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campusreview.com.au
Weighty illusion
UWA researchers say our brains can make
us think we’re thinner than we really are.
H
ave you ever wondered if the way you see yourself is
accurate? Researchers from the University of Western
Australia say “psychological illusion” may lead us to think we
are thinner than we actually are.
The team of researchers lead by Dr Jason Bell recently found
evidence that how we perceive our physical appearance is actually a
distortion, likely created by our observations of other people.
While working collaboratively with the Pisa Vision group in Italy,
Bell concluded that this distortion is an effect of our brain averaging
information over time. “The data shows body size judgments are
biased towards prior experience,” Bell said.
“As a person’s weight increases above the average, so too does the
likelihood that their prior experience involves smaller bodies. Because
the brain combines our past and present experiences, it creates an
illusion whereby we appear thinner than we actually are.”
The study saw 103 female participants react to images of female
bodies ranging from underweight to obese. Participants were asked
to judge body types by positioning a marker along a visual analogue
scale, called the body-line.
“The results reveal evidence of a serial bias in perceived body size,
with size judgments tending to correspond towards the previously
viewed body,” Bell said.
“The research demonstrates human observers are often poor at
estimating their own body size, and the size of others. Crucially, body
size judgments are not always accurate and can be biased by various
factors. Sometimes it’s influenced just by the people we stand next to.
“These findings have important implications for weight loss
approaches, including our chances of dieting successfully. What makes
this particularly interesting from a health perspective is that perceiving
body size is a common symptom of eating disorders or obesity.
“Ideally we’d like to correct these illusions, so people are able to
make an accurate assessment of their weight and whether it has
changed for better or worse,” he said. ■
Recruitment of English Language Teachers
for Primary and Secondary Schools in Hong Kong
The Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region cordially invites you to apply for the positions of English
language teachers in public-sector primary and secondary schools
in Hong Kong.
ROLE
The positions are required to teach English as a second language
to Hong Kong students and assist in teacher and curriculum
development in public-sector primary schools (for students aged
between 6 and 12), secondary schools (for students aged between
12 and 18) and schools for students with Special Educational Needs
(SEN). Details of the Scheme are available from the EDB website:
http://www.edb.gov.hk/NET
QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT
Applicants should have the ability to use English fl uently and
spontaneously, to give grammatically accurate responses in
communication and to write or speak creatively. They should fulfi ll
the following qualifi cation requirements under respective Schemes.
For more information and download of application forms, please visit
the following webpages:
(A) Primary school positions : http://www.edb.gov.hk/pn et
(B) Secondary school positions : http://www.edb.gov.hk/sne t
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The
appointment will be on a two-year contract basis normally
from 16 August 2018 to 15 August 2020, subject to renewal
after expiry
Remuneration package:
i. Salary from HK$27,485- HK$55,825 (AUD4,540 – AUD9,230*)
per month (Primary)
ii. Salary from HK$28,865- HK$67,0 65 (AUD4,470 – AUD11,085*)
per month (Secondary)
iii. End of contract gratuity for satisfactory performance and
conduct
iv. Cash retention incentive for satisfactory completion of
continuous service from the third year onwards
v. Passage, baggage, medical allowances and a special
allowance of HK$20,989 (AUD 3,470*) per month are provided
for appointees whose normal place of residence is established
to be outside Hong Kong and if he/she or his/her spouse is not
receiving any similar benefi ts
The salary and the terms and conditions of service to be
offered are subject to the candidate’s qualifi cations and
post-qualifi cation teaching experience and the prevailing
conditions at the time the offer of appointment is made.
*AUD 1 = HK$ 6.05 (subject to fl uctuations)
INTERVIEWS
Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview
in person. Interviews will be held from January to March 2018
in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and other Australian and
New Zealand locations based on demand.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants who choose Australia and New Zealand as the interview
venue please apply through Teachanywhere, EDB’s recruitment
agent in Australia and New Zealand, on or before 26 January 2018.
An advisor will contact you with full application information.
Teachanywhere’s website:
https://www.teachanywhere.com/job-seeker/featured-partners/
hong-kong-educat ion-bureau/
Email: dominique.vandeklundert@teachanywhere.com
Telephone: +61 419 237 133
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