Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Natural Light On Mental Health, Gianna Arquilla

Honors Projects

All students have experienced low motivation at one point in their academic career, but what are the factors that can affect this? Is it solely based on their personality and work ethic, or can the environment have an effect? This study discusses the effects on mental health through architecture. Can the amount of natural light in a building affect the motivation of students? Natural light is something that is often overlooked, mostly considered as a perk rather than a necessity. How can students truly feel passionate about their work sitting in a dark place? To evaluate this data, this study …

Conceptions Of Heroic Leadership In Civil Society, Theresa A. Thorkildsen

Heroism Science

While nations face multiple disruptions to civil society, individuals in late adolescence and early adulthood are overlooked for heroic leadership opportunities in some cultures. An underestimation of individuals’ abilities is sometimes fostered by biological definitions of human development that align competence with physical changes in the brain (Blakemore, 2012). Prolonged exposure to such disregard can encourage individuals to restrict the information they notice, fostering distortion in the intentions that support leadership readiness (Pratkanis, 2007). Studies of individuals’ conceptions of how the world operates can improve leadership readiness if such evidence is used to verify that individuals notice essential information. Using …

“My Dog Needs A Job”: Identifying The Motivations Of Therapy Animal Volunteers, Jean Kirnan, Anna Ciarrocca, Matthew Malloy, Shawne Hoehne, Grace Norris, Marc Nuzzo

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Volunteers provide billions of hours in free labor annually and are essential for the success of many organizations. Understanding who volunteers as well as the motivating factors that attract and retain volunteers is critical. This study explored the motivations of therapy animal volunteers (TAVs) identifying commonality with general volunteerism as well as unique motivators. Respondents were 748 TAVs with Pet Partners who completed an online survey. The Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) was used to allow comparisons to prior research. Supplemental items specific to animal handler motivation were added to the 30 VFI items. Additionally, participants responded to an open-ended question …

