Australasian Journal of Philosophy 1947–2016: a retrospective using citation and social network analyses

In anticipation of the journal’s centenary in 2027 this paper provides a citation network analysis of all available citation and publication data of the Australasian Journal of Philosophy (1923–2017). A total of 2,353 academic articles containing 21,772 references were collated and analyzed. This includes 175 articles that contained author-submitted keywords, 415 publisher-tagged keywords and 519 articles that had abstracts. Results initially focused on finding the most published authors, most cited articles and most cited authors within the journal, followed by most discussed topics and emerging patterns using keywords and abstracts. The analysis then proceeded to apply social network analysis using Kumu© – a visualization platform for mapping systems and relationships using large datasets. Analysis reveals topic clusters both unique to the journal, and inclusive of the journal’s history. Results from this analysis reaffirm the journal’s continuing focus on topics in traditional analytic philosophy such as morality, epistemology and knowledge, whilst also featuring topics associated with logic and paradox. This paper presents a new approach to analysing and understanding the historic and emerging topics of interest to the journal, and its readership. This has never previously been done for single philosophy journal. This is historically important given the journal’s forthcoming centenary

Critical Thinking in Business Education: Current Outlook and Future Prospects

This study investigates all available literature related to critical thinking in business education in a survey of publications in the field produced from 1990-2019. It conducts a thematic analysis of 787 articles found in Web of Science and Google Scholar, including a specific focus on 55 highly-cited articles. The aim is to investigate the importance of critical thinking in business education, how it is conceptualised in business education research, the business contexts in which critical thinking is situated, and the key and more marginal themes related to critical thinking outlined in the business and business education literature. The paper outlines six key areas and topics associated with those areas. It suggests future directions for further scholarly work in the area of critical thinking in business education

'Still Riding for Freedom' – An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Rights Agenda for the Twenty First Century

Keynote Address - Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission. Other Speakers - Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Sydney; Mr Neville Perkins OAM, Master of Ceremonies; Mr Charles Madden, Welcome to country.; Ms Janet Mooney, Director, Koori Centre; Paul Gray, Naomi May Cook and Alana Moffett, Prize winners, Dr Charles Perkins AO Annual Memorial Prizes

FREE TUTORIAL PROGRAM AND ITS EFFECTS TO MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AT PAMPANGA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY PHILIPINES

The free tutorial program of the Mathematics Society members and Department of Mathematics faculty members is an extension activity implemented semesterly in preparation for both midterm and final examinations on selected Mathematics subjects at Pampanga State Agricultural University. Pre-test and post-test were administered to students who voluntarily participated before and after the free tutorial program. Using the inferential method of research, the results showed that the pre-test performance of students is significantly different to the post-test across all the free tutorial programs conducted from 2014 to 2018. Moreover, the tutorial performance and the major examination performance of students were significantly related. Thus, the free tutorial program is effective for students who participated in the tutorial program. The findings of the study suggest the continuation of the tutorial program with wider dissemination for the increase of participants

An exploration of final-year undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of general practice nursing

