Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Interdisciplinary Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-142). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ66372.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 163 p. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Robert Rodgers, College of Education. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-135).

The use of spontaneous self-assembly as a lithography free means to construct well-ordered, often intriguing structures has received much attention for its ease of producing complex, centimeter-scale structures with small feature sizes. These self-organized structures promise new opportunities for developing miniaturized optical, electronic, optoelectronic, and magnetic devices. One extremely simple route to intriguing structures is the evaporative self-assembly of nonvolatile solutes from a sessile droplet on a solid substrate. However, flow instabilities during the evaporation process often result in non-equilibrium and irregular dissipative structures (e.g., randomly organized convection patterns, stochastically distributed multi-rings, etc.). Therefore, in order to fully control the evaporative self-assembly of solutes, two strategies, namely, controlled evaporative self-assembly (CESA) and flow-enabled evaporative-induced self-assembly (FESA) were developed to create ordered structures of various nanomaterials. First, hierarchical assemblies of amphiphilic diblock copolymer (i.e., polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP)) micelles were crafted by FESA. The periodic threads comprising a monolayer or a bilayer of PS-b-P4VP micelles were precisely positioned and patterned over large areas. Second, highly aligned parallel DNA nanowires in the forms of nanostructured spokes over a macroscopic area were created via evaporative self-assembly (CESA) by subjecting DNA aqueous solution to evaporate in a curve-on-flat geometry composed of a spherical on a flat substrate. Third, large-scale aligned metallic nanowires templated by highly oriented DNA were produced by flow-enabled self-assembly (FESA). A simple yet robust swelling-induced transfer printing (SIT-Printing) technique was developed to transfer ultralong DNA nanowires onto the desirable substrate. Subsequently, the resulting DNA nanowires were exploited as templates to form metallic nanowires by exposing DNA nanowires preloaded with metal salts under oxygen plasma. Moreover, DNA nanowires were also employed as scaffold for aligning metal nanoparticles and nanorods. Fourth, colloidal microchannels (i.e., cracks) on a large scale were yielded by fully controlling the drying process of colloidal suspensions via flow-enabled self-assembly (FESA). The influence of chemically patterned substrate (i.e., hydrophobic stripes on a hydrophilic substrate) on the formation of colloidal microchannels was explored. In addition, such colloidal microchannels with tunable center-to-center distance between the adjacent cracks, λ_(c-c) was exploited as template for aligning inorganic nanoparticles. Importantly, theoretical study of the formation mechanism of parallel stripes of solutes by FESA was conducted. The relationship between the characteristic spacing of adjacent stripes λ_(c-c) and other experimental parameters such as the stripe width, the stop time and the moving speed of lower substrate were scrutinized. Such theoretical modeling would provide guidance for the precise design and crafting of ordered structures composed of nanomaterials by FESA in the future study. Interestingly, during the preparation of Au nanorods, the formation of ultrathin gold nanowires were unexpectedly observed. Based on conventional synthetic route to Au nanorods using CTAB as soft-templates, we discovered that the addition of a small amount of hydrophobic solvent (e.g., toluene or chloroform) to the Au growth solution entailed the formation of ultrathin Au nanowire, rather than Au nanorods. The growth mechanism of such intriguing water-soluble ultrathin Au nanowires, differed from those formed by using oleylamine (i.e., non-water-soluble Au nanowires), was explored. In general, the ability to craft ordered structures comprising nanomaterials by FESA and CESA provides new opportunities for organizing nanomaterials for use in electronics, optics, optoelectronics, sensors, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

No description available.

Upon entering a relationship, individuals merge their identities with their partner’s identities to form a relational self. This proposal draws from the self-expansion and identity fusion theories to suggest three ways in which the identity merger process can unfold, with individuals either: losing their personal identities (forfeited-self mode), disproportionately influencing the relational self (imperialistic-self mode), or integrating their identities with their partner’s identities in a balanced manner (fused-self mode). I describe seven studies that aim to 1) validate a measure of these identity merger modes and explore their unique effects on personal and relational outcomes; and 2) investigate the nature of these identity merger modes. Studies 1, 2, and 3 assess discriminant and criterion validity of these identity merger modes. Studies 2 and 3 also test the hypothesis that feelings of personal agency statistically mediate the association of identity merger modes with relationship quality and responses to relationship threats and difficulties. Study 4 measures the longitudinal effects of identity merger modes in a newlywed sample through tracking how identity merger modes are linked to responses to relationship conflicts over the course of two weeks. Study 5 tests the causal effects of the identity merger modes on experimentally manipulated threats to the relationship and the partner. Study 6 explores how people’s construals about their partners and themselves differ among the identity merger modes using a reaction time task. Finally, Study 7 investigates more ecologically valid evidence of direction of influence within identity merger modes through assessing language use and verbal communication patterns between spouses. I predict that only the fused-self mode will be associated with positive relationship quality and resilience to relationship difficulties due to high personal agency within the relationship. Those in the forfeited-self mode would experience low agency within relationships and consequently internalize relationship difficulties. Finally, I predict that those in the imperialistic-self mode would respond maladaptively to relationship difficulties. / text

The increasing number of candidates relying on their personal wealth and corporate experience in their bids for elected office raises the question: how do voters perceive these non-traditional candidates and their willingness to spend their personal money in order to win elected office? Using both an experimental design and data from the 2009-2010 election cycles, I test for the effects of self-financing one’s political campaign on voter support for the candidates and their vote share in the general election, respectively. I find that partisans’ evaluations of candidates decrease when alerted to their self-financing. Independents evaluate self-financing candidates more positively than traditional candidates. In addition, self-financing one’s campaign had a negative effect on candidates in the 2010 general elections for the U.S. House of Representatives independent of their spending levels. / text

published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy

Viewing oneself positively has long been regarded as motivating. Past studies (e.g., Bandura, 1982; Feather, 1966; Felson, 1984; Taylor & Brown, 1988) have shown that maintaining positive self-view has positive impacts on motivation. However, the importance of positive self-evaluation has been challenged by some recent studies (e.g., Kim, Chiu, & Zou, 2010; Marx & Roman, 2002). The motivational benefits of positive self-evaluation are inconclusive. The present research addressed this issue by investigating the conditions that may facilitate or undermine the motivational effects of positive or negative self-evaluations. Specifically, two experiments were conducted to investigate the moderating role of culture and regulatory focus on the motivational effects of self-evaluations. Study One investigated the moderating role of culture on the motivational effects of self-evaluation. A 2 (self-evaluation: positive vs. negative) x 2 (cultural groups: Caucasian vs. Chinese) experimental design was adopted. One hundred and eleven participants were recruited, in which 56 were local Chinese college students and 55 were Caucasian students from universities in North America but studied in Hong Kong through exchange programs. The participants were asked to engage in two visual search tests. After the first test, the participants were randomly assigned to the positive or negative self-evaluation condition. Half of the participants were told that they did better than 70% of their fellow students. The other half were told that they did worse than 60% of their fellow students. They were then asked to write down three personal merits or limitations that accounted for their good or bad performances before the second test. Afterwards, the participants were asked to do the second test. Their persistence and performance in this test were measured. The findings showed a consistent interaction effect between culture and self-evaluation on the two outcome measures. The positive self-evaluation was motivating to the Caucasian participants whereas the negative self-evaluation was motivating to the Chinese participants. Study Two investigated if regulatory focus, a personality variable, moderates the motivational effect of self-evaluation. It adopted a 2 (self-evaluation: positive vs. negative) x 2 (regulatory focus: promotion focus vs. prevention focus) experimental design. The participants (93 Hong Kong college students) were asked to engage in three visual search tests. The experimental procedures were the same as those in Study One except that three instead of two visual search tests were included. The first and third tests were those used in Study One. The second test was primed for regulatory focus and was presented with a journal article that advocated either a promotion or prevention focus. Persistence and performance of the participants in the third test was measured. They were also asked to indicate whether they were willing to join a training workshop to improve their visual search ability. The findings showed a pattern parallel to those in Study One. The positive self-evaluation was motivating to participants with promotion focus, whereas the negative self-evaluation was motivating to participants with prevention focus. The two studies showed both within and between cultural differences in the motivational effects of positive and negative self-evaluations. The findings were discussed with reference to the literature on cultural and individual differences in motivation. / published_or_final_version / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy