Over the past twenty years, journal writing has become more common in mathematics classes at all age levels. However, there has been very little empirical research about journal writing in college mathematics (Speer, Smith, & Horvath, 2010), particularly concerning the relationship between journal writing in college mathematics and college students' motivation towards learning mathematics. The purpose of this dissertation study is to fill that gap by implementing homework journals, which are a journal writing assignment based on Powell and Ramnauth's (1992) "multiple-entry log," in a college mathematics course and studying the relationship between homework journals and students' motivation towards learning mathematics as grounded in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Self-determination theory predicts intrinsic motivation by focusing on the fundamental needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000). In addition, the purpose of this dissertation study is to explore and describe the relationship between homework journals and students' attitudes towards writing in mathematics. A pre-course and post-course survey was distributed to students enrolled in two sections of a college mathematics course and then analyzed using a 2Ã 2 repeated measures ANOVA with time (pre-course and post-course) and treatment (one section engaged with homework journals while the other did not) as the two factors, in order to test whether the change over time was different between the two sections. In addition, student and instructor interviews were conducted and then analyzed using a constant comparative method (Anfara, Brown, & Mangione, 2002) in order to add richness to the description of the relationship between homework journals and students' motivation towards learning mathematics as well as students' attitudes towards writing in mathematics. Based on the quantitative analysis of survey data, no differences in rate of change of competence, autonomy, relatedness, or attitudes towards writing were found. However, based on the qualitative analysis of interview data, homework journals were found to influence students' sense of competence, autonomy, and relatedness under certain conditions. In addition, students' attitudes towards writing in mathematics were strongly influenced by their likes and dislikes of homework journals and the perceived benefits of homework journals. / Ph. D.

The active learning assignment, Pink Time, provides an opportunity to experience and reflect upon learning that may both benefit individuals and contribute to high-quality teaching. Previous studies have found that Pink Time supports university students' motivation and comprehension of the learning process (Baird et al., 2020, Baird et al., 2015). The present study examined the impact of an active learning assignment, Pink Time, on pre-service elementary teachers' motivated-related perceptions. A multiple method approach offers an understanding of the extent to which Pink Time influences the three psychological needs that are a part of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This theory provides a framework to examine three key components of motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. A sample of 28 pre-service teachers participated in two Pink Time iterations over two different courses. Quantitative data was collected through 21 responses on the MUSIC Model of Academic Inventory (Jones, 2012, 2020) with open-ended response questions to perceptions related to empowerment (autonomy), usefulness, success (competence), interest, and caring (relatedness). Qualitative data was collected using five interviews, four group discussions, and 21 responses to the open-ended survey questions on the MUSIC Model Inventory. The findings imply that Pink Time is a useful tool to support pre-service teachers' perception of motivation in areas of empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring. Implications of this study include contributions to classroom assignments in teacher education programs that support motivation which results in high-quality teachers. Pink Time may also be used in the PK-12 setting for both students and teachers. Supporting PK-12 students in pursuing interests and increasing motivation is pertinent to academic success. Educational leaders could offer teachers professional development opportunities through Pink Time where teachers seek out their interests to support their own professional growth and uniquely contribute to school-level outcomes such as inclusive learning environments, effective online/virtual learning, and wellness. / Doctor of Philosophy / This study was used to understand how pre-service teachers perceive motivation through an active learning assignment called Pink Time. Pre-service teachers participated in two Pink Time assignments by skipping class and learning about a self-selected topic related to education. During the next class session, the pre-service teachers presented what they had learned through the assignment and about themselves as learners. After the presentations were completed, the researcher facilitated a discussion with motivation-related questions. After completing the second Pink Time assignment, pre-service teachers were given a survey that included open-ended questions. Five interviews were conducted after the two Pink Time assignments were completed. Analysis from the interviews, group discussions, and answers on the open-ended items suggested that pre-service teachers described their motivation-related perceptions of Pink Time with three overall themes: influencers of motivation, outcomes of Pink Time, and reactions toward Pink Time. This study showed that Pink Time supported pre-service teachers' motivation related to empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring. Implications of this study can lead to teacher educator programs using Pink Time to support pre-service teachers' motivation. Implications are discussed for the PK-12 school setting as PK-12 teachers can support their students' motivation by allowing young learners to choose topics of interest to learn.

