Mean daily vegetable consumption is below the recommended 7-10 servings in the diet of adult Canadians. This thesis aimed to investigate the moderating role of perceived barriers on the relationship between motivation and (greater) vegetable consumption. 606 people from the Ontario Food panel participated in the online study. The results identified a positive moderating effect of perceived barriers on the relationship between autonomous motivation and vegetable consumption (p < .05) and negative approaching significance moderating effect of perceived barriers on controlled motivation and vegetable intake (p = 0.056). Also four motivational profiles of consumers were identified and described in terms of vegetable consumption, food related behaviors, stages of change and socio-demographic characteristics. These results extend the Self-Determination Theory with perceived barriers component and can inform intervention program development for social marketers and policy makers.

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Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka skillnader mellan vad som motiverar olika åldersgrupper i arbetslivet. Studiens hypoteser bygger på tidigare forskning som visade att betydelsen av interna motivationsfaktorer ökar med ålder, samt att betydelsen av externa faktorer minskar. Studien genomfördes på en multinationell logistikorganisation i mars 2015 genom en kvantitativ enkätundersökning på 119 deltagare. Reliabilitetstest för studien visade på god reliabilitet för både externa faktorer (α=0,85) och interna faktorer (α=0,79). Korrelations- och variansanalyser genomfördes för att analysera data. En signifikansnivå på p=0,05 användes och resultatet visade att betydelsen av de externa faktorerna lön, karriärmöjligheter, status, beröm och auktoritet minskade med ökad ålder, samt att betydelsen av de interna faktorerna tillhörighet, egen prestation, flexibilitet, självständighet, intresse och utmaningar ökade med ålder. Samtliga nämnda motivationsfaktorer var signifikanta och hade en signifikansnivå mellan p=0,000 och p=0,019. Denna studie kastar därmed ljus på hur individers åldrande leder till att betydelsen av externa motivationsfaktorer förskjuts till en ökad betydelse av interna motivationsfaktorer.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur lärare arbetar för att stimulera elevers motivation till lärande. Vilken betydelse får motivation för hur lärare utformar sin undervisning samt hur lärare ser på och agerar för att stimulera motivation till lärande. Utifrån följande frågeställningar studeras motivation och undervisning ur ett lärarperspektiv: Vilka aspekter i lärarens förhållningssätt är betydelsefullt för elevernas motivation? Vilka motivationsfrämjande faktorer implementeras i undervisningen? Vilka strategier använder lärare för att hantera omotiverade elever och stimulera dem till lärande? Som metod för studien har kvalitativ intervju använts. Sex lärare har intervjuades och undervisade alla i årkurserna 1- 3.    Studiens resultat visar att lärarna utförligt arbetar med att främja motivationen i klassrummet. De identifierar sig själva som viktiga i sammanhanget och använder sitt förhållningssätt som verktyg. Samtidigt är de rädda för att på något sätt kväva sina elevers motivation vilket kan medföra att de ibland är rädda för att ställa krav och påpeka förbättringsområden. Vidare implementeras motivationsfrämjande faktorer i den konkreta undervisningen. Aktiviteter och förutsättningar som upplevs motivera eleverna får utrymme och styr val av uppgifter och innehåll. Konkreta uppgifter, rutiner och variation, visuell framställning samt att utgå från den proximala utvecklingszonen och hjälpa eleverna att se sitt eget lärande var motiverande faktorer som framkom i resultatet. Till sist visar resultatet även att lärare ibland använder strategier för att hantera omotiverade elever trots att det egentligen inte känns bra. Det kan vara att ignorera en elevs beteende för att prioritera resten av klassens undervisning eller att bara vara hård och bestämma rakt av. För att hjälpa en elev att långsiktligt återhämta sin motivation i skolan menade lärarna att en helhetssyn på eleven och dess behov var viktig samt att stärka elevens självförtroende.

