Tesi sul tema "Goal (Psychology) – Research"

Bibliography: leaves 134-148.
An exploratory investigation into the capabilities of hypertext as an educational medium was conducted. To this purpose, a model was advanced in an attempt to provide a theoretical foundation for the explication of hypertext navigation and disorientation in terms of relevant user characteristics. 75 2nd year psychology students from the University of Cape Town participated in a study in order to investigate the claim that the motivational theory of goal orientation has the greatest utility in accounting for the exploitation of links within a hypertext, a necessary precondition for the development of mental models which incorporate both the conceptual and structural elements required for effective learning from, and the reduction of disorientation within, this medium. The results obtained, although compromised, provide some support for this argument. The paper concludes with a discussion of the methodological limitations of the study, as well as possible directions for future research.

The research within this thesis has been concerned with the concept of individual lability and how this may impact the occurrence of psychokinetic (PK) effects. Although frequently used as a descriptor within the fields of psychology, parapsychology has attempted to explore individual lability as a construct in its own right. Defined as an 'ease of change', within parapsychological research individual lability has been afforded the ability to either act as a contributing or mediating factor in the production of PK effects. To that effect, a major concern for this thesis was to operationalize the construct of individual lability via the development of a psychometric measure - an initial Lability Scale and then a further Revised Lability Scale. In order to make sense of the theoretical assumptions about individual lability this thesis explores the background of the production of PK effects in both real-world and experimental environments. It identifies shared individual elements in the reports of PK effects relating to heightened arousal, neurological activity, personality traits, emotional states and creativity that may help to identify multiple dimensions of individual lability. Drawing on the perspectives of lability models which emphasize an interaction between differing lability levels of random systems as a predictor of PK effects, it is suggested that successful outcomes are more likely between high levels of one system and low levels of another system. For the purposes of the three empirical studies a Random Number Generator (RNG) with different levels of Table, Pseudo and Live were employed to explore this interaction. An initial online survey consisting of measures of creative, neurological, state and Openness to Experience enabled the creation of the 71-item, 5 factor Lability Scale (LS) using factor analysis. Factors were defined as: Intuitive Cognition, Conceptual Cognition, Ego-Orientated Cognition, Emotional Interpretation and Analytical Cognition. The LS had good internal reliability and did not correlate with additional measures of anomalous experience and PK experiences, thus demonstrating face-value validity. The LS was subsequently employed in a series of three PK-RNG experiments exploring the lability interaction which incorporated a standardised design of a computerised I Ching task measured using the Q-sort method and separate group samples (N = 50). Study One included the impact of perceived stress, Study Two included the impact of the participant/research interaction, Study Three included the impact of goal-orientated striving. The primary hypothesis that levels of individual lability (Low, Medium, High) would significantly interact with Q-sort ratings of RNG system lability was not supported for all three experiments. In addition, the impact of the additional variables was non-significant. However, significant correlations were found between all of the LS factors apart from Analytical Cognition. It was also observed that there was a significant difference between lability levels between genders, with males on average having lower lability levels. In addition, a final analysis combining the individual and RNG lability data from all three studies was conducted, although there was also no significant interaction effect found between levels of individual and RNG lability. However, following the consistent lack of response from the Analytical Cognition factor it was deemed necessary to psychometrically refine the Lability Scale further. Therefore, a second factor analysis was conducted on the combined experimental data (N = 147) and the 32-item, 3 factor Revised Lability Scale was developed. Three identified factors were defined as: Creative Expression, Emotional Interpretation and Spiritual Interpretation. It was noted that the factor structure was somewhat reversed to that of the initial LS but the majority of items remained consistent. However, analysis showed that there was no interaction found between levels of individual lability and RNG lability. There were significant relationships between Creative Expression and Table RNG and Pseudo RNG lability levels. In addition, consistent difference between the genders in relation to the three factors were found with large effect sizes, with males having significantly lower levels overall. The final Discussion questioned the lack of significant findings for the lability PK-RNG interaction in relation to the complexity of the methodology and the multiple variables introduced in the empirical studies.

This study aimed to investigate the effects that a specifically tailored goal-setting program would have on two motocross racers in terms of their self-efficacy and motivation, as well as the process of designing this intervention. This case-study approach involved a mixed methods approach, consisting of pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments, interviews, and performance profiles. The tools used include Vealey’s (1986) Competitive Orientation Inventory (COI), Gill and Deeter’s (1988) Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ), performance profiles, and semi-structured interviews. The goal-setting intervention lasted a total of five weeks. The results from the preintervention and post-intervention assessments were compared to determine whether any changes in motivation or self-efficacy occurred during the intervention. For the first participant, significant changes in both motivation and self-efficacy were present in addition to significant changes in competitive orientation. For the second participant, there were no significant changes in either motivation or self-efficacy. However, for the second participant there was also no change in competitive orientation. Findings suggest that the focus and competitive orientation of an athlete have a significant influence on the types of goals set, and consequently on positive changes in motivation, confidence, and self-efficacy. The influence of the competitive orientation in athletes also highlighted the importance of attaining a balance between performance and outcome goal-related activities. It was also discovered through qualitative assessment that this program is suitable for particular groups of athletes such as those who are injured, display an external locus of causality or are otherwise not performing at their prime.

