Overseas Studies Research Articles

Pregnant partners: Fathers of the Growing Up in New Zealand children

We describe the demography, health, pregnancy behaviours, family histories, and intentions for their children, of the 4401 partners who were enrolled antenatally into Growing Up in New Zealand, New Zealand’s new birth cohort study. The prospective fathers and their pregnant partners had similar demographics. Amongst the prospective fathers there were high rates of obesity, although the majority described themselves as healthy. Higher rates of antenatal depression were present than reported in overseas studies of men. Nearly one-third of the prospective fathers changed their dietary and smoking behaviours during their partners' pregnancies, highlighting an exciting window of opportunity presented by pregnancy to influence health-related lifestyle changes in men. Most expected high level of involvement in the care of their babies, in marked contrast to previous generations of fathers. This baseline description provides a context for understanding the contribution these men, as fathers, will make to the health and wellbeing of their children.

Authors’ reply

We read the letter from Koh et al with interest. The main purpose of our article(1) was to provide concrete evidence that our youths are today exposed to excessive amount of leisure noise. We believe that the perils of loud music listening among our youths are not fully appreciated by both medical professionals and adolescents alike. Our aim was to bring awareness to this issue, so that together, we can make a difference. The best methodology for tackling the problem is, of course, debatable. The authors described the use of a mannequin, coupled with a student educator, and reported a substantial proportion of students who intended to reduce listening volumes in future. This is a novel and interesting way to bring the message across. The reported student responses also appear to be positive. It would be interesting to follow up on the long-term effectiveness of this methodology. While many overseas studies(2-5) on hearing conservation programmes have reported that, compared to pre-instruction responses, young adults’ post-instruction hearing knowledge and noise awareness improved significantly, not all translate to a change in belief, attitude, and ultimately, behaviour. Certainly, it is a great first step, and the efforts made by the Eastern Health Alliance are to be highlighted and commended. We would encourage other hospitals and polyclinics to also reach out to young people to educate them about the hearing hazards of loud music. Finally, we also firmly believe that all schools in Singapore should conduct a hearing conservation and awareness programme, possibly starting at the primary school level. In this respect, the Health Promotion Board could work closely with the Ministry of Education. The hazards of loud music could also be incorporated into students’ health curriculum. These efforts at the school level, coupled with those of our health sector, can ultimately make a difference. Yours sincerely,

Influence of Social Media on Chinese Students’ Choice of an Overseas Study Destination: An Information Adoption Model Perspective

ABSTRACTThis study is an experimental investigation of the influence of social media on choosing an overseas study destination. The elaboration likelihood model of communication and persuasion provides a conceptual basis for this study. Data was collected through convenience sampling of Chinese students from three Brisbane tertiary institutions. Participants were provided with one of the four treatments with manipulated stimuli. Results suggest that social media content is an influential factor in determining destination attractiveness, and may, if correctly specified, facilitate high elaboration and generate corresponding positive or negative impressions of the study destination from students.

The Evolution, Tendency, and Theoretical Construction of Chinese Social Cognition Research

Social cognition refers to individual's perception and comprehension to social object, social phenomenon and their relations. According to the object, social cognition can be divided into self-cognition, interpersonal cognition and social events cognition with social decision as the core. Domestic scholars have carried out a series of beneficial explorations focused on above four aspects, which made a pioneering contribution to the research of the Chinese social However, no matter in terms of theoretical construction, research paradigm and research content, amount of studies followed overseas studies' precondition and category, that is own-based cognition. These studies broke away from the basis of the breed of Chinese social cognition – the traditional cultural based on differential pattern and the cultural in the context of current dramatic social change. Through combing and integrating the studies which related to the subject of social we found that the fundamental characteristic of Chinese social cognition is he-based cognition, and it reflects as intergroup cognition(hierarchy cognition) which derived and developed from differential pattern cultural. And then, around the main line of intergroup cognition, we try to interpret and construct the theoretical framework of Chinese social This study, which can promote the research of Chinese social has profound theoretical significance and practical significance.

Exploration of Effectiveness of Workshop Conducted in Overseas Study Tours for University Students

Exploration of Effectiveness of Workshop Conducted in Overseas Study Tours for University Students

"Psychic Distance, Global Mindset, and Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationship Quality"

Through the lenses of social cognitive theory and information processing theory perspectives, this paper investigates how managers’ cognitive personality traits and international learning experience interact with their global mindset development and perceived psychic distance influencing headquarters-subsidiary (HQ-Sub) relationship quality. Data were collected from both the headquarters and the respective subsidiaries of 302 Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs). Our findings suggest that managers’ psychic distance and global mindset have positive effects on HQ-Sub relationship quality, and that the positive relationship between managers’ global mindset and relationship quality is stronger when the managers have more overseas study experience and weaker when the managers demonstrate a non-flexible personality.