The Human Affectome, Daniela Schiller, Alessandra N. C Yu, Nelly Alia-Klein, Susanne Becker, Howard C. Cromwell, Florin Dolcos, Paul J. Eslinger, Paul Frewen, Andrew H. Kemp, Edward F. Pace-Schott, Jacob Raber, Rebecca L. Silton, Elka Stefanova, Justin H. G. Williams, Nobuhito Abe, Moji Aghajani, Franziska Albrecht, Rebecca Alexander, Silke Anders, Oriana R. Aragón, Juan A. Arias, Shahar Arzy, Tatjana Aue, Sandra Baez, Michela Balconi, Tommaso Ballarini, Scott Bannister, Marlissa C. Banta, Karen C. Barrett, Catherine Belzung, Moustafa Bensafi, Linda Booij, Jamila Bookwala, Julie Boulanger-Bertolus, Sydney W. Boutros, Anne-Kathrin Bräscher, Antonio Bruno, Geraldo Busatto, Lauren M. Bylsma, Catherine Caldwell-Harris, Raymond C. K. Chan, Nicolas Cherbuin, Julian Chiarella, Pietro Cipresso, Hugo Critchley, Denise E. Croote, Heath A. Demaree, Thomas F. Denson, Brendan Depue, Birgit Derntl, Joanne M. Dickson, Sanda Dolcos, Anat Drach-Zahavy, Olga Dubljević, Tuomas Eerola, Dan-Mikael Ellingsen, Beth Fairfield, Camille Ferdenzi, Bruce H. Friedman, Cynthia H. Y. Fu, Justine M. Gatt, Beatrice De Gelder, Guido H. E. Gendolla, Gadi Gilam, Hadass Goldblatt, Anne E. K. Gooding, Olivia Gosseries, Alfons O. Hamm, Jamie L. Hanson, Talma Hendler, Cornelia Herbert, Stefan G. Hofmann, Agustin Ibanez, Mateus Joffily, Tanja Jovanovic, Ian J. Kahrilas, Maria Kangas, Yuta Katsumi, Elizabeth Kensinger, Lauren A. J. Kirby, Rebecca Koncz, Ernst H. W. Koster, Kasia Kozlowska, Sören Krach, Mariska E. Kret, Martin Krippl, Kwabena Kusi-Mensah, Cecile D. Ladouceur, Steven Laureys, Alistair Lawrence, Chiang-Shan R. Li, Belinda J. Liddell, Navdeep K. Lidhar, Christopher A. Lowry, Kelsey Magee, Marie-France Marin, Veronica Mariotti, Loren J. Martin, Hilary A. Marusak, Annalina V. Mayer, Amanda R. Merner, Jessica Minnier, Jorge Moll, Robert G. Morrison, Matthew Moore, Anne-Marie Mouly, Sven C. Mueller, Andreas Mühlberger, Nora A. Murphy, Maria R. A. Muscatello, Erica D. Musser, Tamara L. Newton, Michael Noll-Hussong, Seth D. Norrholm, Georg Northoff, Robin Nusslock, Hadas Okon-Singer, Thomas M. Olino, Catherine Ortner, Mayowa Owolabi, Caterina Padulo, Romina Palermo, Rocco Palumbo, Sara Palumbo, Christos Papadelis, Alan J. Pegna, Silvia Pellegrini, Kirsi Peltonen, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx, Pietro Pietrini, Graziano Pinna, Rosario P. Lobo, Kelly L. Polnaszek, Maryna Polyakova, Christine Rabinak, S. Helene Richter, Thalia Richter, Giuseppe Riva, Amelia Rizzo, Jennifer L. Robinson, Pedro Rosa, Perminder S. Sachdev, Wataru Sato, Matthias L. Schroeter, Susanne Schweizer, Youssef Shiban, Advaith Siddharthan, Ewa Siedlecka, Robert C. Smith, Hermona Soreq, Derek P. Spangler, Emily R. Stern, Charis Styliadis, Gavin B. Sullivan, James E. Swain, Sébastien Urben, Jan Van Den Stock, Michael A. Vander Kooij, Mark Van Overveld, Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen, Michael B. Vanelzakker, Carlos Ventura-Bort, Edelyn Verona, Tyler Volk, Yi Wang, Leah T. Weingast, Mathias Weymar, Claire Williams, Megan L. Willis, Paula Yamashita, Roland Zahn, Barbra Zupan, Leroy Lowe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Over the last decades, theoretical perspectives in the interdisciplinary field of the affective sciences have proliferated rather than converged due to differing assumptions about what human affective phenomena are and how they work. These metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions, shaped by academic context and values, have dictated affective constructs and operationalizations. However, an assumption about the purpose of affective phenomena can guide us to a common set of metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions. In this capstone paper, we home in on a nested teleological principle for human affective phenomena in order to synthesize metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions. Under this framework, human affective …

Investigating The Motivational Differences For Healthy Eating In Men And Women, Kylie Martin, John Adams

Journal of Applied Disciplines

The study aimed to measure the differing levels of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for healthy eating behaviors in men and women. Through social media outreach, a sample of 57 participants (n=57), aged 18-69, living across the United States, primarily in the midwestern area, completed an online survey. The Motivation for Healthy Eating Scale (MHES) assessed different subgroups of internal and external motivation for healthy eating. Five of the six subgroups were used in the online survey sent to participants (intrinsic motivation, integrated regulation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, and external regulation). An independent samples t-test was performed to assess …

The Effect Of Email Communication On Professor-Student Rapport, Academic Self-Efficacy, Resiliency, Motivation, And Spirituality, David J. Heim

MSU Graduate Theses

Student retention and success rates are an increasing concern among collegiate administrators and educators. This study examined the influence of a college instructor’s email communications on professor-student rapport, student academic self-efficacy, resilience, motivation, and success. Researchers hypothesized that the student participants who received the encouraging email communications from their professor would demonstrate higher levels of professor-student rapport, higher levels of academic self-efficacy, resiliency, and success compared to the students who receive standard email communications from their professor. Five scales were utilized in this study including Professor-Student Rapport Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-30), Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), …

