Copyright (c) 2009 Bond University All rights reserved. http://epublications.bond.edu.au/richard_hicks Recent documents in Richard Hicks en-us Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:44:41 PST 3600 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/247 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/247 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:04:05 PST Objectives - The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between personal work characteristics and general mental health and also to contribute to validity data on the Apollo Profile. Methods - A battery of tests, including the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and the Apollo Profile, was given to 98 adult participants (60 female & 38 male) currently in full-time employment. A discriminant function analysis was conducted to determine whether the Apollo Profile characteristics could successfully discriminate between two mental health groups. Results - The results indicated that of the 34 personal work characteristics, preferences and attitudes assessed by the Apollo Profile, eleven significantly differentiated between the two mental health groups. A canonical correlation of .69 and a significant effect size of .48 were obtained. Conclusions - Strong relationships between personal work characteristics and mental health were identified in this study. Genevieve V. Colling http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/224 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/224 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:54:03 PDT Extract:In 1990, the School of Social Science at the Queensland University of Technology introduced an innovative undergraduate degree program known as a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) course. From the beginning the demand for entry to the course was high, particularly from non-school leavers and mature age applicants. Non-school leaver (adult) applicants were selected on the basis of their responses to a questionnaire, and on their group and interview performance.This article describes briefly the nature of the Human Services course, then presents the data available for the combined 1991 and 1992 student groups in relation to their personal type or style. linking these with the perceived success of the selection procedure. Glen Guy http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/223 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/223 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:25:57 PST ExtractThere has been a growing emphasis placed on competencies and their assessment in the management and professional arenas. The effectiveness of award restructuring, training programs, performance management and career path development can be related at some level to required competencies. However, accurate measurement and appraisal of competencies is not necessarily straightforward. This paper takes one competency, critical thinking, which is generic to most levels of professional practice and management and discusses the problems faced in assessing critical thinking performance for selection purposes. Early research by the authors on the use of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal to assess critical thinking in the Australian setting is cited (Hicks & Southey, 1990a; 1990b; 1992; Hicks, Southey & Tegg, 1992), and brief reference made to other approaches or devices used to assess critical thinking. Richard Hicks http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/222 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/222 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:19:33 PST In many professional and managerial areas interpersonal and teamwork skilIs are essential competencies which help deliver effectiveness in practice. Yet many tertiary programs fail to give extensive training in these skills. One program which gives such emphasis is the postgraduate project management course conducted at the Queensland University of Technology. This article indicates the balance given in training both to the academic requirements and to the development of "the reflective practitioner" approach in the project management learning context. Reference is made in particular to the program of in-class experiential and self-development exercises and to the off-campus wilderness and action-adventure camps developed as part of the route to building interpersonal and teamwork skills and attitudes. Much of the success of the program has been due to the cross-School and cross disciplinary contribution and expertise from the host School of Construction Management and from the School of Social Science, in a program which recognises the relevance of knowledge and process skills from construction, project and general management and from managerial and organisational psychology. Richard Hicks http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/221 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/221 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:09:01 PST Extract:Increased psychological well-being has been found for long-term unemployed women and unemployed female sole parents after participation in personal development training. There is a dearth of information, however, on the effects of personal development training for unemployed men. This issue is investigated in a pilot group of 25 long term unemployed males and females who attended personal development training. Pre and post measures were taken on a number of psychological variables (self-esteem, depression, psychological distress, hopelessness, mood states and life satisfaction). Results indicated that females significantly improved on a number of variables post training but males did not. Further research into gender differences is recommended as findings have training policy implications. Richard Hicks http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/220 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/220 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:35:09 PST Asthma prevalence appears to be increasing in Australia and elsewhere and any methods that can improve the self-management of asthma can in turn help improve the quality of living experienced by these individuals and at the same time reduce health costs to the nation. Attempts that have aimed at making a difference in asthma management have focussed on educational programs (preventive therapy) and the nature of the physician-patient relationship. However, most tools (questionnaires) available for the measurement of beliefs, feelings and attitudes of those with asthma appear to be generalised research instruments. They have not been designed to assist ', the physician directly in the day-to-day consultations or to help in providing practical guidance on asthma treatment and behaviour change that will make a difference. This article describes the development of the Asthma Navigator, a questionnaire designed to address this situation, to be used in consultation and discussion between the physician and the patient and to help improve the outcomes possible in asthma treatment and management. Particular reference to the psychometric properties of the questionnaire is made. Richard Hicks http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/133 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/133 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:12:46 PDT No current research exists on the impact of the attitudes of perfectionism on the unemployed, though earlier research exists from studies of the employed and of university students. The current study examined, for 34 unemployed individuals in the Personal Support Programme, the relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem, general well-being, and life satisfaction. The project is on-going. This project used the Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, a depression questionnaire and a general questionnaire on the satisfaction of the unemployed individuals and their willingness to seek employment. The findings emphasised that maladaptive perfectionism may play a role in the psychological distress of the unemployed, though further study to unravel the effects of unemployment itself from the impacts of developed attitudes of maladaptive perfectionism is needed. Identification of the possible role of pre-existing maladaptive perfectionism in the experience of psychological distress may have implications for mandatory employment programs (e.g., Work for the Dole) and for the suspension of the unemployment benefits when such activities are breached. Paradoxically, these breaches could, for maladaptive perfectionists, decrease the behavioural pursuit of employment and increase psychological distress rather than motivate job search activity. Belinda Seib http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/111 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/111 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:26:15 PDT Assessing teacher stress has been a difficult and complex process, especially when comparisons across different professions have been considered. The Occupational Stress Inventory- Revised (OSI-R) offers a means of making such comparisons. The OSI-R model is theory-based and assesses the effects on the individual of three areas: occupational roles, psychological strain and coping resources. This current study reports the findings of confirmatory factor analyses of the three-factor stress model of the OSI-R, using a sample of 141 Australian teachers. It also reports the findings for a four-factor solution - with results demonstrating the four-factor model better fits the responses in the teacher sample but with more error than desirable. Further research is ongoing. Richard Hicks http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/90 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hss_pubs/90 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:33:14 PST There is renewed interest in the use of qualitative methods in the unemployment research arena to provide a richer understanding of the unemployment experience. This study is designed to investigate the effects of long-term unemployment on psychological well-being, sex differences and the effects of participating in 'activity' using a case study methodology. Findings from ten semi-structured interviews with people, unemployed between 12 and 36 months, showed that psychological distress, depression and life satisfaction were the most affected psychological variables. Financial difficulties also have a major impact on psychological well-being. The social policy implications from this study suggest that women may have different needs in relation to employment assistance due to their personal and family circumstances, and that unemployment policies may need to address some psychological variables and financial difficulties more directly. Future studies in this area are recommended to explore these issues further. Juanita Muller