Why do people engage in innovative behavior in the workplace? More specifically, what motivational reasons affect an employee?s decision to introduce new product ideas, apply new work methods, and suggest new ways to achieve objectives? Based on the efficiency-oriented perspective and the social-political perspective in understanding innovation, I hypothesize and test expected positive performance outcomes, expected image risks, and expected image gains as proximal determinants of individual innovative behavior at work, and examine how they mediate the effects of more distal antecedents. Adopting a contingency approach, I also examine the explanatory power of performance and image outcome expectations under different reward contingency situations. The theoretical framework was tested in a field study. I found a significant positive effect of expected positive performance outcomes and a significant negative effect of expected image risks on employee innovative behavior. Five distal antecedents (perceived organization support for innovation, supervisor relationship quality, innovativeness as job requirement, reputation as innovative, and dissatisfaction with the status quo) had indirect effects on innovative behavior by either increasing expectedpositive performance outcomes or reducing expected image risks, or both. The effect of expected positive performance outcomes was stronger when perceived performance-reward contingency was high. The effect of expected image risks was stronger when perceived image-reward contingency was high. Implications were discussed in terms of building a multiple-perspective framework for understanding innovative behavior and designing managerial strategies to encourage employee innovativeness.

Why do people engage in innovative behavior in the workplace? More specifically, what motivational reasons affect an employee?s decision to introduce new product ideas, apply new work methods, and suggest new ways to achieve objectives? Based on the efficiency-oriented perspective and the social-political perspective in understanding innovation, I hypothesize and test expected positive performance outcomes, expected image risks, and expected image gains as proximal determinants of individual innovative behavior at work, and examine how they mediate the effects of more distal antecedents. Adopting a contingency approach, I also examine the explanatory power of performance and image outcome expectations under different reward contingency situations. The theoretical framework was tested in a field study. I found a significant positive effect of expected positive performance outcomes and a significant negative effect of expected image risks on employee innovative behavior. Five distal antecedents (perceived organization support for innovation, supervisor relationship quality, innovativeness as job requirement, reputation as innovative, and dissatisfaction with the status quo) had indirect effects on innovative behavior by either increasing expectedpositive performance outcomes or reducing expected image risks, or both. The effect of expected positive performance outcomes was stronger when perceived performance-reward contingency was high. The effect of expected image risks was stronger when perceived image-reward contingency was high. Implications were discussed in terms of building a multiple-perspective framework for understanding innovative behavior and designing managerial strategies to encourage employee innovativeness.

The aims of this DNP project were to evaluate the use of skin cancer preventive behaviors among Hispanic adults within a rural Southwestern Arizona community and to identify the role of self-efficacy expectations and outcome expectations associated with use of skin cancer preventive behaviors within this population. A 42-question survey addressing demographics, skin cancer risk factors, use of skin cancer preventative behaviors, self-efficacy and outcome expectations was developed. The survey was distributed in two primary care clinics in San Luis, Arizona. This survey study included a sample size of 153 Hispanic adults over the age of 18 years old. Findings of this study suggest moderate use of UVR protective behaviors, and minimal use of both CSE and SSE. Use of UVR protective behaviors were associated with skin examination self-efficacy and UVR protection self-efficacy. Results from this project can be used as preliminary data for a prospective intervention study to improve and maintain skin cancer preventive behaviors in Hispanics living in the Southwestern Arizona border area as well as along the entire U.S. –Mexico border. Abbreviations: Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), American Cancer Society (ACS), Clinical Skin Examination (CSE), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Institutional Board Review (IRB), Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC), Primary Investigator (PI), Self-skin examination (SSE), Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR)

