Capstone Program

The staff of the School of Behavioural and Social Sciences & Humanities hope you will use the capstone units to find new ways to connect your academic work to your individual interests. Essentially it offers you the opportunity to explore what is of greatest interest to you and to give you the skills and critical thinking to undertake independent research in the future. Once you begin the capstone program, you will learn more about the research process and you will be supported in developing a project proposal of your own. The first part of the program (in the first semester) will involve developing your skills and interests in order to plan a project appropriate to your preferred discipline. Each student’s project is different and projects may vary considerably, from being a 5,000 word practical report or evaluation of a program initiative (for a social science/Rural Social Welfare student) to a humanities project, which may be similar in many respects to an extended essay; for creative works, it would be equivalent to work entailed in a 5,000 word project, but in an alternative format, which you would negotiate with your supervisor. Once your project topic is approved and your project planning is complete, you will carry out the research needed to conduct your project in second semester.

Capstones   Information about Capstone Program Units

Jeff Upward (2006) Insurgency in Southern Thailand: the cause of conflict and the perception of threat.
This study reviews the background to ongoing conflict in the south of Thailand. After considering the history of the southern provinces, Upward argues that the actions of the Thai government in striving to enforce conformity to a strict concept of Thai citizen have led to resistance from the people of the south. He also reviews the assessments made by commentators of the violence between Muslim Malays and Thais. He concludes that the insurgency in southern Thailand is not primarily an extension of anti-Western jihad, but directed against the Thai authorities, fuelled by a separatist nationalism.

Leighanne McCartney (2006) Does Goffman’s theory of the effects of institutionalisation have applicability to the prisoner experience of incarceration in contemporary Australia?
After presenting an interpretation of Goffman’s symbolic interactionist theories, McCartney identifies aspects of prisoner behaviour attributable to the prison experience (stripping of identity, stigma, release anxiety and institutionalisation). McCartney seeks evidence of the aspects of Goffman’s theories within the experiences of contemporary Australian prisoners and ex-prisoners, making reference to various government reports, government agencies reports (SAAP), prisoner autobiographies, television documentaries and newspaper articles relating to the prison system. McCartney argues that the Throughcare Program, which recognises Goffman’s theories, is a good way to achieve successful reintegration of prisoners on release.

Theresia Sullivan (2006) Doctor-patient communication in relation to a terminal cancer diagnosis: Pilot research project
Thirteen carers of people who had died due to cancer, and who had made use of Ballarat Hospice Care, were interviewed about the nature and level of information they received from the doctor in charge who advised them of the terminal nature of the cancer. Interview questions were devised to obtain background data as well as to ascertain responses to the key research questions:
1. Does the way in which doctors deliver a terminal cancer diagnosis impact on the patient’s ability to accept the diagnosis, and if so, how?
2. Does the amount of information given to patients, post diagnosis, in relation to, “what happens next” and what services are available to them, impact on quality of life, and if so, how?
Rich data was obtained from the interviews. In almost all cases, participants noted that doctors took the time and were comfortable and skilled at giving the terminal diagnosis, but the majority of the participants said the patients were unclear about what was to happen next. A series of recommendations is offered to ensure timely and supportive information is available to people about the services they can access.
The support of Ballarat Hospice Care to this project is acknowledged and is much appreciated.

Bridget Allan (2006) Staff views of workplace-induced stress. This study surveyed (n=27) and interviewed (n=4) University of Ballarat staff from the School of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Humanities and from the School of Nursing on a range of questions concerning their experience of stress in the workplace. Of those who responded to the survey, 74.1% responded that they experienced excessive pressure in undertaking their job. Workloads and unrealistic deadlines were regarded as the biggest factors in promoting stress.

Amy Nicholson (2006) The making and breaking of international laws: A comparison of detention centers: Guantanamo Bay and Baxter. This extended project completed for the double-credit unit HX 630, investigates the legal arguments presented for the existence of Guantanamo Bay and the Baxter detention centres, and the conditions in those centres. The identification of some people as ‘illegal non-citizens’ or as ‘enemy combatants’ has been used to deny them legal rights. This study argues that a common set of international laws are being breached by both US and Australian authorities through the detainment and treatment of such detainees. In addition to the violation of various international laws, both countries contravene a range of civil, political and human rights.