Personality Dynamics Turn Positive And Negative Mood Into Creativity, Ronald Bledow, Jana Kuhnel, Julius Kuhl

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Introduction: Research on the link between affect and creativity rests on the assumption that creativity unfolds as a stimulus-driven response to affective states. We challenge this assumption and examine whether personality dynamics moderate the relationship of positive and negative mood with creativity.Theoretical Model: According to our model, personality dynamics that generate and maintain positive affect and down-regulate negative affect energize creativity. Based on this model, we expect high creativity in response to negative mood if people engage in self-motivation and achieve a reduction in negative mood. We further derive that individual differences in action versus state orientation moderate the within-person …

Students’ Motivation To Attend Synchronous Online Lectures, Kefah Barham, Abedulkarim Ayyoub, Zuheir Khlaif, Abdelrahim Barham

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

This study aims to sightsee students' perceptions of how online lectures should be through exploring factors that increase students' motivation to attend live zoom classes. A quantitative approach was used to achieve the purpose of the study. The data was collected through an electronic questionnaire using Google forms to explore students' attitudes and perspectives on influencing their attendance to online learning sessions. Five hundred eighty-five participants (154 males and 431 females) in the study made the decision to answer the questionnaire electronically via Google Drive. The study participants were undergraduate students from two universities located north of the West Bank-Palestine. …

Greater Traditionalism Predicts Covid-19 Precautionary Behaviors Across 27 Societies, Theodore Samore, D. M. T. Fessler, A. M. Sparks, C. Holbrook, L. Aaroe, Norman P. Li, Kai Lin Lynn Tan, Et Al

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

People vary both in their embrace of their society’s traditions, and in their perception of hazards as salient and necessitating a response. Over evolutionary time, traditions have offered avenues for addressing hazards, plausibly resulting in linkages between orientations toward tradition and orientations toward danger. Emerging research documents connections between traditionalism and threat responsivity, including pathogen-avoidance motivations. Additionally, because hazard-mitigating behaviors can conflict with competing priorities, associations between traditionalism and pathogen avoidance may hinge on contextually contingent tradeoffs. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a real-world test of the posited relationship between traditionalism and hazard avoidance. Across 27 societies (N = 7844), we …

Exploring College Student Experiences In A Kinesiology Course Using A Gamified Grading System, Rachel E. Williams, Jedediah E. Blanton, Christopher D. Kilgore, Matthew Jones

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Past findings indicate mixed results on the effectiveness of gamification in college courses. The use of a gamified version of specifications-based grading (e.g., gamified grading) is not yet well understood. The purpose of this two-part study was to understand students’ perceptions of intrinsic motivation and engagement in a kinesiology course using gamified grading, facilitated by a gamified grading platform called GradeCraft©. We used qualitative inquiry to capture a robust description of the student experience across a semester, identifying themes describing the course management (e.g., comparison with traditional course, individual approach), and the psychological experience (e.g., autonomy, stress). The following semester, …

The Correlation Between Perceived Discrimination And Social Anxiety In College Students Who Identify As Lgbtq, Aleasha Chaw

Undergraduate Research

Discrimination can have many adverse effects on a college student. Stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideology, and social motivation are some of the negative impacts to the psychological well-being of those exposed to discrimination. Social interaction anxiety in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity may impact social motivation in college students. The motivation to engage in socialization on campus may be hindered by an individual’s experience with discrimination. Though a diverse student body may help lower instances of discrimination, students may still be influenced by stigmas within these groups which may impact physical and psychological behaviors. The author of the …

