Pernille H. Christensen’s research while affiliated with University of Technology Sydney and other places

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Publications (5)


Typical week by week structure for the PAR Collaborative sessions for each month
Fostering Participatory Action Research in Higher Degree Research Settings Through a Transdisciplinary Peer-Mentoring Collaborative
  • Article
  • Full-text available

October 2024

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49 Reads

Systemic Practice and Action Research

Susanne Pratt

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Pernille H. Christensen

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Shankar Sankaran

In this paper we take inspiration from Levin’s (2003) provocation “can universities ever become a greenhouse for education in action research?” His assertion that creating action research learning opportunities within universities is possible becomes particularly relevant in the context of a changing Higher Degree Research (HDR) landscape, notably in Australia. The increasing emphasis on industry-focused doctorates and the demand for post-doctoral career pathways beyond academia necessitates a deeper understanding of supporting engaged and impact-oriented research training. To address these challenges, we present a reflexive discussion centred around the HDR Participatory Action Research (PAR) Collaborative—a year-long peer-learning initiative designed to cultivate a community of practice on transdisciplinary participatory research among graduate researchers at the University of Technology Sydney. This was conducted as a participatory action research project, with a systems-thinking orientation. We articulate lessons learned around the blockers and enablers for training HDR candidates engaged in participatory research to tackle wicked problems and ways to enhance HDR researcher development in this area, including the prototyping of new peer learning and mentoring approaches. By aligning with Levin’s emphasis on practical and useful knowledge, we highlight the importance of curriculum design for synchronous and asynchronous hybrid delivery, collective peer learning practices, and transdisciplinary orientations to research as crucial factors for success in action research programs within the academic context. By addressing the evolving needs of HDR training and research cultures, our study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on holistic and integrative research approaches and ways to support them within higher education.

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Doctoral Research Action Research Programs
Fostering Participatory Action Research in Higher Degree Research Settings through a Transdisciplinary Peer-mentoring Collaborative

June 2024

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22 Reads

In this paper we take inspiration from Levin’s (2003) provocation “can universities ever become a greenhouse for education in action research?” His assertion that creating action research learning opportunities within universities is possible becomes particularly relevant in the context of a changing Higher Degree Research (HDR) landscape, notably in Australia. The increasing emphasis on industry-focused doctorates and the demand for post-doctoral career pathways beyond academia necessitates a deeper understanding of supporting engaged and impact-oriented research training. To address these challenges, we present a reflexive discussion centred around the HDR Participatory Action Research (PAR) Collaborative—a year-long peer-learning initiative designed to cultivate a community of practice on transdisciplinary participatory research among graduate researchers at the [Institution]. This was conducted as a participatory action research project, with a systems-thinking orientation. We articulate lessons learned around the blockers and enablers for training HDR candidates engaged in participatory research to tackle wicked problems and ways to enhance HDR researcher development in this area, including the prototyping of new peer learning and mentoring approaches. Through aligning with Levin's emphasis on practical and useful knowledge, we highlight the importance of curriculum design for synchronous and asynchronous hybrid delivery, collective peer learning practices, and transdisciplinary orientations to research as crucial factors for success in action research programs within the academic context. By addressing the evolving needs of HDR training and research cultures, our study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on holistic and integrative research approaches and ways to support them within higher education.


The three broad goals of the cluster housing (image created by the researcher, 2021)
An architectural map showing the layout of the individual homes (image created by RP Rollo, researcher and C. Manousaridis, 2022) (not to scale)
The activity system as an analytical tool (adapted from Leadbetter, 2008, p. 202)
The contradictions experienced while developing the cluster housing (adapted from Leadbetter, 2008, p. 202)
Note. RASAID = Ryde Area Supported Accommodation for Intellectually Disabled Inc.
Building person-centred homes: a case study of a cluster-designed home for adults with intellectual disability in Australia

November 2023

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50 Reads

Journal of Housing and the Built Environment

A case study of 20 families investigated a cluster design of new homes for 15 adults with intellectual disabilities in Australia. It explored how families created a cluster home model for adults to live in their own homes with paid support in a modern context by answering three research questions: What type of home did parents choose for their children with intellectual disabilities and why? What type of home did they achieve? How did they overcome challenges to accomplish building the home? Families adopted a participatory design approach, collaborating as learning partners to secure government funding for purchasing land and constructing their cluster design. However, it was a complex project requiring many stakeholders with conflicting interests and priorities. Specifically, families rejected the group home model preferred by government agency staff, shifted the focus from technical building rules and design standards to prioritise each adult’s needs and preferences for their home, rejected institution-like fixtures/fittings when installed and used family governance to choose key support workers directly. Ultimately, the families created security of place through tenancy in attractive homes with government funding, welcoming neighbours and chosen support workers.


