The 'climates' of the logging industry : effects on safety, commitment, turnover, and accidents : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Soc. Sci.) in Psychology at Massey University

New Zealand's logging industry is one of the country's largest exporting industries. With increased global competition and demands, work environments like the logging industry are finding that problems such as accidents and turnover rates are intensifying. Much research has been completed on accident and turnover rates, yet no decrease is apparent. New approaches in identifying reasons for such problems are therefore necessary. Gaining knowledge of the rationale for high turnover and accident rates (adverse activities) within the logging industry included investigating the general PC, group and organisational climate, safety climate, organisational commitment and intentions to quit (job behaviours/perceptions)of logging industry members. Field and Abelson's (1982) model asserts that PC can affect job behaviours/perceptions and adverse activities. Their 'new evolution' model of climate also argues that aggregation of psychological climate (PC) perceptions to gain evidence of group and organisational climate is possible if there is consensus in PC perceptions within groups and across organisations. Respondents were a heterogeneous group of contractors (n=6) and crew members (n=67) drawn from a list of Corporate and Woodlot crews provided by Carter Holt Harvey Limited and Fletcher Challenge Limited. The relationships between demographic variables and PC were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). ANOVA's and Pearson r's correlations were also performed to analyse potential relationships between all the variables to determine effects on the adverse activities of the logging industry. The psychological climate, safety climate, organisational commitment, and intentions to turnover variables were found to be rather negative in direction. Aggregation of PC to group level climate proved unfruitful because of the lack of consensus within crews. However, organisational climate was evident across the logging industry. Some PC variables were found to be significantly related to safety climate variables, organisational commitment variables, and intention to quit variables. The contractors perceptions of the PC variables role ambiguity and workgroup friendliness and warmth were significantly related to crewmember turnover rates. Moreover, the contractors perceptions of the safety climate variable fatalism were significantly related to crewmember accident rates. The research limitations and implications were discussed along with recommendations for future research

Regaining Motor Control in Musician's Dystonia by Restoring Sensorimotor Organization

Professional musicians are an excellent human model of long term effects of skilled motor training on the structure and function of the motor system. However, such effects are accompanied by an increased risk of developing motor abnormalities, in particular musician's dystonia. Previously we found that there was an expanded spatial integration of proprioceptive input into the hand area of motor cortex (sensorimotor organisation, SMO) in healthy musicians as tested with a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm. In musician's dystonia, this expansion was even larger, resulting in a complete lack of somatotopic organisation. We hypothesised that the disordered motor control in musician's dystonia is a consequence of the disordered SMO. In the present paper we test this idea by giving pianists with musician's dystonia 15 min experience of a modified proprioceptive training task. This restored SMO towards that seen in healthy pianists. Crucially, motor control of the affected task improved significantly and objectively as measured with a MIDI piano, and the amount of behavioural improvement was significantly correlated to the degree of sensorimotor re-organisation. In healthy pianists and non-musicians, the SMO and motor performance remained essentially unchanged. These findings suggest a link between the differentiation of SMO in the hand motor cortex and the degree of motor control of intensively practiced tasks in highly skilled individuals

A simulation model of time-dependent plasma-spacecraft interactions

A plasma simulation code is presented that models the time-dependent plasma properties in the vicinity of a spherical, charged spacecraft. After showing agreement with analytic, steady-state theories and ATS-6 satellite data, the following three problems are treated: (1) transient pulses from photoemission at various emission temperatures and ambient plasma conditions, (2) spacecharge limited emission, and (3) simulated plasma oscillations in the long wavelength limit

