”När pengarna rullar in är man motiverad” är en kandidatuppsats i Sociologi skriven av Olivia Pettersson och My Andersson. Syftet med studien är att undersöka ett prestationsbaserat belöningssystem och dess effekter på arbetsmotivation samt upplevd arbetskvalité, detta genom att göra en fallstudie på ett bemanningsföretag i Stockholm. Undersökningen är kvalitativ och genomfördes med hjälp av tematiskt öppna intervjuer tillsammans med fem anställda hos det företag vi valt att här kalla LevereraMera. Tidigare forskning av Eriksson et al. (2002) samt av Schou (1991) visar att lönen är av betydelse för arbetsmotivationen, men att andra faktorer är av större betydelse samt att ingen faktor kan fungera isolerad från andra. Ingen av dessa studier väljer att inkludera fenomenet arbetskvalité samt är av kvantitativ karaktär, vilka är två motiv till denna studie.   Den insamlade empirin analyseras med hjälp av studiens teoretiska ramverk, Herzbergs tvåfaktorteori och Skinners förstärkningsteori. Resultaten visar att det prestationsbaserade belöningssystemet som råder hos LevereraMera har en viss positiv effekt på medarbetarnas arbetsmotivation, men att den inte verkar isolerad från andra, också avgörande, faktorer. Det går inte att urskilja att belöningssystemet har en direkt negativ påverkan på medarbetarnas upplevda arbetskvalité. Något som dock framgår av studien är att upplevelsen av rättvisa samt viljan att samarbeta påverkas negativt av det rådande belöningssystemet, vilket kan leda till en indirekt negativ påverkan på företagets generella arbetskvalité. / "När pengarna rullar in är man motiverad" is a bachelorthesis in Sociology written by Olivia Pettersson and My Andersson. The purpose of the study is to investigate a performance-based reward system and its effects on motivation and perceived job quality, this by doing a case study of a staffing and recruitment company in Stockholm. The study is qualitative and was carried out with the help of thematically open interviews with five employees of a company we have chosen to call LevereraMera. Previous research by Eriksson et al. (2002) and by Schou (1991) show that the salary is of importance for work motivation, but that other factors are more important and that no factor can work in isolation from others. None of these studies choose to include the phenomenon of labor quality and they are of a quantitative nature, which are two motives for this study.   The collected empirical data was analyzed using the theoretical framework, Herzberg’s two-factor theory and Skinner’s reinforcement theory. The results show that the performance-based reward system used at LevereraMera has some positive effect on employee motivation, but it does not function isolated from other, also decisive, factors. It is not possible to discern that the reward system has a direct negative impact on employees' perceived job quality, what is however clear from the study is that the perception of fairness and willingness to cooperate is adversely affected by the current reward system, which can lead to an indirect negative impact on the company's general labor quality.