Es wird vielfach postuliert, dass Erwartungen Bedeutung für den Verlauf und die Ergebnisse einer medizinischen Rehabilitationsmaßnahme haben (vgl. Deck, 1999; Deck, Zimmermann, Kohlmann & Raspe, 1998b; Faller, Vogel & Bosch, 2000; Hafen, Bengel, Jastrebow & Nübling, 2000; Kühn, Pannicke, Mohs & Schneider, 2001). Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird diese Thematik aus einer gesundheitspsychologischen Perspektive untersucht. Die sozial-kognitive Theorie von Bandura (1997) wird gewählt, in der Erwartungen wie Ergebnis- und Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen als zentrale Prädiktoren von gesundheitlichen Ergebnissen angesehen werden. Diese Theorie vermag den Einfluss von Erwartungen auf Gesundheitsverhalten und den Gesundheitszustand zu erklären und zugleich auch die Bildung von Erwartungen zu beschreiben. Auch wenn Ergebniserwartungen die Behandlungsergebnisse vorhersagen, können Diskrepanzen zwischen den anfänglichen Erwartungen der Patienten und ihren Behandlungsergebnissen vorliegen. Aus einer Selbstregulationsperspektive wird angenommen, dass unerwartet schlechte Behandlungsergebnisse möglicherweise negative emotionale und motivationale Folgen haben, die sich auf den weiteren Rehabilitationsprozess auswirken. Zur Erklärung dieser Effekte wird im zweiten Teil der Arbeit ein Modell vorgestellt, das die zentralen Konstrukte und Annahmen der sozial-kognitiven Theory von Bandura (1997; Marlatt & Gordon, 1985), der Selbstregulationstheorie von Carver and Scheier (1998) und der kognitiv-transaktionalen Stresstheorie von Lazarus (1991) vereint. Die Daten der zweiten multizentrischen MSK-QMS Studie zur stationären Rehabilitation nach Hüftgelenkersatz bot als Längsschnittstudie die Möglichkeit, die Fragestellungen beider Teile der Arbeit empirisch zu untersuchen. An dieser Studie nahmen 1065 Rehabilitanden nach Hüftgelenkersatz teil. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass positive Ergebniserwartungen und hohe Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen gute Behandlungsergebnisse bei Patienten einer stationären Rehabilitationsmaßnahme nach Hüftgelenkersatz vorhersagen. Weitere Analysen zeigen, dass die Erwartungen zu Reha-Beginn durch verschiedene direkte und symbolische Erfahrungen sowie Indikatoren des körperlichen und emotionalen Zustandes beeinflusst werden. Darüber hinaus haben Diskrepanzen zwischen anfänglichen Erwartungen und Behandlungsergebnissen (indirekte) emotionale sowie (direkte und indirekte) motivationale Effekte. Die Befunde werden theoretisch eingebettet und theoriegestützt interpretiert. Praktische Konsequenzen werden abgeleitet. / There is a growing body of literature emphasizing that expectations have effects on the process and outcomes of an inpatient rehabilitation (cp. Deck, 1999; Deck, Zimmermann, Kohlmann & Raspe, 1998b; Faller, Vogel & Bosch, 2000; Hafen, Bengel, Jastrebow & Nübling, 2000; Kühn, Pannicke, Mohs & Schneider, 2001). The first part of the present thesis examines this issue from a health psychology perspective. The social-cognitive theory of Bandura (1997) is chosen that postulates expectations such as outcome expectancies and perceived self-efficacy as main predictors of health outcomes. This theory is able to explain how expectations affect health behaviour and health outcomes and how expectations are formed. Even though outcome expectations predict health outcomes, patients may experience discrepancies between their initial expectations and their later health outcomes. From a self-regulation perspective it is assumed that the experience of unexpected worse health outcomes may have negative emotional and motivational consequences that affect the further process of rehabilitation. To describe these effects a model is introduced in the second part of the thesis that includes main constructs and assumptions of the social-cognitive theory of Bandura (1997; Marlatt & Gordon, 1985), the self-regulation theory of Carver and Scheier (1998) and the cognitiv-transactional theory of Lazarus (1991). In both parts of the thesis research questions are derived that are tested in a longitudinal study (MSK-QMS study). The participants are 1065 adult inpatients who had undergone elective total hip replacement surgery. The results confirm that positive outcome expectations and high perceived self-efficacy predicted better health outcomes in inpatients after hip replacement surgery. Further analyses indicate, that patients'' expectations at admission are affected by several direct and symbolic experiences as well as different indicators of physical and emotional states. Moreover, discrepancies between initial outcome expectations and later health outcomes have (indirect) emotional and (direct and indirect) motivational effects. The results are theory based interpreted. Practical consequences are derived.

