This thesis deals with experiencing flow and intrinsic motivation with pupils of Primary Art School. The aim of this research was to find out the following: to what extent are pupils of Primary Art School intrinsic motivated towards music, to what extent the pupils experience flow while playing musical instrument and what psychological aspects are related to this type of experience. The target group of respondents represented pupils from musical branch at the age from 11 to 18 (N = 108). The data were obtained from three questionnaires (Flow, Teacher and Motivation Questionnaire). The first two questionnaires were created for the purpose of this thesis. Motivation questionnaire was translated from English version of SIMS questionnaire (The Situational Motivation Scale). The research proved that pupils of Primary Art Schoul think, that they experience flow quite often. Most of the observed variables are significantly related to flow, on the other hand the results showed less close relationship as for the flow. The exception was a relationship between flow and intrinsic motivation where closer connection was established. It was not proved that flow experience of pupils of Primary Art School relates to play in any musical groups, range of homework, length of playing musical instruments or a gender of...

En enkätstudie utfördes utifrån en regressionsdesign. Studien utfördes i syfte att redogöra förklaringsvärdet hos religiös orientering i subjektivt välmående för religiösa svenskar. Stickprov gjordes med ett internetbaserat klusterurval. Enkäten publicerades på fem slutna grupper för olika religiösa tillhörigheter på sociala medier. För att mäta religiös orientering gjordes en översättning på I/E-R som mätte religiös orientering i tre dimensioner. För att mäta subjektivt välmående användes SWLS. Två frågor mätte deltagares regelbundna religiösa aktivitet. En forced-entry multipel regressionsanalys gav ett signifikant förklaringsvärde för prediktorerna inre och yttre tro på 12 procent. Deltagarnas regelbundna religiösa aktivitet uppmättes vara enhetligt högt. Deltagarnas välmående uppmättes vara i den övre gränsen av vad som klassas som normalt välmående. Slutsatsen drogs att religiös aktivitet motverkade dysfunktionella effekter på välmående utan att leda till högre än normalt välmående. I tillägg gjordes slutsatsen att teori om religiös orientering är för kulturellt kontextkänslig för att vara tillförlitlig i det svenska samhället. Framtida forskning uppmanas till att kontrollera för sociala tillgångar och vilken specifik religion deltagare tillhör. / An electronic survey was performed to conduct a regression study. The study was conducted with the specific goal to find the explanatory value in religious orientation for subjective well-being for religious Swedes. Samples were drawn from internet based clusters. The survey was made available on five different closed groups for religiously active members on social media. I/E-R was translated and used to measure religious orientation on three dimensions. Subjective well-being was measured using SWLS. Two single items measured regular religious activity. A forced-entry multiple regression analysis showed an explanatory value of 12 percent for the predictors intrinsic and extrinsic belief. Regular religious activity was measured to be uniformly high. Subjective well-being was found to be in the upper levels of normal well-being. The conclusion drawn was that religious activity inhibited dysfunctional behavior and thus brought about a healthy well-being. In addition it was concluded that the cultural sensitivity in the religious orientation scale made measurements unreliable in the Swedish society. Future research is encouraged to control for social recourses when testing for effects on well-being as well as to control for what specific religion is practiced.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 T35 / Master of Science / Kinesiology

Master of Science / Food Science Institute / Elizabeth Boyle / Intrinsic factors impact Listeria monocytogenes growth in ready-to-eat poultry products. Sliced deli turkey was formulated with in-going concentrations of 1.5% NaCl or 0.75% NaCl/0.75% KCl, 0 ppm or 200 ppm NaNO[subscript]2, and using 10% or 45% pump for a total of 8 treatments. Turkey roasts were sliced and inoculated with a 5-strain L. monocytogenes cocktail or peptone water (control), vacuum packaged, and stored at 4[degree]C. Treatments were sampled on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 63, and 91 of storage to determine L. monocytogenes mean log growth and aerobic plate count (APC). The pH, water activity, residual nitrite concentration, and percent fat, moisture, protein, and sodium were measured using control treatments on each sampling day. There was a nitrite by day and a percent pump by day interaction (P<0.05) for L. monocytogenes and APC populations. Listeria monocytogenes populations in treatments containing 200 ppm NaNO[subscript]2 were 0.70 to 2.39 log CFU/cm[superscript]2 lower compared with products formulated with 0 ppm NaNO[subscript]2. Using 10% pump reduced L. monocytogenes populations by 0.62 to 1.50 log CFU/cm[superscript]2 on days 7 to 28 and at day 63 compared with 45% pump treatments. Incorporating 1.5% NaCl or 0.75% NaCl/0.75% KCl into formulations did not affect (P>0.05) L. monocytogenes populations during storage. On days 7 through 91, APC populations were 0.76 to 2.96 log CFU/cm[superscript]2 lower with inclusion of 200 ppm NaNO[subscript]2 compared to 0 ppm NaNO[subscript]2. There was a treatment by day interaction (P<0.05) for L. monocytogenes populations and APC. The initial inoculum level of L. monocytogenes averaged 2.21 log CFU/cm[superscript]2 and was similar (P>0.05) for all treatments on day 0. Listeria monocytogenes populations increased (P<0.05) from day 0 to 14 by 1.30 to 5.04 log CFU/cm[superscript]2. Overall, L. monocytogenes populations increased during storage and by day 91 L. monocytogenes populations were similar regardless of NaNO[subscript]2 level used except for treatments formulated with 0.75% NaCl/0.75% KCl and 10% pump. Listeria monocytogenes and APC populations were influenced by nitrite concentration and percent pump, while inclusion of NaCl or NaCl/KCl did not affect L. monocytogenes growth during refrigerated storage in vacuum packed sliced deli turkey.

<p><i>Background.</i> Regular physical activity is beneficial for older adults in order to protect against age related injuries and illnesses, and to maintain their independence and quality of life. However, older adults are the least likely age group to meet the physical activity guidelines set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine and World Health Organization. According to the self-determination theory framework, health practitioners and exercise instructors should aim to create and deliver interventions in a way that fosters an autonomy-supportive health care climate (e.g., taking the perspectives of patients, providing choices) to facilitate satisfaction of the basic psychological needs and self-determined motivation. <i>Purpose</i>. The specific aims of this study were to (1) determine whether autonomy support is associated with physical activity-related need for autonomy, autonomous regulation, and physical activity behavior; and to (2) determine whether autonomy support moderates the association between physical activity-related need for autonomy and autonomous regulation. <i>Methods.</i> The design of the study was longitudinal. A total of 431 adults aged ≥ 55 years completed an online survey (Baseline – Week 0) containing self-determination theory-related predictor variables, along with past month and past week physical activity. Weekly online physical activity recall questionnaires were completed for four weeks (at Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4). The product of coefficient <i>a</i> × <i>b</i> approach was used to test the mediation effect using multiple linear regression analysis. The Monte Carlo 95% confidence interval [95% CI] (5,000 bootstrap samples) for the mediated effects were obtained using Hayes SAS MCMED macro. <i>Results. </i>Physical activity-related need for autonomy was found to partially mediate the relationship between autonomy support and autonomous regulation, but only for those who were engaging in physical activity 2 days per week (0.0195 [0.0004, 0.0438]) and ≥ 4 days per week (0.0390 [0.0098, 0.0774]). Additionally, the physical activity-related need for autonomy and autonomous regulation were found to mediate the relationship between autonomy support and physical activity, but only for those who were previously physically active (≥ 4 days per week in the last month) and younger (e.g. aged 58 years). Autonomy support was not found to moderate the need for autonomy-autonomous regulation relationship. Physical activity-related need for competence was positively associated with autonomous regulation and physical activity behavior. <i>Conclusion.</i> In line with the self-determination theory, the current findings suggest that the facilitation of autonomy support and the subsequent fulfillment of the psychological needs; consequently, lead to an increase in autonomous regulation. Future research should consider how the need for competence plays a role in physical activity participation beyond autonomous regulation as adults age. </p>

