Professor Mark Western
Professor

Mark Western

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Background

Mark Western's various roles at The University of Queensland included Senior Lecturer to Professor in Sociology, co-Director of The University of Queensland Social Research Centre (2003-2008), Founding Director of the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR, 2009 - 2022), Research Director for The Queensland Commitment (2023 - 2025) and Director of HASS Research Infrastructure (2025). As Founding Director of ISSR, Mark led Australia's largest multidisciplinary social science research institute with a track record of advanced academic social science research and high impact research and policy engagement with government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. As Research Director for The Queensland Commitment, Mark contributed to the design and implementation of The Queensland Commitment at UQ, and its supporting research and evaluation program.

Mark has a personal research program that spans academic publishing across sociology and cognate social science disciplines. He has also led and contributed to major research and evaluation programs and projects for external government and non-government partners. He is a former Chief Investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Policing and Security and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course.

Mark is a current member of the National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Advisory Group, advising the Australian government on NRI policy and strategy, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Chair of the Academy's Policy Committee, and a member of its Board of Directors. He is a former member of the ARC College of Experts, ERA Chair, and Engagement and Impact Deputy Chair.

He has edited and authored 7 books, and over 120 book chapters, journal articles and commissioned reports and held research grants and contracts worth approximately $120 million.

Availability

Professor Mark Western is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Sociology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

Research interests

  • Social and economic inequality

    How do we expand educational opportunities through school, VET and higher education for students experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage? Why do different countries have different population profiles of socieconomic advantage and disadvantage (for example wealth, income, health, quality of life, econonomic and social wellbeing more broadly), and why within countries do profiles change over time or remain stable? How do "non-economic" processes, like culture, social capital, and system and institutional design contribute to different kinds of inequality profiles within countries. I am interested in these questions and also have a particular interest in how they contribute to social and economic mobility across generations and over the life course.

  • Solution-oriented social science

    How can we strengthen connections between social science research and "real-world" problems to develop better solutions, enhance the relevance of university research, improve research quality and lead to new scientific discoveries? How do we build stronger partnerships between university researchers, government, industry, not-for-profits and civil society organisations for the public good? How do we train researchers, build the research infrastructure and strengthen the research and innovation system to support and encourage these activities? I am interested in examining these questions and working with non-university partners on real-world problems in social policy and public policy that exemplify this approach.

  • What is the point of universities?

    In Australia, and internationally, trust and public confidence in universities and what they do - teaching and learning, discovering new knowledge and supporting innovation, engaging with communities - seems to be declining. Expertise, science and truth-seeking are also being questioned. At the same time, many universities are discovering or rediscovering a central purpose - to serve the public interest and the common good. I am interested in how to align university missions across teaching and learning, research and engagement to serve the public interest, the role of universities in creating an educated and engaged citizenry and their broader role in strengthening and supporting democracy.

Research impacts

Mark has led or contributed to projects which have had direct impacts on policy and practice. In 2001 he led the team which produced one of the first national studies of General Practitioners' use of information technology for the Australian Department of Health. In 2005- 2006 he led a team which produced estimates of international students' non-tuition fee expenditure which were used in the Australian National Accounts to help quantify the export value of Australian education. He also led the first national study of the employment outcomes of graduates of Australian PhD training programs. More recently, he has also worked on major evaluations of government policies and programs, such as the national Paid Parental Leave Scheme, and developed evaluation frameworks for major policy initiatives such as the Health and Hospitals Fund, which supported national health infrastructure, and the Queensland Government's 10 year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy. Mark also sits on a number of Advisory and Expert Reference Groups for non-government organisations, and State and Federal Government Departments. Mark particularly enjoys working with partners in government, industry and the not-for-profit sector on problems that matter to them and have real-world relevance and impact.

Mark has also contributed to higher education research, policy and development through external roles with organisations such as the Australian Government, Australian Research Council and the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. These include:

  • 2023-2025 Member, National Research Infrastructure Advisory Group, providing long term and strategic advice to the Federal Government on National Research Infrastructure
  • 2023- Chair, Group of Eight Equity Working Group, advising the Group of Eight on student equity in higher education.
  • 2022- Member, Steering Committee, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Research Infrastructure Decadal Plan
  • 2021-2022 Chair, Expert Working Group reviewing the ERA Rating Scale and Benchmarking for the ARC
  • 2020-2021 Chair, Steering Committee for the State of the Social Sciences Report 2021 for the Academy of Social Sciences
  • 2019 Member, Advisory Group to the Academy of Humanities Project, Mapping International Research Infrastructures for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
  • 2014-2015 Deputy Chair, Review of the Australian Research Training System, Australian Council of Learned Academies.

