<p>To business owners and consumers electronic commerce means new conditions and possibilities. Often and specially at the Internet information between consumers and sellers is asymmetrically distributed. Among the consumers there is a shortage of confidence in electronic commerce. In order of a positive development of electronic commerce it´s important to find a solution to the shortage of confidence. Confidence may be created by legislation or by self- regulation. This master thesis investigate whether a self-regulation may establish a confidence in and promote the development of electronic commerce. Self- regulation means different kinds of marketmechanisms. Examples of self- regulation are well-known brandnames and recommendations or guidelines for marketing. Even if self-regulation may establish a confidence in electronic commerce all products won´t be sold effectively at the Internet.</p>

Pourquoi tant d'élèves fréquentant l'enseignement primaire éprouvent-ils des difficultés à résoudre des problèmes mathématiques ? Même lorsqu'ils maîtrisent l'ensemble des connaissances disciplinaires requises, ils échouent fréquemment à la résolution. Selon nous, c'est le caractère complexe des résolutions, exprimé par la nécessité de sélectionner et combiner diverses connaissances disciplinaires, qui génère ces difficultés. Nous proposons dès lors que les stratégies d'autorégulation de détermination du but, de planification, de contrôle et de régulation, issues des paradigmes de la métacognition et de l'apprentissage autorégulé, permettent de remédier à ce caractère de complexité. Nous présentons ces diverses stratégies, et les cadres dans lesquels ils ont été développés. Nous argumentons l'action qu'ils opèrent en diminuant la charge cognitive de l'activité à tout moment de la résolution, et présentons l'état de la littérature quant à leur développement et à leur lien à la performance scolaire. Nous décrivons ensuite diverses études menées afin d'informer la structure, le fonctionnement, le développement, la méthodologie de récolte de données et les liens à la performance à ce type d'activités.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. (Psigologie)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Pourquoi tant d'élèves fréquentant l'enseignement primaire éprouvent-ils des difficultés à résoudre des problèmes mathématiques ? Même lorsqu'ils maîtrisent l'ensemble des connaissances disciplinaires requises, ils échouent fréquemment à la résolution. Selon nous, c'est le caractère complexe des résolutions, exprimé par la nécessité de sélectionner et combiner diverses connaissances disciplinaires, qui génère ces difficultés. Nous proposons dès lors que les stratégies d'autorégulation de détermination du but, de planification, de contrôle et de régulation, issues des paradigmes de la métacognition et de l'apprentissage autorégulé, permettent de remédier à ce caractère de complexité. Nous présentons ces diverses stratégies, et les cadres dans lesquels ils ont été développés. Nous argumentons l'action qu'ils opèrent en diminuant la charge cognitive de l'activité à tout moment de la résolution, et présentons l'état de la littérature quant à leur développement et à leur lien à la performance scolaire. Nous décrivons ensuite diverses études menées afin d'informer la structure, le fonctionnement, le développement, la méthodologie de récolte de données et les liens à la performance à ce type d'activités.

The general aim of this thesis was to extend knowledge of the interplay between self-regulation (SR) skills during childhood in relation to academic achievement and later adult educational and occupational attainment. Previous research has shown that cool SR (i.e., cognitive) is more closely linked to academic achievement than hot SR (i.e., motivational/emotional). However, studies investigating both cool and hot SR in relation to academic achievement have been restricted to young children. Therefore, Study I assessed cool and hot SR in relation to academic achievement over a longer time period. The results showed that cool SR at age 3 was related to achievement already at age 6. Hot SR at age 3 did not predict achievement until later on in elementary school. Study II investigated the contribution of interference control and attention skills at age 6 to concurrent and later academic achievement at age 10. As the learning material becomes increasingly more complex throughout elementary school and teachers may give less support, interference control was expected to have a delayed effect on academic achievement relative to attention skills. Results showed that attention skills were related to academic achievement at age 6, whereas interference control only predicted academic achievement at age 10. Study III investigated task persistence in young adolescence in relation to academic achievement later in school and educational and occupational attainment in midlife. Results showed that task persistence contributed to change in grades between ages 13 and 16. Further, task persistence predicted later educational and occupational attainment (men only). Importantly, individual differences in intelligence, motivation, social background, and later educational attainment did not account for these effects. The findings point to a fundamental role of self-regulation in childhood for successful academic achievement and later attainment in adulthood. / At the time of doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Manuscript. Paper 2: Manuscript.

