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The concept of motivation and its contributing factors have been a vital interest in language studies since the works of Gardner and Lambert (1972) on attitudes and motivation in language learning. Initial studies emphasized the individual contributors to learner motivation whereas the second wave of studies underscored the contextual contributors. Within the social contexts in which individuals live in, the issue of identity has gained a significant importance in recent years. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to identify sociocultural factors in relation to motivation in language learning and to examine what implications can be drawn to be able to ensure a cross-culturally motivating environment for learners. This report provides a comprehensive examination of second language acquisition theories and points to new trends in the field, reviews important perspectives on emotion and explains the difference between emotion and motivation, reconciling different perspectives on emotion. It also reviews important theories of motivation in language learning as well as the conceptual and operational similarities and differences between intrinsic motivation, interest, and flow. It examines the socio-cultural bases of learning languages by focusing on models of acculturation and social identity, and reiterates the new turn that has taken place in language learning models with the sociocultural perspective, and proposes a synthesis of the role of culture in language learning. It provides a vital discussion on the sociocultural factors that have crucial effects on motivation for language learning, focusing on the importance of cultural identities of individuals. And finally, it provides conclusions and implications from both theoretical and pedagogical standpoints. / text

Hispanic/Latinx are the largest growing population in the U.S. Moreover, discrimination has been researched as a sociocultural factor that contributes to alcohol use in ethnic minorities. This study examines whether discrimination is related to drinking status among Hispanic/Latinx college students. To better understand ethnic disparities, acculturation is considered at high and low levels, as well as sex differences. 283 college students that identified as Hispanic/Latinx completed the survey. After answering demographic information, participants self-reported their alcohol use (AUDIT), discrimination experiences (EDS), and acculturation (SMAS). For females, the analysis indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between discrimination and problem drinking at high levels of acculturation (B = 1.56, p =.003), but not low levels (B = 0.36, p =.490). For males, the opposite was observed. At low levels of acculturation, there was a modest relationship between discrimination and problem drinking (B = 1.30, p =.064). This research adds to the literature on acculturation’s impact on problem drinking and discrimination, and sex differences concerning acculturation. Furthermore, it may inform intervention, suggesting that discrimination should be targeted to help ease the burden on alcohol use. Lastly, this research furthers research on the impact of acculturation on Hispanic/Latinx.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum & Instruction / M. Gail Shroyer / Home computer ownership and Internet access have become essential to education, job security and economic opportunity. The digital divide, the gap between those who can afford and can use computer technolgies remains greatest for ethnic/racial groups placing them at a disadvantage for economic and eductional opportunties. The purpose of the study was to gain understanding and insight into the sociocultural factors influencing the digital divide as related to Latinos as a group, specifically a group of non-traditional Latina pre-service teachers from Southwestern Kansas in a required online instructional media and technology course. The folowing sociocultural factors 1) generational status, 2) English language ability, 3) educational attainment, 4) socioeconomic status and 5) gender identity are defined and identified in relationship to the success of eight Latina non-traditional, pre-service teachers in a required online instructional media and technology course as a requirement in their pursuit of a degree in elementary education. Four of the five sociocultural factors explored in this study; generational status, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and gender roles appeared to influence the success of Hispanic, non-traditional pre-service teachers enrolled in the required online instructional media and technology course. Only one of the factors, English language ability, did not appear to have any direct influence on the success of these particular students. Although many of the students struggled with conventional use of English and this undoubtedly influenced their success in other courses, it did not inhibit their success in the on-line media and technology course. Participants were most expressive in their personal interviews about the influence of gender roles, both as a motivator and an inhibitor of success. These sociocultural factors also influence one another, particularly as generational status influences, English language ability, educational attainment, gender roles, and ultimately socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status, in turn, highly influences computer ownership and Internet access which leads to reduced familiarity with computer and technology terminology, prior experience with computers, and the participant’s perceived self-efficacy in using computer technology for teaching. These factors all then influence the digital divide and the gaps that exist between Hispanics and other racial / ethnic groups.