Search Professor Mark Western’s works on UQ eSpace

241 works between 1989 and 2025
All (241) Book (3) Journal Article (80) Other Outputs (53) Conference Publication (82) Book Chapter (23)

101 - 120 of 241 works

2013

Book Chapter

Pathways through the life course: The effect of relationship and parenthood transitions on domestic labour

Baxter, Janeen, Hewitt, Belinda, Haynes, Michele and Western, Mark (2013). Pathways through the life course: The effect of relationship and parenthood transitions on domestic labour. Negotiating the Life Course: Stability and change in life pathways. (pp. 145-160) edited by Ann Evans and Janeen Baxter. New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-8912-0_8

Pathways through the life course: The effect of relationship and parenthood transitions on domestic labour

2013

Conference Publication

Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children

Macarayan, Erlyn, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children. 8th Health Policy and Services Research Conference, Intercontinental Wellington, New Zealand, 2 - 4 December 2013.

Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children

2013

Conference Publication

Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes

Macarayan, Erlyn Rachelle, Fernandez, Klein, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes. Rc28 Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 16 - 20 July 2013. St Lucia, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland Institute for Social Science Research.

Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes

2013

Journal Article

Gender, justice and domestic work: life course transitions and perceptions of fairness

Baxter, Janeen, Haynes, Michele, Western, Mark and Hewitt, Belinda (2013). Gender, justice and domestic work: life course transitions and perceptions of fairness. Longtitudinal and Life Course Studies, 4 (1), 78-85.

Gender, justice and domestic work: life course transitions and perceptions of fairness

2013

Conference Publication

Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being

Macarayan, Erlyn, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being. 2013 Perspectives on Progress Conference, The University of Queensland, 26 - 29 November 2013. St Lucia, Brisbane QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.

Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being

2012

Journal Article

Australian politicians’ beliefs about climate change: political partisanship and political ideology

Fielding, Kelly S., Head, Brian W., Laffan, Warren, Western, Mark and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2012). Australian politicians’ beliefs about climate change: political partisanship and political ideology. Environmental Politics, 21 (5), 712-733. doi: 10.1080/09644016.2012.698887

Australian politicians’ beliefs about climate change: political partisanship and political ideology

2012

Other Outputs

The challenge of monitoring growth in regional Indigenous homelessness

Memmott, Paul, Greenop, Kelly, Haynes, Michele, Clarke, Andrew and Western, Mark (2012). The challenge of monitoring growth in regional Indigenous homelessness. Canberra, Australia: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The challenge of monitoring growth in regional Indigenous homelessness

2012

Journal Article

Expecting the unexpected: Young people's expectations about marriage and family

Skrbis, Zlatko, Western, Mark, Tranter, Bruce, Hogan, David, Coates, Rebecca, Smith, Jonathan, Hewitt, Belinda and Mayall, Margery (2012). Expecting the unexpected: Young people's expectations about marriage and family. Journal of Sociology, 48 (1), 63-83. doi: 10.1177/1440783311408968

Expecting the unexpected: Young people's expectations about marriage and family

2012

Book Chapter

NATSISS crowding data: what does it assume and how can we challenge the orthodoxy?

Memmott, Paul, Greenop, Kelly, Clarke, Andrew, Go-Sam, Carroll, Birdsall-Jones, Christina, Harvey-Jones, William, Corunna, Vanessa and Western, Mark (2012). NATSISS crowding data: what does it assume and how can we challenge the orthodoxy?. Survey Analysis for Indigenous Policy in Australia: Social Science Perspectives. (pp. 241-279) edited by Boyd Hunter and Nicholas Biddle. Canberra, Australia: ANU E Press.

NATSISS crowding data: what does it assume and how can we challenge the orthodoxy?

2012

Book Chapter

How do Australians search for jobs?

Huang, Xianbi and Western, Mark (2012). How do Australians search for jobs?. Australia: Identity, Fear and Governance in the 21St Century. (pp. 171-191) edited by Juliet Pietsch and Haydn Aarons. Canberra, Australia: ANU Press.

How do Australians search for jobs?

2012

Conference Publication

Inequalities in objective and subjective social wellbeing

Western, Mark and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2012). Inequalities in objective and subjective social wellbeing. Spring 2012 Meeting of ISA RC28, Hong Kong, 10 - 13 May 2012.

