Kenneth H. Smith

Females' Coping Styles and Control Over Poker Machine Gambling

An investigation of the relationship between impaired control over gambling, coping strategies, and demographic variables was conducted by surveying female poker machine players (N = 163) in their gaming venues. Metropolitan (n = 14) and regional (n = 6) gaming venues in Victoria, Australia participated. Control over gambling was measured using the Impaired Control Over Gambling Scale (Baron & Dickerson, 1994). Coping strategies were measured using (Folkman et al., 1986) adaptation of the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist (Vitaliano et al., 1985). MANOVA supported the hypothesis that the lower the control over gambling the greater the reliance on emotion-focused coping (blamed self, wishful thinking, avoidance) with F = 9.92, 13.35, 14.04 respectively, all significant at p < .001. MANOVA failed to supported the hypothesis that problem-focused strategies (problem focus, seek social support) would be significantly related to control over gambling with F = .82 and .21 respectively. Control over gambling was not related to age, employment, relationship status, education, ordistress from significant life events, further supporting the relationship between control and coping strategies. Ways in which coping styles might be related to pathological gambling are discussed.

The changing reality of research education in Australia and implications for supervision: a review of the literature

This paper consists of a literature review addressing changes in research education in Australia and their implications for research supervision. The organising principle for the review is expressed in the question: What scholarly literature can support and educate universities and supervisors to effectively carry out the work of research supervision in the current climate of Australian tertiary education? Two categories of literature are examined: literature on new ways of conceptualising research degrees and literature on effective supervision. The research agenda of the Australian government and the massification and diversity of the Australian research student population demand new ways of conceptualising the research curriculum, and in particular, call for flexibility and a holistic view. The paper challenges the traditional notion of ‘good’ supervision as a private contract between supervisor and student, and claims that in this new climate ‘good’ supervision can be defined in specific ways, as one critical component in a whole research curriculum.

Preservice Female Teachers’ Mathematics Self-Concept and Mathematics Anxiety: A Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypotheses that self-reported mathematics self-concept and mathematics attitude of preservice teachers can change and be sustained after the completion of mathematics methods and pedagogy courses within their teacher credentialing training. One-way repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to determine the changes and stability of mathematics self-concept and mathematics anxiety over a 3-year period of time of 102 preservice female teachers at a northern California university. The results of this study have given support to the idea that education of preservice mathematics teachers should be viewed developmentally, both from the development of relevant knowledge and skills, and from the perspective of the mathematics self-concept of a teacher. Suggestions for further research are described, especially concerning the significance of the self-concept in pedagogy for tomorrow’s schools.