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.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka inre arbetsmotivation och arbetstillfredsställelse genom att se vilket motivationsbehov och vilken typ av arbetstillfredsställelse som skattades högst. Syftet var även att undersöka vilka motivationsbehov som bäst predicerar inre och yttre arbetstillfredsställelse. Studien genomfördes inom äldreomsorgenen i en mindre kommun i Sverige. 80 personer deltog i studien som genomfördes som en enkätundersökning. Mätinstrumenten som användes var Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) och Basic Need of Satisfaction at work Scale (BNS). MSQ mätte inre och yttre arbetstillfredsställelse medan BNS mätte inre arbetsmotivation med utgångspunkt från Self-Determination Theory och de tre komponenterna autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet. Resultatet visade att samhörighet var det behov som skattades högst och det fanns en signifikant skillnad till autonomi och kompetens. Inre arbetstillfredsställelse skattades högre än yttre arbetstillfredsställelse och autonomi och kompetens predicerade inre arbetstillfredsställelse medan kompetens predicerade yttre arbetstillfredsställelse. / The purpose of the study was to examine intrinsic work motivation and work satisfaction by seeing which basic motivation need and which type of work satisfaction that was highest estimated. The purpose was also to examine which basic motivation needs that were the predictors to internal and external work satisfaction. The study was conducted among employees in nursing homes. 80 nurses participated and the study was conducted as a survey. The instrument used in the study was Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and Basic Need of Satisfaction at work Scale (BNS). MSQ measured internal and external work satisfaction while BNS measured intrinsic work motivation based on Self Determination-Theory and the three components autonomy, competence and relatedness. The results showed that relatedness was highest estimated and that there was a significant difference to autonomy and competence. Internal work satisfaction was rated higher than external work satisfaction and autonomy and competence was the predictors of internal work satisfaction while competence predicted external work satisfaction.

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.

The aim of the research in this thesis was to describe the motivations and health practices of participants in the Victoria Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure, a mass physical activity charity event, and follow them forward approximately two andeight months post-event. Physical activity events are now established as part of nonprofits' repertoire of fundraising tools. These types of events can serve as a venue for ‘moving people to trial’ as they attract large numbers and foster mid-intensity participation in a non-competitive and fun environment. Understanding participants’ motives for and experiences in fundraising events can help to enhance the event for both the organization and the participant. Participants in this study were recruited through the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s database of registrants in the 2012 Victoria Run for the Cure. Sixty-four participants completed an online survey gathering demographic, motivation, and health information. Subsequently, twenty-four of these individuals agreed to undergo fitness assessments at two and six months post the event, complete physical activity and healthy eating motivation questionnaires and be interviewed. At T1 participants were not meeting physical activity guidelines and heavier than the average resident in the region. Scores from fitness levels were maintained from two months to eight months post-event, but increased levels of intrinsic motivation for physical activity (Z = .047, p < 0.05), and decreased levels of identified motivation for healthy eating (Z = .036, p < .05) were found. When looking at interview data, factors that largely guided initial event participation involved altruism, reciprocity, and self esteem. The fostering of autonomy and competence and providing a sense of belonging as a result of participation, helped to maintain commitment for both event participation and physical activity after the event. This research supports the notion that ‘fun runs’, provide an ideal environment to provide a context for health behaviour change at the population level, when SDT constructs and intrinsic and identified regulation are supported, especially for those not currently meeting health guidelines. The study offers practical and feasible strategies for the CBCF and other similar organizations to enhance its mandate, and to promote health and prevent disease. / Graduate / 0350 / 0523 / kemoncks@uvic.ca

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka huruvida arbetsmotivationen skiljer sig mellan generation Y och tidigare generationer i den svenska IT-branschen. Studien vilar på en teoretisk grund bestående av tre välkända teorier inom arbetsmotivation; Herzbergs tvåfaktorteori, Self-Determination Theory samt Job Characteristics Model.   För att kunna besvara studiens forskningsfråga ”Hur kan belöningssystem utformas för att ta hänsyn till fler anställda från generation Y i den svenska IT-branschen?” genomfördes en semistrukturerad intervju med en HR-chef samt en enkätundersökning bland anställda på IT-företaget Evry.   Resultatet av studien visar att det finns vissa skillnader i arbetsmotivationen mellan generation Y och tidigare generationer vilket kan motivera till förändringar i hur man arbetar med belöningar när en allt större del av arbetskraften utgörs av generation Y. En viktig skillnad som framkom är att medarbetare från generation Y uppskattar feedback mer än äldre medarbetare, oavsett varifrån i organisationen feedbacken kommer ifrån. Studien fann även att monetära belöningar kan ha en stark negativ inverkan på arbetsmotivationen, men att de under vissa omständigheter kan vara positiva och ibland även nödvändiga. En slutsats blir att det ofta krävs en blandning av både monetära och icke-monetära för få fram det mest motiverande belöningssystemet.

