A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel ....A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel research methodologies this project aims to advance understandings of well targeted and effective policy interventions. It combines the skills and knowledge of researchers trained in economics and sociology, whose collaboration is a direct result of a linkage formed within an ARC research network. Read moreRead less
Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four subu ....Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four suburban contexts. It is significant in that it aims to: identify the factors that undermine neighbourliness and inform policies to address those factors; assist relevant agencies in managing neighbour problems; and advance understanding about good - and bad - neighbouring in contemporary suburban life.Read moreRead less
Work-life tensions: Time pressure, leisure and well-being among dual-earner parents in Australia. Empirical studies of work-life tensions, especially for women, have rarely considered how individuals actually experience time pressures.
The main aim of this project is to examine the hypothesis that well-being is positively related to reduced time pressure, more leisure and greater control over time schedules.The project will use an innovative time-use sampling method to examine this hypothesis ....Work-life tensions: Time pressure, leisure and well-being among dual-earner parents in Australia. Empirical studies of work-life tensions, especially for women, have rarely considered how individuals actually experience time pressures.
The main aim of this project is to examine the hypothesis that well-being is positively related to reduced time pressure, more leisure and greater control over time schedules.The project will use an innovative time-use sampling method to examine this hypothesis for parents in dual-earner households.
The project will also investigate relationships between women's time use, life course experience and measures of physical and mental well-being through being nested within the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.
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High hopes, high risk? A sociological study of stem cell tourism. This project investigates the phenomenon of stem cell tourism, particularly the factors shaping patients’ expectations and decisions in relation to the promising new field of stem cell research. As the first in-depth study on this form of medical travel, the project will provide valuable information to policy makers.
How expectations shape testing in healthcare. This project aims to understand the sociocultural processes underpinning optimism for the use of testing technologies in healthcare. Australians are using more tests, which increases healthcare costs. This project will use the Australian national cancer screening programmes and routine clinical practice as case studies to determine human decision-making traits in sociological terms. The project expects to increase understanding of the sociocultural f ....How expectations shape testing in healthcare. This project aims to understand the sociocultural processes underpinning optimism for the use of testing technologies in healthcare. Australians are using more tests, which increases healthcare costs. This project will use the Australian national cancer screening programmes and routine clinical practice as case studies to determine human decision-making traits in sociological terms. The project expects to increase understanding of the sociocultural factors that influence decision-making and behaviour in healthcare settings, and help formulate effective social and economic policies.Read moreRead less
Patients’ use of digital media. This project aims to determine how Australians use digital media and how this influences the development and availability of treatments and the sociocultural factors underlying this digital media use. Patients can use digital media to manage their own health, but this may result in patient harm and a loss of public confidence in the underlying science. The intended outcome is to gain insights into this recent and fast-growing sociological phenomenon, and provide a ....Patients’ use of digital media. This project aims to determine how Australians use digital media and how this influences the development and availability of treatments and the sociocultural factors underlying this digital media use. Patients can use digital media to manage their own health, but this may result in patient harm and a loss of public confidence in the underlying science. The intended outcome is to gain insights into this recent and fast-growing sociological phenomenon, and provide a scientific basis for formulating public policy strategies to ensure that healthcare resources are used efficiently and cost-effectively.Read moreRead less
A sociological analysis of the anti-ageing treatment market: the dynamics of expectations. Public expectations of new medical treatments are often high, indeed higher than warranted by medical evidence. This project will reveal how expectations arise and function in the market of so-called anti-ageing treatments and will explore the implications for treatment practices and decisions. It will clarify the socio-cultural factors sustaining expectations of treatments, including the respective roles ....A sociological analysis of the anti-ageing treatment market: the dynamics of expectations. Public expectations of new medical treatments are often high, indeed higher than warranted by medical evidence. This project will reveal how expectations arise and function in the market of so-called anti-ageing treatments and will explore the implications for treatment practices and decisions. It will clarify the socio-cultural factors sustaining expectations of treatments, including the respective roles played by those who produce, sell, regulate and consume them. The project will offer a new perspective on the dynamics of emerging medical treatment markets that will assist regulatory efforts.Read moreRead less
Realising big data’s potential to address social and health inequities. The rapid uptake of big data is transforming disease prevention research, policy and practice. These changes could undermine work on health and social inequities, or they could enhance it. Informed by science and technology studies and social theory, this project will: investigate the current practices of Australian public health actors to realise big data’s potential to tackle health and social inequities; and interrogate t ....Realising big data’s potential to address social and health inequities. The rapid uptake of big data is transforming disease prevention research, policy and practice. These changes could undermine work on health and social inequities, or they could enhance it. Informed by science and technology studies and social theory, this project will: investigate the current practices of Australian public health actors to realise big data’s potential to tackle health and social inequities; and interrogate the factors that enable and constrain their practices. The research aims to identify how transformations in contemporary population regulation can be shaped to address social and health inequities; and to inform current work to develop Australian big health data expertise, infrastructure, and socially just regulation.Read moreRead less
Understanding selfie-editing apps in youth visual digital cultures. This project aims to investigate how young people navigate identity and body image concerns online through new digital editing tools provided by selfie-editing apps. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the literacies young people use in reading, evaluating and editing images of themselves, and the role of digital technologies in forming young people’s embodied identities, using an innovative participatory methodo ....Understanding selfie-editing apps in youth visual digital cultures. This project aims to investigate how young people navigate identity and body image concerns online through new digital editing tools provided by selfie-editing apps. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the literacies young people use in reading, evaluating and editing images of themselves, and the role of digital technologies in forming young people’s embodied identities, using an innovative participatory methodology. Expected outcomes include a new evidence base and youth-centred conceptual framework on the connections between youth selfie-editing, body image, and wellbeing. This should provide significant benefits in helping young people to better navigate body image and wellbeing in online cultures.Read moreRead less
Addressing the deficit in men's participation in paid care work. This project aims to address the chronic and ongoing underrepresentation of men in front line, low paid occupations in the Health Care and Social Assistance Sector by exploring how men already employed in the sector overcome the barriers to participating in such jobs. Utilising a qualitative methodology, this project expects to generate new theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas of critical studies of men and masculinity ....Addressing the deficit in men's participation in paid care work. This project aims to address the chronic and ongoing underrepresentation of men in front line, low paid occupations in the Health Care and Social Assistance Sector by exploring how men already employed in the sector overcome the barriers to participating in such jobs. Utilising a qualitative methodology, this project expects to generate new theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas of critical studies of men and masculinity and labour market transitions. Expected outcomes include producing a better understanding of men in the low paid care work labour market. This should provide significant benefits in relation to tackling the serious current and projected shortages of personal and aged/disability carers in the coming years.Read moreRead less