Modelling Decision Making Within the Household and Analysing its Welfare Implications:Methodological Advances with Policy Applications. The project examines the behavioural and welfare implications of alternative models of intra household decisions. A framework that integrates the household's earnings and expenditure decisions will be proposed and applied. The project introduces new measures of spousal power in making decisions and examines its impact on household outcomes. A satisfactory eco ....Modelling Decision Making Within the Household and Analysing its Welfare Implications:Methodological Advances with Policy Applications. The project examines the behavioural and welfare implications of alternative models of intra household decisions. A framework that integrates the household's earnings and expenditure decisions will be proposed and applied. The project introduces new measures of spousal power in making decisions and examines its impact on household outcomes. A satisfactory econometric methodology to test the conventional unitary model will be developed and applied. The usefulness of this research is underlined by examining the policy implications in areas that range from taxation in the developed country context to child health, child labour and gender bias in case of developing countries.Read moreRead less
Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth serv ....Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth service providers in each city. The research methods draw upon the instruments presently being developed by the Eurogang Research Network in order to facilitate cross-national comparisons. It will be the first national study of its kind, and will provide new conceptual insights into the character of youth group formation in Australia, baseline youth gang data, and analysis of possible intervention strategies.
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Powerful knowledge: mapping out standards of teachers' knowledge for teaching mathematics and English to achieve the goals of the curriculum. Setting standards is an important step to raising teacher quality. This project will establish benchmarks for teachers' knowledge at all levels of schooling in two key areas of the curriculum: English and mathematics.
Integrated genetic regulation of photomorphogenesis in Pisum. This project will use a molecular genetic approach in garden pea to investigate the roles of photoreceptors that mediate developmental responses to light. It will define gene families encoding phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin photoreceptors, characterise photoreceptor gene expression, and identify mutants with impaired response to light. The mutants will be used in molecular, physiological and biochemical studies to examine h ....Integrated genetic regulation of photomorphogenesis in Pisum. This project will use a molecular genetic approach in garden pea to investigate the roles of photoreceptors that mediate developmental responses to light. It will define gene families encoding phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin photoreceptors, characterise photoreceptor gene expression, and identify mutants with impaired response to light. The mutants will be used in molecular, physiological and biochemical studies to examine how photoreceptors control and co-ordinate development throughout the plant via effects on plant hormone synthesis and response. Results from the project will be of practical importance in manipulating key aspects of plant growth to better suit particular environmental and agronomic objectives.Read moreRead less
Molecular pathways controlling light-regulated development in legumes. Legumes are widely grown as forage and grain crops and make a substantial contribution to the Australian economy. Light is an important determinant of plant architecture and productivity and we need to know more about how development is regulated by light in this important plant group. The natural light environment faced by plants is complex and varies with crop density, season and time of day. Understanding the interaction o ....Molecular pathways controlling light-regulated development in legumes. Legumes are widely grown as forage and grain crops and make a substantial contribution to the Australian economy. Light is an important determinant of plant architecture and productivity and we need to know more about how development is regulated by light in this important plant group. The natural light environment faced by plants is complex and varies with crop density, season and time of day. Understanding the interaction of photoreceptors and plant hormones in the control of growth is vital for manipulating crops to meet changing agronomic requirements. Training of students in state-of-the art techniques and the generation of new germplasm for use by other researchers and plant breeders will be other significant outcomes of the project.Read moreRead less
Statistical literacy in the primary school: beginning inference. Australia is committed to building a stronger foundation for school mathematics and science. This project will introduce primary school students to beginning inference, a core component of statistical literacy and an increasingly important life skill. Foundations for secondary mathematics study and productive societal participation will be laid.
The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use o ....The role of plant hormones in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The vast majority of plant species can form a beneficial symbiosis with specialised soil fungi, an association that can enhance the uptake of nutrients from the soil, improve tolerance to drought and disease and minimise soil erosion. An understanding of how plants establish and regulate this important symbiosis has the potential to contribute to the development of productive and sustainable farming systems by making efficient use of the limited water resources, reducing soil erosion, reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilisers and producing more nutritious fruits, vegetables and grains.Read moreRead less
School retention through alternative schooling: towards a socially just approach to education. This project is concerned with how mainstream schools may become more socially just and inclusive of all young people through an analysis of alternative schools specifically designed for this purpose. Such a concern is critical for lifting school retention rates of marginalised young people and improving practices in all schools.
The global vaccination revolution: a transnational and comparative perspective. A study of first global immunization campaign will provide a historical dimension to contemporary concerns about pandemic disease, vaccination and bio-terrorism, and generate new insights into the factors determining the success and failure of public health initiatives. The project relates directly to national research priorities in health and safeguarding Australia. It has more specific relevance to Australia. Small ....The global vaccination revolution: a transnational and comparative perspective. A study of first global immunization campaign will provide a historical dimension to contemporary concerns about pandemic disease, vaccination and bio-terrorism, and generate new insights into the factors determining the success and failure of public health initiatives. The project relates directly to national research priorities in health and safeguarding Australia. It has more specific relevance to Australia. Smallpox decimated the Aboriginal population, and quarantine and vaccination have loomed large in Australian history. It builds on Australia's strong scholarship in the fields of virology and immunology and the history of disease and public health.Read moreRead less
Predicting health, well-being, and educational success in emerging adults: An 8 year longitudinal study. This project will inform the community about factors that affect the psychological, physical, academic, and employment outcomes of emerging adults. It will improve our knowledge of why some young people do not reach their full potential. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of factors associated with well-being across several domains. It will better equip and assist professiona ....Predicting health, well-being, and educational success in emerging adults: An 8 year longitudinal study. This project will inform the community about factors that affect the psychological, physical, academic, and employment outcomes of emerging adults. It will improve our knowledge of why some young people do not reach their full potential. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of factors associated with well-being across several domains. It will better equip and assist professionals to identify early those youth at risk of having poor psychological, health, and employment prospects post-school. The project will inform the development of intervention programs for young people and maximise their overall adjustment and well-being several years later.Read moreRead less