Motivation is a universal psychological phenomenon that determines all that we do. Self- determination Theory (SDT) and Achievement Goal Theory (AGT) each explain the academic motivation of university students and its relation to important academic outcomes (achievement, dedication, and well-being). Recently, an integration of these theories has been proposed (Drylund, 2009) which theorizes that achievement goals affect academic outcomes through their relationship with SDT constructs. The current study uses this integrative theory as a starting point but applies the critical realist perspective which posits that all empirical behaviours are produced by real generative mechanisms (Bhaskar, 1978). Although critical realism is considered vital to the advancement of psychology, its methodology and actual application has yet to be elaborated. Thus, the goals of the current study are: 1. to increase the current understanding of academic motivation; and, 2. to provide a method capable of facilitating research conducted from the critical realist perspective. Study 1 uses a variable-based approach and statistical analysis of questionnaire data from 385 undergraduate students; Study 2 uses a case-based approach through causal mapping of interview data from a purposeful sample of 12 Study 1 participants. Results support an academic motivational mechanism primarily influenced by autonomy satisfaction and controlling motivation that functions through the complex reciprocal relationships between achievement goals, competence satisfaction, and autonomous motivation. Comparison of Study 1 and 2 results supports the argument for case-based research from a critical realist perspective to aid in the further advancement of psychology.

Education can be viewed as a challenging profession, even more so for educators teaching learners with severe intellectual challenges (SIC). The diagnostic criteria of learners with SIC are a significant sub-average ability in intellectual functioning and concurrent deficiencies in adaptive behaviour such as social and daily living skills. The majority of learners with SIC display disruptive and challenging behaviour such as aggression, hyperactivity, talking inappropriately, and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Educators teaching learners with SIC are confronted, daily, with a wide range of challenges such as an excessive workload, minimal progress, and challenging behaviour displayed by the learners with SIC. The intensity of the physical and emotional challenges experienced by the educators, consequently, results in negative outcomes such as stress, burnout, high staff absences, and premature resignations. Earlier studies conducted in this field of specialisation found that educators, overall, were not very keen to teach learners with SIC. South African research conducted within this field of specialisation determined that, despite similar negative challenges, the educators did not necessarily share the pessimistic view towards this teaching environment as experienced in other countries. Local studies indicated that some educators experienced less stress and better physical health than others. The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the nature of, and possible contextual influences on, those experiences that contributed to some educators experiencing job satisfaction and working effectively, while others did not, to ultimately present possible guiding principles to develop support systems for educators teaching learners with SIC. This qualitative study was planned from a descriptive and explorative case study design by making use of the phenomenological method of inquiry. Ethical permission to conduct the study was obtained from the North- West University. The research group consisted of six educators who perceived themselves as effective in this strenuous teaching environment, working at two selected schools for learners with SIC in the Tshwane South District, Gauteng. Data were obtained by making use of semi-structured interviews, open-ended sentences, and follow-up interviews. Data analysis and interpretation were guided by Creswell‘s application of Tesch‘s method by an in-depth analysis, identifying possible themes and topics. The various categories were identified and described. A literature control was executed in order to interpret and evaluate the data. The final step involved recounting the findings in the format of a written article. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that the participants, despite the various challenges, experienced high levels of job satisfaction and motivation. However, the study also confirmed that specific challenges such as the behaviour that learners with SIC display and a lack of acknowledgement could have a detrimental effect on motivational levels. The literature indicated that low motivational levels have a negative impact on job satisfaction and effectiveness. The emotional wellbeing of educators was recognized to be an important determining factor towards their effectiveness and ability to cope. The need for the development of appropriate support systems to enhance the educators‘ emotional wellbeing was confirmed. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Education can be viewed as a challenging profession, even more so for educators teaching learners with severe intellectual challenges (SIC). The diagnostic criteria of learners with SIC are a significant sub-average ability in intellectual functioning and concurrent deficiencies in adaptive behaviour such as social and daily living skills. The majority of learners with SIC display disruptive and challenging behaviour such as aggression, hyperactivity, talking inappropriately, and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Educators teaching learners with SIC are confronted, daily, with a wide range of challenges such as an excessive workload, minimal progress, and challenging behaviour displayed by the learners with SIC. The intensity of the physical and emotional challenges experienced by the educators, consequently, results in negative outcomes such as stress, burnout, high staff absences, and premature resignations. Earlier studies conducted in this field of specialisation found that educators, overall, were not very keen to teach learners with SIC. South African research conducted within this field of specialisation determined that, despite similar negative challenges, the educators did not necessarily share the pessimistic view towards this teaching environment as experienced in other countries. Local studies indicated that some educators experienced less stress and better physical health than others. The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the nature of, and possible contextual influences on, those experiences that contributed to some educators experiencing job satisfaction and working effectively, while others did not, to ultimately present possible guiding principles to develop support systems for educators teaching learners with SIC. This qualitative study was planned from a descriptive and explorative case study design by making use of the phenomenological method of inquiry. Ethical permission to conduct the study was obtained from the North- West University. The research group consisted of six educators who perceived themselves as effective in this strenuous teaching environment, working at two selected schools for learners with SIC in the Tshwane South District, Gauteng. Data were obtained by making use of semi-structured interviews, open-ended sentences, and follow-up interviews. Data analysis and interpretation were guided by Creswell‘s application of Tesch‘s method by an in-depth analysis, identifying possible themes and topics. The various categories were identified and described. A literature control was executed in order to interpret and evaluate the data. The final step involved recounting the findings in the format of a written article. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that the participants, despite the various challenges, experienced high levels of job satisfaction and motivation. However, the study also confirmed that specific challenges such as the behaviour that learners with SIC display and a lack of acknowledgement could have a detrimental effect on motivational levels. The literature indicated that low motivational levels have a negative impact on job satisfaction and effectiveness. The emotional wellbeing of educators was recognized to be an important determining factor towards their effectiveness and ability to cope. The need for the development of appropriate support systems to enhance the educators‘ emotional wellbeing was confirmed. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Motivation, engagemang och delaktighet bland medarbetare är viktiga faktorer i organisationers ekonomiska framgång och överlevnad på marknaden. Huvudsyftet med denna studie var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader i inre motivation och delaktighet utifrån grad av tillfredsställelse av de tre grundläggande psykologiska behoven mellan organisationens olika yrkeskategorier. Vidare syften var att undersöka om ohälsa kan prediceras med grad av inre motivation samt om det fanns skillnader i skattningarna av delaktighet på arbetsplatsen och inom organisationen. En web-baserad enkät skickades ut till samtliga 914 medarbetare i organisationen och 205 valde att delta. Resultaten visade att det inte fanns någon skillnad i tillfredsställelse av de grundläggande psykologiska behoven kopplat till yrkeskategorier samt att medarbetarnas inre motivation kunde användas som prediktor för deras självskattade ohälsa. Resultatet av studiens explorativa frågeställningar visade att delaktighet och inre motivation i arbetet skattades som viktigt av medarbetarna. Resultaten indikerade att Organisationen hade en stark organisationskultur med fokus på delaktighet, som delades av medarbetare från olika yrkeskategorier.