Student Number : 9805453M - MA research report - School of Human and Community Development - Faculty of Humanities / In recent years, there has been increased interest among multidisciplinary researchers in looking at the relationship between religion and health, with the bulk of the literature indicating that religion has largely positive effects on mental health (Masters, Hill, Kircher, Benson & Fallon, 2004; Pieper, 2004; Smith, McCullough & Poll, 2003). Hence this study has chosen to focus on the relationship between undergraduate students’ perceptions of religious orientation, as defined by Allport and Ross (1967), and their perceptions of pressure – a form of stress identified by Weiten (1988). Questionnaires comprising of the Religious Orientation Scale, the Pressure Inventory and demographic information in terms of age, gender and religious affiliation were administered to undergraduate engineering students at the University of the Witwatersrand to explore religious orientation and pressure respectively. The sample consisted of 76 undergraduate engineering students at the University of the Witwatersrand. The results revealed that in this sample religious orientation had no influence on perceptions of pressure. In terms of the demographic variables, neither age nor gender was found to influence students’ perceptions of religious orientation or pressure, respectively. However a significant difference was found between religious affiliation and both religious orientation and pressure. More specifically religious affiliation showed a significant difference in terms of intrinsic religious orientation, selfimposed pressure, pressure in intimate relations and total pressure.

This new economic era is characterized by organizations managing a diverse workforce across different generations. These generations have different work values, goals, and expectations on their employer, which poses various challenges for human resource managers in managing and retaining employees from different generations. The most recent generation that is currently entering the workforce is generation Y, and they are described as the younger generation with high employee turnover and reluctance to pledge long-term work commitments. Therefore, it is in the interest of organizations to tailor reward schemes that resonate with generation Yers in fostering organizational commitment. Thus, this thesis aims to examine how extrinsic and intrinsic rewards affect organizational commitment in generation Y. To answer these questions, this thesis reviews previous literature and use the self-determination theory to see how the different rewards affect the organizational commitment of generation Y. This study has been conducted through interviews with employees that are born within the age spectrum of generation Y (1980-1999) to understand how reward systems affect organizational commitment in generation Y employees. This thesis found that intrinsic rewards affect organizational commitment in a far more positive manner than extrinsic rewards. Furthermore, intrinsic rewards resonate to a greater extent with the employees from generation Y and should, therefore, be a priority for organizations. Moreover, this thesis concludes that intrinsic rewards can more easily satisfy the basic psychological needs, which are, as according to the self-determination theory, crucial to foster organizational commitment.

Abstract Background:  Both the fitness and gamification industry are booming with no signs of slowing down in the near future. Gamified applications are entering the markets, attempting to induce gameful elements into tedious environments to enhance intrinsic motivation. The same goes for the gym sector, as market leaders, such as the Swedish gym chain Nordic Wellness, are increasingly implementing gamification elements into their business models.   Problem: The true effectiveness of gamification on intrinsic motivation remains underdeveloped. Literature highlights the necessity of adapting gamification design towards the end-user, by considering the different effects from the individual game elements and the context. However, the gym context has been completely neglected, even though gamification has become increasingly utilized in this sector.     Purpose: The purpose of this study is to increase the body of knowledge on how extrinsic mechanisms such as gamification can influence intrinsic motivation. This study utilizes the context of a gamified gym application for Nordic Wellness to determine the motivational potential of game elements. Thereby, the research team attempts to add to the body of literature by expanding on the effectiveness of gamification on intrinsic motivation, while also contributing through entering a currently undiscovered domain of gamification in the gym context.   Method: A qualitative approach with fifteen semi-structured interviews has been conducted on young Swedish adults attending the Swedish gym chain Nordic Wellness.   Results: The findings suggest Self-Determination Theory as a valid framework to examine the effects of gamification on intrinsic motivations. Through connecting the identified themes and theory, a framework is proposed for the evaluation on the effectiveness of game elements on intrinsic motivation. From evaluating the discussed game elements through this framework, recommendations are made for a gamified gym application that is argued to positively satisfy the psychological needs and therefore enhance the intrinsic motivations in a gym context.

