This thesis examines the effectiveness of participatory research processes as a form of agricultural extension within the Australian Dairy Industry, and specifically addresses the question : Does Action Research provide an effective methodology and method(s) for enacting farmer-driven research? The experiences of the Dairy Australian-funded Profitable Pastures Protection Project (PPP), delivered to farmers across New South Wales from 1999 to 2003, provided the context within which Action Research was assessed. Data were derived from journal records of the researcher’s personal experiences as a participant observer, a PhD candidate and project coordinator. The other main data sources were industry reports that tracked the progress, outputs and outcomes of PPP. A three-tiered research framework, consisting of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary levels was devised as a basis to direct research, and interpret results. Conclusions are drawn that contemporary extension practice can be improved by better linking the on-and off-farm domains using participatory research processes such as Action Research. Meeting this challenge appears increasingly urgent in light of a globally relevant and strengthening off-farm environmental agenda that requires democratic engagement amongst greater numbers of agricultural stakeholders. This environmental agenda also places still greater demands on farmers, their management systems and the products and effects of the on-farm domain. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The factors determining the generation of aroma in starch extrudates containing added ingredients with aroma precursors were elucidated. Analyses were performed using headspace analysis of raw materials and extrudates and subsequent analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry (GC-O. Study I described the volatile, amino acid and fatty acid profiles of Hydrolised vegetable protein (HVP)and Soy protein isolate (SPI). Studies II, III and IV descibed the volatiles developed from extrusion of different feedstocks under mild and extreme processing conditions. Wheat starch was chosen as the carrier.A comparison of the influence of the three different ingredients HVP, SPI and glucose, added to the starch feed, showed the formation of Strecker aldehydes and Maillard-type compounds were significantly affected by the addition of these ingredients. The work in this thesis demonstrated that the addition of ingredients such as HVP, SPI, glucose, cysteine, cysteine-HCI, modifies the aroma of wheat starch extrudates. Furthermore, it showed the changes in conditions of extrusion and pH will greatly influence the aroma profile of the products. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In higher education settings the peer review process is highly valued and used for evaluating the academic merits of grant proposals, journal submissions, academic promotions, monographs, text books, PhD thesis and a variety of other academic products. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the peer review process for awarding research grants used by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Large Grants Program and to propose strategies to address potential shortcomings of the system. This study also evaluated psychometric properties such as the reliabilities of various ratings that are part of the assessment process of the ARC Large grants Program. Data for the all grant applications submitted for the 1996 round of the Large Grants Program were provided by the ARC. In a variation to the typical peer review process, applicants were given an opportunity to nominate assessors to review their proposals. The results indicated that global ratings given by the researcher-nominated assessors were systematically higher and less reliable than those by panel-nominated external reviewers chosen by the ARC. The reliability of peer reviews is not adequate by most standards. A critical direction for future research is considering what strategies need to be put in place to improve the quality of the reviews. To improve the reliability it is recommended that researcher-nominated reviewers should not be used; that there should be more reviews per proposal and a smaller more highly selected core of reviewers should perform most of the reviews within each sub-discipline providing a greater control over error associated with individual reviewers / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In higher education settings the peer review process is highly valued and used for evaluating the academic merits of grant proposals, journal submissions, academic promotions, monographs, text books, PhD thesis and a variety of other academic products. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the peer review process for awarding research grants used by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Large Grants Program and to propose strategies to address potential shortcomings of the system. This study also evaluated psychometric properties such as the reliabilities of various ratings that are part of the assessment process of the ARC Large grants Program. Data for the all grant applications submitted for the 1996 round of the Large Grants Program were provided by the ARC. In a variation to the typical peer review process, applicants were given an opportunity to nominate assessors to review their proposals. The results indicated that global ratings given by the researcher-nominated assessors were systematically higher and less reliable than those by panel-nominated external reviewers chosen by the ARC. The reliability of peer reviews is not adequate by most standards. A critical direction for future research is considering what strategies need to be put in place to improve the quality of the reviews. To improve the reliability it is recommended that researcher-nominated reviewers should not be used; that there should be more reviews per proposal and a smaller more highly selected core of reviewers should perform most of the reviews within each sub-discipline providing a greater control over error associated with individual reviewers / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-112). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis--Groningen. / Summary in Dutch. "Stellingen": [2] p. inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-184).

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes special report study entitled: Energy conscious design. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Geography / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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