Inhalants are a critical, under-studied substance used by young adolescents in the United States (U.S.). Despite the serious negative consequences that can accompany use (most notably neuropsychological damage) the topic of inhalants has been neglected by clinicians and prevention scientists, particularly in comparison to other drugs. The present research focused on the etiology of U.S. adolescent inhalant use in two ways, both of which utilized large, nationally representative data sets for secondary data analysis. Study I examined long-terms trends in inhalant use prevalence rates and changing proportions of gender and ethnic groups among lifetime inhalant users. Study I also evaluated the effects of policies aimed at other drugs, including regional "three strikes laws" and national methamphetamine laws, on changing inhalant use prevalence rates among twelfth graders. Inhalant use increased during the early-1990s but has declined from the mid-1990s to the present day; lifetime inhalant users have increasingly become female and non-White. Importantly, "three strikes laws" and a national methamphetamine law were related to increases in annual inhalant use rates for twelfth graders. Study II evaluated the applicability of Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-related constructs, namely self-perceived autonomy, competence and parental relatedness, to concurrent and prospective inhalant use. Competence was consistently related to inhalant use and inhalant use severity; parental relatedness was related to concurrent but not prospective use and use severity. The findings from both studies are discussed in terms of their commonalities and differences, implications for clinicians and prevention scientists, overall strengths and limitations, and directions for future inhalant use research. / Master of Science

The goal of this sequential explanatory mixed methods research study was to advance the literature on organizational inclusivity for underrepresented minority groups working in professional agricultural careers. This study sought to understand the relationship between basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness) and motivation amongst minorities that both did and did not participate in the co-educational national society MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences). Understanding this relationship, in turn, hoped to reveal what motivating factors work best to improve feelings of inclusivity within an organization. Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination theory was utilized to guide the development and organization of the research objectives for this study. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify selected demographic characteristics based on MANRRS member and non-member status (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, age, highest degree earned, current position in career, state of residence, years of involvement in MANRRS as an undergraduate student, frequency of interaction with other members of underrepresented minority groups within their current position, etc.); 2) determine levels of organizational inclusion based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 3) determine levels of intrinsic work motivation based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 4) determine levels of satisfaction in the areas of autonomy, relatedness, and competence based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 5) determine levels of self-efficacy based on MANRRS member and non-member status; and, 6) explain variance in levels of perceived inclusion by selected variables (e.g. age, highest degree earned, and frequency of interaction with other members of underrepresented minority groups within their current position). Additionally, key findings indicated that MANRRS participants were lower in their satisfaction of the need for competence in the workplace when compared against non-MANRRS participants. / Doctor of Philosophy / Professional agricultural organizations are focused on creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce due to changing demographics within the United States. MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) is a co-educational national society that aims to introduce underrepresented minority students to the educational and professional opportunities available in agriculture, and to connect employers in the agricultural sector with highly qualified prospects for employment. With MANRRS being a source for recruitment of minority students into agricultural professions, this sequential explanatory mixed methods study will explore the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, psychological relatedness) and motivation as they specifically relate to former MANRRS participants' (from 2013 to 2018) perceived feelings of inclusion in professional agricultural organizations. Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination theory was utilized to guide the development and organization of the research objectives for this study. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify selected demographic characteristics based on MANRRS member and non-member status (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, age, highest degree earned, current position in career, state of residence, years of involvement in MANRRS as an undergraduate student, frequency of interaction with other members of underrepresented minority groups within their current position, etc.); 2) determine levels of organizational inclusion based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 3) determine levels of intrinsic work motivation based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 4) determine levels of satisfaction in the areas of autonomy, relatedness, and competence based on MANRRS member and non-member status; 5) determine levels of self-efficacy based on MANRRS member and non-member status; and, 6) explain variance in levels of perceived inclusion by selected variables (e.g. age, highest degree earned, and frequency of interaction with other members of underrepresented minority groups within their current position). Additionally, key findings indicated that MANRRS participants were lower in their satisfaction of the need for competence in the workplace when compared against non-MANRRS participants. This study is intended to help identify characteristics or factors that may contribute to improving feelings of inclusion when entering agricultural careers.