Thesis advisor: James R. Mahalilk / The disparities that are prevalent in urban environments have a profound impact on the educational and career trajectories of urban minority youth. In the interest of promoting the success among urban minority youth, it is critical to understand the influence of contextual factors on career development. Urban students of color observe and experience disparities based on gender, race, ethnicity, and parental education (Chang, Chen, Greenberger, Dooley, and Heckhausen, 2006; Fassinger, 2008). A major theoretical framework that has been used to address contextual factors in career development is Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT); (Lent, Brown, and Hackett, 1994). The current study examines the socio-contextual variables of gender, race, ethnicity, and parental education (and their interactions) in predicting adolescents' perceptions of barriers to academic and career goals, expectations of reaching goals, and engagement in career planning activities. Archival data was used from a larger longitudinal study that was conducted during the implementation of a vocational program [called Tools for Tomorrow] that was offered at two public high schools in a Northeastern city for three years (Kenny, Blustein, Haase, Jackson, and Perry, 2006). There were 208 participants with a mean age of 14 (57% females and 43% males). Hierarchal multiple regressions revealed that boys, Latino/a students, and low levels of parental education were significantly associated with lower expectations about reaching goals. An exploratory analysis was conducted with three specific ethnic groups: African American, Caribbean, and Latino/a students. Among the findings, African American girls were more likely to engage in career planning activities. This study is among the few that explore the career development of Caribbean adolescents and differentiates the experiences of students of color in career related cognitions and behavior. Limitations for this study and implications for future research, education, and vocational interventions are discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Thesis advisor: David L. Blustein / Deficit-oriented research has ignored the strengths of urban adolescents of color, perpetuating interpretations that they are deviant and pathological (Spencer et al., 2006). Generally unacknowledged by problem-focused perspectives is how youths of color grapple with vulnerability to negative socialization messages, prejudice and discrimination, thus they possess competencies that warrant attention (Blustein et al., 2010; Franklin, 2004; Nicolas et al., 2008; Spencer et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to examine psychosocial influences that promote career adaptability in a sample of 84 urban adolescents of color. Exploratory questions about the contributions of critical consciousness and racial identity to career outcome expectations and subjective well-being were investigated. The results of the regression analyses offer support for considering selected racial identity schemas (Helms, 1995b) as integral parts of counseling interventions to promote career adaptability. Internalization was significantly associated with both outcome variables. Additionally, decreased levels of Dissonance and Immersion-Resistance were found to be related to higher levels of satisfaction with school and work. Implications for programming and policy include recognizing and strengthening abilities of high school students of color to value their racial identity in the vocational process. These findings enhance the understanding of urban adolescents' psychological armor against social injustice and add to the career development literature by counteracting the negative portrayal of this group. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Engaging in regular physical activity is important for maintaining and improving health. Unfortunately, most college students fail to meet the recommendations for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines (PAGs). Psychosocial factors described within the social cognitive theory are related to the acquisition and retention of physical activity behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relations of gender, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and social support with college students meeting aerobic, muscle-strengthening and both PAGs. Participants (N = 396) completed online questionnaires assessing their physical activity behaviors, exercise self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and social support. Self-reported physical activity was classified as meeting / not meeting PAGs. Using gender, exercise self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and social support as predictors, separate logistic regressions were used to examine their relations with the three PAG classifications. Analyses revealed that being male and level of social support increased the odds of meeting muscle-strengthening PAGs, but students’ level of self-efficacy and outcome expectations increased the odds of meeting all three PAG classifications. These findings indicate that interventions designed to increase self-efficacy and outcome expectancy may be beneficial for increasing college students’ physical activity for meeting the PAGs. Promotion of muscle-strengthening activities targeted at young women is also warranted.

Structured physical activity (SPA) is one type of physical activity in which preschool aged children participate (e.g., soccer programs). Given that SPA often occurs at community-based locations, such as at a field or hockey rink, primary caregivers, who are often times mothers, must transport their preschool aged children to the scheduled SPA. Although studies have examined social cognitions important to individuals participation in their own scheduled physical activity, no study to date has focused on the social cognitions of mothers that may be related to the transportation of their preschool aged children to SPA. The purpose of this two-study dissertation was to use self-efficacy theory to develop and examine the reliability and validity evidence of measures to assess mothers social cognitions (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to overcome barriers and to schedule/plan; outcome expectations including likelihood and value) that may be related to transporting their children to SPA. A literature review, focus group elicitation with nine participants (Mean age = 35.25 years; SD = 3.57), and feedback from three expert judges and 10 participants were used to develop items for each of the measures in Study 1. The reliability of the measures was then investigated in Study 1 using data from 31 participants (Mean age= 33.50 years; SD = 5.79) to examine initial internal consistency and then 64 participants (Mean age= 32.87 years; SD = 4.48) to further examine internal consistency and temporal stability. Findings revealed some evidence for the content and construct validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability of the measures. To continue the construct validation of the measures, it was important to continue to examine the reliability evidence of the measures and other aspects of validity, including concurrent and predictive validity. In Study 2, data from 93 participants (Mean age= 34.88 years; SD = 5.04) were used to examine evidence of the criterion-related validity (i.e., concurrent and predictive) of the developed measures. Results revealed convergence of the measures that assessed similar constructs (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to schedule/plan and to overcome barriers; outcome expectations: likelihood and value). However, evidence of the divergence of the self-regulatory efficacy measures from the outcome expectation measures was less consistent. Results also revealed that the self-regulatory efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations measures were not significant, independent predictors of transportation to SPA. These predictive validity findings as well as the divergence findings may have been due to the type of mothers who participated in the study (i.e., highly experienced in transporting children to SPA). Findings from the present series of studies suggest a need for continued exploration of the measures, including research with a more diverse sample. Collecting further reliability and validity evidence of these measures to compare it with the evidence from the present studies would contribute to the ongoing construct validation of these measures.

Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka det förväntade resultatet (outcome expectations) vad gäller fysiska, själv-värderande och sociala förväntningar av regelbunden träning hos äldre fysiskt aktiva respektive fysiskt inaktiva och även jämföra de båda grupperna och se om skillnad förelåg. Metod: 32 stycken deltagare inkluderades i studien genom bekvämlighetsurval för att representera populationen äldre (>65 år) friska individer. Deltagarna fick fylla i en enkät gällande motionsvanor senaste 12 månaderna och delades sedan in i grupperna regelbundet fysiskt aktiva respektive inaktiva beroende på vad de svarat i enkäten. Deltagarnas förväntningar på resultatet av regelbunden fysisk aktivitet mättes sedan med en enkät kallad Multidimensional Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale (MOEES) som undersöker fysiska, själv-värderande och sociala förväntningar. Resultat: De regelbundet fysiskt aktiva hade högre resultatförväntningar på regelbunden fysisk aktivitet gällande fysiska förväntningar. Ingen signifikant skillnad mellan grupperna kunde ses gällande själv-värderande och sociala förväntningar. Konklusion: Äldre som regelbundet är fysiskt aktiva har högre fysiska förväntningar på fysisk aktivitet än äldre inaktiva. Fler studier som undersöker och jämför det förväntade resultatet gällande fysiska, själv-värderande och sociala förväntningar av fysiskt aktivitet mellan äldre aktiva och inaktiva behövs för att styrka sambanden mellan att vara fysiskt aktiv och vad äldre förväntar sig att få ut av det. / Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine outcome expectations in terms of physical, self-evaluative and social expectations of regular physical activity/exercise in physically active or physically inactive older adults, and compare the two groups and see if any difference existed.Method: The participants were 32 conveniently selected individuals, representing the population elderly (> 65 years) and healthy individuals who are regularly physically active or inactive. The participants answered a questionnarie regarding their level of physical activity during the last 12 months which divided them into two groups, physically active or physically inactive. The Multidimensional Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale (MOEES) questionnaire was then used to measure the participant´s level of outcome expectations of regular physical activity/exercise. Results: The regularly physically active participants had higher scores on MOEES, in terms of physical expectations than participants who were physically inactive. No significant difference where seen between the two when comparing the total score of MOEES and the subgroups self-evaluative, and social expectations for regular physical activity/exercise. Conclusion: This study showed that there in older adults, is a relation between being physically active and having higher physical outcome expectations of physical activity/exercise. Further studies which examines outcome expectations in terms of physical, self-evaluative and social expectations of regular physical activity/exercise, in physically active or physically inactive older adults is warranted.

Structured physical activity (SPA) is one type of physical activity in which preschool aged children participate (e.g., soccer programs). Given that SPA often occurs at community-based locations, such as at a field or hockey rink, primary caregivers, who are often times mothers, must transport their preschool aged children to the scheduled SPA. Although studies have examined social cognitions important to individuals participation in their own scheduled physical activity, no study to date has focused on the social cognitions of mothers that may be related to the transportation of their preschool aged children to SPA. The purpose of this two-study dissertation was to use self-efficacy theory to develop and examine the reliability and validity evidence of measures to assess mothers social cognitions (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to overcome barriers and to schedule/plan; outcome expectations including likelihood and value) that may be related to transporting their children to SPA. A literature review, focus group elicitation with nine participants (Mean age = 35.25 years; SD = 3.57), and feedback from three expert judges and 10 participants were used to develop items for each of the measures in Study 1. The reliability of the measures was then investigated in Study 1 using data from 31 participants (Mean age= 33.50 years; SD = 5.79) to examine initial internal consistency and then 64 participants (Mean age= 32.87 years; SD = 4.48) to further examine internal consistency and temporal stability. Findings revealed some evidence for the content and construct validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability of the measures. To continue the construct validation of the measures, it was important to continue to examine the reliability evidence of the measures and other aspects of validity, including concurrent and predictive validity. In Study 2, data from 93 participants (Mean age= 34.88 years; SD = 5.04) were used to examine evidence of the criterion-related validity (i.e., concurrent and predictive) of the developed measures. Results revealed convergence of the measures that assessed similar constructs (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to schedule/plan and to overcome barriers; outcome expectations: likelihood and value). However, evidence of the divergence of the self-regulatory efficacy measures from the outcome expectation measures was less consistent. Results also revealed that the self-regulatory efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations measures were not significant, independent predictors of transportation to SPA. These predictive validity findings as well as the divergence findings may have been due to the type of mothers who participated in the study (i.e., highly experienced in transporting children to SPA). Findings from the present series of studies suggest a need for continued exploration of the measures, including research with a more diverse sample. Collecting further reliability and validity evidence of these measures to compare it with the evidence from the present studies would contribute to the ongoing construct validation of these measures.