) so that Writing assessments are as accurate and comparable as possible. Methods also aim to be designed to enable more accurate and comparable assessments of Australian children in areas not covered by NAPLAN such as History and The Arts.Read moreRead less
Improving teacher assessment using exemplars and online moderation. This project aims to assess the dependability of teacher judgement using psychometric scaling and online moderation. The project will use an innovative approach to connect achievement standards and judgement-practice for middle-year students in Australian education system. Expected outcomes of the project include the development of scaled work samples exemplifying A-E standards of achievement, refined methods for the consistency ....Improving teacher assessment using exemplars and online moderation. This project aims to assess the dependability of teacher judgement using psychometric scaling and online moderation. The project will use an innovative approach to connect achievement standards and judgement-practice for middle-year students in Australian education system. Expected outcomes of the project include the development of scaled work samples exemplifying A-E standards of achievement, refined methods for the consistency and comparability of assessment decisions, and a new approach to moderating teacher judgements. This project should provide significant benefits in building teachers’ assessment capabilities, shaping policy and teacher preparation.Read moreRead less
Towards a safer workplace: promoting healthy work environments through strategic research in memory and behaviour change. In collaboration with WorkCover NSW, psychologists plan to develop new strategies to promote healthy and safe work environments. The researchers will find how to: best motivate people to engage in healthy work practices and obtain comprehensive and accurate information about the causes of accidents.
Facilitating Capacity Building in the Australian Not-For-Profit Sector through Improved Work Learning. This project aims to investigate how both formal and informal work learning can improve the governance, leadership, and management capacity of not-for-profit organisations (NFPs). The research aims to identify key competencies, and chart the needs, opportunities, preferences, and barriers to develop them on a national scale. Organisational mechanisms under managerial control are further examine ....Facilitating Capacity Building in the Australian Not-For-Profit Sector through Improved Work Learning. This project aims to investigate how both formal and informal work learning can improve the governance, leadership, and management capacity of not-for-profit organisations (NFPs). The research aims to identify key competencies, and chart the needs, opportunities, preferences, and barriers to develop them on a national scale. Organisational mechanisms under managerial control are further examined to understand what facilitates work learning within NFPs. Findings aims to inform theory, practice and policy about professional development and capacity building to enhance NFPs’ ability to make a strong social impact. Outcomes aim to significantly strengthen Australia’s social and economic fabric by building effectiveness within the critical NFP sector.Read moreRead less
Infill Developments: Project HOME (Housing Outcomes Metrics and Evaluation). The project plans to improve housing outcomes by evaluating housing design in the rapidly growing infill multi-residential sector, which often experiences design quality problems. Set across four global cities, the project aims to use a unique combination of design and social science methods to analyse good design and how this is produced and experienced. It is expected that this will deliver greater definition of and e ....Infill Developments: Project HOME (Housing Outcomes Metrics and Evaluation). The project plans to improve housing outcomes by evaluating housing design in the rapidly growing infill multi-residential sector, which often experiences design quality problems. Set across four global cities, the project aims to use a unique combination of design and social science methods to analyse good design and how this is produced and experienced. It is expected that this will deliver greater definition of and evidence for ‘good’ design as experienced through the real lives of Australian households. Outcomes should include robust design evaluation methods and transition strategies for cities, allowing city decision-makers to improve housing design for many people in Australian cities.Read moreRead less
The costs of youth homelessness in Australia. This three-year research project will provide a detailed picture of the cost of youth homelessness in Australia, the use of services by young homeless people and the costs and benefits of providing support services to young homeless people. The study will extend the evidence base on the cost-effectiveness of programs attempting to alleviate youth homelessness, and enable Australian governments, community groups and agencies involved in the provision ....The costs of youth homelessness in Australia. This three-year research project will provide a detailed picture of the cost of youth homelessness in Australia, the use of services by young homeless people and the costs and benefits of providing support services to young homeless people. The study will extend the evidence base on the cost-effectiveness of programs attempting to alleviate youth homelessness, and enable Australian governments, community groups and agencies involved in the provision of support services to homeless youth to understand better the pathways followed by young homeless people and the impact of service provision on the lives of young homeless people.Read moreRead less
Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Furth ....Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Further, by better managing the occupational health of investigators, the project will enhance the capacity of police organisations to deliver on their mission of investigating and preventing Internet child exploitation. This in turn contributes to the reduced consumption of Internet child exploitation and the associated traumatisation of abused victims. Read moreRead less