Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review

Stitching, Threading, Binding

Emily Parr — 2024-12-08

This paper recounts the development of a tuitui methodology for the practice-based PhD thesis, ʻOli ʻUla: Housing the Kronfeld Collection through Moving-Image Practice. It lays out the context and objectives of the project, and discusses the motivation for creating a methodology that can encompass a diverse range of archival and artistic research methods. The paper recounts how stitching as a form of repair, and taonga as a relational thread, became propelling concepts in the research. These concepts are linked to methods through which the artworks were constructed, demonstrating how the methodology was enacted to address the objectives. Finally, the paper advocates for looking to scholars who have come before, and approaching research as a living, relational endeavour.

Veivosaki Yaga: Having worthwhile discussions with Pacific midwives

Talei Jackson — 2024-12-09

This article provides a brief overview of the Fijian research methodology Veivosaki Yaga. Veivosaki yaga, developed by Isimeli Tagicakiverata, literally means ‘worthwhile discussion’. When engaging in veivosaki yaga, a conversation like a focus group discussion, participants have a communal dialogue that requires thoughtful consideration as well as response.

Veivosaki yaga is currently being used in doctoral research with Pacific lead maternity care (LMC) midwives and their families. This research explores the nature of LMC work on well-being, and sustainability challenges for Pacific midwives working within this model of care in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Te reo hoahoanga

Jade Kake — 2025-01-27

Ka whakatakoto tēnei tuhinga i ngā tukanga rangahau o tēnei kaupapa rangahau ki te hanga i tētahi papakupu hoahoanga. Ka whakamatau te rangahau ki te whakawhiri i ngā mea e rua – ngā tohutohu o ngā mātanga reo e pā ana ki te mahi hanga papakupu me te mahi hanga kupu hou, me ngā herenga o ngā kaiwhakamahi o tēnei rangahau i te ao hoahoanga. Ka whakatakotohia e tēnei tuhinga ngā tukanga rangahau ki te mahi i ēnei mea – i te tuatahi, te mahi ki te mārama, ki te whakamātautau i te hātepe hanga kupu me te hātepe hanga papakupu. I te tuarua, te mahi ki te kohikohi, ki te mārama i ngā whakaaro o ngā kaiwhakamahi o te papakupu. Ko te tirohanga tauanga tētahi tukanga. I te tuatoru, te mahi ki te hanga i te putunga kupu. I te tuawhā, te mahi ki te whakamātautau i ngā kupu hou. Ko te uiuinga me te wānanga ētahi tukanga. Ko te tūmanako ka tū tēnei tuhinga hei tauira mō ētahi atu e mahi ai ki te hanga i tētahi papakupu whāiti.

Methodology and positionality: A process of weaving the individual to the collective

Jessica Worchel — 2025-01-28

Identifying a methodology can be daunting to an emerging researcher, but the key is to start from your place of strength – knowing who you are, your readiness to engage with an in-depth study, and what story is needing to be brought to light for the benefit of society. “Positionality refers to the stance or positioning of the researcher in relation to the social and political context of the study—the community, the organization or the participant group” (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014, p. 628), and it should guide the entire process of the research. The key to good research is relationships, and before we can have relationality, we must have positionality. Positionality brings purpose which dictates the tikanga (correct procedures) that align to that purpose. Positionality determines relationality, which determines your research objectives, and then your methodology begins to take shape. This article shares considerations I took as a Pākehā researcher when choosing a methodological framework that weaves together Indigenous and Western methodologies to honour and uphold the mana (sense of self-efficacy, pride, power) of the people and places where the research was conducted, meet the guidelines of academic study, and represent my positionality and passions.

Cultural transposition: Adapting an Appreciative Inquiry to support organisational change in a non-Western context

Nabil Sabra — 2025-01-28

This doctoral research study employed an Appreciative Inquiry as a culturally adjusted method for enabling six university educators to develop critical thinking (ijtihad) in Yemeni graphic design education.[1] Emanating from a constructivist paradigm, the study recognised the role of sociocultural contexts in knowledge formation. The Appreciative Inquiry was divided into four stages (Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny) based on Cooperrider and Whitney’s (2005) model. The study utilised Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP)[2] based on a traditional cultural construct known as Halakat Elm (حلقات علم, knowledge circles). These circles were shaped by three cultural principles: wa’adeuk fa’ajbuh (واذا دعاك فأجبه); Husn al-Dhann (حسن الظن); and sadakat al elm (صدقة العلم). Key themes were identified through a Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The outcomes demonstrated that an Appreciative Inquiry developed inside the culturally specific construct of the Halakat Elm can serve as an effective, culturally responsive approach for developing co-creative approaches to organisational and pedagogical reform.

[1] The project was granted ethics approval (21/129) on July 8, 2021.

[2] A Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) operates online. Here, individuals engage in instruction-based learning or group discussions within a specific domain, forming social structures to facilitate knowledge sharing and creation (Wenger-Trayner, 2015).

The Illuminated Traveller: A Methodological framework

Zohreh K.M.Shirazi — 2024-12-17

The Illuminated Traveller is a practice-oriented project that employs Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven visual storytelling to explore concepts of Iranian mystical wisdom. The central narrative follows Mana, a young woman seeking a sense of belonging. Throughout her journey, she encounters Farhang, a magical figure who guides her through the intricate layers of Iranian culture, provoking deep inner conflict and reflection as she negotiates her place within it. In this article, I will outline the methodological aspects that inform this work. Grounded in Suhrawardi’s Illuminationism and Sufi philosophies, the project bridges ancient cultural archetypes with contemporary technological narratives.