Figure 5. Average room air quality rating (1 = very stale, 5 = very fresh) during daytime hours.
Processing and Configuring Smart and Sustainable Building Management Practices in a University Building in Australia

April 2023

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109 Reads

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1 Citation

Sustainability

Australia’s building energy use accounts for a significant portion of the country’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings consume energy for a variety of purposes, including space heating, cooling, lighting, and powering electronics. Smart and sustainable building management practices allow buildings to be managed and operated more efficiently and sustainably. This study investigated the energy consumption and building management performance of a university building in Sydney, Australia. The experiment was performed by monitoring occupant comfort and building performance feedback with a push-pull mobile phone application and portable sensor technologies. The results showed that several factors influenced the occupants’ environmental comfort level, including temperature, lighting, noise, air quality, air movement, and relative humidity. Nevertheless, the ambient office temperature has a significantly higher impact on occupants’ comfort level. Results also showed that the local temperature experienced and preferred by individual occupants may vary, even under identical thermal conditions. The outcomes also confirmed strong correlations between the comfort and concentration levels (r(231) = 0.61, p = 0) and between the comfort and productivity levels (r(231) = 0.62, p = 0). Temporal analysis also revealed lower comfort levels between 13h00 and 16h00 and higher comfort levels between 10h00 and 12h00 and 17h00 and 19h00. The findings of this research indicated that ≤4% of total annual building energy consumption costs may be saved by more effectively and efficiently managing office thermostat control. More accurate and zone-based energy analysis could also reveal higher energy savings through smart occupant feedback-oriented thermostat and lighting control in commercial and office buildings.


Defining and demonstrating a smart technology configuration to improve energy performance and occupant comfort in existing buildings: a conceptual framework

December 2021

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38 Reads

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10 Citations

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation

Purpose To achieve the building and property by 2050, decarbonisation goals will now require a significant increase in the rate of improvement in the energy performance of buildings. Occupant behaviour is crucial. This study seeks to guide the application of smart building technology in existing building stock to support improved building energy performance and occupant comfort. Design/methodology/approach This study follows a logical partitioning approach to the development of a schema for building energy performance and occupant comfort. A review of the literature is presented to identify the characteristics that label and structure the problem elements. A smart building technology framework is overlaid on the schema. The framework is then applied to configure and demonstrate an actual technology implementation for existing building stock. Findings The developed schema represents the key components and relationships of building energy performance when combined with occupant comfort. This schema provides a basis for the definition of a smart building technologies framework for existing building stock. The study demonstrates a viable configuration of available smart building technologies that couple building energy performance with occupant comfort in the existing building stock. Technical limitations (such as relatively simple building management control regimes) and pragmatic limitations (such as change management issues) are noted for consideration. Originality/value This is the first development of a schema to represent how building energy performance can be coupled with occupant comfort in existing building stock using smart building technologies. The demonstration study applies one of many possible technology configurations currently available, and promotes the use of open source applications with push-pull functionality. The schema provides a common basis and guide for future studies.

Citations (1)


... A smart home is defined as a structure with communication networks connecting sensors, appliances, and controls, enabling remote monitoring, control, and regular maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems (Gram-Hanssen and Darby, 2018;Newton et al., 2023). Over the past 4 decades, smart buildings have gained significant attention from scholars and academics, yet their definition and the factors contributing to their development remain inconclusive (Adams et al., 2021). ...

Reference:

Unraveling the awareness dynamics of smart building features and technologies in the Nigerian construction sector
Defining and demonstrating a smart technology configuration to improve energy performance and occupant comfort in existing buildings: a conceptual framework
  • Citing Article
  • December 2021

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation