Analysis Effects of Cover for Land Management in Central Australia in Works Kenna, Dickman - Article Example

Research exercise Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: Critical review Kenna, T. (2010). Fortress Australia? (In)security and private governance in a gated residential estate. Australian Geographer, 41(4): 431-446. Objectives of the research This journal has two major objectives derived from the research questions. The first objective is to assess whether fear of crime and necessity for elevated security propel the residents towards the gated estates. The second objective is to examine the lived experiences of gates, security and crime once the inhabitants reside within a gated estate. In a generic sense, both of these objectives capture the main essence of this paper. Nonetheless, an objective to investigate the implication of the gated estates on the alleged exclusion of some members of the Australian population ought to have been included in the primary objectives of this paper. Type of study This study can basically be perceived to be qualitative based on the fact that it seeks to gain an understanding into the primary motivation of people towards moving into gated estates in Australia. Additionally, it seeks to analyze the lived experiences of security, gates and crime once the people reside within a gated estate and the key rationale governing such behavior. The qualitative data is attained through a synergy of data collection instruments, most notably interview schedules and questionnaires. These were the right data collection instruments based on the qualitative nature of the study. Problem or statement of hypothesis The major problem underpinning this study is the fierce criticism which has been lodged by opponents of the gated residential estates being at the center of policy circles and urban planning. This has culminated to the hypothesis that the inhabitants of these residents tend to lock themselves away from the diverse ills which confront the urban society in Australia. Additionally, the need to empirically validate the assumption that crime, the fear of crime and the wider need for security underpin the gated residential development in Australia also forms part of the problem in this study. Sampling Random sampling was extensively used in this study. This is based on the rationale that the target population in the Macquarie Links Estate, Sydney, Australia is highly inaccessible based on the restrictions imposed on hand-delivered mails and the gated nature of this residential estate. As a result, six-page questionnaires were mailed to all the 200 households in this estate. However, quota sampling ought to have been incorporated in the interview part of this study to ensure that the sample size was representative of the population’s characteristics, for instance, gender and education. Data analysis Data analysis in this study is done in two distinct processes based on the data collection instrument used. In the case of questionnaires, the data analysis was conducted based on the response of the informants in regard to three reasons as to why they were attracted to Macquarie Links. Based on their response of priority reasons, the raw data was analyzed according to the research questions and put into percentages of responses favoring a certain reason of preference. Nonetheless, this analysis ought to have factored in the aspects of age, occupation and gender among other criteria. This would have been key in understanding the reasons underpinning the gender, age and occupation differentiation in terms of their reasons for preferring this residence. In regard to the interview schedules, the data was analyzed through the set of questions posed to the respondents. This is in terms of the period of the respondents have lived in this particular place, their gender as well as their age. This can be perceived to have significantly addressed the omissions in the data analysis of the questionnaires. Discussion of results The results in this study are discussed through in-depth insight into the response by different respondents. In this case, the issues underpinning the security concerns among the residents which encompasses both the physical and financial protection are explored vis-a vis the percentages of respondents prioritizing specific security concerns after the data analysis. This discussion culminates in a better understanding of the shift in security focus from the simplified correlation between the need for security and crime and adds the financial dimension to the process of privatization in the Australian residential space. Masters, P, Dickman, C.R. & Crowther, M., (2003). Effects of cover reduction on mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda(Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), rodent and invertebrate populations in central Australia: Implications for land management. Austral Ecology, 28(6): 658-665. Does reduction of cover affect the Dasycercus cristicauda? Abstract Recent times have seen increased assertions that the degradation of spinifex has been key in the decline in population of Dasycercus cristicauda in Australia. Nonetheless, the imperative role of cover in the maintenance of the quality habitat for this species has been extensively tentative. In this regard, this research seeks to investigate the impacts of reduction of cover on the Dasycercus cristicauda which is commonly found in areas of Central Australia predominantly dominated by hummock grassland. Objectives of the research The primary objective in this research was to investigate the effects of cover reduction on the Dasycercus cristicauda. In addition, this research aimed at monitoring the changes in population as well as changes in prey resources, mostly invertebrates and rodent prior and after the harvesting of spinifex at a site near the Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory of Australia. Type of study This research can be perceived to be a prospective cohort study. This is founded on the fact that it seeks to investigate the impacts of cover reduction on both the species of Dasycercus cristicauda as well as their prey, mostly rodents. This is done through analyzing the changes in population of the Dasycercus cristicauda and their prey before and after the harvesting of spinifex. Nonetheless, retrospective cohort study ought to have been incorporated aimed at gaining an understanding of distribution of these species under various covers. Problem or statement of hypothesis The major problem supporting this study is the hypothesis that reduction of cover in recent times has culminated in the decline of Dasycercus cristicauda population. Sampling Cluster sampling was used in this research. This is whereby ten plots, each measuring 8.75 ha were sampled from the larger inhabitant and subsequent harvesting of spinifex took place in five plots. However, systematic sampling ought to have been used aimed at attaining representation of the population in every n’th plot. Data analysis The analysis in this research was based on the number of Dasycercus cristicauda which remained after the harvesting of the spinifex in comparison with their number before this exercise. In addition, the number of rodents which were captured were also assessed prior and after the harvesting of the spinifex. Nonetheless, tools like graphs ought to have been used to capture the trends in the significant reduction of the rodents captured overtime in the course of this research. This approach would have been imperative in gaining concrete inference on the major reasons behind these trends. Discussion of results Based on the analyzed data, the lack of response to cover reduction by the Dasycercus cristicauda is expounded. This culminated to the inference that this species is tolerant to moderate local cover reduction in their habitats of preference. However, based on the lack of response to cover reduction by the Dasycercus cristicauda, this discussion ought to have expounded on the reasons behind the reduction in the number of rodents captured after the reduction of spinifex cover. References Kenna, T. (2010). Fortress Australia? (In)security and private governance in a gated residential estate. Australian Geographer, 41(4): 431-446. Masters, P, Dickman, C.R. & Crowther, M., (2003). Effects of cover reduction on mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda(Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), rodent and invertebrate populations in central Australia: Implications for land management. Austral Ecology, 28(6): 658-665.   Read More