Ph.D. prepared: research skill development across the undergraduate years

Purpose: Many countries are looking for ways to enable students to engage more effectively with PhD study. This paper aims to consider the effects of explicit discipline-specific research skill development embedded in multiple semesters of an undergraduate degree on PhD preparedness. Design/methodology/approach: This case study of one Bachelor of Health Science programme determined the effectiveness of the implementation of a conceptual model, the Researcher Skill Development framework, across the undergraduate degree programme. Data were gathered through interviews of 9 academic staff and 14 students in their fourth year of undergraduate study, which is a research-focused year. Findings: All students and academics stated the benefits of the use of the Researcher Skill Development framework in undergraduate study including: deepening metacognition of research processes; assisting students toward acting and thinking like researchers; and the research-capacity building of the school. While all academics and all but one student recommended that the framework be used early in the degree programme, a number of interviewees specified problems with the existing implementation of the framework. Research limitations/implications: While the results are not generalisable, the approach is worth studying in other degree programme-wide contexts to determine its broader capacity to enable students to be more research ready for PhD study when compared to current practice. Practical implications: When adapted to the context, whole-of-degree research skill development may enable developing countries to have more students and developed countries to better prepared students commencing PhD studies. Originality/value: No studies currently provide results for explicit research skill development across a degree programme, or of the benefits of this approach for PhD preparation.John Willison, Femke Buisman-Pijlma

Oxytocin as an indicator of psychological and social well-being in domesticated animals: a critical review

Mini reviewOxytocin is often portrayed as a hormone specific to social behavior, reflective of positive welfare states, and linked to mental states. Research on oxytocin in domesticated animal species has been few to date but is rapidly increasing (in dog, pig, cattle, sheep), with direct implications for animal welfare. This review evaluates the evidence for the specificity of oxytocin as an indicator of: 1. Social, 2. Positive, and 3. Psychological well-being. Oxytocin has most often been studied in socially relevant paradigms, with a lack of non-social control paradigms. Oxytocin research appears biased toward investigating positive valence, with a lack of control in valence or arousal. Oxytocin actions are modulated by the environmental and social contexts, which are important factors to consider. Limited evidence supports that oxytocin's actions are linked to psychological states; nevertheless whether this is a direct effect of oxytocin per se remains to be demonstrated. Overall, it is premature to judge oxytocin's potential as an animal welfare indicator given the few and discrepant findings and a lack of standardization in methodology. We cover potential causes for discrepancies and suggest solutions through appropriate methodological design, oxytocin sampling or delivery, analysis and reporting. Of particular interest, the oxytocinergic system as a whole remains poorly understood. Appreciation for the differences that social contact and group living pose in domesticated species and the way they interact with humans should be key considerations in using oxytocin as a psychosocial indicator of well-being.Jean-Loup Rault, Marleen van den Munkhof and Femke T. A. Buisman-Pijlma

Antagonising TLR4-TRIF signalling before or after a low-dose alcohol binge during adolescence prevents alcohol drinking but not seeking behaviour in adulthood

Abstract not availableJonathan Henry W. Jacobsen, Femke T. Buisman-Pijlman, Sanam Mustafa, Kenner C. Rice, Mark R. Hutchinso

Integrating assessment matrices in feedback loops to promote research skill development in postgraduate research projects

Assessment tasks can focus student efforts in what they choose to study. This paper describes the development and initial application of an assessment matrix to support student learning in postgraduate research studies at the University of Adelaide. Students and supervisors in the multi-disciplinary Master programmes also benefit from the clear descriptors to clarify expectations and standardise grading. This reflective paper explores the capacity of a matrix to improve constructive alignment between research course objectives and learning outcomes when it is an integral part of feedback loops.Jackie Venning and Femke Buisman-Pijlma

The development of an assessment matrix to promote student learning in postgraduate multidisciplinary research projects

An assessment matrix based on a research skill development framework has been developed to promote learning outcomes and improve evaluation and feedback to students undertaking research projects as part of their multidisciplinary postgraduate coursework program. Although general University grade descriptors are available, they are often open to interpretation, which can cause inconsistency especially where students and supervisors are from different disciplines. The paper describes the development of the assessment matrix to guide and evaluate research projects.Jackie Venning and Femke Buisman-Pijlma

Applying the Research Skill Development (Level IV) framework for marking matrices in multidisciplinary research

The authors coordinate postgraduate coursework (PGCW) programs with research components that are supervised by academics from different Faculties and even different countries. They have developed two tools based on the Research Skill Development (RSD) Framework to guide postgraduate students and supervisors during their research project. These tools are very useful to improve learning and standardise feedback in a setting where students and supervisors from different disciplines are involved. The idea for this project arose from an interest to develop a rubric which integrated grade descriptors within a conceptual framework to better guide learning for students involved in research projects as part of their postgraduate studies. The Research Skill Development (Level IV) framework (Willison and O’Regan 2007) was selected as the starting point to apply the specific grade descriptors as described in the University Code of Practice (University of Adelaide 2006). Level IV of the RSD was selected as PGCW students are expected to research at the level of an open inquiry but within structured guidelines. In this construct the grade descriptors are better able to guide the learning outcomes and improve evaluation and feedback. Although University research guidelines are available, they are often open to interpretation, which can cause inconsistency especially in a multidisciplinary setting. These combined frameworks generated an elaborate rubric that was better suited to guide the learning process and assist in the development of the research project. From this a condensed version (a one pager) was subsequently synthesised as a basis for feedback and assessment. The application of these rubrics in concert in the PGCW research component has created a 360° learning environment by providing course delivery through a series of feedback loops as described by Hounsell et al. (2008). It is through the development of such loops for assessing each component of the research project—creating double and triple loops—that learning outcomes can be effectively reinforced. This learning model is particularly effective in situations that are student-centred and require students to take more responsibility for the learning process. These rubrics are being trialled in the multidisciplinary Master of Sustainability and in the courses taught in the International Master of Science in Addiction Studies. The presentation will focus on the translation of the framework into two tools and their usefulness and limitations in a PGCW setting.http://www.adelaide.edu.au/erga

