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Objective: Grit is a noncognitive trait related to perseverance and consistent pursuit of long-term goals. Research on grit and aging provides evidence that grit increases with age and may be protective of cognitive and everyday functioning. However, no studies to date have examined relations between concurrently measured grit, cognitive abilities, and everyday functioning. This study tested two hypotheses: 1) that grit would predict cognitive performance and that this relation would be moderated by clinical diagnosis of cognitive status (i.e., healthy vs. mild cognitive impairment; MCI), and 2) that grit would predict everyday functioning and that this effect would be mediated by compensatory strategy use. Methods: Sixty-one older adults were recruited from the Penn Memory Center’s National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) cohort, including forty healthy controls with normal cognition and twenty-one individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants completed tests of verbal episodic memory, executive functioning, grit, compensatory strategy use, and everyday functioning. Results: Grit was not associated with cognitive functioning in either domain. Instead, memory performance was predicted only by clinical status (healthy vs. MCI), and executive functioning was predicted by clinical status, depressive symptoms, and years of education. Grit was negatively associated with everyday functional difficulties; however, there was no indirect effect of compensatory strategy use. Additionally, grit was moderately correlated with depression symptoms (r = -0.41). Conclusions: Grit is predictive of preserved everyday functioning, but not cognitive functioning, in a sample of healthy older adults and individuals with MCI. Mechanisms explaining the role of grit on everyday function remain elusive, though secondary analyses support that grit also influences affective well-being and may have a weaker role in the context of cognitive impairment. / Psychology

Since the reveal of the Black-White achievement gap in 1966, leaders and policymakers have attempted to close the gap to no avail. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine the relationships between self-efficacy, grit, and academic achievement of Black and White students. For the first two research questions,I sought to determine whether there were relationships between self-efficacy, grit, and academic achievement as defined by the PSAT 10 Reading or Math results. Students were administered self-efficacy and grit surveys to establish their corresponding self-efficacy and grit levels. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the bivariate relationships between participants' self-efficacy and grit levels and their 2021 PSAT 10 Reading and Math results. Statistical significance was discovered; specifically, a positive correlation existed between Black students, grit, and their academic achievement on PSAT 10 Math. For the final two research questions, I solicited students' perspectives of self-efficacy and grit and how they perceived the two constructs were associated with their academic success. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted to better explain student perspectives from their Phase 1 survey responses, which produced themes associated with self-efficacy and grit. Students shared how they perceived these traits impacted their academic achievement. Themes that emerged from students that were discussed in this study were the perception of the snowball effect, the power of teacher perceptions, failure as a motivator, the importance of hard work and being careful, and more. Additionally, recommendations to further investigate grit and other noncognitive factors as viable options to increase academic student achievement are provided.

Silicon-based ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), such as silicon carbide (SiC) fiber reinforced SiC, are promising candidates for hot section components in next generation turbine engines. Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are essential for implementing these components as they insulate and protect the substrate from reaction with water vapor in the engine environment. EBCs are typically deposited via atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and preparing the component surfaces through cleaning and roughening prior to coating is a vital step to ensure sufficient coating adhesion. The adhesion of a plasma sprayed coating to the underlying component is one of the most important properties as the component will not be protected if the coating is not well adhered. Surface roughening of metallic components via grit blasting is well documented and understood, but much less is known about preparing ceramic and ceramic composite surfaces for thermal spray coating. Silicon coatings are often used as a bond coating between SiC-based components and EBC top layers, but the adhesion strength of plasma sprayed Si on these substrates, Si splat formation and the factors that affect coating formation and adhesion have not been well studied. The effects of automated grit blasting process parameters on surface roughness and material loss of a reaction bonded SiC (rb SiC) composite were evaluated. Surface roughness before and after grit blasting was evaluated with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The differences and advantages of automated grit blasting compared to manual grit blasting were observed. Most notably was the level of control at high nozzle traverse speeds resulting in reduction of material loss and consistency of roughening. At high nozzle traverse speeds, the amount of material loss decreased greatly with a small effect on induced surface roughness. The degree of grit blasting induced roughness and material loss was found to be largely dependent on the nature of the composite matrix and reinforcement, as well as blast nozzle traverse speed. A statistical model was developed to predict the substrate thickness loss and induced average roughness based on nozzle traverse speed and blast pressure for automated grit blasting. Additionally, laser ablation was used to create controlled, regularly patterned surface texture on rb SiC substrates to further investigate the role of texture parameters in Si coating adhesion. Si was plasma sprayed onto rb SiC substrates to deposit both thick coatings to evaluate adhesion strength and single splats to study splat formation. Surface roughness/texture, substrate preheat temperature and mean Si particle size were varied in plasma spray coating experiments to observe their role in coating adhesion strength. Si adhesion strength was found to be related to all three factors and a statistical model was developed to predict adhesion strength based on them. Substrate preheat temperature had a significant effect on both Si adhesion strength and Si splat formation on rb SiC. Single splat formation during plasma spraying of Si on SiC was simulated with software called SimDrop. Simulations of Si droplet impact, spreading and solidification during plasma spraying on smooth and textured SiC surfaces were used to investigate the effects of relevant process parameters on splat formation. Experimentally observed Si splats on smooth substrates at different temperatures during deposition were matched with simulated splats with the same spraying parameters. A change in thermal contact resistance with changing substrate preheat temperature was confirmed by the simulation results. The role of surface texture parameters for a regularly patterned surface texture in splat formation was demonstrated through simulation. This dissertation investigates methods of roughening and preparing a SiC composite substrate for plasma spray coating, as well as factors which affect the adhesion strength and splat formation of plasma sprayed Si through experiments and simulation. The observations made provide valuable insight for understanding and optimizing the manufacturing processes utilized to deposit strongly adhered coatings onto SiC-based composites. In addition, areas of interest in this field for future study and further investigation are introduced and suggested. / Doctor of Philosophy / Silicon-based ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), such as silicon carbide (SiC) fiber reinforced SiC, are promising candidates for hot section components in next generation turbine engines. Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are essential for implementing these components as they insulate and protect the substrate from reaction with water vapor in the engine environment. EBCs are typically deposited via atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and preparing the component surfaces through cleaning and roughening prior to coating is a vital step to ensure sufficient coating adhesion. The adhesion of a plasma sprayed coating to the underlying component is one of the most important properties as the component will not be protected if the coating is not well adhered. Silicon coatings are often used as a bond coating between SiC-based components and EBC top layers, but the adhesion strength of plasma sprayed Si on these substrates, Si splat formation and the factors that affect coating formation and adhesion have not been well studied. This dissertation investigates methods of roughening and preparing a SiC composite substrate for plasma spray coating, as well as factors which affect the adhesion strength and splat formation of plasma sprayed Si through experiments and simulation. The observations made provide valuable insight for understanding and optimizing the manufacturing processes utilized to deposit strongly adhered coatings onto SiC-based composites. In addition, areas of interest in this field for future study and further investigation are introduced and suggested.

