UC Research Repository
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The UC Research Repository collects, stores and makes available original research from postgraduate students, researchers and academics based at the University of Canterbury.
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- Items from Journals and Conferences hosted by the University of Canterbury
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Recent Submissions
Tuia te tangata ki te mātauranga: Connecting people with knowledge
(University of Canterbury Library, 2024) Ormsby, Jessica; Ghosh, Dorian
Ākonga Māori at UC are influenced to engage with libraries by the provision of individualised and scaffolded learning experiences in a relational model of service delivery. Ākonga Māori present with unique social and learning behaviours and characteristics which they have said means they require specialised services. They have not been afraid to ask for these from their Tiriti partners.
A shift in delivery approach is now required of UC Libraries, and their services need to be taken to ākonga in a more direct way. Strategic direction requires a needs analysis based on research. This report serves as a start to this.
Ākonga should not have the onus placed on them to be the engagers, as the responsibility for engagement then shifts from the senior partner to the junior member in the relationship.
There are positive examples of staff at UC Libraries who deliver services to ākonga Māori by practicing manaakitanga and tiakitanga. The power these experiences have on influencing ākonga success is immeasurable.
The extent to which UC Libraries contribute to transitioning ākonga into their tertiary journey at UC was made transparent in the course of this research; it is critical that this work is understood, evaluated, enriched, and progressed. Services that are hidden need to be exposed to make access to services fair and equitable to ākonga Māori, and they have asked for mentorship and guidance to know about these services – including learning from their tuakana who have already had experience in the UC tertiary landscape.
Ākonga asked for UC Libraries to increase the exposure of Te Ao Māori, Tikanga Māori and te reo Māori; awarding and celebrating the mana of te reo Māori. Supporting ākonga to discover and connect with their cultural identity would be facilitated by UC Libraries in this way.
Subverting the Marxist paradigm: Vaccination discourse in New Zealand's mainstream and alternative online media
(Informa UK Limited, 2012) Kenix, Linda Jean
New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 35 developed countries for rate of immunizations. The low rate of immunizations in New Zealand could be attributed to many factors, however, the information in available and accessible media must also be considered as a potential barrier to vaccination. This study examines the mediated discourse in a sample of
New Zealand’s alternative and mainstream online media within the framework of Marxist ideology. The praxis and theory of Marxism within the production of alternative media, much like vaccination campaigns, depends upon egalitarian, community-minded ideals. One might expect to find a Marxist ideology throughout pro-vaccination discourse and within alternative media, which have been found to depend upon these same egalitarian ideologies. While Marxist thought depends heavily on communal belief systems, it also serves as a framework to denounce corporate power. This research will examine whether the organizational norms and practices of an institution might be circumvented when the possibility of denouncing a core oppositional ideology, such as anti-corporatism, arises. In doing so, this research will explore the occasional conflicting nexus between the ideology of an issue and the ideology of a medium.
A converging image? Commercialism and the visual identity of alternative and mainstream news websites
(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2013) Kenix, Linda Jean
Visual imagery, while largely overlooked in mass communication research, is central to how organizations represent themselves, make meaning, create identities, and communicate with the rest of the world. This research explores visual differences between alternative and mainstream news websites along the conceptual categorization of deviance. More deviant groups have historically represented themselves through alternative media with themes of confrontation and challenge, often through violent or sexualized imagery. However, online communication is now largely commercialized and commodified in order to professionalize a consumerist aesthetic that can attract mass audiences and return a profit. This research explores the visual communication of both alternative and mainstream media in an online environment where the whole world is watching. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.
Harnessing emotional design strategies to manage excessive use of short video platforms among young adults : a mobile application design demonstration.
(2024) Li, Hongyao
In recent years, the excessive use of social media among young people and its adverse effects on mental
health have drawn widespread attention. Developing effective strategies to help them manage their
excessive use of social media remains a significant challenge, especially in the context of short-form
video (SFV) products, where this issue is particularly pronounced. SFV products, due to their high
attractiveness and instant gratification, can easily lead users to become addicted. Therefore, this study
explores and discusses design strategies based on emotional design principles to help young adults
manage their excessive use of SFV products. The aim is to help them establish healthier engagement
with digital products and better usage habits, thereby improving their mental health and overall quality
of life. This research primarily focuses on three questions: 1) What factors influence young adults'
excessive usage of SFV applications? 2) What emotional design-based design strategies can effectively
regulate this usage? 3) How can a mobile application be designed to help users manage their excessive
use of short-form video platforms?
To answer these questions, the study initially employs the internet ethnographic method to understand
the factors leading to the excessive use of SFV applications and the difficulties and challenges people
face in trying to manage their SFV product usage. Through an online survey, the study then
investigates the specific usage patterns of SFV applications among 144 young adults aged between 18
and 35 and their motivations and reasons for overconsumption of these products. Based on online
ethnographic and survey results, the study integrates emotional design principles to explore what
emotional design strategies can help young adults regulate unhealthy SFV application usage and how
they can be implemented in the design of a mobile application for such purposes. Additionally, the
study employs the co-design method to assist in the design of the application and evaluate the
effectiveness and usability of the emotional strategies and the mobile application.
This study proposes design strategies to help young adults manage their excessive use of SFV
applications and presents a design demonstration of a mobile application to manage the overuse of
SFV products. By emphasizing effective methods to promote healthier social media and digital product
consumption habits, the study provides valuable insights for creating responsible digital products.
Stress reduction therapy in immersive environments : does rotation mode have an effect on mental stress?
(2024) Feng, Yuming
Mental stress, exacerbated by various contemporary factors including the COVID-19 pandemic,
rapid technological advancements, and global crises, poses significant challenges. Immersive
technologies like virtual reality (VR) offer promising avenues for stress relief. This paper
explores the efficacy of VR immersion, particularly the impact of rotational motion, in mitigating
mental stress. Through heart rate monitoring, it investigates the intricate interplay between
immersive VR environments and stress reduction. Integrating insights from VR therapy, meditation
practices, and heart rate analysis, the study contributes to the burgeoning field of mental
health technology. It proposes VR as a novel tool for stress management, providing multisensory
meditation experiences. The study also explores the use of innovative hardware like the NOVA
Ball to induce immersive meditative states. The experimental design seeks to understand VR’s
therapeutic potential for stress reduction, bridging the gap between technological innovation
and practical mental health solutions.
Research Background and Purpose:
This study systematically evaluates user experiences in a VR environment integrating physiological
data, focusing on the influence of physical rotation elements. It uncovers correlations
between heart rate variations, physical rotation, and user experiences, informing future VR
design. By delving into the relationship between heart rate fluctuations and participants’ emotional
and cognitive states under physical rotation conditions, the study deepens understanding
of rotation actions’ mental health effects in VR. Additionally, it assesses VR’s potential as a
mental health intervention, particularly in stress reduction, by merging subjective experience
questionnaires with objective physiological heart rate data. This holistic approach enriches VR’s
role in mental health and guides future developments in user experience design and VR therapy
applications.