Adversity impacting on oxytocin and behaviour: timing matters

The endogenous oxytocin system plays a vital role in facilitating parturition, lactation and social interaction in humans and other mammals. It also impacts on a number of important endocrine, immune and neurotransmitter systems. A well-regulated oxytocin system has been proposed to increase resilience, and therefore reduce the likelihood of an individual developing mental illness or substance dependence. This review discusses the adverse external influences that can modulate oxytocin receptor and protein levels and impact on substance use and mental health. The paper highlights the impact of adversity such as poor maternal care, parental substance use and child abuse or neglect. We review clinical and preclinical data on the impact of adversity on the basis of the time of exposure from infancy and early childhood, to adolescence, adulthood to older age. Previous research suggests that dysregulation of the endogenous oxytocin system may be implicated in determining susceptibility to stress, anxiety, addiction and mental health conditions. The impact of external influence seems to be strongest in specific time periods where the system shows experience-based development or natural fluctuations in oxytocin levels. Interventions that target the oxytocin system during or soon after exposure to adversity may prove protective.Jacinta L. Johnson, Femke T.A. Buisman-Pijlma

Physical but not emotional stress induces a delay in behavioural coping responses in rats

Physical stress (PS) and emotional stress (ES) have opposite long-term effects on open field behaviour. PS consisted of a repeated mild foot shock treatment, which the ES animals witnessed. PS caused a long-term decrease in locomotor activity and exploration behaviours and increased immobility. ES induced an increase in locomotor activity. These changes in open field behaviour could be the result of several factors such as increased anxiety, a shift in coping strategy or simply a change in locomotor activity. To investigate the effect of the PS and ES treatment on these separate factors, the following behavioural tests were performed: defensive withdrawal, shock prod bury, large open field and social interaction. PS animals initially showed immobility in the shock prod bury test and the large open field, while the differences measured over the entire test period were small or not present. PS did not induce differences in the defensive withdrawal and the social interaction tests. ES and control animals did not differ significantly in any of the tests. The effects of PS in the shock prod bury test in particular can be interpreted as an indication of a passive coping style. However, PS animals showed the same behaviour as controls, but started displaying the behaviour after the initial immobility response. It is concluded that neither PS nor ES affects the coping style and anxiety level of the rats. PS induces a delay in behavioural responding and ES induces locomotor activation per se. It seems that the shock prod bury test is most suitable to distinguish between exploration and coping style.Femke T. A. Pijlman and Jan M. van Re

Intoxicated workers: findings from a national Australian survey

AIMS: To identify prevalence of alcohol and drug use and intoxication at work. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 9,828 Australian workers ≥14 years old. SETTING: Australia 2007. MEASUREMENTS: Work-place alcohol use and drug use, intoxication at work, industry and occupation of employment. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a large nationally representative survey involving descriptive and weighted multivariate logistic regressions. FINDINGS: Differential patterns were identified by drug type, worker characteristics and occupational setting, controlling for demographic variables. Nearly 9% of workers surveyed (8.7%) usually drank alcohol at work and 0.9% usually used drugs at work. Attending work under the influence of alcohol was more prevalent (5.6%) than attending work under the influence of drugs (2.0%), and significantly more likely among young, male, never married workers with no dependent children. Hospitality industry workers were 3.5 times more likely than other workers to drink alcohol and two to three times more likely to use drugs at work or attend work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Other high-risk industries and occupations included construction, financial services, tradespersons and unskilled workers. CONCLUSION: More than one in 20 Australian workers admit to having worked under the influence of alcohol and almost one in 50 report attending work under the influence of psychoactive drugs. The rates are higher for some industries, such as the hospitality industry, than others.Ken Pidd, Ann M. Roche and Femke Buisman-Pijlma

Empathy and Resilience in a Connected World

Attachment can increase resilience in the face of stress and ward off addiction. We propose an underlying mechanism that is located in the interaction between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems. In the distinction between “wanting” and “liking,” it has been hypothesized that dopamine is involved in the “wanting” aspect of reactive reward processing. We propose that oxytocin and attachment play a main role in “liking” or stable appreciation. Ordinarily a reward increases the “liking” of the rewarding stimulus, while satiety decreases the “wanting” of that reward. However, continued drug use and stress will reduce liking and increase the wanting of drugs, even though the drug may no longer be pleasurable, and even though this addicted “wanting” state has no evolutionary benefit. By contrast, strong partner relationships show a progression from strong motivation to approaching and obtaining the partner (the “wanting” phase of being in love fueled by high levels of novelty) toward a steady high level of “liking” (attachment involving appreciation of familiarity). These parallel processes are relevant to resilience in that they may share a similar underlying mechanism. Oxytocin may be involved in shifting the balance between wanting and liking by facilitating consolidation of social information from reactive reward systems to “internal working models” that help to proactively select optimal actions for the future, thereby increasing resilience. Oxytocin may achieve its effects through dopaminergic, serotonergic, and endogenous opioid mechanisms.Mattie Tops, Femke T. A. Buisman-Pijlman, and C. Sue Carte