Background: The growing burden of chronic conditions and an ageing population has prompted an increased focus on health care services delivered in the community. General practice nurses (GPNs) have an important role in community-based care and significantly contribute to positive health outcomes. The increasing complexity of health care needs have amplified the demands for nurses in general practice. However, the GPN workforce is ageing with many GPNs approaching retirement. To ensure the GPN workforce has sufficient nurses to meet these demands it is important to understand how nurses new to practice perceive the role. To date, little is known about how undergraduate nursing students are prepared to work in this setting or their perceptions of general practice nursing as a career. Aim: This thesis explores final-year undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of general practice nursing, and preparedness to work in general practice following graduation. Methods: This sequential explanatory mixed methods study encompassed an online cross sectional survey of final-year undergraduate nursing students, followed by telephone interviews with a subgroup of survey respondents. The survey comprised validated tools, modified for use in general practice, and investigator developed items. The modified Confidence and Interest in Critical Care Nursing (CICCN) tool(1) was used to determine predictors of confidence and interest to work in general practice. Intention to work in general practice was measured using the modified Attitudes, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioural Control, and Intention to pursue a career in Mental Health Nursing scale (ASPIRE) scale(2). Finally, the modified ‘Profession Scale’ from the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE) tool(3) evaluated perceptions of the general practice work environment and characteristics important in choosing an employment setting. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Purposively selected survey respondents participated in semi-structured telephone interviews, conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach. These interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim before being analysed using thematic analysis(4). Findings: Of the 355 survey respondents, 92.7% (n=329) identified as female. Respondents had a mean age of 28 years (Range 18-58 years). Some 34.1% had a clinical placement in general practice within the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program. Survey findings revealed respondents had moderate interest to work in general practice. Clinical placement exposure and high confidence to work in general practice were significant predictors of interest and intention to work in general practice. Exposure to general practice nursing within the BN program, and clinical placement experience in this setting also significantly influenced respondents’ perceptions of the general practice work environment. Perceived work environment of general practice influences the views of undergraduate nursing students regarding career options. Sixteen participants were interviewed. Responses confirmed the impact of exposure on perceptions of general practice nursing, demonstrated by the diversity of participants’ perceptions of the GPN’s ways of working, breadth of their role, and the nature of their relationships with patients. Participants identified a range of barriers that may impact their interest and intention to seek employment in general practice following graduation. Perceptions of limited opportunities for skill development that may later compromise future employment was a factor that did not make general practice nursing a priority career path Similarly, perceptions of current employment conditions in this setting, and perceived lack of support for transition to general practice for new graduate nurses in general practice, also influenced participants’ views of general practice as a new graduate career choice. Conclusions: Both survey and interview findings revealed an overall moderate interest to work in general practice at some point in their career. There were some concerns around the GPN’s scope of practice, opportunities for advancement, and availability of transition support for new graduate nurses in general practice. However, these perceptions were often influenced by participants’ indirect experience of general practice nursing. This suggests the need to evaluate BN programs and assess how theoretical general practice nursing content, as well as clinical experience in this setting, could be integrated within undergraduate education. To improve new graduates’ preparation and interest to pursue a career in diverse clinical settings, universities need to identify innovative strategies that provide clinical exposure beyond traditional hospital-based clinical placement models. Further research is needed to investigate models of transition support that might be used in general practice to improve the recruitment of new graduate nurses. Lastly, prioritisation of organisational, educational, and funding support for GPNs are crucial to improve perceptions relating to work conditions and therefore enhance undergraduate nursing students’ interest and intention to pursue work in general practice

Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to draw on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) perspectives, theoretical understandings, and available evidence to answer questions about what is required to effectively address Indigenous people’s mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. Social and emotional wellbeing is a multifaceted concept. Although the term is often used to describe issues of ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’, it has a broader scope in that Indigenous culture takes a holistic view of health. It recognises the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family and community, how these connections have been shaped across generations, and the processes by which they affect individual wellbeing. It is a whole-of-life view, and it includes the interdependent relationships between families, communities, land, sea and spirit and the cyclical concept of life–death–life. Importantly, these concepts and understandings of maintaining and restoring health and social and emotional wellbeing differ markedly to those in many non-Indigenous-specific (or mainstream) programs that tend to emphasise an individual’s behavioural and emotional strengths and ability to adapt and cope with the challenges of life. This paper explores the central question of ‘what are culturally appropriate mental health and social and emotional wellbeing programs and services for Indigenous people, and how are these best delivered?’. It identifies Indigenous perspectives of what is required for service provision and program delivery that align with Indigenous beliefs, values, needs and priorities. It explores the evidence and consensus around the principles of best practice in Indigenous mental health programs and services. It discusses these principles of best practice with examples of programs and research that show how these values and perspectives can be achieved in program design and delivery. This paper seeks to provide an evidence-based, theoretically coherent discussion of the factors that influence the effective development, implementation and outcomes of initiatives to address Indigenous mental health and wellbeing issues. It seeks to assess whether the current investment in Indigenous people’s mental health is aligned with available evidence on what works. To this end, the paper reviews Australian literature and government health, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing policies and programs. The scope of programs and their criteria for inclusion in this paper are informed by the Key Result Area 4, Social and Emotional Wellbeing objectives, within the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003–13: Australian Government Implementation Plan 2007–2013. This paper acknowledges the holistic nature of health, mental health and wellbeing, and the effects of Australia’s colonial history and legacy on the contemporary state of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing. It recognises that there is a complex relationship between social and emotional wellbeing, harmful substance misuse, suicide, and a range of social and economic factors. Although this paper encompasses the broad priorities identified within the key Indigenous mental health policies and frameworks, it does not provide a detailed discussion of programs and resources that, although relevant here, are covered in a number of existing Closing the Gap Clearinghouse resource sheets and issues papers (see Appendix 1). These interweavings and overlaps are not surprising given the complexity and interconnectedness of the issues and determinants that are being addressed to strengthen Indigenous mental health and wellbeing