Exploring Techniques Used To Make Doctor-Recommended Changes In Diet And Exercise For Patients With Cardiac Disease, Amy Rechner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Motivation plays an important role in treatment adherence, as patients should make necessary health behavior changes based on their physician’s recommendations. Self-efficacy and resilience can help/hinder the patient from implementing and maintaining these changes. Previous studies concluded that individuals cannot rely on medication alone and must implement healthy lifestyle changes. However, these changes may be difficult, as the individuals may face physical or emotional barriers. Therefore, it is important to analyze the factors that motivate an individual to overcome these challenges and follow the recommended treatment plan. This qualitative study examined four participants age x-y through in-depth interviews. Three participants, …

Basic Psychological Needs, Socioeconomic Status, And Well-Being Of Undergraduate Honors And Non-Honors Students, Rebecca M. Johnson, Rachel Mun, Jaret Hodges, Anne Rinn

SENG Journal: Exploring the Psychology of Giftedness

Basic psychological needs, socioeconomic status and involvement in honors programs may impact well-being of undergraduate students. This exploratory study examines these factors and uses Self-Determination Theory as a lens to interpret the effect on well-being of undergraduate honors and non-honors students. Self-Determination Theory is a macro theory of motivation and personality development that relates to individuals’ need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and addresses the social-emotional and cognitive components needed to ensure individuals’ well-being. In this study, researchers examined the relationship among basic psychological needs, socioeconomic status, honors participation, and well-being of 252 undergraduates. Results of a …

Avoiding Success: How Does Fear Of Success Impact Today's Workforce?, Bradley E. Gray

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Fear of success refers to the anxiety experienced by individuals as they come close to accomplishing a goal, ambivalent and even paralyzed over choosing to accept or avoid success. Success fearers are more likely to avoid success, choosing to forego their goal to avoid the assumed negative repercussions that will accompany the success (Canavan, 1989). Though interest in fear of success has waned since its introduction in the 1970’s, evidence of fear of success still exists today. However, original theories of fear of success cannot explain its impact on both men and women, and little is known about how it …

Brainwaves, Memory, And Reward, Rebecca Mccune

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The development of effective educational curricula for enhancing learning involves the crucial consideration of effort and rewards. In the realm of education, teachers commonly employ rewards as motivational tools. Traditionally, these rewards are given to students as a recognition of their successful performance. However, a thought-provoking idea emerges: What if we were to extend rewards to students not solely based on accurate answers, but also on the effort they invest, even in cases where their actual response might be incorrect? Our study explores the potential impact of this approach on the way information is absorbed and subsequently retained, specifically focusing …

Using Motivation To Assess Affective States Of Captive Red Kangaroos (Macropus Rufus) In Response To Visitor Presence And Crowd Size In A Walk-Through Zoo Exhibit, Julia King

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how visitor presence influences affective states of captive red kangaroos housed in a walk-through zoo exhibit by using motivation to consume a food reward in desired vs undesired locations and with/without an additional challenge feeder as a proxy for affective state, while considering individual variation and personality.

Why We Leave: The Role Of Approach And Avoidance Motivations In Romantic Relationship Dissolution, Emily Connard

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Romantic relationship dissolution (i.e., a breakup) is one of the most stressful events a person can experience. Breakup initiators often encounter a range of emotions (e.g., guilt, depression, anxiety) after leaving their romantic partner. Yet, little is known about how an initiator’s unique motivations for leaving impact their breakup strategies and emotions in the aftermath. The current study examined the association between dissolution motives, breakup strategies, and experienced outcomes in 273 marital and non-marital breakup initiators. As predicted, initiators who left due to approach dissolution motives (e.g., seeking more freedom; draws to leave) experienced greater positive outcomes following a breakup; …

Risky Behavior As Motivated Emotion Regulation: A Mixed-Method Approach, Lyneé A. Herrera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Engaging in risky health behaviors is a ubiquitous human experience that often marks developmental progression from adolescence into adulthood. While much previous research has framed risky behaviors in terms of negative legal, social, and public health consequences, less empirical work has been done on potential benefits of their engagement. A growing body of research has identified emotion regulation deficits as a significant driver of risky behavior engagement, suggesting that these behaviors may offer perceived emotional benefits when other regulation strategies are less accessible. Previous research has shown that emotional outcomes can be influenced by the regulation strategies one chooses to …