Engaging in Deep Cultural Learning through the Intersection of Multiple Contexts

The type of learning that takes place in teacher education courses typically results in pre-service teachers developing a mixture of knowledge, skills and values that enable them to become effective teachers in schools in the future. During their journey to become qualified teachers, pre-service teachers typically engage in coursework and experiential-based learning. By engaging in coursework experiences, an overseas practicum and an overseas study tour, students experienced a range of reflection-promoting activities and contexts during which they broadened and deepened their understanding of cultures other than their own. Using a cross-case analysis approach, the data gathered in these three cases were evaluated using an experiential learning theoretical framework. This article reports on findings from three separate but related studies in which students’ learning about cultures other than their own was analysed and used to provide a set of practical recommendations for teacher education courses and programs.

Reduction of Multidimensional Image Characteristics Based on Improved KICA

The domestic and overseas studies of redundant multifeatures and noise in dimension reduction are insufficient, and the efficiency and accuracy are low. Dimensionality reduction and optimization of characteristic parameter model based on improved kernel independent component analysis are proposed in this paper; the independent primitives are obtained by KICA (kernel independent component analysis) algorithm to construct an independent group subspace, while using 2DPCA (2D principal component analysis) algorithm to complete the second order related to data and further reduce the dimension in the above method. Meanwhile, the optimization effect evaluation method based on Amari error and average correlation degree is presented in this paper. Comparative simulation experiments show that the Amari error is less than 6%, the average correlation degree is stable at 97% or more, and the parameter optimization method can effectively reduce the dimension of multidimensional characteristic parameters.

Women doctors’ perceptions of gender issues in their workplace: Valuable comments from their interviews in a Japanese region

The number of women doctors is increasing annually in Japan as well as all over the world. The M shaped distribution of their career path is infamous. Preventing the continuous turnover of women doctors and promoting reinstatement could be a key issue. The aim of this study was to clarify the perceptions of gender issues women doctors have regarding their workplace in a Japanese region. We interviewed nine women affiliated with “Hokkaido Medical Women’s Association,” a regional society of women doctors in Japan. Semi-structured interviews lasting 60 minutes took place. The main topics were what they considered to be gender issues in their clinical practice. All interviews were transcribed in verbatim, and the scripts were analyzed, then repeated themes were identified. Nine themes emerged and were classified into three patterns. (A) The women doctors’ own problems: 1) anxiety about future life events, 2) work life balance, 3) fear of falling behind and losing up-to-date knowledge and skills. (B) Requirements for mentors or family support: 4) shortage of women doctors as role models, 5) spousal or other relatives’ lack of understanding. (C) Institutional or environmental issues: 6) heavy workload in their practice, 7) lack of a support system for raising their children, 8) lack of a system for returning to work, 9) “glass ceiling” issues. These themes were in line with overseas studies which have reported identifiable obstacles for women in medicine. Institutional or environmental support systems rather than personal problems need to be improved above all to rectify the situation.

Student perspectives on international education: an examination into the decline of Japanese studying abroad

The number of students going abroad for study purposes continues to grow exponentially, even despite the global economic downturns of recent years. One exception is Japan, where the number of students going overseas has continued to decline since the mid-2000s. This paper first explores various explanations for the persistent decline in Japanese study abroad based on a review of the literature and official sources. In particular, an analysis is done of the media's reporting of Japanese youth's supposed disinterest in overseas study. Secondly, questionnaire data from a survey of Japanese university students' perspectives on study abroad is analysed to help shed light on the motivating and de-motivating factors influencing the decision to study abroad. Lastly, implications are made regarding the potential consequences of decline in study abroad for Japan and its system of higher education.

Expectations and willingness-to-pay for ecotourism services in Hong Kong’s conservation areas

The nascent ecotourism market in Hong Kong has much potential for development which could benefit from research findings. This study evaluated the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for ecotourism activities in protected conservation areas and assessed the potential for ecotourism development in Hong Kong. Our questionnaire surveys gathered data from 960 general tourists at four popular tourism hotspots and 456 nature tourists at four ecotourism hotspots. Both groups were willing to pay more for ecotourism activities in the protected areas. Nature tourists would pay 40% more than general tourists and preferred high-quality products. The mean WTP of general tourists and nature tourists was, respectively, HK$167.3 and HK$223.6 (US$1.00 = HK$7.80) to participate in ecotourism activities, being 39% and 86% above the average price of a general tour (HK$120) offered by travel agents. Younger tourists, better education, and higher income raised the WTP for ecotours. The results were compared and contrasted with cognate overseas studies. The findings highlighted the need to improve service quality, pricing structure, and product differentiation. They allowed ecotourism operators to understand the market, formulate development strategies, and optimize the service to meet divergent and changing client expectations. The income generated by ecotourism services could enhance protected area management and conservation.

