Emma Stirling

Ms. Emma Stirling

School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

23Years (2004-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 December 2020 in Public Health Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Emma StirlingEmma Stirling
Emma Stirling
JWJane Willcox
Jane Willcox
KOKok-Leong Ong
Kok-Leong Ong
AFAdrienne Forsyth
Adrienne Forsyth
Objective: Social media analytics (SMA) has a track record in business research. The utilisation in nutrition research is unknown, despite social media being populated with real-time eating behaviours. This rapid review aimed to explore the use of SMA in nutrition research with the investigation of dietary behaviours.Design: The review was conducted according to rapid review guidelines by WHO and the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. Five databases of peer-reviewed, English language studies were searched using the keywords ‘social media’ in combination with ‘data analytics’ and ‘food’ or ‘nutrition’ and screened for those with general population health using SMA on public domain, social media data between 2014 and 2020.Results: The review identified 34 studies involving SMA in the investigation of dietary behaviours. Nutrition topics included population nutrition health investigations, alcohol consumption, dieting and eating out of the home behaviours. All studies involved content analysis with evidence of surveillance and engagement. Twitter was predominant with data sets in tens of millions. SMA tools were observed in data discovery, collection and preparation, but less so in data analysis. Approximately, a third of the studies involved interdisciplinary collaborations with health representation and only two studies involved nutrition disciplines. Less than a quarter of studies obtained formal human ethics approval.Conclusions: SMA in nutrition research with the investigation of dietary behaviours is emerging, nevertheless, if consideration is taken with technological capabilities and ethical integrity, the future shows promise at a broad population census level and as a scoping tool or complementary, triangulation instrument.

22 February 2024 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SCSharon Croxford
Sharon Croxford
Emma StirlingEmma Stirling
Emma Stirling
JMJulia M MacLaren
Julia M MacLaren
JMJohn Wesley McWhorter
John Wesley McWhorter
LFLynn Fredericks
Lynn Fredericks
OTOlivia W. Thomas
Olivia W. Thomas
Examination of how terms such as culinary nutrition, culinary nutrition science, culinary medicine, culinary nutrition professional, culinary nutrition intervention, culinary nutrition activity, and culinary nutrition competency are used in practice, and the creation of consensus definitions will promote the consistent use of these terms across work areas and disciplines. Thirty leading practitioners, academics, and researchers in the fields of food and nutrition across Australia, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia were approached by investigators via email to submit definitions of key terms using a Qualtrics survey link. Further participants were reached through snowball recruitment. Initial emails were sent in October and November 2021 with subsequent reminders between November 2021 and March 2022. Two researchers undertook content analysis of the text answers for each of the terms and generated definitions for discussion and consensus. Thirty-seven participants commenced the survey and twenty-three submitted one or more definitions. Agreed definitions fell into two categories: practice concepts and practitioners. Further discussion amongst investigators led to the creation of a visual map to demonstrate the interrelationship of terms. Culinary nutrition science underpins, and interprofessional collaboration characterizes practice in this area, however, further work is needed to define competencies and model best practice.

1 January 2019 in Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
DHDeanna Horvath
Deanna Horvath
LULa Trobe University
La Trobe University
Emma StirlingEmma Stirling
Emma Stirling
JBJohn Bevacqua
John Bevacqua
MCMichael Coldrey
Michael Coldrey
ALAmy Larsen
Amy Larsen
Growth in online higher education offerings has been significant in recent years, with many Australian Universities launching programs to extend into new markets and meet the student demand for greater flexibility in delivery modes. Further, it is well understood that good support is an essential component to student success, satisfaction and retention. Despite this, orientation, including non-academic support, is often overlooked in online education systems. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop an orientation program to increase student preparedness and facilitate ongoing support, in addition to developing evidence-based best-practice strategies to support academic’s when developing new online courses.

28 March 2022 in Nutrition & Dietetics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SCSharon Croxford
Sharon Croxford
Emma StirlingEmma Stirling
Emma Stirling
SMSusan McLeod
Susan McLeod
JBJessica Biesiekierski
Jessica Biesiekierski
EMEmily Murray
Emily Murray
AFAdrienne Forsyth
Adrienne Forsyth
Aim The aim of this study was to explore nutrition professionals' perspectives of nutrition graduates' employability skills, and knowledge and skills required in the industry to understand gaps in undergraduate nutrition curriculum. Methods Nutrition professionals (n = 26) across Australia were approached to participate in semi-structured interviews via telephone in 2018. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, data analysed using thematic analysis, and results interpreted and discussed. Results Nine participants across six work environments completed interviews. Common work roles were identified in their diverse areas of practice: nutrition educators, food developers, team members, and business leaders. Nutrition professionals identified that, in addition to evidence-based discipline knowledge, key skills and knowledge needed for their roles were interpersonal communication, including writing and listening. Participants highlighted the need for employability skills to be embedded within curriculum with emphasis on professional skills, business skills and discipline-specific skills in communicating complex science messages to a range of audiences. Networking, and formal and informal work-integrated learning were viewed as important vehicles for developing required skills. Participants expected that universities develop curriculum to address gaps; however, reflection by the academic researchers suggested this should be a joint role. Conclusions Early career planning, professional skill development, work experience and networking opportunities should enhance graduate employability.


6 February 2020 in Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
EMEmily Murray
Emily Murray
SMSusan McLeod
Susan McLeod
JBJessica Biesiekierski
Jessica Biesiekierski
ANAshley Ng
Ashley Ng
SCSharon Croxford
Sharon Croxford
AFAdrienne Forsyth
Adrienne Forsyth
Human nutrition is a growing field with an increasing job market and high demand for university study, yet graduates report feeling underprepared for and unaware of potential job opportunities. This scoping review aimed to identify employment initiatives used in undergraduate programs to support an evidence-based approach to the development of future initiatives for human nutrition courses. The scoping review following PRISMA-ScR criteria was initially conducted in October 2018 and updated in April 2020. Search terms were selected to identify studies that reported on employability or work-readiness embedded within the course curriculum for undergraduate students. Fourteen papers met the eligibility criteria. Papers included were from Australia (9), United Kingdom (2), United States (1), New Zealand (1) and Germany (1). Papers described initiatives fitting broad categories of placements, project-based industry collaboration, practice-based eLearning, mentoring and building graduate attributes. Placements were the most common type of initiative and project-based industry collaboration demonstrated the highest levels of student and employer satisfaction. The success of initiatives was often attributed to incorporating diverse approaches to real-world, problem-solving skills. Mentoring and eLearning were used to promote employability soft skills, while industry-based placements provided students with practical experience. Placement in specific workplace settings should be representative of the diverse job options for nutrition graduates. Human nutrition degrees should consider incorporating strategies that develop soft skills and project-based skills while exposing students to diverse workplace settings within industry.