Methodologically, the research employs self-search techniques, combining personal experience with cultural reflection, while using AI to reimagine Persian mystical traditions in the digital age. The philosophical foundation draws parallels between heuristic research and Illuminationist philosophy, synthesising intuitive knowledge with rational inquiry. The iterative development process, guided by artistic intuition, informs the creation of an authentic cultural narrative. Ultimately, this research seeks to reimagine Persian mystical traditions, resonating with contemporary audiences while maintaining cultural authenticity.

Narrative Inquiry Using The Long Interview Technique

Denise Selina Tan — 2024-12-17

This article outlines why I chose narrative inquiry as my research methodology in exploring the digitalisation gap between small and medium businesses and large enterprises in New Zealand, and how McCracken's Long Interview method facilitated this approach. I also offer some advice for those wanting to pursue a similar research method.

Arguments in Object Design

Glenn Maxwell — 2024-12-17

Luthiers are those who make stringed instruments such as violins and guitars. The guitar is a heavily iconised object of pop culture and industrial materiality. The iconic, conventional form of the guitar and the idea of a ‘perfect’ or fixed form is questioned in my research. During design and fabrication, tensions build between design (for the end user), sonic performance and manufacturing processes. The tensions created act to contest which elements will be privileged above the others, embodying the concept of an argument where concessions are made, and a final resolute design emerges as a result.

Mitigating Online Password Attacks: A Comprehensive Review of Password Models

Kirushnaamoni Ramakrishnan — 2025-01-07

Most authentication systems rely on alphanumeric passwords as a first line of defense. This review outlines various online password attacks and evaluates models proposed to mitigate them. A secondary aim is to explore ways to improve password selection and memorability without user inconvenience. Nine articles from 2019 to 2023 were reviewed, focusing on password checkers, entropy values, and password structures to ensure system security against online attacks, while analyzing usability and security aspects of the models. Most of these models were implemented in controlled environments rather than in real-time scenarios. Future work includes surveying user preferences for password and authentication systems.

AI-Enabled Dental Imaging for Oral Disease Detection

Priyadarshini Natarajan — 2025-01-07

This study aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of dental diagnostics using deep learning models to automatically detect and classify oral disease and dental structures on panoramic radiographs. By employing a quantitative research methodology, the study evaluates key performance metrics. The model's ability to accurately detect dental anomalies, such as caries, periodontal conditions, restorations, and implants, shows significant promise for real-time clinical applications (Arsiwala-Scheppach et al., 2023). In parallel, the study explores the broader potential of AI in dental imaging, addressing current limitations such as the adaptability of models trained on narrow datasets. It emphasizes the importance of expanding datasets to capture a wider range of patient demographics and imaging modalities and highlights the need to validate AI models in real-world clinical settings (Putra et al., 2022). Together, this research underscores the transformative role of AI in modernizing dental diagnostics, moving from traditional methods to advanced AI-enhanced techniques (Patil et al., 2022).

Investigating the Effects of Acoustic Therapy on the Nasal Microbiome and Well-being

Jude Alao — 2024-12-10

This study aims to investigate the effects of acoustic therapy on the nasal microbiome, immune responses, and overall well-being in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Utilizing the Goodair® NoseBuds, a low-cost acoustic device developed by the AUT BioDesign Lab, this research explores the potential of nasal mechanostimulation to increase endogenous nitric oxide production, improve nasal health, and alleviate AR and CRS symptoms. Participants will use the device twice daily over a four-week period, and the study will assess changes in nasal microbiome composition, inflammation markers, and patient-reported outcomes, such as symptom severity and quality of life. Data will be analysed through bioinformatics and statistical methods to identify correlations between acoustic therapy and immune or microbial changes. This research offers an innovative, non-pharmaceutical alternative for managing AR and CRS, with the potential to reduce reliance on traditional medications and improve patient outcomes.

Nurses’ knowledge and perceptions of caring for a person with polycystic ovarian syndrome: Integrative review

Sophia Miller — 2024-12-16

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition which affects 4-20% of reproductive-aged women worldwide, yet the education, understanding and support for both healthcare staff and patients is relatively limited in comparison. This study aimed to explore nurses’ knowledge and perceptions of caring for a person living with PCOS across healthcare settings.

Methods: An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was conducted. Six electronic databases were searched: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Ovid, Scopus, PubMed and ProQuest. Included studies were critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Inductive thematic analysis was used to generate themes, sub-themes and categories.

Results: Eleven studies involving approximately 1002 nurses were included. Three themes, eight categories and 172 codes were generated from 287 findings: (1) clinical manifestations (menstruation, reproduction, and fertility; physical presentation; and risks of PCOS), (2) management (functional lifestyle intervention; managing PCOS; diagnosis), (3) health literacy (PCOS knowledge; and sources of knowledge).

Conclusion: Deficits in the knowledge and perceptions of nurses were identified and congruent with those of other healthcare practitioners, with educational interventions proving to be beneficial to improve knowledge and understanding of PCOS. This necessitates further educational support for nurses and further development and distribution of care protocols to improve the lives of people living with PCOS.