Surviving Financial Crises: The Chinese Overseas in Malaysia and Singapore

Most studies of financial crises focus on the impact on states, and the states’ responses. Few, if any, have focused on how these crises affect communities within the state which do not have control of the state apparatus. These groups, left out of decision-making processes and calculations by the state, suffer the most. In pre-war British Malaya and Malaysia, these groups were the Chinese overseas, Indians and some Malay minorities. A study of the impacts of the Great Depression and the Asian Financial Crisis on the Chinese overseas may help to illustrate how such groups, left on their own, coped with such crises. A study of the Chinese overseas is not insignificant because the community wielded considerable economic influence in the 1930s and in 1997. This paper argues that despite the obvious differences in circumstances, there are common threads to the narratives of both crises. These include the roles played by exchange rates and banking institutions which the Malayan Chinese helped to establish in the two countries.

What's in A Name? A Case Study of Mcdonald's Trademark Protection Overseas

What's in A Name? A Case Study of Mcdonald's Trademark Protection Overseas

Issues and Solutions of International Understanding Education in China

School in China has actively implemented International Understanding Education to foster a cosmopolitan perspective. The educational principle is to respect people of various socio-cultural backgrounds through comparing China’s culture with that of other countries. However, my survey revealed that such education in practice is limited to preparation for study in Anglophone countries because of parental requirements. Additionally, because teachers concentrate on education for understanding Anglophone countries and English, they think little of education for understanding minorities in China. I propose a solution to these problems, which cause other problems by ignoring the principle of respect for diversity. One such potential problem is failure of mutual understanding. Another is ignoring the poor. To resolve these issues, education should include student’s practice to understand others from their internal framework of reference with knowledge of their cultures, and simultaneous critical analysis of capitalism, the pragmatic basis of their daily life. The elements included in the suggested program could solve the problems resulting from their current International Understanding Education comprising only preparation for study in Anglophone countries and could provide teachers time and materials for education on understanding minorities in China. Parents can provide overseas study as a benefit from capitalism. Additionally, as minorities in China tend to be poor, understanding the problems of capitalism could make students (future parents) and their parents change their perspective by understanding their domestic minorities.

Geographies of educational mobilities: exploring the uneven flows of international students

A growing number of individuals are choosing to study abroad although, like other manifestations of globalisation, the sources and destinations of these migratory flows are highly uneven. Within the context of ongoing debates about the motives for overseas study, the reproduction of class advantage, and countries' competitive advantage for internationally mobile students, this paper seeks to improve understanding of these variations. We situate international student mobilities within a theoretical framework which connects recent work in geography, emphasising the differentiation advantage derived from foreign study, with insights more commonly applied to labour migration which emphasise costs and benefits. Our findings, based on a statistical analysis of a large sample of country pairs, call into question the central importance commonly ascribed to countries' university quality in shaping the mobilities of international students. Far more influential is income in destination countries, together with relational ties created by colonial linkages, common language and pre‐existing migrant stocks. Unique to the literature, we not only demonstrate important differences in the determinants of international student mobilities between developed and developing countries, but also between different sub‐groupings of developing countries. Indeed, an important insight from our study is that it may be useful to move beyond binary classifications, and to deploy more refined country categorisations in seeking to understand contemporary corporeal mobilities.

Childhood obesity and parental perceptions in a rural Australian population: A pilot study

While it has been widely recognised in Australian and overseas studies that parents tend to underestimate the weight of their overweight or obese child, there is an opportunity for further research within rural populations. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between a parent's perception of their child's weight category and the child's measured body mass index (BMI). Cross-sectional pilot study in Dubbo, a large regional centre in western New South Wales in Australia. Ninety-three subjects between the ages of 2 and 17 were recruited from the paediatric inpatient unit of the region's base hospital. Trained nursing staff undertook the anthropometric measurements, while a parent or caregiver was asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their perception of their child's weight category. Thirty-two per cent (30/93) of all parents underestimated the weight category of their child, while only 2% (2/93) of parents overestimated their child's weight category. Overall, 66% (61/93) of parents correctly identified their child's measured weight category. Twenty-nine per cent (27/93) of the sample population was overweight or obese, and in these children, 89% (24/27) of parents underestimated the weight category of their child. There is a major discrepancy between the child's measured BMI and their parent's perception of their child's weight category. This finding is consistent with similar past research and has important implications for the management of obesity in children. Further qualitative research may be helpful in ascertaining the reasons for this discrepancy.