Overcoming Procrastination: Time Pressure And Positive Affect As Compensatory Routes To Action, Jana Kuhnel, Ronald Bledow, Angela Kuonath

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The current work seeks to identify factors that support action initiation from the theoretical lens of self-regulation. Specifically, we focus on factors that reduce procrastination, the delay of the initiation or completion of activities. We draw from action control theory and propose that positive affect operates as a personal and time pressure as a situational factor that unblock routes to action. High positive affect makes people less prone to procrastination because positive affect reduces behavioral inhibition and facilitates the enactment of intentions. By contrast, when positive affect is low, people depend on time pressure as an action facilitating stimulus. We …

Why Employees Accept Lower Pay At Mission-Oriented Companies, Insiya Hussain, Marko Pitesa, Stefan Thau, Michael Schaerer

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Today’s companies are likely to tout how their work benefits human welfare or “makes the world a better place.” Recent research suggests that this may come with a potential financial drawback for workers, as it can inhibit them from negotiating for higher pay. Over five studies, job candidates consistently reported that they worried asking for higher pay from these companies would be seen as greedy or inappropriate. This suggests they are aware of a common bias, known as motivation purity bias, where managers believe employees interested in material rewards of work (such as pay) are less motivated than those motivated …

Witnessing Academic Dishonesty And Student’S Satisfaction With Learning, Motivation For Studying And Evaluation Of Faculty, Dawoon Lee

Student Theses

Academic dishonesty has been a long-term problem in secondary and higher education. Previous studies reported that an average of two-thirds of students reported that they have engaged in academic dishonesty in high school or college. This study explored witnessing academic dishonesty and its influence on students' experiences in the learning environment. The hypothesis is that witnessing academic dishonesty will negatively impact the student’s satisfaction with learning, motivation for studying, and evaluation of faculty. In conducting the study, participants (N = 250) completed an online survey assessing their satisfaction with learning, motivation for studying, and evaluation of faculty. Participants also reported …

Transdiagnostic Prevention And Intervention Efforts Are Needed To Address Executive Dysfunction, Maria E. Meinerding Ms, Margaret L. Paul Bs, Trinity N. Zweifel, Michael L. Mathews, Jeremiah Weinstock Phd, Rory A. Pfund Phd

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Abstract: Executive functioning (EF) is a multi-faceted construct important to activities of daily living, emotion regulation, and higher-order thinking and is often impaired in individuals with gambling disorder and/or alcohol use disorders. Deficits in EF are associated with poor treatment engagement, psychiatric comorbidities, and relapse. The present study examined EF in college students (N = 832) aged 18-24 (M= 19.23, SD=1.37, 76.5% Women) in relation to gambling and hazardous drinking. The Barkley’s Deficits in Executive Functioning was used to assess for global EF and 5 facets of EF: Time Management, Organization/Problem Solving, Self-Restraint, Self-Motivation, and Emotion-Regulation. Bivariate correlation …

Comparative Analysis Between Physical Activity Affect And Discrete Emotions In College Students, Kelly L. Simonton, Timothy M. Dasinger, Alex C. Garn

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate empirical distinctness and overlap between physical activity (PA) affect and emotions as well as potential unique relationships with PA beliefs and behaviors. Specifically, researchers wanted to explore the level of shared variance amongst discrete emotions and affect, which in effect tested the jingle-jangle fallacy that can be present in psychometric evaluation of related constructs.

Participants: College students (N=519; Mage= 20.47) enrolled in PA courses at two universities in the Southeastern United States completed questionnaires concerning their PA related emotions, affect, self-efficacy, and self-reported PA.