Inequalities in objective and subjective social wellbeing

2012

Other Outputs

Paid parental leave evaluation: Phase 1

Martin, Bill, Hewitt, Belinda, Baird, Marian, Baxter, Janeen, Heron, Alexandra, Whitehouse, Gillian, Zadoroznyj, Maria, Xiang, Ning, Broom, Dorothy, Connelly, Luke, Jones, Andrew, Kalb, Guyonne, McVicar, Duncan, Strazdins, Lyndall, Walter, Margaret, Western, Mark and Wooden, Mark (2012). Paid parental leave evaluation: Phase 1. Occasional Papers Series; 44 Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Paid parental leave evaluation: Phase 1

2012

Conference Publication

Occupational aspirations account for educational aspirations: questioning the Wisconsin model of socioeconomic attainment

Coates, Rebecca L., Western, Mark C. and Skrbis, Zlatko (2012). Occupational aspirations account for educational aspirations: questioning the Wisconsin model of socioeconomic attainment. TASA 2012: The 17th Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference 2012, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia, 26-29 November, 2012. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The Australian Sociological Association.

Occupational aspirations account for educational aspirations: questioning the Wisconsin model of socioeconomic attainment

2012

Conference Publication

Support teachers’ self-perceptions of their knowledge and pedagogical practices related to reading comprehension

van Kraayenoord, C. E., Gillies, R., Honan, E., Moni, K., Western, M., Brereton, D. and Muspratt, S. (2012). Support teachers’ self-perceptions of their knowledge and pedagogical practices related to reading comprehension. 36th Annual International Academy for Research In Learning Disabilities Conference, Padua, Italy, 7-9 June 2012.

Support teachers’ self-perceptions of their knowledge and pedagogical practices related to reading comprehension

2012

Conference Publication

Moving to higher quality employment: an exploratory study of multiple job holders in Indonesia

Martinez, Arturo Jr., Western, Mark, Haynes, Michele and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2012). Moving to higher quality employment: an exploratory study of multiple job holders in Indonesia. Symposium on Asian Perspectives on Social Stratification and Inequality, Sendai, Japan, 27-28 October 2012.

Moving to higher quality employment: an exploratory study of multiple job holders in Indonesia

2011

Journal Article

The challenge of monitoring regional Indigenous homelessness

Memmott, Paul, Greenop, Kelly, Haynes, Michele, Clarke, Andrew and Western, Mark (2011). The challenge of monitoring regional Indigenous homelessness. Parity, 24 (9), 31-34.

The challenge of monitoring regional Indigenous homelessness

2011

Journal Article

Social networks and occupational attainment in Australia

Huang, Xianbi and Western, Mark (2011). Social networks and occupational attainment in Australia. Sociology, 45 (2), 269-286. doi: 10.1177/0038038510394029

Social networks and occupational attainment in Australia

2011

Conference Publication

Class Inequality in the Australian Labor Market

Western, Mark (2011). Class Inequality in the Australian Labor Market. Spring Meeting of the RC28, Colchester, United Kingdom, 13-16 April 2011.

Class Inequality in the Australian Labor Market

2011

Book Chapter

Class and inequality in Australia

Western, Mark and Baxter, Janeen (2011). Class and inequality in Australia. Public sociology. An introduction to Australian society. (pp. 206-229) edited by John Germov and Marilyn Poole. Crows Nest, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Class and inequality in Australia

2011

Conference Publication

Class and Earnings Inequality in the Australian Labor Market

Western, Mark (2011). Class and Earnings Inequality in the Australian Labor Market. New Understandings of Social Class Conference, Canberra, Australia, 27-29 May 2011.

