Optimistic explanatory style refers to the way in which individual’s routinely attribute cause to the events in their lives (Ambramson et al., 1978) and can be successfully enhanced through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) group-based workshops (Buchanan et al., 1999; Seligman et al., 2007). It has been successfully measured via the self-report Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ: Peterson et al., 1982) and has been associated with better performance and lower levels of state anxiety following negative feedback (Martin-Krumm et al., 2003), a lower incidence of stress-related physical illness (Jackson et al., 2002; Buchanan et al., 1999), and lower levels of job-related emotional distress (Hershberger et al., 2000). In 2005, teaching was identified as the second most stressful job undertaken within the UK (Johnson et al., 2005) and two independent reviews of the teacher-stress literature both concluded that further research is required to develop effective stress-management interventions (Kyriacou, 2000; Jarvis, 2002). Furthermore, Jarvis (2002) specifically highlights CBT-based interventions as an avenue which requires research within the teacher-stress domain. In 2005, Bryant (unpublished MSc thesis) highlighted a link between optimistic explanatory style and lower levels of stress in student Physical Education (PE) teachers who were undergoing the practicum element of their one-year postgraduate diploma of education. The current thesis explored the effectiveness of a CBT-based optimism training programme in developing optimism and reducing stress in student and neophyte PE teachers. A longitudinal, repeated-measures, mixed methods design was employed in a naturalistic setting. Using a pre-test, intervention, post-test design, the effects of CBT-based training were shown to enhance optimism and positive affectivity, and reduce cognitive stress in student teachers during the practicum element of their professional training. To strengthen causal links, a dose-response design was used to provide enhanced training to a sub-group of student teachers. Although differences in optimism and perceived cognitive stress were present in the results, they were not significant. Finally, a qualitative interview based follow-up study identified that participants who had received the prolonged CBT-based optimism training exhibited higher levels of optimistic explanatory style, lower levels of stress and more dispositional optimism than participants who received either the initial or no optimism training. Theoretical and practical implications of the current findings and directions for future research are discussed.

El presente proyecto está basado en el análisis del siguiente problema: personas que tienen auto y requieren del servicio de mantenimiento, pero cuentan con tiempos limitados por lo que se plantea brindar una alternativa de solución rápida, eficiente y con la confianza necesaria, trasladando el servicio que ofrece un taller automotriz de local fijo, hacia el punto de ubicación del usuario sea este domicilio o trabajo. El monto de inversión inicial que representa el proyecto es de S/ 77 096 soles, como inicio de operaciones aportado por los cuatro socios fundadores de APP MOBILE CAR. En la actualidad presentamos un escenario de mercado automotriz optimista con una industria cada vez más competitiva y dinámica donde la nueva tendencia van de la mano con era digital (App) que van revolucionando el mercado automotriz. Un estudio realizado por la empresa Brandwatch indica lo siguiente: Para el año 2020, un 40% de los nuevos consumidores de automóviles serán millennials. De ellos, un 88% navega por internet, complementando que hasta Abril del presente 2018 el mercado peruano ha crecido un 33.4 %. Esto representa estabilidad, solidez y crecimiento para APP MOBILE CAR donde se refleja optimismo de los consumidores generado por la estabilidad que estamos viviendo. / The present project is based on the analysis of the following problem: people who have a car and require maintenance service, but have limited time for what is proposed to provide a quick, efficient and trustworthy alternative solution, transferring the service which offers a fixed-site automotive workshop, to the point of user's location, whether this address or work. The initial investment amount represented by the project is S / 77 096 soles, as start of operations contributed by the four founding partners of APP MOBILE CAR. Currently we present an optimistic automotive market scenario with an increasingly competitive and dynamic industry where the new trend goes hand in hand with the digital era (App) that are revolutionizing the automotive market. A study conducted by the company Brandwatch indicates the following: By the year 2020, 40% of new car consumers will be millennials. Of these, 88% surf the Internet, complementing that until April of the present 2018 the Peruvian market has grown by 33.4%. This represents stability, solidity and growth for APP MOBILE CAR which reflects the optimism of consumers generated by the stability we are experiencing. / Trabajo de investigación

Trait expectancies are related to several aspects of psychological well-being. Specifically, hope, optimism, and hopelessness have been associated with positive and negative indicators of mental health, including suicidality. In addition to empirical similarities, these constructs also have substantial conceptual and measurement overlap. Moreover, while current literature suggests hope and optimism are unique constructs, the distinctions between hopelessness, hope, and optimism remain unclear. The main goals of the present study were: 1) to identify the best structural conceptualization of hope, optimism, and hopelessness; and 2) to apply this conceptualization to examine how different trait expectancies uniquely predict suicidal ideation. Undergraduate students (N= 456) completed a battery of questionnaires at two time points, two months apart. To achieve the first goal, a series of a priori factor models of hope, optimism, and hopelessness was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). CFA was also performed to confirm the best factor structure of suicidal ideation. Finally, using results from these CFAs, the differential relationships between trait expectancies and suicidal ideation were examined using latent variable path analysis. Results showed that hope, optimism, and hopelessness are best conceptualized as distinct but related constructs. Results also found that both hope and hopelessness predicted increased suicidal ideation over time; whereas, optimism was not predictive of suicidal ideation. Surprisingly, these results suggest that higher hope may be a risk factor for increased suicidal ideation among undergraduates.

<p>Anknytningsmönster och förklaringsstil (attribution) är två mentala modeller som påverkar hur vi ser oss själva, andra och vår omvärld. Tidigare forskning visar att ett samband existerar mellan konstrukten men ingen forskning har undersökt relationen mellan anknytningsmönster och de mentala modellerna av förklaringsstil. Syftet med denna studie var därför att se hur dessa relaterar till varandra. I studien deltog 54 psykologistudenter och konstrukten mättes genom en sammansatt enkät med mätinstrument för anknytningsmönster och förklaringsstil. Resultatet visade att personer med trygg anknytning gjorde fler optimistiska förklaringar till negativa händelser (snarare än positiva händelser) medan personer med otrygg anknytning gjorde fler pessimistiska förklaringar. Vidare visade resultatet att beroende och undvikande i sig själva var relaterade till de olika mentala modellerna av förklaringsstil. Dessa resultat skulle kunna förklara varför personer med otrygg anknytning har svårare att skapa och bibehålla relationer och varför personer med trygg anknytning har det lättare.</p>

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2005. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. [131]-142)

Thesis--Leipzig. / Includes bibliographical references.

Anknytningsmönster och förklaringsstil (attribution) är två mentala modeller som påverkar hur vi ser oss själva, andra och vår omvärld. Tidigare forskning visar att ett samband existerar mellan konstrukten men ingen forskning har undersökt relationen mellan anknytningsmönster och de mentala modellerna av förklaringsstil. Syftet med denna studie var därför att se hur dessa relaterar till varandra. I studien deltog 54 psykologistudenter och konstrukten mättes genom en sammansatt enkät med mätinstrument för anknytningsmönster och förklaringsstil. Resultatet visade att personer med trygg anknytning gjorde fler optimistiska förklaringar till negativa händelser (snarare än positiva händelser) medan personer med otrygg anknytning gjorde fler pessimistiska förklaringar. Vidare visade resultatet att beroende och undvikande i sig själva var relaterade till de olika mentala modellerna av förklaringsstil. Dessa resultat skulle kunna förklara varför personer med otrygg anknytning har svårare att skapa och bibehålla relationer och varför personer med trygg anknytning har det lättare.

Distributed Leadership is often considered an optimal form of leadership to improve student achievement. The challenge though is that previous research on distributed leadership has often described what distributed leadership is as opposed to what distributed leadership's impact on student achievement might be. Since leadership has an indirect effect on student achievement, exploring organizational factors that may have a more direct impact on student achievement is important. Academic optimism describes teachers' perceptions of the staff's collective efficacy, the trust experienced between teachers, and between teachers and administrators, and the extent to which academic press (high expectations) is evident in the school. Academic optimism is an organizational factor that improves student achievement according to previous research. This thesis examined patterns of distributed leadership and their correlation to academic optimism. Further I examined the impact that academic optimism has on student achievement. By surveying 2122 teachers in 113 schools in a large school board in south-central Ontario, I determined that planfully aligned distributed leadership had a significant correlation to academic optimism but academic optimism did not have a significant correlation to student achievement. Rather, academic press, one of the variables within academic optimism, did have a significant correlation to student achievement in language and math. This study concluded that planfully aligned distributed leadership mediated by academic press had a significant impact on student achievement.

The purpose of this study was to examine the retraining and career development experiences of new and professional immigrants in Canada. The study intended to provide an in- depth perspective into the influence of immigrants’ optimism and self-efficacy on their retraining and career development experiences. Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted and a grounded theory approach was employed to analyze the data. Central themes within participant narratives emerged and key results were introduced. Participants’ experiences included a myriad of barriers and challenges, yet many viewed this experience as a positive opportunity for growth and development. The results explored differences between optimists’ and pessimists’ retraining and career development experiences, as well as the role of self-efficacy within immigrants’ career development. Results have implications for career and vocational psychology literature, practice, and career counselling, and include suggestions for future researchers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the retraining and career development experiences of new and professional immigrants in Canada. The study intended to provide an in- depth perspective into the influence of immigrants’ optimism and self-efficacy on their retraining and career development experiences. Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted and a grounded theory approach was employed to analyze the data. Central themes within participant narratives emerged and key results were introduced. Participants’ experiences included a myriad of barriers and challenges, yet many viewed this experience as a positive opportunity for growth and development. The results explored differences between optimists’ and pessimists’ retraining and career development experiences, as well as the role of self-efficacy within immigrants’ career development. Results have implications for career and vocational psychology literature, practice, and career counselling, and include suggestions for future researchers.