Shoba Nayar

Postgraduate research supervision: a critical review of current practice

Changes in the funding and delivery of research programmes at the university level have, in recent years, resulted in significant changes to research supervision. This paper critically reviews key influences effecting postgraduate supervision. Analysis draws on literature spanning 2000–2010 to determine the appropriateness of traditional models of postgraduate research curricula and supervision for the New Zealand context. Influences discussed include the research context, faculty issues, supervision pedagogy and models of supervision. Each area is analysed for strengths and challenges and contribution to the knowledge economy. From this review, the authors propose strategies for the development of postgraduate research supervision: faculty development, including supervisor education, and formalised research training for students.

Using Occupation to Navigate Cultural Spaces: Indian Immigrant Women Settling in New Zealand

Indian immigrant women settling in New Zealand encounter new environments and occupational situations. How they navigate these situations either facilitates and enhances the experience of being in a new environment or challenges the process of settling and becoming part of New Zealand society. This study describes the significance of engagement in occupation as central to the settlement process. In-depth interviews and participant observations were used to gather information from 25 Indian immigrant women living in New Zealand towns and cities, regarding their experiences of occupation in a new environment. A grounded theory methodology guided by symbolic interactionism and occupational science was employed. Data were analysed using dimensional analysis, resulting in a substantive grounded theory, Navigating Cultural Spaces. This dynamic process describes how Indian immigrant women interweave aspects of the New Zealand and Indian cultures into everyday occupations as they create a place for themselves and their families in a new country.

Grounded Theory: A Research Methodology for Occupational Science

Qualitative research methodologies are commonly used within occupational science research. One methodological approach that has, to date, been underutilised is grounded theory. This commentary provides a brief overview of grounded theory methodology and the associated theoretical perspective, symbolic interactionism. Then, drawing on Yerxa et al.s (1990) criteria for research methodologies in occupational science, this paper argues that grounded theory has the potential as a research approach to underpin occupation focussed enquiry.

An Occupational Perspective of Migrant Mental Health: Indian Women's Adjustment to Living in New Zealand

It is widely recognised that immigration may be more distressing than anticipated, disrupting occupations and threatening health and wellbeing. In New Zealand, increasing numbers of new immigrants are reported to be accessing mental health services. This article reports the findings of a small-scale qualitative study into the things that Indian women, who have recently immigrated to New Zealand, do in their everyday lives as they endeavour to settle into New Zealand society. The article describes a pattern of engagement in occupations that unfolds as the women learn about their new environment, the resources available to them and how things are done in New Zealand. Oh God, where did I come? describes how being in an unfamiliar environment initially compels the women to do familiar activities that boost their confidence and support wellbeing. The second pattern, Being in the change, sees the women getting to know their environment and engaging in both new and familiar activities. A New Zealander with an Indian soul finds the women doing more activities that challenge their abilities and knowledge of New Zealand culture. It is argued that occupational therapists, with their knowledge of the person-environment-occupation interplay, are well placed to support immigrant health by facilitating occupational adjustment.

Perceived unmet needs for health care among Parkinson's Society of New Zealand members with Parkinson's disease

UNLABELLED We surveyed nationwide health needs for Parkinsons disease (PD) among New Zealand Parkinsons Society members with PD. BACKGROUND Little literature assesses how people with PD perceive their health needs for this medical condition. METHOD Cross-sectional survey of health needs through personal, structured telephone interviews with a random sample of 500 Parkinsons Society members with PD. RESULTS Many participants wanted improved access to specialist care but their reported attendance rates suggest provider adherence to guideline recommendations. More general practitioners (GPs) than specialists were said to offer less information than wanted. Getting enough information in usual care was the best predictor (odds ratio 3.44, 95% CI: 1.93-6.13, p=0.000) of seeing a specialist for PD as often as wanted. CONCLUSIONS People with PD have an important perspective in assessments of their health needs. GPs require training support in providing patient information about PD. Our study results may apply to Parkinsons Society members in similar health systems.

Occupational Adaptation as a Social Process in Everyday Life

Whilst the term occupational adaptation is understood conceptually as both a state and a process closely linked to ones identity, few studies have considered how this concept reveals itself in everyday settings. Thus, there is merit in employing grounded theory methodology – with a focus on uncovering social process – to further understand the concept of occupational adaptation. This paper draws on findings from two grounded theory studies. Study one explored the settlement processes of 25 women who had emigrated from India to New Zealand between the years 1987–2005. In study two, 15 participants over the age of 75 and living in an Australian city were interviewed regarding their understanding of well-being. Shaping Self (study 1) and Trading Off (study 2) were revealed as forms of occupational adaptation through which participants increased their occupational choices. The findings further reinforce current understandings of occupational adaptation as tied to identity and well-being, and advance the notion that occupational adaptation can be used as a strategy to proactively respond to altered situations and broaden ones occupational choices. Occupational scientists interested in extending understandings of occupational adaptation are encouraged to consider choosing a grounded theory methodology to frame their study.

Older Asian immigrants’ participation as cultural enfranchisement

ABSTRACT Research evidence suggests that older immigrants’ resettlement in a new host country is hindered by limited opportunities to engage within communities in deeply familiar ways, using culturally meaningful occupations. A recent study concluded that older Asian immigrants contribute to social capital; yet there is little understanding of how they go about doing so. This New Zealand study examined how older Chinese, Indian, and Korean immigrants’ participation contributes to civic society. Research partnerships were established with bilingual local intermediaries, who assisted the study’s design and implementation. Bilingual research assistants and translators were contracted to assist with recruitment, data gathering, and transcript translation. Recruitment was conducted through venues where older immigrant ethnic groups frequented. The 74 participants were Chinese (24), Indian (25), and Korean (25) immigrants, aged 60 to 83 years, who were aged 55 or older on arrival, and had resided in New Zealand between 1 and 19 years. Nine focus group interviews, three with each ethnic group, were conducted and analysed. Subsequently, 15 participants, five from each ethnic group, were theoretically sampled for individual interview. Three culture-specific provisional theories were developed. Similarities in the theoretical dimensions justified the analytic development of one cross-cultural theory. The resulting theory showed how their engagement with, and participation in, socially embedded older immigrant networks become a form of cultural enfranchisement and a pathway towards wider civic participation. While still largely hidden from societal view, these older immigrants found ways of giving service and strengthening community for the good of all.

Occupational experiences of Korean immigrants settling in New Zealand

ABSTRACT For Korean immigrants, settling in New Zealand is challenging and stress-inducing. There is growing concern that feelings of alienation and loss seem to be key features in their lives. Taking the symbolic interactionism perspective that people interpret a situation through social interaction, the purpose of this study was to explore how Korean immigrants interact with their new environment, whilst re-negotiating their reality. A grounded theory methodology was employed as it places participants’ actions at the centre of its attention. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were conducted to collect information from 25 participants who lived in the North Island of New Zealand. Data were analysed using methods of constant comparison, conditional matrix and memoing. The resultant substantive grounded theory was Regaining Control: A Journey of Valuing Self. It offers one plausible explanation of how Korean immigrants make choices about their occupations by opting to enact ‘Korean Ways’ and ‘New Zealand Ways’ until they reach a place where they will once again feel valued as members of civic society. Through increasing understanding of the impact of immigration on occupations, this study contributes to knowledge of the diversity of human experiences in the occupational science literature.

The structural-personal interaction: Occupational deprivation and asylum seekers in Australia

ABSTRACT Asylum seekers experience occupational deprivation in the context of restrictive social structures while awaiting refugee visa-status determination. How do social structures of citizenship status and policy shape asylum seekers’ experiences? Asylum seekers’ experiences in Australia are examined using constructivist grounded theory. Field notes from 10 months of weekly participant observation, 11 formal interviews, 34 survey responses and four policy documents are combined to identify a substantive theory - the Structural-Personal Interaction (SPI). The SPI explains how occupational deprivation arises from an interaction between social structures and personal characteristics. Social structures of citizenship status and policy interact with asylum seekers’ personal characteristics, resulting in experiences of “having nothing to do”, a fundamental component of occupational deprivation. From the SPI, new insights regarding occupational deprivation emerge. Occupational deprivation can stem from an interaction between social structures and personal characteristics. While the SPI is a substantive theory and further research across a range of settings would be beneficial for its generalization, occupational deprivations structural roots and connections to human vulnerabilities and resilience are discernable when considered in light of the SPI. Strategies to address occupational deprivation might target changes to social structures as well as build on individual strengths and human diversity.

Community engagement for health promotion Reducing injuries among Chinese people in New Zealand

Objectives and Settings: A growing Asian population currently resides in New Zealand, yet under half of this population claim the support they are entitled to in the face of an accident and injury. This research is focused on identifying ways of effectively engaging the Chinese community in health-promotion programmes to prevent and/or reduce injuries. Methods: Research field work was conducted based on a qualitative approach. Interviews were carried out with 32 members of the Chinese community and six experts from six different organizations working with the Chinese community in Auckland, New Zealand. Results: Interviews revealed that issues of resettlement and relocation, lack of communication, community readiness and community capacity all impacted on the delivery of health-promotion activities within the Chinese community. Conclusion: The findings led to a series of seven steps as guidelines to engage the Chinese community to prevent and/or reduce injuries towards improving the quality of their lives. The underlying principles of the guidelines helped in the development of a community engagement approach for Chinese communities in Auckland, New Zealand.