This study examined relationships between college students’ writing achievement goal orientations, writing self-regulation, and writing grades. The study was conducted in a postsecondary setting at a large public university in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Using multivariate quantitative techniques (confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling), survey and writing sample data were gathered to address the following research questions: Do college students’ writing achievement goals relate to their writing grades; do college students’ writing achievement goals relate to their writing self-regulation; and, does writing self-regulation partially mediate the relationship between writing achievement goals and writing grades in college writing classrooms? A convenience sample of 107 participants completed both the survey and writing prompt portions of the study. Findings showed that all three writing achievement goal orientations tested (mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance) were related to college students’ writing self-regulation. However, only writing performance-approach orientation was related to college students’ writing grades. Additionally, writing self-regualtion did not partially mediate the relationship between all three writing achievement goal orientations and writing grades as expected. Writing self-regulation did fully mediate the relationships between writing mastery and performance-avoidance goal orientations and writing grades, but failed to mediate the relationship between writing performance-approach goal orientation and writing grades. These findings contradict some of the prior literature on achievement goal orientations and self-regulation. However, these results help bridge a gap in the achievement goal orientation and self-regulation research, as prior studies have predominantly focused on PK-12 settings and domains other than writing (reading, mathematics, science, etc.). The findings from this study are limited by the size and nature of the sample, and the survey items used. Future studies should attempt to gather further insight into the goals college students set for their writing, how those goals impact their self-regulation behaviors, and ultimately their writing grades.

Syftet med denna undersökning har varit att studera huruvida individuella målsättningaranvänds inom elitfotboll. Dessutom undersöktes vilka målsättningsstrategier som föredrassamt vilka av dem som uppfattas som mest effektiva. Vidare studerades hur användningen avolika målsättningsstrategier är relaterat till elitfotbollspelares upplevda kompetens ochmotivation. . Även skillnader mellan ordinarie och icke ordinarie spelare samt juniorer ochseniorer studerades. Slutligen undersöktes även interaktionen mellan målsättningsarbetet,motivation och upplevd kompetens. Totalt deltod 101 fotbollsspelare i studien. Metoden somanvändes var kvantitiv och bestod av enkäterna GSSQ, TEOSQ samt Harterskompetensfrågeformulär (1980). Resultaten visade att resultatmål var som den mestföredragna målsättningen. Vidare var inre motivationsinriktning vanligare än yttre. Resultatenvisade även att målsättningars upplevda effektivite samt spelarnas motivation var lägst hosicke ordinarie juniorer. Interaktionseffekterna visade även att icke ordinarie juniorer uppleverlägre nivå av upplevd kompetens. Resultaten diskuteras i förhållande till uppsatsens teoretiskaramverk.

Nyckelord: Elitfotbollsspelare, motivation, målsättning, upplevd kompetens

The purpose of this study was to examine if individual goal setting are being used byprofessional soccer players, what kind of goal setting is preferred and which of those areperceived as most effective. How the use of goal settings are related to professional soccerplayers and elite junior players perceived competence and motivation is also being examined.Also difference between regular, non-regular, juniors and senior players was studied. Finally,the interaction between the use of goal settings, motivation and perceived competence wereexamined. 101 soccer players participated in the study. A quantitative method with thequestionnaires GSSQ, TEOSQ and Harter’s competence questionnaire was used. The resultsshowed that performance goals were the most preferred and that task orientation was morecommon than ego. Perceived effectiveness of goal setting and the player’s motivation waslowest among non-regular juniors. Interaction results also showed that non-regular juniorsshowed low perceived competence. The results are discussed in relation to the essay’stheoretical framework.

Keywords: Goal settings, motivation, perceived competence, professional/elite soccer players.

Over the past five years, American public opinion on homosexuality has rapidly shifted in a more positive direction. Its subjugation exemplifies how an intimate and singular topic can be used to ignite and potentially misguide the American people, resulting in violent demonstration and even death. Although public opinion has shifted towards a greater acceptance of homosexuality, viewpoints are still very polarized. In addition to the available literature, elements from the complete data set of the General Social Survey (1972–2014) were analyzed to better understand this polarization that persists. Subject-specific variables concerning homosexuality were extrapolated and simple Ordinary Least Squares regression models were tested using STATA version SE 12.1. The evidence gathered supports this thesis’ assertion that Snyder’s theory of hope, when applied to the topic of homosexuality, provides a uniquely useful and alternative lens through which to explain the polarization of current public opinion about homosexuality in America.

A single-blind within-subjects trial was used to test the efficacy of sending SMS text messages to patients with a traumatic brain injury as a means of improving their recall of rehabilitation goals. Eleven participants were recruited from two community based rehabilitation centres and were sent text messages relating to three randomly selected goals from a selection of six current goals three times per day for fourteen days. Participants’ recall of their rehabilitation goals was assessed at baseline, seven days, and fourteen days via free recall and cued recall procedures. Results showed that goals in the ‘text condition’ were recalled better than goals in the ‘no text’ condition. Practical applications and extensions are discussed.

African American women compose a critical proportion of the potential science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future, yet are disproportionately represented and largely underutilized. While various programs and initiatives have been designed and implemented to target women and underrepresented minorities, the voices and experiences of African American women have been insufficiently heard or studied. This study investigates the experiences of four African American female students who participated in a 10-week undergraduate research experience (URE) program designed for the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. Through autobiographical narratives and interviews participants shared how and in what ways the URE program influenced their career development (namely academic/career interests and choices), what they learned about their interests and choices, and what it means to them to be African American women pursuing science-related careers. Using a qualitative case study analysis, this study focuses on the unique stories of young African-American women participating in their own career development. Seven major themes emerged from the analysis of the data. Each of the participants initially entered the URE with an established interest in science, with an expressed desire for research experience, and with an interest in exploring career options in science. Through their involvement in the URE program, participants experienced a significant increase in self-knowledge and confidence, recognized the existence of social and/or science communities, and either discovered or clarified career interests and possibilities. All participants recognized value in their participation and expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity. Overall, the URE program provided a vital opportunity for participants to play an active role in their own career development. The results of this study emphasize the importance of and need to expand the URE as an avenue for career development and exploration in order to address the lack of such programming for African American women in STEM disciplines.

Cette thèse adopte une approche mixte basée sur des études qualitatives et quantitatives. Dans un premier temps, une phase exploratoire qualitative permet de mettre à jour les antécédents et les conséquences d’un achat de produits alimentaires en grand format. Les conclusions de cette phase qualitative suggèrent que le consommateur choisit le format des aliments selon le rapport quantité/prix, la sensation de faim, la ressemblance et l’influence sociale. De plus, choisir les grands formats génère diverses conséquences, en termes d’économies financières, de problèmes de santé, de gaspillage alimentaire, de culpabilité et de satisfaction. Notre étude qualitative nous permet de proposer un modèle centré autour de l’alternative entre les avantages financiers et les considérations de santé. L'étude quantitative a démontré que les stratégies de prix dégressifs selon les quantités achetées incitent non seulement les consommateurs à acheter et à consommer davantage, mais aussi, dans le même temps, amenuisent leurs objectifs de santé et diminuent leur culpabilité de trop consommer (souvent associée aux aliments hédoniques). Cependant, la présence d’étiquettes nutritionnelles contenant les informations relatives aux calories et aux nutriments pour le format proposé, remet au premier rang les objectifs de santé et augmente le sentiment de culpabilité. Cette thèse contribue à la littérature existante sur le « supersizing » dans le cas de produits alimentaires. A la lumière de la théorie des Moyens-Fins et dans une approche de Transformative Consumer Research ; cette recherche apporte des pistes d’action susceptibles d’améliorer le bien-être alimentaire de tous
This dissertation adopted a mixed-method approach based on qualitative and quantitative studies. The qualitative exploratory research examined the antecedents and consequences behind the purchase of supersized food products. Our findings from the qualitative study suggest that consumers’ choice of upsized food is inspired by several antecedents such as price quantity trade-off, hunger, likeness, and social influence. Besides, the acquisition of a larger food container also results in some inevitable consequences, which appear in the form of financial saving, health concerns, food waste, guilt, and satisfaction. Our qualitative study led the foundation for quantitative research to further examine the role of supersized pricing.The quantitative study demonstrated that such pricing strategies not only cause consumers to purchase and consume more but at the same time influence their crucial goals in distinct domains, expressly, by diminishing the importance of health goals and decreasing the anticipated consumption guilt which is often associated with hedonic foods. The supersized pricing is influential in affecting the buying behavior of consumers; however, the carefully designed nutritional labels containing the nutritional information related to the whole portion can refrain them from diminished health focus and increase their feelings of guilt for hedonic food. Moreover, supersized pricing can also be used to enhance the size choice of healthy food.This dissertation contributes to the existing literature on supersizing, consumption guilt, and nutritional labeling in light of the Means-End theory and TCR. It also discusses the marketing and public policy implications

The purpose of this study is to collect data on the current practices of coaching as applied in an incubated environment to report on the influence of coaching on entrepreneurial goal-setting behaviour. Previous research has indicated that much criticism has been lobbied at government programmes aimed at providing entrepreneurship development and support, some recognition has been given to some of these government initiatives as well as the progress achieved by some. It is further stated in the Global Entrepreneurship Report (2012) that a number of national experts commend the existence of business support agencies (such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency). A number of significant findings materialized from the current study where it was found that coaching influences entrepreneurial behaviour and that a need exists for more in-depth coaching sessions specifically focused on entrepreneurship in the South African context. Further to this it was found that a need exists for entrepreneurs to be coached by other entrepreneurs and that the role of a coach should be clarified to set realistic expectations from the onset of the intervention. These findings are in agreement with some of the key recommendations from South African national experts as cited in the GEMS 2012 report. The current research adds to the body of research on coaching in general. It also contributes specifically entrepreneurial development programmes in the South African context. The outcome from this research has implications for business coaches, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial development/support agencies as well as those who provide training and incubation programmes for entrepreneurs.
Industrial & Organisational Psychology
M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Minimal attention has been devoted to examining the dimensionality of self-control. The present study tested a multidimensional model of self-control in which dimensions were based on the nature of the behavior required (i.e., persistence, initiation, cessation, or prevention). A total of 336 undergraduates completed measures of self-control and psychological well-being. Seventy-four of these participants completed behavioral self-control tasks representing the proposed subtypes. Participants’ GPAs were obtained from the Registrar. Stop self-control was inversely related to previously-validated measures of persistence (β = -.61, p = .010) and prevention (β = -.56, p = .040) self-control and demonstrated differential predictive ability of persistence and prevention compared to the other proposed subtypes. Initiation self-control was inversely related to life satisfaction (β = -.35, p = .012) and demonstrated differential predictive ability of life satisfaction compared to stop self-control. These results were interpreted with caution due to inadequate power and questionable validity of several of the behavioral self-control tasks. Both handgrip persistence (r = -.25, p = .033) and blinking prevention (r = -.29, p = .023) were associated with depression. These pairwise correlations were not significantly different from each other, suggesting that no conceptual distinction should be made between persistence and prevention self-control. Confirmatory factor analyses of self-report data revealed that items clustered based on domain rather than on type of behavior required for self-control exertion. Thus, the structure of self-control remains unclear. Limitations of the present study and implications for future research are discussed.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
African American adolescents have inadequate self-management behaviors, particularly during middle adolescence (14-16 years of age). Inaccurate beliefs, degree of asthma impairment (well controlled or not well controlled), and gender could influence asthma self-management (symptom management, medication management, and environmental control). The researcher used the illness representations concept from the common sense self-regulation model as the framework for this study. The descriptive correlational study explored (1) differences in illness representations (cognitive and emotional) and self-management behaviors by gender, asthma impairment, and gender by asthma impairment of African American adolescents with asthma; and (2) relationships between illness representations and asthma self-management behaviors, gender, and asthma impairment in 133 African American adolescents with asthma. Data were collected using the Asthma Control Test, the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised, and the Asthma Self-Care Practice Instrument. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, MANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regressions. Findings indicated that females whose asthma was not well controlled had more beliefs about the chronicity of their asthma than those who were well controlled. However, there were no differences in such beliefs among males whose asthma was not well controlled from those who were well controlled. Well controlled adolescents differed from not well controlled adolescents for cognitive representations of cyclic timeline, treatment control, psychological attributes, and consequences as well as for emotional representations. There were no significant differences in the means of the self-management behaviors by gender, by asthma impairment, or by gender by asthma impairment. A significant bivariate relationship was found between representations of identity, consequences, treatment control, and symptom management. In the multiple regression model, representations of treatment control and consequences contributed to variances in symptom management; however, no other representations, gender, or asthma impairment variables were statistically significant. The representations, gender, and asthma impairment variables did not contribute to variances in medication management or environmental control. Limited studies have been conducted with African American adolescents with asthma; therefore, the findings will contribute information to the literature on their illness representations and self-management behaviors. The findings also contribute to the literature information based on adolescents' genders and levels of asthma impairment.

This research aimed to investigate how life coaching influenced five female high school learners (aged 16 and 17 years old) at an independent school in Gauteng province. The learners attended four life-coaching sessions with an experienced and accredited life coach over a period of eight weeks. Data was collected from a literature review of previous research on life coaching and coaching in general, interviews with the learners both before and after the life coaching experience and from journal entries kept by the learners during the process. All learners learnt through the process and experienced positive changes in their lives. This included improved balance in their lives; improved time management, reduced stress and more positive mind-sets. They were able to set goals and achieve some success during the process. They expressed increased confidence in themselves and their abilities to overcome challenges in their lives and recommended life coaching for other learners.
Educational Management and Leadership
M. Ed. (Educational Management)