Hedy Fairbairn

Hedy began her career as a secondary school Social Science teacher and university tutor in Economics. Following a lengthy period overseas she returned to Newcastle in 1988 and to The University of Newcastle. She completed a Master of Educational Studies Degree in 1993, receiving the the Minor Thesis in Educational Studies Prize for her thesis; "Teachers' attitudes to homework: An Exploratory study".

Hedy taught Computer Literacy  for 12 years in the English Language and Foundations Studies Centre, under the Newstep Program. During this time she worked as a Research Assistant at The University of Newcastle on many projects within the Faculty/School of Education, and for the NSW Department of Education and Training as a Statistical Analyst.

Hedy has experience with all aspects of both qualitative and qualitative research and has been responsible for producing several reports on a wide range of education-related topics. She is the web author for SORTI. She has published on the topics of doctoral education, homework, fatherhood research in Australia and various economic development topics.

Hedy is the Project Officer for the PhD Examination project.

Contact:
Phone: +61 2 4968 6712
Email: Hedy.Fairbairn@newcastle.edu.au

Publications:
Journal Articles, Book, Book Chapter & Multimedia

Bourke, S., & Fairbairn, H. (1995). Teacher attitudes to homework. Unicorn, 21(2), 95-102.

Bourke, S., Holbrook, A., Fairbairn, H., & Lovat, T. (2008). Consistency and inconsistency in PhD thesis examination, Australian Journal of Education, 52(1), 35-47.

Fairbairn H. (1985). The economy: A still trouble present.  In I. J. Fairbairn, Island Economics: Studies from the South Pacific, Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

Fairbairn, H. (2009). PAJE: Development, scope and content. In A. Holbrook et al. (Eds.), PAJE (Publishing in Academic Journals in Education), Professional Resources Services, Coldstream Victoria, multimedia publication.

Fairbairn, I. & Fairbairn, H. (1992). Planning guide for economic planners, development planners and statisticians, Commonwealth Secretariat, Fiji.

Friedewald, M., Fletcher R. & Fairbairn, H. (2005). All male discussion forum for expectant fathers: Evaluation of a model. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 14(2), 8-18

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Fairbairn, H., & Lovat, T. (2007). Examiner comment on the literature review in PhD theses. Studies in Higher Education, 32(3), 337 - 356.

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Fairbairn, H., Preston, G., Cantwell, R. & Scevak, J. (2009). Publishing in Academic Journals in Education (PAJE). Coldstream, Vic; Professional Resources Services, multimedia publication, ISBN: 978-0-9587187-5-2.

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Lovat, T., & Fairbairn, H. (2006). PhD Thesis examination: Overview on an ARC Discovery Grant project 2003-06. HERDSA News, 38(2), 17-19.

 

Conference Presentations

Fairbairn, H. (1993). Educational Services to students with mild intellectual disabilities.  Paper presented at the 29th ASSID National Conference, Newcastle, 1993.

Fairbairn, H. & Bourke, S. (1994). Measuring secondary teachers' views of homework. In P. Jeffries (Ed.), Proceedings of the Australian Association for Research in Education(AARE) Annual Conference, Fremantle, 1993.

Fairbairn, H., Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Preston, G., Cantwell, R., & Scevak, J. (2009). A Profile of education journals. In P. Jeffrey (Compiler/Editor) AARE 2008 Conference Papers Collection [Proceedings]. Online at: http://www.aare.edu.au/08pap/fai08605.pdf

Fairbairn, H., Moore, P.J., & Chan, L.K.S. (1994). Assessing approaches to learning, attributional beliefs and strategic learning in specific subject domains: Scale development. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Newcastle, Nov.

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., & Fairbairn H. (2006). “Do examiners differ across major disciplines in inviting or requiring corrections to a PhD thesis?” Paper presented at the 2006 Australian Association for Research in Education(AARE)  Annual Conference, as part of Symposium “Looking behind the doctorate”, November 27-30, Adelaide.

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Lovat, T., & Fairbairn, H. (2008). The PhD examination in balance and imbalance. Abstract of presentation in M. Kiley & G. Mulllins (Eds.). quality in Postgraduate research, Conference proceedings Canberra: CEDAM, ANU.

Holbrook, A., Bourke, S., Preston, G., Cantwell, R., Scevak, J., & Fairbairn, H. (2006). Quality banding of education journals. Poster presentation at the 2006 INORMS Conference, Internationalisation of Research, Brisbane.

Holbrook. A., Bourke, S., & Fairbairn, H. (2007). Do examiners differ across major disciplines in inviting or requiring corrections to a PhD thesis? Paper presented as part of a symposium - Looking behind the Doctorate: Proceedings of the 2006 Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, 27 - 30 Nov., Adelaide.

Holbrook. A., Bourke, S., Lovat, T., & Fairbairn, H. (2007). “Sources of disagreement in PhD thesis examination”. Paper presented at the 2007 AERA Annual Meeting “The World of Educational Quality”, April 9-13, Chicago. 

 

Research Reports

Fairbairn, H. (2002). Student Satisfaction Survey: An analysis of the factor structure, NSW Department of Education and Training, 16 pgs.

Fairbairn, H. (2002). Report on interviews with international students and academic staff, International Student Liaison Committee, The University of Newcastle, 68 pgs.

Fairbairn, H. (1999). Report on Provisions for postgraduate research, Research Division, The University of Newcastle 30 pgs.               

Fairbairn, H. (1999). Report on Practicum Survey, Semester 1,  Field Experience Office, The University of Newcastle, 31 pgs.

Fairbairn, H. (1999). Report on Internship Evaluation, Field Experience Office, The University of Newcastle, 37 pgs. 

Fairbairn, H. (1999). Report of Vacation School for Gifted and Talented Students' Evaluations, The Faculty of Education, The University of Newcastle, 23 pgs.

Fletcher, R., Fairbairn, H., & Pascoe, S. (2004). Fatherhood Research in Australia: Research Report, The Engaging Fathers Project, Family Action Centre, The University of Newcastle, 148 pgs.

Foreman, P., Dempsey, I., Fairbairn, H., Conway, R., & Robinson G. (1994).  Research report: Services to students with mild intellectual disability, The University of Newcastle, 38 pgs.