A substantial number of adolescent girls are insufficiently active to achieve the health benefits and well-being associated with physical activity (PA). Physical education (PE) classes can provide part of the solution, yet most girls opt out of PE when it is no longer mandatory. Improvements in PE course content and learning environments can motivate adolescent girls to participate. Self-determination theory (SDT) provides a framework to examine the motivational processes of girls in PE. This qualitative case study explored female students’ motivation towards physical activity in one elective PE 10-12 course tailored to meet their interests and needs. A secondary objective was to determine if the pre-requisites and outcomes of their motivation were consistent with the constructs of SDT. Emerging themes reflected the elements of SDT. The students expressed that their needs were supported by the teacher through the PE course content and learning environment. Many stated that they felt motivated because they now enjoyed PE. Positive outcomes included PA participation, positive affect towards PE and PA, meaningful learning, and a sense of well-being. This study provides physical educators with insight to improve physical activity motivation and participation of female students in elective PE.

Over the last century, peer-support programs have emerged as viable treatment options for individuals in recovery from problematic alcohol use (White, 2009). During this time, researchers have generated a considerable amount of evidence suggesting that peer-support programs promote widespread benefits among group members (e.g., White, 2009). Despite a growing body of research in this area, little is currently known about the processes explaining how peer-support groups help people achieve positive recovery outcomes. The current study adopts a self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) framework to explore the means by which peer-support programs promote well-being, group satisfaction, and sustainable behaviour regulation for limiting alcohol use. Eighty-one peer-support attendees responded to a brief web-survey about self-regulation, well-being, and peer-support group experiences. These participants were recruited as part of a larger longitudinal project (entitled “Sober Together”) on peer-support for problematic alcohol use. Preliminary findings indicated that peer-support attendees who perceived group environments as need supportive were more likely to experience psychological need fulfillment, and in turn, greater well-being, group satisfaction, and autonomous regulation for limiting alcohol use. Notably, participants who perceived a congruent “spiritual-fit” with secular or spiritually-based peer-support programs also appeared more likely to experience their group as need supportive, which in turn, bolstered perceptions of psychological need fulfillment. Findings highlight the importance of structuring peer-support environments in a manner that supports psychological needs. / Graduate / 0621 / 0622 / 0451 / tcarey@uvic.ca