Autonomous physical activity (PA) is challenging for adults with Down syndrome (DS) therefore PA programs tailored around facilitators of PA in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) that also align with Self-determination theory (SDT) components could be a feasible and effective way of increasing PA. The purpose was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a physical activity program based on self-determination theory in adults with Down syndrome. A dance program was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. Each session was 60 minutes long. Adults with DS (n = 8) were tested before and after intervention for basic psychological needs satisfaction and physical performance. There were significant changes in some physical and psychological measures. The study demonstrated that a low-resource dance program based on SDT can be a feasible and effective way to engage adults with DS in physical activity

Sammanfattning  Titel: En undersökning om hur autentiskt ledarskap påverkar motivationsorientering och laguppoffring inom damfotbollen på elitnivå Nivå: Examensarbete på Grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Frida Ernsten och Ronja Karlsson Törnborg  Handledare: Dr. Jonas Kågström och biträdande Martin Ahlenius Datum: 2024 - maj Syfte: Studien undersöker hur ledarskap påverkar damfotbollens resultat och hur det kan förbättra ledarskapspraktiken inom elitidrott. Genom att fokusera på autentiskt ledarskap och dess inverkan på laguppoffring, motivationsorientering och lagets prestation, bidrar studien till en mer strategisk syn på ledarskap inom sporten. Metod: Metodologin för denna studie är av kvantitativ karaktär med en deduktiv ansats. Data samlades in genom en webbaserad enkät som distribuerades till ett urval av lag i Sveriges högsta serier inom damfotboll. Den beräknade populationen bestod av 975 spelare och resulterade i 200 svar. För att analysera datan användes statistikprogrammet JASP. Korrelationsanalyser har använts för att redovisa och tolka resultaten.    Resultat & slutsats:  Studien visar att autentiskt ledarskap spelar en avgörande roll för damfotbollens resultat och lagets prestation. Genom att främja öppenhet, kommunikation och självbestämmande skapar autentiska ledare en positiv motivationsorientering bland spelarna, vilket leder till ökad laganda och vilja att göra uppoffringar för lagets bästa. Denna atmosfär av samarbete och engagemang förbättrar lagets prestation och fokus på gemensamma mål, vilket kan hjälpa laget att nå nya höjder under autentiskt ledarskap. Förslag till vidare forskning: Potentiella forskningsområden inkluderar ytterligare undersökningar av autentiska ledarstilar, jämförelser med andra ledarskapsmodeller och kulturella skillnader i tolkningen av autentiskt ledarskap samt dess långsiktiga effekter på spelarnas livsmiljöer och välbefinnande.  Nyckelord: Autentiskt ledarskap, laguppoffring, motivationsorientering, Self Determination Theory / Abstract Title: An investigation into how authentic leadership affects motivational orientation and team sacrifice in women's football at the elite level Level: Student thesis, final assignment for Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration  Authors: Frida Ernsten och Ronja Karlsson Törnborg  Supervisors: Dr. Jonas Kågström and assistant Martin Ahlenius Date: 2024 - May Aim: The study investigates how leadership affects the outcomes of women's football and how it can improve leadership practices in elite sports. By focusing on authentic leadership and its impact on team sacrifice, motivational orientation, and team performance, the study contributes to a more strategic view of leadership within the sport. Method: The methodology of this study is quantitative with a deductive approach. Data was collected through a web-based survey distributed to a selection of teams in Sweden's top leagues in women's football. The estimated population consisted of 975 players and resulted in 200 responses. The statistical software JASP was used to analyze the data. Correlation analyses have been used to present and interpret the results. Result & Conclusions: The study demonstrates that authentic leadership plays a crucial role in the outcomes of women's football and the team's performance. By fostering openness, communication and autonomy, authentic leaders cultivate a positive motivational orientation among players, resulting in increased team spirit and willingness to make sacrifices for the team's benefit. This atmosphere of collaboration and commitment enhances the team's performance and focus on shared goals, potentially propelling the team to new heights under authentic leadership. Suggestions for future research: Potential research areas include further investigations into authentic leadership styles, comparisons with other leadership models, cultural differences in the interpretation of authentic leadership, and its long-term effects on players' life environments and well-being. Key words: Authentic leadership, team sacrifice, motivational orientation, Self-determination theory

Tillverkningsföretag har länge strävat efter att uppnå en så hög effektivitet som möjligt i sin produktion. Detta har bland annat skett genom att effektivisera processer och minimera processernas kostnader. Rationaliseringen, tillsammans med forskning avseende psykologi, har haft ett arbetsorganisatoriskt fokus under åren. Framförallt utvecklades en hel del teorier inom motivation i arbetsorganisationer. Tidigare motivationsteorier ser yttre och inre motivation som additiv till varandra. Det innebär att de monetära belöningssystem som många företag etablerat bara tillfredsställer den yttre motivationen, därefter är det upp till individen att uppfylla den inre motivationen. Self-determination theory ser istället faktorerna som interaktiva där chefen, som extern motivationsfaktor, kan påverka den inre motivationen hos arbetstagaren. Ansvaret ligger därför hos chefen för att se till att motivationsförhållanden föreligger och att en ständig förbättringsprocess pågår inom bolaget. Misslyckas chefen kan det ofta leda till omotiverad personal och sämre effektivitet.   Chefen är den som ställs inför uppgiften att främja den inre motivation hos sina arbetstagare men frågan kvarstår hur chefen ska gå tillväga. Studien syftar till att se till de mjuka faktorerna genom att analysera vilket beteende en chef kan anta för att tillmötesgå arbetstagares inre motivationsbehov i tillverkningsföretag. För att undersöka detta genomfördes en kvalitativ studie med en deduktiv tyngdpunkt. Det var intressant för studien att analysera tillverkningsföretag med monotona arbetssätt. Fyra bolag kom att medverka i studien där skillnader i både produktionsstorlek och produktion förelåg. Därmed finns det även skillnader i hur monotont arbetssättet är mellan de olika företagen. Genom intervjuer med arbetstagare och chefer kunde studien utläsa samband relaterat till ett specifikt beteende och analysera detta för att besvara studiens syfte. Studien kom fram till att eftertraktat beteende hos en chef, för att inre motivation ska främjas, är att chefen ska vara engagerad i arbetsprocessen och se individen i produktionen. Detta görs genom att uppskattning och uppmuntran till delaktighet genom bland annat förslagssystem sker kontinuerligt. / Manufacturing companies have for a long time strived to achieve the highest efficiency in their production. This has been achieved by streamlining processes and minimizing process’ cost. The rationalization, along with psychology has had a work organizational focus over the years. Especially has a lot of theories concerning psychology in the workplace been developed. Earlier motivations theories saw extrinsic and intrinsic motivation as additive to each other. This means that a company's monetary reward system only cater to the external motivation to a certain point, then its up to the individual to meet the internal need of intrinsic motivation. In contrary to the earlier motivation theories, Self-determination theory sees an interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, where the manager serve as a external motivator, who can influence the worker’s intrinsic motivation. Therefor lies the responsibility in the manager hands to ensure that motivations conditions exist and a continuous improvement process is going on within the company. If the managers fail in accomplishing this, it can often lead to unmotivated staff and poor efficiency. The manager is the one who’s faced with the task of promoting the workers intrinsic motivation, but the question remains how the managers should proceed. The study aims to analyse which behaviour a manager can adopt to meet the worker’s need for intrinsic motivation within a manufacturing company. To examine this, the study came to use a qualitative study method with an emphasis towards a deductive approach. It was interesting to analyse manufacturing companies with monotonous work. Four companies came to participate in the study, where differences in both production scale and production existed. Through interviews with managers and workers the study could deduce a correlation on a specific behaviour and analyse it to answer the purpose of the study. The study found that coveted behaviour that managers could adopt to promote intrinsic motivation among the workers is, engagement in the workplace and the manufacturing process that is executed by the workers, and therefore see the individual in the process of the production. This is done with appreciation and encouragement for participation by including suggestion system in the company and ensures that suggestions are continuous.

I den föreliggande kvantitativa studien var syftet att undersöka om det fanns någon skillnad gällande den inre arbetsmotivationen för vård- och omsorgspersonal i en mellanstor kommun i Sverige beroende på vilken verksamhet (sjukhus eller äldreboende) och yrkesutbildning (undersköterska eller sjuksköterska) personen hade. Enkäten bestod av sex bakgrundsfrågor och 21 påståenden om inre arbetsmotivation utifrån Self-determination theory (SDT). Den inre arbetsmotivationen mättes utifrån tre beroendemått: autonomi, samhörighet och kompetens. Resultatet visade på en signifikant huvudeffekt av verksamhet oavsett yrkesutbildning. Personalen verksamma på sjukhus skattade högre på påståendena gällande kompetens än personalen verksamma på äldreboenden. Resultatet kan bero på att personal på sjukhuset har ett mer varierande arbete än personal inom äldreboende, vilket stimulerar deras upplevda kompetens. / The purpose of the present quantitative study was to investigate whether there was any difference regarding the internal work motivation of health care staff working in a medium-sized municipality in Sweden, depending on the operation (hospitals or nursing homes) and the professional education (assistant nurse or nurse) of the employee. A questionnaire that consisted of six background questions and 21 statements about internal motivation (based on the sub-categories autonomy, relatedness and competence) was administered to health care staff at both hospitals and nursing homes. The results showed a significant main effect of the operation regardless of professional title. People working at the hospital estimated higher on the claims regarding competence compered to people that worked in nursing homes. This result may be due to that working at a hospital offers more diverse work assignments compared to working at a nursing home.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur medarbetare inom hemtjänsten i en Mellansvensk kommun i Sverige attraherades till en arbetsplats, vad som motiverade dem i arbetet samt vad som motiverade dem till att stanna kvar på arbetsplatsen. Ett ytterligare syfte var att kunna belysa medarbetarnas upplevelser kring detta i förhållande till hur de olika aktörerna inom hemtjänsten arbetade med att attrahera, motivera och behålla sin personal. Nio semi-strukturerade interjuver genomfördes med hemtjänstpersonal från fem aktörer. Materialet analyserades med hjälp av en induktiv tematisk analys. Ur analysen framkom fyra temaområden: Kundens betydelse, En känsla av trygghet, Det goda ledarskapet samt Att bli uppskattad. I studien framkom att den viktigaste faktorn för att attraheras till en arbetsgivare var arbetsgivarens goda rykte. Den viktigaste faktorn för vad som motiverade deltagarna i arbetet var kundkontakten och de viktigaste faktorerna till varför deltagarna stannade kvar var arbetsgivarens bemötande och erbjudandet om en tillsvidareanställning. / The aim of this study was to investigate how employees in home care services in a municipality in central Sweden was attracted to a workplace, what motivated them to work, and what motivated them to remain in the workplace. A further aim was to highlight the employees' experiences of this in relation to how the various companies in home care worked to attract, motivate and retain their staff. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with home care staff from five companies. Data was analyzed by an inductive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed four thematic areas: Customer significance, A sense of security, Good leadership, and To be appreciated. The study revealed that the most important factor to be attracted to an employer where the employer's reputation. The most important factor for what motivated the participants at work was customer relationship and the main factors why participants chose to remain was the employer's treatment and a permanent employment.

Studien syftar till att undersöka fiollärares upplevelse av fiolelevers motivation samt hur olika former av motivation determinerar motivation till att öva mer och att fortsätta spela. Detta görs med forskningsfrågorna: Hur upplever fiollärare att de befrämjar elevernas motivation att öva fiol? Hur anser fiollärare få sina elever motiverade att vilja fortsätta spela fiol? Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt är Self determination theory och dess syn på motivation och övning. Den forskningsmetod som används är semistrukturerad intervju och det är tre fiollärare som intervjuats. Intervjuerna har transkriberats och bearbetats med tematisk analys. Hur informanterna erfar motivation och deras arbetssätt har belysts och sedan ställts bredvid varandra och jämförts. Studiens resultat utgörs av de svar som informanterna gett. Resultatet är uppdelat i tre huvudteman: Lärarens möte med eleven, Lärarens syn på sin roll att stimulera elever att öva och Miljöns betydelse för elevens motivation. I det avslutande kapitlet i studien diskuteras resultatets teman i relation till studiens tidigare forskning, vetenskapliga utgångspunkt och teoretiska perspektiv. / The aim of the study is to explore and compare the ways in which violin pupils experience motivation and how different forms of motivation determinates motivation to practice and to continue playing the violin. The study has two research questions: How do violin teachers experience that they promote student´s motivation to practice violin? How do violin teachers think their students are motivated to continue playing the violin? The theoretical foundation is Self Determination Theory concerning motivation and practicing. The research method is semistructured interviews and three violin teachers have been interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and processed using thematic analysis and the results presents the phenomenon of motivation. The results are divided into three themes: The teachers encounter with the pupil, The teachers view of how to stimulate pupils to practice and The environments effect on the motivation of the pupil. The result is discussed in relation to former research and the theoretical perspectives of the study in the final chapter of the study.