To business owners and consumers electronic commerce means new conditions and possibilities. Often and specially at the Internet information between consumers and sellers is asymmetrically distributed. Among the consumers there is a shortage of confidence in electronic commerce. In order of a positive development of electronic commerce it´s important to find a solution to the shortage of confidence. Confidence may be created by legislation or by self- regulation. This master thesis investigate whether a self-regulation may establish a confidence in and promote the development of electronic commerce. Self- regulation means different kinds of marketmechanisms. Examples of self- regulation are well-known brandnames and recommendations or guidelines for marketing. Even if self-regulation may establish a confidence in electronic commerce all products won´t be sold effectively at the Internet.

Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to elucidate psychological processes and development, maintenance or recovery related to fibromyalgia based on in depth interviews. In a next step women with fibromyalgia, women without long-lasting pain and women with long-lasting pain were compared using psychometric instruments selected or developed based on qualitative results. Methods: Twenty-one women with fibromyalgia and 8 women recovered were interviewed. Their narrations were analysed using Grounded Theory. Tentative theory was built. The I Myself Scale (IMS) was constructed to mirror self-regulation prior to onset of symptoms and complemented with an instrument on current self-regulation: Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour (SASB) and SF-36 mirroring health related quality of life, regarding the two pain groups. The groups were compared using analysis of variance, principal components analysis paired with discriminant analysis and profile analysis. Results: Analyses of the interviews resulted in core concepts of an “unprotected self” (current fibromyalgia) or a “strong but not enough to be weak” self (recovery). Data patterns indicated that the women as children were unprotected in relation to stimuli and affects. Relationships with the parents were characterised by strain and low levels of support. The recovery group had as children simultaneously been able to develop obvious competence and capability to receive help. Psychological vulnerability was in adult life compensated for through pronounced helpfulness and dissociation/repression including intense activity. An increase in mental load such as localised pain or psychosocial crisis preceded onset of fibromyalgia accompanied by impaired cognitive functioning. The state of fibromyalgia meant maintained high levels of mental load such as difficulties of the selfstructures, impaired cognitive functioning and somatic symptoms. The recovery group experienced substantial social support and often used mastering strategies to ease symptoms. A decrease in strain as improved life conditions and cease of overexertion preceded recovery. Health was thereafter maintained through careful management as seeking low levels of strain and pacing of activity. Recovery ‘on parole’ also meant personal growth and use of efficacious defences. Psychometrical testing confirmed qualitative data patterns of self-regulation connected to fibromyalgia. Impaired selfreference/ understanding of health needs and others not being asked for help and advice was reported before onset of symptoms. Dissociation or repression including intense activity and self-loading were also employed. SASB and SF-36 indicated that women with fibromyalgia experienced higher levels of mental “load” than the other pain group. Conclusion: Qualitative data indicated that life prior to onset of fibromyalgia and current fibromyalgia held qualities of impaired self-regulation in relation to mental and physical load. The state of recovery relied on improved self-regulation allowed by conditions of life. Quantitative data patterns confirmed qualitative results on impaired self-protection before onset of fibromyalgia and a specifically high level of mental load during the state of fibromyalgia. Psychological disregulation is discussed and hypothesised to cause but also later in the process parallel alterations in somatic homeostatic functions. Recovery could mean that biological regulation regarding strain is replaced with more of “psycho-social” regulation as careful pacing of work. Implications for treatment are suggested.

Self-regulation capacity allows individuals to manage their thoughts, feelings, and actions to attain personal goals (e.g., well-being and performance), as well as adjust to their changing social and physical environment (Zimmerman, 2000). Self-regulation as a positive adaptive skill and process has not been examined in relation to well-being in the context of medicine. The purpose of the current study was to examine self-regulation with 37 medical students and 25 supervising physicians to determine whether or not it may enhance well-being and performance, and reduce stress and burnout. A mixed-methods design was used to collect and analyze the data, and findings from the quantitative and qualitative phases were presented in two separate articles. Self-regulation capacity appears to be an important skill that may help both physicians and medical students to meet the demands of the medical profession and maintain an adequate level of well-being and performance in their work and daily life.