What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning, before you even brush your teeth? Most of us reach for our smartphone that spent the night recharging by our side while we tried to do the same. In a leap that would have seemed astonishing just over a decade ago, many of us are now constantly connected to our digital world through our mobile device; we see this play out across many facets of daily life. There are those of us whose first instinct at the start of the day is to grab that little device and see what occurred during our non-waking hours. Perhaps we check the email that's flooded into our inbox overnight. Next we check Facebook, Twitter, or a favorite news app to catch up on the latest global occurrence. It seems that for many, this desire to check is increasingly irresistible. Regulatory Focus Theory (Higgins, 1997) and Regulatory Mode Theory (Kruglanski et al, 2000) suggest that the reasons behind this drive to check and stay connected may differ based upon our motivational tendencies. Our motivational orientation--promotion or prevention, assessment or locomotion impacts our lives in countless ways. We know that the effects of motivational orientation play out across career paths, management styles, parenting, negotiations, animal behavior, health and wellness, romantic relationships and the list goes on. Regulatory focus and mode have not yet, however, been applied to our relatively new obsession with mobile technology, which is a space that is rapidly evolving and shaping much of our physical, social, and emotional world. This research aims to understand two key questions: 1. What motivates the constant checking behavior that has become an inherent part of our daily life? 2. How does our subjective experience with such behavior impact our general well-being? Using a within subjects, longitudinal design of 740 demographically representative Americans, we extracted two separate, yet complimentary stories that encompass objective smartphone checking behavior (captured through native application passive meter technology) and the subjective smartphone experience (assessed via 18 self-report questions surrounding smartphone engagement). Our results suggest that it is in fact our motivational approach to life that fuels our need to stay connected. However, it means something different depending upon what motivations are involved. In addition, the data reveals that our subjective experience surrounding smartphone engagement impacts our general levels of well being.

published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy

The purpose of the project was to develop and implement a survey for the purpose of better understanding how teacher's attitude affect their ability to achieve success and overcome challenges associated with the implementation of a 1 on 1 Learning Program. This project was intended to increase awareness as to how teachers currently use technology, their attitudes about the technology they use, and their perceptions as to how students will use technology. Research in this study affirms this can improve teacher/student achievements; promote creativity and motivation through effective communication. The significance of this project was to identify teacher's attitudes about utilizing 21st century skills that had been newly acquired through effectual professional development.

Thesis (MTech) Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The rapid growth of digital technology has exceeded society’s expectations. The overload and pace of technological advances causes many individuals at the workplace or organisations of higher learning, such as universities of technology, to become exposed and prone to stress. Students in higher education environments often find themselves vulnerable to technological stress. The problem is that we do not know the extent of the perceived implications of techno-stress, and it is not clear what the perceived psychological and emotional implications of techno-stress may have on the academic performance of higher education students. The study investigated the perceptions and implications of techno-stress in an e-learning environment to explore and describe the implications of techno-stress; the physical, mental and behavioural outcomes also how it impacts on the academic performance of students at higher education institutions. The questions of the study were focused on finding what the implications of techno-stress are as perceived by students on their studies; what the types and elements of techno-stress that students experience at universities; what the potential causes of techno-stress are as perceived by students; and how students think techno-stress impacts on their academic performance. The qualitative methods approach was used. It was found that students were more stressed over technology when problems occur as they lack the ability to manage or control it, and it was evident that this influence had an undesirable consequence on students’ results. The research concluded that despite the importance technology plays in an e-learning environment by allowing students to conduct their research, download class material and learn online, students perceive technology as an important source of stress. Despite technology’s advantages mentioned above, technology can be unpredictable and when problems occur, students exhibit lack of skills to manage or control it. It was recommended that universities of technology such as CPUT should design a program that helps students to cope with techno-stress.