Selection of candidates for the Church of Scotland ministry

This dissertation begins with a brief account of the effect of the process of secularisation, from a sociological point of view, on the role of the minister. The nature of his role and status is considered against a background of the changes at present taking place within society. The concept of role con¬ flict is explored. Judging from the spate of literature on tne 3ubject and the current changes in society it is concluded that the ministerial role is highly susceptible to confusion. The conclusion is partly reflected in the small number of theological graduates compared to the large increase in graduates in other faculties, and in the numbers recruiting for the Church of Scotland ministry.Although the sociological definition of the ministry is uncer some stress this does not imply that the theological uefinition is suffering the same fate. Thus chapters two and three provide some theological background to the subject. The first of these chapters returns to the Bible in an attempt to unravel the origins of the word •ministry1 in the flew Testament. Hebrew aerivation of flew Testament words are ascertained and it is recognised that the Christian 'apostle* had his prototype in the Jewish 'shaliach'. The title 'the Twelve' is also examined since this is probably an earlier title than that of Apostle. The conclusion is reached that a small number of men were called to the office designated by the name of the Twelve ana that it was an office characterised by the function of an Apostle.The flew Testament usage of the word 'priest' is also discussed and found not to be used for anyone who holds an office in the church. It is preferable to use the term as it describes a function. Indeed the question of ecclesiastical 'office' is not a N.T. concept. The tendency is to speak of 'service' rather than office. This concept of 'service' ('diakonia') is discussed at length and related to the Pauline conception of charisma. Chapter two concludes with the sobering thought that in the N.T. there is no one pattern of ministry which can be interpreted unambiguously. More is there the general principle of service and a flexibility and diversity of ministry which today is unfamiliar. Not only is it difficult to establish a scriptural norm for the ministry a brief glimpse into Church History reveals a similar conclusion. With regard to the diversity and flexibility, this is related to some contemporary developments, namely, specialised ministries. The difficulties inherent in these are discussed and guidelines given for determining their authenticity in terms of service of the church, service of the world and service of individuals, the latter discussion revolving round the concept of soul'The interesting effect of these new ministries is that of highlighting the role of the clergyman as opposed to that of the layman because there is a large amount of overlap in their respective functions. Thus chapter three begins with a discussion on the priesthood of all believers. Difficulties with this particular phrase are mentioned and more useful concepts discussed. In particular, the phrase 'the people of God' is shown to relate more strictly to the N.T. words 'lay' (.'laos') and 'clergy' ('clerus'). Reasons for the clergy-laity distinction are given and evidence cited to show that the layman has been far from passive throughout the course of Christian history. The chapter continues with an outline of three main types of layman and reasons for the renewed interest in the laity. In discussing the role of the laity the meaning of ordination arises because it seems that the laity can equally well carry out all the tasks that have been traditionally assigned to the clergy. The function of a minister is described as a 'servant of the servants of God'. After a look at the N.T. usage of ordination and church order and the indelibility of ordination, two different views of ordination are given on the subject and a synthesis attempted. any view of ordination must take seriously the ministry of the laity, the mission of the church and, last but not least, the ordained ministry must be seen in relation to the 'given-ness' of God.Of course the ordained man is different simply because of his call and thus chapter four deals with this question against a discussion on the nature of motivation in general. Experimental findings are reported and a theoretical model, the 'little adult', is examined. Surveys carried out in England and Scotland are quoted before specifically discussing the concept of 'call'. Four kinds of call are discussed in detail. The chapter closes with reasons for using psychological methodology in what may seem purely a theological matter. Theologically one talks of a call to the ministry but psychologically one must speak of the decision of a person to enter a particular vocation.Chapter five deals with the selection process and opens with a brief discussion of the modes of operation in the Methodist and Anglican denominations. The chapter continues with a discussion of the selection system in the Church of Scotland prior to 1966. The advantages and disadvantages of relying on the interview as an instrument of selection are carefully weighed. The 'extended interview' or group selection methods of the Civil service Selection Board (CSSB) are outlined together with experimental findings. Finally the new procedures of the Church of Scotland are discussed in detail.Chapter six describes the selection process by means of statistical methods. A detailed breakdown of over 80% of Scottish ministerial candidates is given. The attrition rate for the three denominations is remarkably similar. after examining the percentage acceptance rate at selection schools and also the details of candidates who applied twice the conclusion is reached that assessors are consistent in their judgements. after statistically examining various election School variables no clues are found to predict which candidates are likely to withdraw at some later stage.All variables are examined for sex differences and significance is found in the 'chair' and 'church' variables. Fewer women than expected obtained low scores in the exercise as committee chairman. The opposite is the case for the 'church' variable. Thus if bias is understood to refer to patterns of over and under representation under the statistical assumption of independence, the sex bias does exist. There is also a significant relationship between l.Q. and the final Selection School decision. Bias is also found in certain age ranges. Most variables are found to approximate well to the normal distribution. Finally a correlation table for all the variables is discussed.Chapter seven focuses on the theoretical issues involved in any selection process, in particular, the relationship between predictors and criteria. The prediction of academic performance is given as an illustration. Both cognitive and non-cognitive predictors are discussed. with regard to criteria, the difficulties in defining teacher effectiveness is used as an example. The criteria of success, effectiveness, perseverance in the ministry and mental health are all found to be wanting when used in relation to the clergy.With the intention of delineating the characteristics which make for effective ministry all the assessors of the church of Scotland were asked to complete a short questionnaire. The results are tabulated in chapter eight. The main question deals specifically with the 'characteristics always found in the good effective pariah minister'. A sorting procedure was employed, the results tabulated and written out in the form of a criterion model. Concern for others, spirituality and ability to communicate rank highly in terms of importance. The results are compared to those of other researchers and also with the answers given by a number of candidates. There is a high degree of similarity between the answers of assessors and those of candidates.The penultimate chapter deals with the results of a questionnaire sent to a large proportion of candidates who have been accepted since the inception of the new system. secondary questions about Selection Schools, motivation, theological standpoint are discussed but the prime aim is to develop a criterion for the ministry. The core of the questionnaire is six open-ended questions related to the concept of satisfaction and areas of difficulty in the parish ministry. The idea is to determine areas where men and job do not fit. although results are not as conclusive as anticipated it is possible to establish two things. Firstly a tentative approach is made towards a Job description defined by the satisfactions and difficulties the respondents had. Secondly it becomes obvious that respondents had difficulty in conceptualising the role of the minister at all. A statistical analysis is carried out to determine whether any relationships exist between the predictors, that is the Selection School variables and the criteria, that is, the categories of difficulty and distaste. Additional questions give further clues on the satisfaction-dissatisfaction dimension.Chapter ten draws together all the threads of the thesis, reaches conclusions and points in the direction of further research

