Thesis

Dr. Nicole Matejic was awarded a 'Doctor of Professional Studies' (DPRS) by the University of Southern Queensland in March 2023.

The 'Doctor of Professional Studies' is a Research award. 'Professional Studies' is a term used to classify academic programs which are applied or interdisciplinary in focus. 'Professional Studies' combines theory and practice-based professional learning, focusing on bodies of knowledge that are aligned with multi-disciplinary practice environments rather than more traditional single-discipline focused academic studies. Doctoral candidates in the DPRS program combine research design and analysis of work-based project observations, providing students with the ability to acquire a systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of their area of professional practice. The program creates original knowledge for professional use and is at Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Level 10 - Doctoral Degree.

Short abstract:

The study of radicalisation towards violent extremism using behavioural economics as a framework to organise and understand influence is an emergent areas of scholarship; as is the influence exerted via terrorist and violent extremist content (TVEC). By viewing the radicalisation and recruitment process through an availability cascade lens - and acknowledging that the radicalising environment is inherently participative in group settings - this thesis offers a new radicalisation model by mapping the common choice architecture-based decision-pathways of violent Australian Islamists.

'The Radicalisation Cascade' will be released as a book in 2024.