The experience of difficulties in conception, the diagnosis of infertility and its treatment are frequently associated with anxiety and overall distress. However, current understanding regarding the determinants of variability in the levels of distress among women undergoing infertility treatment is limited; and the evidence of the significance of distress as a risk factor for assisted conception following IVF/ICSI is inconsistent. The thesis addressed both these issues. Overall the thesis is informed by the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. Four studies were conducted. The data was collected in three IVF clinics in India. A consecutive sample of 85 infertile women about to commence IVF/ICSI cycle was recruited in the project at cycle baseline and followed through one treatment cycle. The first two studies examined this sample of women at baseline to identify the biopsychosocial factors associated with infertility related distress. The first study examined the degree of cognitive–behavioural adjustment to infertility, its treatment and treatment related eventualities, while the second study focused on the factors associated with affective aspects of infertility related distress such as increase in negativity and decrease in positivity. The third study examined the pattern of change in stress operationalized in terms of changes in Affect and State Anxiety in a sample of 74 infertile women during an IVF/ICSI cycle. The final study developed a prognostic model for evaluating the unique contribution of baseline distress as well as treatment related stress in estimating the odds of pregnancy following IVF based on a consecutive sample of 73 women. Collectively, the first two studies indicate that at the outset of the IVF/ICSI cycle, some women are more prone to distress than others, and that this variability is associated with their intrapersonal, interpersonal and sociodemographic attributes. These two studies have identified a set of protective and vulnerability factors related to cognitive-behavioural and affective aspects of distress. The last two studies clearly indicate that the level of distress tends to rise during the treatment among the majority of infertile women. The rising trend continued to be significant even after controlling for variables known to somewhat influence infertility related distress such as age, education, occupation, employment, financial burden and etiological factors. Further, a prognostic model is developed that proposes that both baseline level of stress and treatment stress make a unique contribution in defining the odds of pregnancy outcome for the patients. In short the thesis clearly brings out the case for integrating psychosocial care with the routine medical interventions for infertility. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1325419 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

The experience of difficulties in conception, the diagnosis of infertility and its treatment are frequently associated with anxiety and overall distress. However, current understanding regarding the determinants of variability in the levels of distress among women undergoing infertility treatment is limited; and the evidence of the significance of distress as a risk factor for assisted conception following IVF/ICSI is inconsistent. The thesis addressed both these issues. Overall the thesis is informed by the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. Four studies were conducted. The data was collected in three IVF clinics in India. A consecutive sample of 85 infertile women about to commence IVF/ICSI cycle was recruited in the project at cycle baseline and followed through one treatment cycle. The first two studies examined this sample of women at baseline to identify the biopsychosocial factors associated with infertility related distress. The first study examined the degree of cognitive–behavioural adjustment to infertility, its treatment and treatment related eventualities, while the second study focused on the factors associated with affective aspects of infertility related distress such as increase in negativity and decrease in positivity. The third study examined the pattern of change in stress operationalized in terms of changes in Affect and State Anxiety in a sample of 74 infertile women during an IVF/ICSI cycle. The final study developed a prognostic model for evaluating the unique contribution of baseline distress as well as treatment related stress in estimating the odds of pregnancy following IVF based on a consecutive sample of 73 women. Collectively, the first two studies indicate that at the outset of the IVF/ICSI cycle, some women are more prone to distress than others, and that this variability is associated with their intrapersonal, interpersonal and sociodemographic attributes. These two studies have identified a set of protective and vulnerability factors related to cognitive-behavioural and affective aspects of distress. The last two studies clearly indicate that the level of distress tends to rise during the treatment among the majority of infertile women. The rising trend continued to be significant even after controlling for variables known to somewhat influence infertility related distress such as age, education, occupation, employment, financial burden and etiological factors. Further, a prognostic model is developed that proposes that both baseline level of stress and treatment stress make a unique contribution in defining the odds of pregnancy outcome for the patients. In short the thesis clearly brings out the case for integrating psychosocial care with the routine medical interventions for infertility. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1325419 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

M.Ed. / In general terms education focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills and attitudes. In Technology Education these principles correlate with the aims of the technological process. Within the constructivist instructional approach the technological process provides the possibility for dormant thoughts to come to the fore, and provides the opportunity to the learners to be creative. Typing instruction, in contrast, is traditionally directed at the development of psychomotor skills and reproductive thinking. The cross curricular nature of Technology Education makes it possible for the integration of certain aspects of other subjects (learning areas), and in this context a theme of the Typing syllabus according to the technological process was presented to a group of Typing learners. This project was developed within the qualitative paradigm, and with the aid of a spontaneous sketch and a semi-structured focus group interview the perceptions of the learners, in respect of their learning experiences were investigated. Learners reported positively on their learning experiences and the co-operative learning opportunities. It was concluded that they felt more empowered and took bold but responsible decisions. This could indicate possible development of thinking skills by the learners. From this study it appeared that education should promote meaningful learning that empowers the learners to be independent and responsible in taking decisions. Purposeful learning opportunities must be created for learners to enhance thinking skills. Learners should be actively involved in the construction of knowledge and the Technology Education platform provides an ideal opportunity for this.

This controlled descriptive study was designed to investigate the psychological status of couples who are engaged in advanced fertility treatments. A battery of psychological test instruments, including the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory (MBHI), the Health Attribution Test (HAT), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS), was used to measure psychological variables that have been shown in the infertility research literature to be associated with the psychological experiences of infertility patients. The scores from the four assessment instruments were compared with those of pregnant couples in childbirth education classes to differentiate the impact of stress associated with fertility treatment from the stress experienced by third trimester pregnant couples. Eighty-five subjects (42 male and 43 female) volunteered for the study and completed packets of questionnaires. The groups were designated Treatment (infertile couples) and Control (pregnant couples). The resulting data were collected and analyzed on the basis of group mean scores on the test instruments.

Bibliography: leaves 47-53. / The "new" reproductive technologies (NRTs) have gathered substantial momentum in recent years. 'Psychological' discourse on these techniques has tended towards uncritical preoccupation with intra-individual, constitutional factors, and has ignored the sociocultural, political and economic contexts of these practices. Within an inter-disciplinary, social-constructionist framework, this study presents a feminist critique of the NRTs in which they are argued to be biopsychosocially noxious to women. Modern biomedicine's appropriation and ownership of infertility as "disease" is argued to be consistent with the agendas of capitalism and patriarchy. Results of fieldwork within a particular medical setting are presented to develop a hermeneutic of the discursive interface between medical gatekeepers and the applicant 'patients' with whom they negotiate treatment. In a concluding section a dominant theme in gatekeepers' talk, "the well-being of the child", is ideologically analyzed; women-centered strategies are briefly discussed; and implications for the interface between psychology and reproductive technology are drawn.

This dissertation makes the connection between the human drive, as described by psychoanalysis, to construct God and the construction of the technological entity, Google. Google constitutes the extension of the early Christian period God to the twenty-first century. From the examination of significant religious and theological texts by significant theologians (Augustine, Thomas, Luther, Calvin, etc.) that explain the nature of God, the analogous relationship of God to Google will open a psychoanalytic discourse that answers questions on the current state of human mediation with the world. Freud and, more significantly, Lacan’s work connects the human creation of God, ex nihilio, to Google’s godly qualities and behaviors (omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence). This illustrates the powerful motivation behind the creation of an all-encompassing physical / earthly entity that includes the immaterial properties of God. Essentially, Google operates as the extension or replacement of the long reigning God in Western culture. Furthermore, the advent of science and technology through rationalism (as outlined by Nietzsche) results in the death of the metaphysical God and the ascension of the technological God. Google offers an appropriate example for study. Moreover, the work of Jean Baudrillard and Marshall McLuhan will further comment on Google as the technological manifestation of God, particularly in its media formulations. Finally, this dissertation concludes with a review that highlights future research with an exploration that foresees the death of Google from the same rational method of inquiry by which the death of God occurred at the end of the nineteenth century. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection