Abstract

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my chief supervisor, Professor Dennis McInerney. He has invested substantial time and energy and provided valuable advice in shaping my thesis and myself as an academic. I would also like to express a heartfelt thanks to my other supervisor Associate Professor Martin Dowson. He has encouraged and supported me from my undergraduate degree through to my postgraduate studies. Without his gentle guidance I would not have pursued such a challenging and rewarding path. His commitment as a supervisor has been unwavering, for which fact I am most appreciative. I am also indebted to him for providing invaluable assistance in the data analyses for the present study. I will be eternally grateful for all facets of my life that he has touched. Professor Rhonda Craven, another co-supervisor, provided valuable advice on data analyses as well as enthusiasm and encouragement for which I am most appreciative. I gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by Doctor Alexander Yeung. He generously dedicated time and expertise to proofreading my final draft and gave valuable feedback on all aspects of the thesis.