Class and Earnings Inequality in the Australian Labor Market

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Social Science Research Infrastructure Network
    Australian Research Data Commons Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Enhancing Metadata for Inclusive Research on Entrenched Disadvantage: pilot project
    Australian Research Data Commons Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Targeted Review of Student Equity in Higher Education Programs and System Level Policy Levers
    The National Priorities Pool Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Equity Framework: System Analysis
    Health and Wellbeing Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Responding to the Educational Needs of Students Experiencing Disadvantage in the COVID-19 Recovery
    Paul Ramsay Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Exploring the use of predictive analytics to improve practice and outcomes in child welfare in Queensland
    Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Queensland Housing Strategy 2017 - 2027 Research and Evaluation Program
    Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Evaluation Framework for the Keeping Queenslanders Healthy Priority
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Investigating Higher Education expectations and engagement of low-SES students
    New South Wales Department of Education
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Young Achievers Program Evaluation
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Review project on optimal timing for future waves of GUiNZ
    Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Evaluation of the national support for child and youth mental health program and longitudinal research plan
    Commonwealth Department of Health
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    The Use of Big Data for Social Policy: Benefits and Risks
    Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Evaluation of the Try, Test and Learn Fund
    Commonwealth Department of Social Services
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Equipment for naturalistic sleep-wake, circadian rhythm, and stress measurement
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    St VIncent de Paul and ISSR Research Partnership
    St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Housing Services Gap Analysis
    Queensland Treasury Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Review of Identified Equity Groups
    Commonwealth Department of Education and Training
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Evaluation Framework for the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy (2016-26)
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    St Vincent de Paul Research
    St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Student Engagement Research and Analysis
    New South Wales Department of Education
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Social Distance, Discrimination and Disadvantage: Understanding the Situation of Australian Muslims and Other Religious and Ethnic Groups (CoE LCC Capacity Building Fund)
    University of South Australia
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Impact of relationship separation on economic outcomes for women on welfare: Evidence from big administrative data
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2020
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (UQ lead institution)
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Evaluation of the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF)
    Pricewaterhousecoopers Services Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Working together: the role of parents, communities and schools in public/state education
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Learning Catalysts: Improving Educational Outcomes for Disadvantaged Children
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Enhancing social research in Australia using dual-frame telephone surveys
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Literature review - Intergenerational income support dependency
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Development of an Evaluation Framework for the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF)
    Department of Health and Ageing
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Securing the data
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Social Networks and Subjective Wellbeing in Australia, China and the United Kingdom
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Sampling and estimation methodologies for dual frame telephone surveys in the context of Australia
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Learning catalysts: Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Dad and Partner pay evaluation
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    PPL Phase 2 Parents Survey
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The Impact of School Design, Infrastructure and Refurbishment on Educational Outcomes
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Collaborative Research Network Southern Cross University: Policy and Planning Research for Sustainable Regions
    Collaborative Research Networks (DIISR 3rd Party)
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Queensland Centre for Social Science Innovation
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Supporting schools and teachers to improve students' reading achievement in rural communities
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Chair in Survey Science
    The Social Research Centre Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Paid Parental Leave Scheme Evaluation
    Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Housing - Housing Assistance and Homelessness Prevention
    Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Australian Social Science Data Archive: Provision of Advanced Research Infrastructure and Collaborative Environment (ARC LIEF Administered by Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2009
    ISSR server storage network infrastructure and enhanced computing facilities in ISSR and social science for large scale survey analysis
    UQ Institute Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2013
    ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security (CEPS) (Griffith U_leading)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Enhancing spatial modelling capabilities for spaically integrated social science
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Social Futures and Life Pathways of Young People in Queensland: Waves 2 and 3 of Longitudinal Study
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Cohabitation in Australia: Trends and Implications for Family Outcomes
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The development and application of a conceptual and statistical framework for the measurement of non-market factors affecting social inequality and social wellbeing.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Infrastructure for a Spatially Integrated Social Science e-Research Facility.
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Australian Social Science Data Archive: Network Extension and Sub-archive Development
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Gender differences in early post PhD employment in Australian universities and the influence of PhD context and family on women's academic careers: implications for women's prospects for advancement
    Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee - Colloquium Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2011
    AFP Deed of Standing Offer - Provision of Statistical and Scientific Services
    Australian Federal Police
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Qld Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework Evaluation Project - Phase 1
    Department Education - Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Cumulative Forms of Inequality: The Dynamics of Market Restructuring and their Implications for Social Deprivation in Australian Cities and Regions
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Survey of ELICOS students' non-tuition expenditure
    Department of Education, Science and Training
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Responsible Gambling Strategy for Older Queenslanders
    Queensland Treasury - Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    ARC Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science
    ARC Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Social Futures Orientations and Identities of Young People in Queensland
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    The Causes And Consequences Of Marital Separation And Divorce In Australia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Outcome survey of NHMRC research workforce 1992-2002
    NHMRC Consultancy
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Coping with Non-response and Drop-out in Longitudinal Social Surveys: Imputation and Weights in Statistical Models for HILDA Survey Data
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Survey of international students' spending
    Department of Education, Science, and Training
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Housing consumption patterns and earnings behaviour of income support recipients over time: analysis of FaCS Longitudinal Data Set (1% sample)
    Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    Neoliberalism Inequality and Politics: Public Policy and the Transformation of Australian Society
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Bowen basin communities residents survey - DPC-1148-2003
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2002
    New pathways and social futures: Belief formation in the high school setting. A longitudinal study
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Postmodernisation and postindustrialisation: The consequences of social change
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Measuring IT use in General Practice
    Department of Health and Ageing
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Postindustrial Inequalities: Australia, the United States and Sweden in the 1980s and 1990s.
    University of Queensland Small Grants Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Mark Western is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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