Introdução: Alterações no ambiente fetal conferem um risco aumentado para doenças crônicas como obesidade, doença cardiovascular, hipertensão arterial e diabetes tipo 2. As evidências sugerem que a restrição de crescimento intrauterino (RCIU) pode programar de forma persistente as preferências alimentares, e acredita-se que esse tipo de alteração comportamental, pode explicar, pelo menos em parte, o aumento do risco para essas doenças em indivíduos que sofreram RCIU. Portanto, torna-se importante entender os fatores associados e mecanismos envolvidos nesse comportamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o efeito da RCIU no comportamento alimentar em animais e humanos, assim como os possíveis mecanismos envolvidos na sua programação. Métodos: Ratas Sprague Dawley prenhes foram randomizadas para o grupo controle (Adlib), que recebeu dieta padrão ad libitum ou grupo restrição 50% (FR), que recebeu 50% do consumo habitual de genitoras alimentadas ad libitum. As dietas foram oferecidas a partir do dia 10 de gestação até o dia 21 de lactação. Em até 24h após o nascimento, foi realizada a adoção cruzada formando os grupos: Adlib_Adlib, FR_Adlib, FR_FR, Adlib_FR. O consumo de ração padrão foi comparado entre todos os grupos. A preferência alimentar, a preferência condicionada por lugar induzida por alimento palatável, assim como a fosforilação da enzima tirosina hidroxilase e os níveis de receptores D2 no núcleo acumbens foram comparados entre os grupos de interesse (Adlib_Adlib e FR_Adlib). Nos humanos, 75 jovens, classificados quanto à RCIU, participaram de avaliação antropométrica, bioquímica e de comportamento alimentar (teste de escolha alimentar, no qual todos recebiam um valor monetário para compra de um lanche, e Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, DEBQ). Dados de neuroimagem funcional em repouso entre regiões relacionadas à recompensa de 28 indivíduos foram processados e analisados, de um total de 43 exames realizados. Resultados: No estudo experimental, viu-se que o consumo de ração padrão não foi diferente entre os grupos. Ratos restritos apresentaram preferência pela dieta palatável, mas menor condicionamento de preferência ao lugar associado ao alimento palatável. A fosforilação da tirosina hidroxilase no núcleo acumbens foi maior nestes animais no estado basal, mas após exposição ao doce essa diferença entre os grupos permaneceu apenas nos machos. A RCIU também se associou a menores níveis de receptores D2 no núcleo acumbens. No estudo clínico, encontrou-se que a menor razão de crescimento fetal (indicativo de maior RCIU) e alto índice de massa corporal predizem um estilo alimentar restritivo visto pelo DEBQ. Pessoas nascidas com RCIU também usaram menor quantidade do um recurso financeiro oferecido no teste de escolha alimentar após um período de jejum. Os dados de neuroimagem funcional sugerem que os indivíduos restritos apresentam um padrão de conectividade em repouso alterado entre o córtex orbito-frontal, o estriado ventral/dorsal e a amígdala. Conclusão: A RCIU esteve associada com preferência por alimentos palatáveis e alterações no sistema dopaminérgico no estudo experimental e alterações da conectividade em repouso entre áreas do sistema mesocorticolímbico no estudo clínico. As alterações observadas no sistema dopaminérgico dos animais restritos indicam que esse sistema estaria envolvido na programação da preferência alimentar nesses indivíduos. Além disso, o padrão de conectividade em repouso observado nos indivíduos restritos sugere que alterações em determinadas regiões do sistema de recompensa poderiam estar associadas com mudanças no comportamento alimentar. As alterações neurocomportamentais observadas confirmam a existência de programação fetal do comportamento alimentar pela RCIU, apontando modificações persistentes no sistema de recompensa do cérebro, o que pode ser visto como um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de obesidade e suas comorbidades. / Introduction: Fetal environment changes can lead to adaptations that are associated with increased risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes in adult life. Evidence suggests that intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can persistently program the subject’s preference for palatable foods. It is believed that feeding behavior alterations can explain, at least in part, the increased risk for chronic diseases in IUGR individuals. Therefore, it becomes important to understand the factors and mechanisms involved in this behavior. The aim of this study was to explore how IUGR affects feeding behavior of animals and humans, as well as to verify the potential mechanisms related to this behavioral programming. Methods: Time-mated pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to Control (receiving standard chow ad libitum) or 50% food restricted (FR), receiving 50% of the ad libitum-fed dam’s habitual intake. These diets were provided from day 10 of pregnancy throughout day 21 of lactation. Within 24 hours after birth, pups were crossfostered, forming four groups: Adlib_Adlib, FR_Adlib, FR_FR, Adlib_FR. Standard chow consumption was compared between all groups. Food preference, conditioned place preference to a palatable diet, and the nucleus accumbens tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation and D2 receptor levels were analyzed focusing on two groups of interest (Adlib_Adlib and FR_Adlib). In humans, 75 youths were classified regarding IUGR and had anthropometric data, biochemical data, and feeding behavior (food choice task, in which everyone received a monetary value to purchase a snack, and Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) assessed. Forty three neuroimaging exams were performed and resting state functional connectivity between brain regions related to reward of 28 individuals were processed and analyzed. Results: In the experimental study, standard chow consumption was not different between groups. IUGR adult rats had increased preference for palatable food, but showed less conditioned place preference to a palatable diet compared to controls. At baseline, the accumbal tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation was increased in IUGR rats compared to controls. After sweet food exposure, the difference between groups remained only in males. Accumbal D2 receptors levels were decreased in IUGR rats. In the clinical study, it was found that low birth weight ratio (indicative of higher IUGR) and high body mass index predict a restrained eating style as seen by the DEBQ. IUGR individuals used a smaller quantity of a financial resource offered in the food choice task after a fasting period. Resting state functional connectivity data suggest that IUGR individuals had an altered pattern of connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex, the ventral/dorsal striatum and the amygdala. Conclusion: IUGR was associated with a preference for palatable foods and alterations in the dopaminergic system in the experimental study, as well as changes in the resting state functional connectivity between regions of the mesocorticolimbic pathway in the clinical study. Alterations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system observed in IUGR rats indicate an important role in the programming of food preferences. Moreover, the IUGR pattern of brain connectivity observed suggests that alterations in certain regions involved in reward processing and evaluation could be associated with changes in eating behavior. Neurobehavioral changes observed confirmed the existence of a fetal programming of feeding behavior associated with IUGR, pointing out to persistent modifications in the brain reward system, which can be seen as a risk factor for the development of obesity and its comorbidities.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate relations between aspects of cognitive control and emotion in typically developing children, 7 to 9 years of age. This was investigated by examining performance on n-back working memory tasks that varied according to the level of cognitive control and emotion (e.g., faces, reward value) processing required. Relations between n-back performance and parental questionnaires of behavior were also examined. Participants & Methods: Participants included 77 typically developing children, 7 to 9 years of age. Each participant completed two novel n-back tasks. The first task involved working memory (0-back, 1-back, and 2-back levels) for emotional faces (neutral, happy, sad). The second task involved working memory (0-back, 1-back, and 2-back levels) for number stimuli with differing levels of reward (two tokens, six tokens). Matrix Reasoning was also completed as a screening measure of cognitive function. Parents completed a Child History questionnaire, the BRIEF, Conners 3 AI-Parent, and the Emotion Questionnaire. iv Results: No significant main effect was found for emotive content of stimuli or reward value. A significant effect of n-back level was found, both in terms of per hit RT and accuracy rates for both Emotive and Reward n-back. Significant relations were found between age and Sad conditions on 1-back and 2-back of the Emotive n-back, as well as 2-back conditions in the Reward n-back. No relations were found between BRIEF scales and performance on either n-back task. Significant correlations were found between Emotionality and accuracy measures of the Reward n-back task. Conclusions: This study made several important contributions to understanding emotion and cognitive control interplay. These contributions include introducing novel tasks for assessing this interplay, and providing insight on developmental relations and interaction between emotion and working memory and individual differences in emotionality in day to day life. Results are discussed with respect to theories of emotional and cognitive control interplay, temperament and individual differences, and the development of cognitive control. Directions for future research and implications are discussed.

This master thesis focuses on usage of the concept of total reward in selected company. The theoretical part summarizes concepts and knowledge related to remuneration of employees and the concept of total reward. The analytical part focuses on detailed description of current state of the company and defined issue. The last part includes proposals for changes in the remuneration system focusing on balancing this system of selected company according to the concept of total reward.

This diploma thesis deals with the motivation system in a manufacturing company. It focuses primarily on improving the current situation, where a questionnaire survey is used for analysis. The outputs of this thesis represent recommendations for streamlining the current remuneration system and thus increasing employee satisfaction. The proposals are focused primarily on tackling the company's problems, i.e. the acquisition of high-quality personnel.

The Reward Positivity (RewP) is a neurophysiological marker of reward sensitivity that has been found to be impacted in depression. However, there have been some mixed findings regarding the relationship between the RewP and depression, suggesting there are other factors which impact this relationship. The current study investigated how the demographic factors of sex, age, and socio-economic status might moderate the RewP-depression relationship, and examined if these effects generalize across three different inventories for symptoms of depression. 194 people were recruited by random digit dialing (55.2% male, mean age = 51.34 years, mean monthly income = $6625.95). They completed the SCID, HAM-D, and IDAS measures of depression, and an EEG session in which they did a random guessing task to elicit the RewP. We found that there was a trend-level interaction of a moderate effect size between symptoms of depression, age, and sex in predicting RewP amplitude. Further exploration of this interaction revealed that for females, there was an interactive effect between age and symptoms of depression, such that for younger females, increased symptoms of depression were associated with a blunted RewP, and lower symptoms of depression were associated with an enhanced RewP. These effects were specific to the SCID, but did not generalize to the HAM-D or IDAS. Moreover, there was no interactive effects between age and depression symptoms for males, nor did SES interact with depression and other demographic factors in predicting the RewP. This study provides evidence that demographic factors can impact the strength and nature of the relationships between the RewP and depression, and that future researchers might wish to over-sample younger females when investigating other moderating factors of the RewP in order to increase power.

The diploma thesis deals with "Nyklíček a spol. s.r.o." company performance assessment. The company is analyzed on the basis of multi-criteria model which is used for management approaches´ assessment, specifically by means of model START PLUS. After that, the point assessment of this model was made, the strengths and the areas for improvement were identified and the specific steps were suggested. The implementation of these steps should contribute to an improvement in the company performance.

The thesis discusses the importance of motivation and possibilities of its increasing on knowledge-based motivational profile of employees. In the first, theoretical part, there are provided the basis of motivation, definitions and basic concepts. The second part analyzes the current state of the work, methods of motivation and motivational profiles of workers. The following section, based on findings from previous parts, presents the draft measures increasing work motivation.

The Master’s thesis deals with the proposal to improve employee benefits in company. The theoretical part is dedicated to a summary of knowledge related to the human resources management and its evaluation and reward. A large part is focused on individual forms of employee benefits. The practical part contains an analysis of the current situation in the chosen company, on the basis of which are worked out the proposals of changes to the current system.

This thesis was written on the topic motivation and evaluation of employees in the Třinec Steel Factory. The level of the motivation and evaluation of employees was investigated using internal documents and questionnaires. Based on the findings suggestions were made to improve employee motivation.