Surprisingly little research has explored the role of grit in consumer psychology. My dissertation addresses this gap by examining how grit influences consumer psychology, particularly focusing on uncovering the underlying mechanism between grit and consumer behaviors and exploring beliefs and attitudes on grit. Toward this goal, Essay 1 identifies the links between grit, a promotion regulatory focus, and variety seeking, while Essay 2 explores the role of consumers' political ideology on each facet of grit and moral consumer choices. In Essay 1, I propose that grit influences variety seeking, partially explained through a promotion regulatory focus. Three pilot studies, a main effects field study, and four experiments are used to empirically support links from grit to increased variety seeking, mediated by a promotion focus, and moderated by goal relevance. Essay 2 focuses on the influence of political ideology on grittiness. Multiple studies are used to test the proposed framework using various designs (surveys and experiments) and analysis techniques (e.g., SEM, ANOVA, and PROCESS), finding that unique types of grit, relative to consumers' political ideology, can significantly enhance or diminish intentions to make moral consumer choices. Together, this dissertation examines the important construct of grit in marketing and extends the current understanding of grit (e.g., dimensionality; promotion-focus). The essays offer robust evidence through field studies, consequential decisions, and various samples.

Introduktion: Mental målbildsträning har genom tidigare forskning visat sig vara en effektiv metod för ökad prestation inom idrott. Samtidigt är mentala förmågor viktiga i hälsofrämjande arbete på individ, grupp och samhällsnivå. Studier inom ämnet visar bland annat på ökad grit och self-efficacy samt att upplevelser av mental träning har en koppling till hälsofrämjande mål hos allmänheten.Syfte: Syftet med studien var att utifrån ett hälsofrämjande perspektiv undersöka deltagarnas upplevelser av sju dagars målbildsträning.Metod: Interventionsstudien var av kvalitativ metod med öppna brev via online-formulär. 20 deltagare, män och kvinnor mellan 23-62 år lyssnade på vägledd målbildsträning sju minuter om dagen i sju dagar. Sammanställning av resultat gjordes i en latent analys.Resultat: Resultatet presenteras utifrån ett huvudtema “Målbildsträning har gett ett större fokus och känsla av drivkraft mot målbilden” samt tre underteman “Uppskattning och ett lugn”, “En vilja att fortsätta mot målet” och “Högre tro på egna förmågan”. Målbildsträning ökar den mentala inställningen att tro på den egna förmågan, uppnå en trygghet i sin drivkraft samt en avkopplande attityd till att vara i nuet för att få insikt i agerandet som krävs för att uppnå sin hälsofrämjande målbild.Slutsats: Interventionsmetoden visade sig upplevas som en ny och motiverande form av mental träning. Deltagarna beskriver en ihärdighet och kämparanda, en högre tro till sin egen förmåga samt en kontroll över sin hälsa. Detta visar att målbildsträning med fördel kan användas i hälsofrämjande arbete även efter bara en veckas träning. / Introduction: Mental goal imagery training has through previous research proved to be an effective method for increased performance in sports. At the same time, mental abilities are important in health-promoting work at individual, group and community level. Studies in the subject show among other things increased grit and self-efficacy and that experiences of mental training are linked to public health goals that promote health.Purpose: The aim of the study was to, from a health promotive perspective, examine the participants experience of seven-day mental goal imagery training.Method: The intervention study was of a qualitative method with open letters through online forms. 20 participants, men and women aged 23-62 listened to guided mental goal imagery training seven minutes a day for seven days. Summary of results was done in a latent analysis.Result: The result is presented by a main theme "Mental goal imagery training has given a greater focus and sense of driving force towards the mental goal image" as well as three sub-themes "Estimation and a calm", "A will to pursue the goal" and "Higher belief in one's own ability". Mental goal imagery training increases the mental attitude of believing in its own ability, achieving a sense of safety in its will to achieve, and a relaxing attitude to being in the moment to gain insight into the action required to achieve its health promotion goal. Conclusion: The intervention was perceived as a method proved to be a new and motivating form of mental training. The participants describe a sustainability and driving force, a higher belief in their own ability and control over their health. This shows that mental goal imagery training can with advantage be used in the work of health promotion, even after only one week of training.