<p>The inherited education and the (un)free choice?</p><p>- A comparative survey between five different programs on University of Örebro</p><p>The aim with this paper has been to examine and to report for different sociocultural background factors (class property, the parents' level of education, the parents' income) importance for the choice of type of education and to see if there is any differences between different university courses with respect to class property. Our issues were following:</p><p>1. What/which sociocultural factors have had most importance for the choice of programs on universities?</p><p>2. How is the distribution between the different classes in the different university programs?</p><p>Our study is a comparative survey with the aim to detect possible connection patterns, differences and resemblances with respect to the students' social background. In our survey we have used questionnaires as a method for data collection. Our ambition has not been to give a comprehensive picture of what/which sociocultural factors that had most importance for the students' choices to begin to study on universities throughout Sweden. Therefore, we delimited us only to carrying out the survey at University of Örebro. Our population consists thus of a programme from each faculty on University of Örebro.</p><p>The empirical material from the questionnaire survey, has been presented with appropriate statistical methods, it has been analyzed and discussed with the aid of Bourdieus habitus theory.</p><p>In this survey we can among other things establish that it occurs certain differences between the different programs, which have been included in the study, among other things with respect to class property. We have also found other relevant connection among different variables.</p> / <p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka och redogöra för olika sociokulturella bakgrundsfaktorers (klasstillhörighet, föräldrarnas utbildningsnivå, föräldrarnas inkomst) betydelse för valet av typ av utbildning samt se om det finns skillnader mellan olika universitetsprogram med avseende på klasstillhörighet. Våra frågeställningar är följande:</p><p>1. Vilken/vilka sociokulturella faktorer har haft mest betydelse för valet av program/inriktning på universitet/högskolan?</p><p>2. Hur ser fördelningen av klasstillhörigheten mellan de olika programmen ut?</p><p>Vår studie är en komparativ surveyundersökning med syftet att upptäcka eventuella sambandsmönster, skillnader och likheter med avseende på studenternas sociala bakgrund. I vår undersökning har vi att använt oss av enkäter som en metod för datainsamling. Vår ambition har inte varit att ge en heltäckande bild av vilken/vilka sociokulturella faktorer som haft mest betydelse för studenternas val att börja studera att på högskola/universitet i hela Sverige. Därför avgränsade vi oss endast till att utföra undersökningen vid Örebro universitet. Vår population består således av ett program från varje fakultet på Örebro universitet.</p><p>Det empiriska materialet från enkätundersökningen, har presenterats med lämpliga statistiska metoder, har analyserats och diskuterats med hjälp av Bourdieus habitusteori.</p><p>I denna undersökning har vi bland annat kunnat konstatera att det förekommer vissa skillnader mellan de olika universitetsprogrammen, som har ingått i studien, bland annat med avseende på klasstillhörighet. Vi har även funnit en del andra relevanta samvariationer mellan olika variabler.</p>

The inherited education and the (un)free choice? - A comparative survey between five different programs on University of Örebro The aim with this paper has been to examine and to report for different sociocultural background factors (class property, the parents' level of education, the parents' income) importance for the choice of type of education and to see if there is any differences between different university courses with respect to class property. Our issues were following: 1. What/which sociocultural factors have had most importance for the choice of programs on universities? 2. How is the distribution between the different classes in the different university programs? Our study is a comparative survey with the aim to detect possible connection patterns, differences and resemblances with respect to the students' social background. In our survey we have used questionnaires as a method for data collection. Our ambition has not been to give a comprehensive picture of what/which sociocultural factors that had most importance for the students' choices to begin to study on universities throughout Sweden. Therefore, we delimited us only to carrying out the survey at University of Örebro. Our population consists thus of a programme from each faculty on University of Örebro. The empirical material from the questionnaire survey, has been presented with appropriate statistical methods, it has been analyzed and discussed with the aid of Bourdieus habitus theory. In this survey we can among other things establish that it occurs certain differences between the different programs, which have been included in the study, among other things with respect to class property. We have also found other relevant connection among different variables. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka och redogöra för olika sociokulturella bakgrundsfaktorers (klasstillhörighet, föräldrarnas utbildningsnivå, föräldrarnas inkomst) betydelse för valet av typ av utbildning samt se om det finns skillnader mellan olika universitetsprogram med avseende på klasstillhörighet. Våra frågeställningar är följande: 1. Vilken/vilka sociokulturella faktorer har haft mest betydelse för valet av program/inriktning på universitet/högskolan? 2. Hur ser fördelningen av klasstillhörigheten mellan de olika programmen ut? Vår studie är en komparativ surveyundersökning med syftet att upptäcka eventuella sambandsmönster, skillnader och likheter med avseende på studenternas sociala bakgrund. I vår undersökning har vi att använt oss av enkäter som en metod för datainsamling. Vår ambition har inte varit att ge en heltäckande bild av vilken/vilka sociokulturella faktorer som haft mest betydelse för studenternas val att börja studera att på högskola/universitet i hela Sverige. Därför avgränsade vi oss endast till att utföra undersökningen vid Örebro universitet. Vår population består således av ett program från varje fakultet på Örebro universitet. Det empiriska materialet från enkätundersökningen, har presenterats med lämpliga statistiska metoder, har analyserats och diskuterats med hjälp av Bourdieus habitusteori. I denna undersökning har vi bland annat kunnat konstatera att det förekommer vissa skillnader mellan de olika universitetsprogrammen, som har ingått i studien, bland annat med avseende på klasstillhörighet. Vi har även funnit en del andra relevanta samvariationer mellan olika variabler.

This case study focuses on the influence of certain sociocultural factors on the ability of adolescent girls to fulfill their potentials. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to advance an alternative perspective on the relationship between the sociocultural influences of friendship, mother/daughter relationship, school experience, and body image and a loss of potential among adolescent girls from a historical, poststructural, postmodern-feminist perspective. The dissertation is presented in the form of narrative from both the author’s and girls’ and women’s perspectives in order to seek a rich and thick description. Throughout the study, the author integrates moments from her own journey during adolescence with the young girls and their mothers or grandmothers encountering the oftentimes overwhelming negative sociocultural challenges existing today. The data consist of interviews with four girls and four women; interviews with two school personnel; and observations covering 7 weeks of guided discussion groups. Personal stories are closely examined with current and in-depth research to produce valuable insight and recommendations linking sociocultural factors and potentiality among adolescent girls. In general, these data contribute to an existing body of knowledge as well as advance educational theory regarding adolescent girls and potentiality. Moreover, these findings bolster the argument that, although realistic approaches to create necessary change require a certain resignation to the forces that exist within our culture, educational psychologists will increase the discipline’s impact on students by conducting comprehensive research that creates and supports genuine efforts to teach girls effective strategies on ways to not relinquish control to relentless, disingenuous sociocultural pressures. The case study indicates that, although many positive gains have been made to support young girls, there remain many obstacles as well.

Heritage speakers of Chinese languages in Asia: Sociocultural factors that affect their proficiency in Mandarin Chinese discusses several of the reasons that some Asian ethnic Chinese are more proficient at Mandarin Chinese than others. This research was conducted in Taiwan between 2009 and 2011. Research subjects were of Chinese ethnicity, citizens of Asian nations and regions other than the People’s Republic of China or the Republic of China ( Taiwan ), and present in Taiwan as students of Mandarin Chinese and/or various academic subjects. The research question consisted of an overarching question and three sub-questions; the overarching question was: What is the experience of heritage speakers of Chinese languages in Asian countries where Mandarin is not the dominant language?, and the three sub-questions were: 1.) What sociocultural factors result in heritage speakers’ Mandarin learning/development being enhanced?; 2.) What sociocultural factors result in heritage speakers’ Mandarin learning/development being suppressed/not enhanced?; and 3.) Why are ethnic Chinese from non-Chinese nations studying Mandarin in Taiwan ? The researcher also unearthed what is possibly a new paradigm for a “heritage speaker of Mandarin Chinese” in an Asian context. Heritage Mandarin speakers in an Asian context may be a hybrid construct: speakers of a Chinese language with solid skills in the home language, a high degree of contact with Mandarin Chinese in the environment, and the capacity to rapidly acquire Mandarin and enhance one’s skills readily via the advantage of scaffolding at a higher starting point due to already being versed in one or more Chinese language. Some of the salient sociocultural factors which were shown to enhance the Mandarin skills of this population were: similarity of home’s or region’s Chinese language to Mandarin, exposure to Mandarin in the environment, policies favorable to or accepting of this language group and culture, and Mandarin as a medium of classroom instruction. Reasons for studying in Taiwan included its low costs and authentic Chinese environment. It is hoped that this study will inform efforts in the teaching of Mandarin to heritage speakers. It is further hoped that stakeholders who deal with heritage speaker issues consider not only the sociocultural factors explored in this research, but also the importance of considering the effects of language contact between heritage languages and similar languages and dialects. / text

People’s self-perception biases often lead them to see themselves as better than the average person (a phenomenon known as self-enhancement). This bias varies across cultures, and variations are typically explained using cultural variables, such as individualism versus collectivism. We propose that socioeconomic differences among societies—specifically, relative levels of economic inequality—play an important but unrecognized role in how people evaluate themselves. Evidence for selfenhancement was found in 15 diverse nations, but the magnitude of the bias varied. Greater self-enhancement was found in societies with more income inequality, and income inequality predicted cross-cultural differences in self-enhancement better than did individualism/collectivism. These results indicate that macrosocial differences in the distribution of economic goods are linked to microsocial processes of perceiving the self. / Steve Loughnan is a postdoctoral research associate funded by the Leverhulme Trust (F/00236/W). Peter Kuppens is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders and is supported by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Research Council Grants GOA/05/04 and OT/11/031. Anu Realo and Jüri Allik were supported by a grant from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Science (SF0180029s08). Junqi Shi was supported by a grant from the National Nature Foundation of China (NSFC:71021001). / Revisión por pares