Methods: …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Para-Athletes: A Case Study On Motivation And Psychological Training For The 2020 Paralympic Games, Irina Perfilova

Masters Theses, 2020-current

In the 61-year history of the Paralympic Games, the Games have never been canceled for any public health reasons. In order to participate in the Paralympic Games, the preparation process for professional athletes is planned at least four years in advance. Interruptions to this schedule can present significant challenges for elite athletes. Such was the case in 2020 with widespread cancellations of many athletic events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of in-home isolation can potentially cause athletes to experience different psychological conditions, including depression and anxiety as well as losing motivation. The purpose of this study was to …

Double Dosing: Investigating The Utility Of Multiple Priming Questions On Test-Taking Motivation, Mara Mcfadden

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Priming examinees with questions about intended effort prior to testing has been shown to significantly increase examinee expended effort via self-reported effort and response-time effort. However, this question-behavior effect seems to wear off later in a testing session, specifically when a test is given second in the session. I examined whether administering a second “dose” of the question-behavior effect could combat the decrease in examinee effort later in a testing session. To evaluate whether “double dosing” could increase examinee effort later in a testing session, I randomly assigned examinees to one of three question conditions prior to completing two low-stakes …

The Facilitative Role Of Workplace Anxiety In Increasing Motivation And Preparation Fueled By Self-Regulation, James Hayes

Student Works

As anxiety in the workplace continues to affect a substantial percentage of employees, an understanding of the facilitative aspects of anxiety may become increasingly relevant (American Psychological Association, 2009, as cited in Cheng & McCarthy, 2018). Anxiety in the workplace is generally disadvantageous, but significant evidence supports the idea that anxiety may benefit employees in various ways (Chandra et al., 2020). Notably, anxious feelings may spark increased motivation within employees, unlocking a greater focus on future goals (Spielberger, 1985, as cited in Cheng & McCarthy, 2018). In pursuit of these goals, anxious employees may find a greater capacity for self-regulation, …

Variation In Sign-Tracking And Goal-Tracking Behaviors In A Genetically Diverse Inbred Panel Of Mice, Emily A. Schoenblum

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Trial Spacing And The Conditioned Motivational Effects Of A Food-Predictive Cue, Gabrielle M. Sutton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Stimuli in the environment can come to influence motivation and behavior through a process known as Pavlovian conditioning. During Pavlovian conditioning, stimuli in the environment come to predict the availability of a reward. Two different procedures are used to investigate how stimuli can modify ongoing behavior and reward consumption, known as Pavlovian-instrumental transfer and potentiated feeding, respectively. In other procedures that investigate how stimuli modify behavior, certain time intervals during Pavlovian training can influence how much a stimulus can modify behavior. One of those intervals is the time between the presentation of a stimulus and the associated reward. This interval …

The Impact Of Instagram Usage On Body-Esteem In Young Women In College, Kirsten Etzinger

Honors Projects

Instagram as a platform is increasing in popularity, especially among young women. Young women may use Instagram to keep up with their peers, follow trends, or as a way to express themselves. However, it is evident that young women can be negatively affected by the content they are exposed to on Instagram. This study examines the impact that increased Instagram usage can have on body-esteem in young women in college by evaluating their degree of Instagram usage, motivation to use social media for body comparison, and feelings of body-esteem. An online survey was conducted with BGSU college-age female students and …

Do Allyship And Motivation Influence Women’S Cognitive Functioning And Self-Regulation After Witnessing Sexism?, Christina Garasky

Dissertations

Prior research shows the effects of sexism can accumulate over time, resulting in severe negative, cognitive, affective, motivational, and physiological consequences for women; however, most research focuses on the consequences of being a direct target of sexism, and the cognitive and motivational consequences of being a witness of sexism have not yet been fully explored. Additionally, while it is thought that allyship can help mitigate the consequences of sexism, minimal research has tested this relationship. It was proposed that shifts in reactive approach motivation (RAM); aimed to protect against anxiety and negative affect, may direct attention away from goal-oriented behaviors, …