Cracking the Code on Stem: A People Strategy for Nevada\u27s Economy

Nevada has in place a plausible economic diversification strategy—and it’s beginning to work. Now, the state and its regions need to craft a people strategy. Specifically, the state needs to boost the number of Nevadans who possess at least some postsecondary training in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math—the so-called “STEM” disciplines (to which some leaders add arts and design to make it “STEAM”). The moment is urgent—and only heightened by the projected worker needs of Tesla Motors’ planned “gigafactory” for lithium-ion batteries in Storey County. Even before the recent Tesla commitment, a number of the more high-tech industry sectors targeted by the state’s new economic diversification strategy had begun to deliver significant growth. Most notable in fast-growing sectors like Business IT Ecosystems (as defined by the Governor’s Office for Economic Development) and large sectors like Health and Medical Services, this growth has begun to increase the demand in Nevada for workers with at least a modicum of postsecondary training in one or more STE M discipline. However, there is a problem. Even though many available opportunities require no more than the right community college certificate, insufficient numbers of Nevadans have pursued even a little STEM training. As a result, too few Nevadans are ready to participate in the state’s emerging STEM economy. The upshot: Without concerted action to prepare more Nevadans for jobs in STEM-intensive fields, skills shortages could limit growth in the state’s most promising target industries and Nevadans could miss out on employment that offers superior paths to opportunity and advancement. Which is the challenge this report addresses: Aimed at focusing the state at a critical moment, this analysis speaks to Nevada’s STEM challenge by providing a new assessment of Nevada’s STEM economy and labor market as well as a review of actions that leaders throughout the state—whether in the public, private, civic, or philanthropic sectors—can take to develop a workforce capable of supporting continued growth through economic diversification

Peer Evaluations, and Team Learning In Undergraduate and Graduate Education

This paper reviewed the available literature concerning the use of student peer evaluations and team learning in undergraduate and graduate education. The literature clearly demonstrates that the simple act of how an instructor assigns groups has a significant impact on the grades their students receive. Also clear from the literature is that training should precede the use of peer evaluations in any classroom setting. Further, student assigned grades become more accurate with training and practice. Although there are several potential problems with the use student peer evaluations and team learning, there are also very pronounced student benefits. Generally, students have been shown to improve their learning, retention, and overall grades when group projects and peer evaluations are correctly used

Precise orbit determination and analysis from satellite altimetry and laser ranging

For optimum utilization of satellite-borne instrumentation, it is necessary to know precisely the orbital position of the spacecraft. The aim of this thesis is therefore two-fold - firstly to derive precise orbits with particular emphasis placed on the altimetric satellite SEASAT and secondly, to utilize the precise orbits, to improve upon atmospheric density determinations for satellite drag modelling purposes. Part one of the thesis, on precise orbit determinations, is particularly concerned with the tracking data - satellite laser ranging, altimetry and crossover height differences - and how this data can be used to analyse errors in the orbit, the geoid and sea-surface topography. The outcome of this analysis is the determination of a low degree and order model for sea surface topography. Part two, on the other hand, mainly concentrates on using the laser data to analyse and improve upon current atmospheric density models. In particular, the modelling of density changes associated with geomagnetic disturbances comes under scrutiny in this section. By introducing persistence modelling of a geomagnetic event and solving for certain geomagnetic parameters, a new density model is derived which performs significantly better than the state-of-the-art models over periods of severe geomagnetic storms at SEASAT heights. This is independently verified by application of the derived model to STARLETTE orbit determinations