A contemporaneidade contempla condições socioculturais e econômicas de existência que representam um cenário competitivo, com valores instáveis e efêmeros, em que a individualidade toma um lugar central e promove sujeitos mais autônomos e, ao mesmo tempo, mais fragilizados. Diante dessas condições, o que podemos observar, em decorrência, é uma fragilização em torno da construção e manutenção dos vínculos intersubjetivos. Assim, nasceu um interesse em investigar a falta de compromisso com que são formados os vínculos amorosos atualmente, situando-os em meio às condições de existências atuais. No entanto, como partíamos do viés psicanalítico vincular para compreender a formação do sujeito, também supúnhamos o efeito considerável da herança psíquica geracional, na composição do fenômeno. Dessa forma, este estudo teve como objetivo compreender a construção subjetiva de adultos que optam por não se vincular amorosamente de maneira compromissada, em meio às condições contemporâneas de existência e à herança psíquica familiar. Com base na metodologia de pesquisa clínico-qualitativa, foram realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas com seis participantes, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 25 e 35 anos, que se autodenominavam solteiros por opção. A análise dos dados referendou-se no aporte teórico psicanalítico intrapsíquico e vincular, por um lado, e nos estudos psicossociais, por outro. Buscou-se construir uma narrativa em que fosse possível representar uma compreensão profunda sobre a opção escolhida, abordando aspectos conscientes e inconscientes, de origem sociocultural, intrapsíquica e herdada inter e/ou transgeracionalmente. A história particular e o funcionamento psíquico de cada um dos indivíduos foram fundamentais para o entendimento do fenômeno estudado. Todos eles demonstraram ter características subjetivas identificadas à atualidade, como o narcisismo moderno, o consumismo ou o modelo tecnológico de se relacionar, mas o conteúdo que dava sentido a esses elementos subjetivos era de origem intrapsíquica ou geracional. Outro aspecto constatado foram suas dificuldades em lidar com a frustração. Entendemos que as condições de vida atuais tendem a devolver o sujeito para o miolo de si mesmo, o que dificulta o convívio com a alteridade. O mesmo cenário contemporâneo que aborda a pluralidade dos valores e sustenta formas diferenciadas de opções favorece um posicionamento mais coerente com as possibilidades e vontades dos sujeitos, como é o caso de nossos participantes, ao mesmo tempo em que interfere na estabilidade dos vínculos, porque sujeitos mais frágeis estão menos dispostos a lidar com os conflitos próprios de um vínculo. Certa indisponibilidade psíquica para o contato com a alteridade foi verificada em todos os casos, e a opção por não construir um vínculo amoroso compromissado aponta como mais uma possibilidade dentre outras, neste contexto / The contemporaneity contemplates sociocultural and economical conditions of existence that represent a competitive scenary, with unstable and ephemeral values, in which individuality takes a central place and promotes more autonomous individuals and at the same time more fragilized. Beyond these conditions, what can be observed, as a result, is a weakening around the construction and maintenance of intersubjective links. Therefore, an interest was born, investigating the lack of commitment that are formed the love links currently being situated among the conditions of present existences. Nevertheless, as we starting from the psychoanalytical link bias to comprehend the formation of the subject, we also assumed the considerable effect of the generational psychic inheritance composition of the phenomenon. This way, this study had as the aim to comprehend the subjective construction of adults that choose for not have a loving link in a committed way among the contemporary conditions of existence and the familiar psychic inheritance. Based on the clinic-qualitative research methodology, six semi directed interviews have been applied to participants of both sexes, aged from 25 and 35 years old, who described themselves as singles for option. The analysis of the data was based on the intrapsychic and linkage psychoanalytical theory on one side, and, on the other hand, counted on the psychosocial studies. We searched to construct a narrative in which was possible to represent a profound comprehension about the option chosen, approaching conscious and unconscious aspects, from sociocultural origin, intrapsychic and inherited inter and/or transgenerationaly. The particular history and the psychic functioning of each individual were fundamental to the understanding of the phenomenon studied. All of them showed to have subjective characteristics identified with the currently, as modern narcissism, consumerism or the technological model of relating, but the content that gave sense to these subjective elements was from intrapsychic or generational origin. Another aspect noticed was the difficulties on dealing with the frustration. We understood that the current life conditions tend to return the individual to the center of himself turning, difficult the living with the alterity. The same contemporary scenary the contemplates the plurality of values and sustains different options favoring a positioning more coherent with the possibilities and wills of the individuals, as is the case of ours participants, at the same time interfering on the stability on the links because more fragile individuals are less willing to deal with the conflicts of a link itself. It has been verified in all cases certain psychic unavailability to the contact with alterity, and the option for not constructing a committed loving link is shown as a possibility among others in this context