The present thesis exploits a concept that lays in the core of human capital, employee satisfaction, under the context of a proactive organizational change. The prior literature depicts organizational change as a strategy applied to increase the efficiency of the company and its relevance to the market involved. The unique element of the matter is that proactive reorganizations are a product of a structural practice initiated by an entity’s human resources department. The department operates under a standardized model of change, which focuses on addressing the technical discrepancies that may occur in the human capital. Mainly analyzed from a company’s perspective, its influence on the employees involved in the change is often been neglected. The thesis was conducted in an effort to assess the need for a change in the current model in order to better address employee’s needs. To achieve that a sample of 100 Intel employees was used to uncover the state of the employees’ job satisfaction after an organizational change has been taken place. Results of the analysis exhibited above average overall satisfaction scores. The areas that employees seem to be the least satisfied were that of job security and company’s policies. Moreover, the elements of culture and the type of reorganization have also seemed to influence the overall satisfaction scores. Upon viewing the results the authors concluded that a need does exist, for a more interpersonal human resource approach to be incorporated within the current reorganizational model of an entity.

På grund av ett ökat vårdbehov är fysisk rehabilitering ett område där det finns ett växande behov för implementation av e-hälsostöd. En icke fullföljd rehabiliteringsplan kan potentiellt leda till att en patients smärtor eller besvär inte förbättras som planerat. Detta kan leda till att patienten behöver mer rehabiliteringsvård än vad som hade krävts om rehabiliteringsplanen hade fullföljts från början. Förutom att detta blir en kostnad för patienterna själva, innebär det dessutom en extra kostnad för vården. Motivation räknas som en av de främsta aspekterna att ta hänsyn till, eftersom det influerar människors förmåga och vilja att göra något. Om motivationsaspekten ignoreras vid designandet av ett digitalt stöd i ett rehabiliteringssammanhang, finns risk att designen inte innehar de funktioner som kan bli avgörande för att användaren ska använda det digitala stödet. Även om rehabiliteringspatienter förses med korrekta övningar från fysioterapeuter utför de inte sina övningar, vilket kan bero på deras brist på inre motivation. Trots detta dilemma finns idag få studier som undersöker hur ett digitalt stöd kan designas för att främja inre motivation i ett rehabiliteringssammanhang. Studien ämnade därför att undersöka hur ett digitalt stöd kan designas för att främja inre motivation i ett fysiskt rehabiliteringssammanhang. Frågeställningen undersöktes genom en designorienterad ansats. För att undersöka inre motivation konkretiseras begreppet till de tre grundläggande psykologiska behoven: autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet. Studien resulterade sedan i nio designförslag som informerade hur ett e-hälsostöd kan designas för att främja inre motivation genom att stödja de tre psykologiska behoven: autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet. / Due to an increased need for health care, physical rehabilitation is an area where there is a growing need for implementation of e-health support. An unsuccessful rehabilitation plan could potentially lead to a patient's pain or discomfort not being improved as planned. This may lead to the patient needing more rehabilitation care than what had been required if the rehabilitation plan had been completed from the beginning. In addition to this being a cost for the patients themselves, it also entails an extra cost for health care services. Motivation is considered one of the main aspects to take into account as it influences people's ability and willingness to do something. If the motivational aspect is ignored in the design of e- health support in a rehabilitation context, there is a risk that the design will not possess the functions that can be crucial for the user to use the digital support. Although rehabilitation patients are provided with proper physiotherapy exercises they do not perform their exercises, which may be due to their lack of intrinsic motivation. Despite this dilemma, there are few studies that investigate how digital support can be designed to promote intrinsic motivation in a rehabilitation context. The study therefore aimed to examine how an e-health support can be designed to promote intrinsic motivation in a rehabilitation context. The research question was examined using a design-oriented approach. In order to investigate intrinsic motivation, the concept is concretized to the three psychological needs: autonomy, competence and relatedness. The study then resulted in nine design proposals that informed how an e-health support could be designed to promote intrinsic motivation by supporting the three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence and relatedness.