Learning and Deciding Under Low Levels of Awareness: Representation Issues and Memory Processes. Human decision making is frequently sub-optimal and can be influenced by factors of which we are only dimly aware. At times, this sub-optimality produces large social, economic, and health costs. We address decisions made under low levels of awareness including those typically influenced by advertising and other marketing activities, such as pairing brands with images of attractive people. We examine ....Learning and Deciding Under Low Levels of Awareness: Representation Issues and Memory Processes. Human decision making is frequently sub-optimal and can be influenced by factors of which we are only dimly aware. At times, this sub-optimality produces large social, economic, and health costs. We address decisions made under low levels of awareness including those typically influenced by advertising and other marketing activities, such as pairing brands with images of attractive people. We examine the cognitive processes invoked by this pairing in order to determine how it competes with the provision of factual information. We aim to improve decision making in areas such as food choice and consumer understanding, as well as provide the knowledge base to support policy for regulating marketing communications.Read moreRead less
An innovative measure of rural health and wellbeing: rapid appraisal via analysis of patterns of calls to Lifeline. Rural Australians are reported to experience poorer health and wellbeing on a wide range of indicators. However, serious problems exist with the validity and reliability of these data. This project will analyse the 85,000 calls to Lifeline made each year by rural Australians. For several reasons, use of telephone counselling services would appear to be a sensitive measure of rural ....An innovative measure of rural health and wellbeing: rapid appraisal via analysis of patterns of calls to Lifeline. Rural Australians are reported to experience poorer health and wellbeing on a wide range of indicators. However, serious problems exist with the validity and reliability of these data. This project will analyse the 85,000 calls to Lifeline made each year by rural Australians. For several reasons, use of telephone counselling services would appear to be a sensitive measure of rural community health. By triangulating primary data (community case studies using the critical incident technique) and secondary data (SEIFA and Jesuit index), this project will develop and test Lifeline calls as an index for rapidly appraising community health and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project ar ....A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project are to produce a validated social prescribing model that can be implemented in multiple settings across Australia in order to reduce loneliness, strengthen communities, and guide more appropriate uses of health services.Read moreRead less
Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activiti ....Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activities enhances social connectedness and well-being; and evaluate and determine key principles underlying effective identity-based interventions. The intended outcome of the project is a new policy model that builds Australia’s care capacity in tandem with its diverse ageing population.Read moreRead less
Breaking the cycle of homelessness: an identity change approach to enhance resilience and well-being. This project will explore the factors that contribute to the development of well-being and resilience among those who are homeless. We focus on the importance of social connections in enhancing resilience, well-being and breaking the cycle of homelessness. Findings will inform best practice guidelines and policy in emergency accommodation centres.
Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards ....Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards situations that satisfy intrinsic needs and away from situations that do not. The result may be greater concentrations of particular personality types in conservative industries and communities and a quite different concentration in innovative groups. Validation of this hypothesis would permit more appropriate and effective policy and management strategy.Read moreRead less
An investigation into consumer perspectives on emotional, attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. Attracting and retaining loyal customers is central to the economic viability of organisations. Yet, scholars have not resolved how to define brand loyalty, what contributes to brand loyalty for different services, products and industries over time nor the appropriate application of brand loyalty measures in different contexts. Current conceptualisations overlook the role of emotion and its relations ....An investigation into consumer perspectives on emotional, attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. Attracting and retaining loyal customers is central to the economic viability of organisations. Yet, scholars have not resolved how to define brand loyalty, what contributes to brand loyalty for different services, products and industries over time nor the appropriate application of brand loyalty measures in different contexts. Current conceptualisations overlook the role of emotion and its relationship with the other dimensions of brand loyalty. The proposed project will be the first application of a prototype approach and one of the few studies to use quantitative longitudinal research techniques to further understanding of what brand loyalty is and how it develops.Read moreRead less
Emotional responses to comparisons in romantic relationships: implications for relationship wellbeing. This project will identify the nature of the emotions that stem from comparisons between romantic partners. It will reveal how these emotions in turn impact relationship dynamics and ultimately, relationship wellbeing. This research will provide important insights into the underlying processes that make some relationships thrive and others fail.
The role of implicit identity and implicit beliefs in recovery from mental illness. Although effective treatments have been developed for many mental disorders, some people still fail to recover when others with a similar psychological profile respond well to therapy. The proposed research addresses this conundrum by examining the role of unconscious identification with mental illnesses and the role it plays in recovery.
Investigating voluntary and involuntary intergroup contact . Extensive research suggests that interactions between people of opposing groups - intergroup contact - reduce prejudices and improve social cohesion. Yet these benefits may not be realised if intergroup contact is actively avoided, passively received, or mandated. Drawing from social psychology and human geography, this project aims to establish the conditions under which voluntary contact occurs and how voluntary (vs. involuntary) int ....Investigating voluntary and involuntary intergroup contact . Extensive research suggests that interactions between people of opposing groups - intergroup contact - reduce prejudices and improve social cohesion. Yet these benefits may not be realised if intergroup contact is actively avoided, passively received, or mandated. Drawing from social psychology and human geography, this project aims to establish the conditions under which voluntary contact occurs and how voluntary (vs. involuntary) intergroup contact shapes diversity experiences and impacts social attitudes, trust, and civic participation. With data from multiple settings and participant populations, this project has the potential to inform interventions and policies that deliver harmonious, healthy and productive communities.Read moreRead less