건설업 안전관리를 위한 행동적 연구 동향 분석

While the reduction of industrial accidents has been stagnant, many researchers have been studying and focusing on safety behaviors including safety perception, attitude and safety culture as a new solution as well as a turning-point of this issue. However, we do not pay attention to those studies and researches in Korean construction. Therefore, this study is to introduce preceding researches and case studies in other countries and suggest a new direction to Korean construction. This study found out the current situation and problems in Korean construction studies after tracing the safety perception, attitude and safety culture in Korea and reviewing the background and trend of overseas studies and researches with regard to safety behaviors. Fundamental researches and systematic studies must be conducted in Korean construction with the reference and research data of this study.

Approaches to English literacy teaching in the Central Pacific Republic of Kiribati: quality teaching, educational aid and curriculum reform

English literacy competence in the Central Pacific Republic of Kiribati is considered important for employment, overseas study and general engagement with a globalizing world. It is also considered as a key factor in the current government's response to climate change and sea level rise, enabling skilled relocation of I-Kiribati to other countries if necessary. This article synthesizes a range of literature sources based on Kiribati literacy education to highlight: a general perception that English literacy standards are in decline; the role of the teacher in addressing that decline; pedagogical approaches to teaching literacy, particularly the historic swing from a highly structured and socially conservative teacher-centred approach to that of a very liberal student-centred approach; and the reliance on Australian and NZ educational aid and consultancy in literacy education. These issues require further debate and investigation in light of unique development problems in Kiribati marked by: rural to urban drift; an increasingly youthful population; limited employment possibilities, and eventual possible large-scale repatriation due to sea level rise. The article tentatively suggests an approach to literacy education based on a four resources model that balances teacher and learner-centredness with socio-cultural and political aspects of literacy.

Influence of patient characteristics on duration of seclusion/restrain in acute psychiatric settings in Japan

The aim of this study was to investigate the current state of duration of seclusion/restraint in acute psychiatric settings in Japan and the effect of patient characteristics on duration of seclusion/restraint. During an 8-month period starting from November 2008, duration of seclusion/restraint and patient characteristics were investigated in 694 psychiatric inpatients who experienced seclusion/restraint in three emergency and three acute wards at four psychiatric hospitals. Reasons for starting seclusion/restraint were also assessed. Analysis was performed using generalized linear models, with the duration of seclusion/restraint as the dependent variable and patient characteristics and reasons for starting seclusion/restraint as independent variables. Of the patients secluded/restrained, 58.6% had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20-F29) and a large proportion (37.9%) were secluded/restrained due to hurting others. Median hours ofseclusion/restraint were 204 and 82 h, respectively. The duration of seclusion was longer for patients with F20-F29 than those with disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19) or other diagnoses (F40-F99), and when the reason was danger of hurting others. In contrast, the duration of restraint in female patients and in patients with F10-F19 diagnosis was shorter. The duration of seclusion/restraint at acute psychiatric care wards in Japan are much longer than those reported by previous overseas studies. Although Japanese structure issues such as more patients per ward and a lower ratio of nurses need to be considered, skills for dealing with patients with primary diagnosis of F20-F29 secluded due to danger posed to others should be improved.

A comparison of ThinPrep Imager-assisted with manual screening, and its place in the New Zealand cervical cancer screening program

Overseas studies have shown equivalent sensitivity and specificity between computer-assisted screening and manual screening, with increased screener productivity. This study was undertaken to test these in a New Zealand laboratory setting. A total of 9232 slides were read manually alone, and following ThinPrep Imager-assisted screening, and the results compared. Two senior screeners and a cytopathologist reviewed the slides with discordant results. The detection rate for abnormalities was 7.30% for Imager-assisted screening and 7.83% for manual screening. The concordance in diagnosis of abnormalities ranged from 72.7% to 100% with the lowest concordance for high-grade abnormalities diagnosed by Imager-assisted screening. The rate of unsatisfactory smears with Imager-assisted screening is half that of manual screening. There was a screener productivity increase of 140%. In all but one case, abnormal cells were identified by the Imager but screeners varied in their interpretations. Overall, Imager-assisted screening was as sensitive as manual screening, and more sensitive for high-grade lesions, with a halving of the rate of unsatisfactory smears. In the setting of the New Zealand cervical screening program, the initial screen by the Imager removes the need for a second, rapid rescreen required by the program for manual screening.