Syftet med studien var att identifiera vilka primära strategier coacher använder sig av för att hjälpa en allvarligt skadad idrottare. Hur en skada upplevs och hanteras ur en coachs perspektiv är ett outforskat område. Podlog och Dionigis (2010) är en av få studier där man undersökt världselit coachers strategier. Författarna i föreliggande studie valde att använda sig av liknande tillvägagångsätt. Nio semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med coacher som hade aktiva idrottare på en lägre nivå än den högsta världseliten, samt hade erfarenheter av allvarligt skadade idrottare. Sju män och två kvinnor deltog i studien, både från individuella idrotter och lagidrotter. Det identifierades fem primära strategier: (1) målsättning, (2) socialt stöd, (3) förmedling till medicinsk personal, (4) anpassad träning och (5) individanpassat stöd. Dessa strategier kopplas i en diskussionsdel till självbestämmande teorins tre aspekter, målsättning och anpassad träning kopplades till kompetens, socialt stöd och förmedling till medicinsk personal kopplades till samhörighet, individanpassat stöd, förmedling till medicinsk personal samt målsättning till autonomi. Slutligen ges även förslag till framtida forskning, metodkritik samt implikationer. / The purpose of this study was to identify the primary strategies coaches use to help seriously injured athletes. How an injury is perceived and managed from a coach's perspective is an unexplored area. Podlog and Dionigi's (2010) is one of few studies that have investigated world elite coacher’s strategies. The authors of present study chose to use similar approaches. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with coaches active at a lower level compared to world elite, and experiences of severely injured athletes. Seven men and two women participated from both individual and team sports. Five primary strategies were identified: (1) goal setting, (2) social support, (3) intermediary to medical professionals, (4) adapted training and (5) personalized support. These strategies are addressed to the three aspects of the self-determination theory in the discussion part. Goal setting and adapted training were addressed to competence and adapted training linked to skills. Social support and intermediary to medical professionals were addressed to relatedness. Personalized support, intermediary to medical professionals and goals setting were addressed to autonomy. Finally suggestions for future research, methodology critique and implications are provided.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om anställdas arbetsmotivation var beroende av hur många timmar de reste i tjänsten under en vanlig arbetsvecka. Studien genomfördes med hjälp av två grupper anställda inom det statliga bolaget Vattenfall. Mätinstrumentet som användes i studien var Basic Need Satisfaction at work scale som mäter arbetsmotivation i tre grundläggande faktorer; autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet. Totalt deltog 123 respondenter i undersökningen. Resultatet visade att det i kompetens och samhörighet förekom signifikanta skillnader mellan de två grupperna, där de som reser mycket skattade upplevelsen av kompetens och samhörighet högre än i gruppen som reser lite. Vidare visade resultatet att det inte förelåg någon signifikant skillnad mellan gruppernas skattning av autonomi. / The purpose of the study was to exam if employee’s work motivation depended on how many hours they travel during an ordinary work week. The investigation contained two different groups of employee’s in a Swedish public company. A total of 123 respondents participated in the study. The instruments used in this study were Basic Need Satisfaction at work scale, which measures work motivation based on three basic factors; autonomy, competence and relatedness. The results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups, where the group of employee’s that travelled more experienced more satisfactions with competence and relatedness, than the group that travelled less. Further the results showed no significant differences between the two groups relating to autonomy.

Previous research has indicated that exercising with other people improves interest and engagement in physical activity (e.g., Christensen, Schmidt, Budtz-Jorgensen, & Avlund, 2006; Estabrooks & Carron, 1999). However, the degree of socializing with other people engaged in by exercisers has not been manipulated in previous studies. In the present study, the amount of socializing during exercise was manipulated in order to evaluate the effect of social connection on motivation to exercise. Two perspectives on the role of socializing in exercising were considered and discussed – Social Facilitation (Zajonc, 1965) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000). In order to test the importance of social contact during exercise, previously inactive women between the ages of 18-30 were randomly assigned to exercise for 12 sessions in one of three conditions. In the “social partner condition”, two participants exercised together and also discussed personal topics. In the “non-social partner condition”, two participants exercised together, but did not discuss personal topics. Lastly, in the “exercise alone condition”, participants exercised alone. In general, it was hypothesized that the social partner condition would lead to the greatest improvements in satisfaction of the psychological need for relatedness, subjective vitality, motivation to exercise, amount of physical activity, fitness level, affect, interest, and effort in exercise. Non-social partners were expected to experience some benefits from exercising with a partner, but not to the same extent as those in the social partner condition. Participants who exercised alone were expected to experience the fewest improvements. The partner relationships were also examined more closely, with the expectation that pairings that were more interpersonally complementary (that is, more similar on affiliation, and reciprocal on dominance) would positively affect outcomes. Further, partners were expected to become more similar in their exercise behaviour and motivation due to their repeated interactions over the course of the study. A one-month follow-up session assessed whether motivation and exercise behaviour observed at the end of the study changed or were sustained over time. The hypotheses were partially supported. Overall, exercise contributed to improved vitality, fitness, and affect, with few differences amongst the conditions. Participants in both partner conditions reported greater relatedness, or social connection, after a month of exercising together, than the exercise alone condition participants. Some interesting motivational patterns emerged at the end of the study and at a one-month follow-up, with some indication that the social partner condition most greatly benefited motivation. Interpersonal complementarity positively impacted competence, relatedness, and fitness, but surprisingly had a negative impact on vitality. Partners did not become more similar to one another over the course of the study, suggesting a lack of mutual influence. The findings are discussed within the context of Self-Determination Theory and Social Facilitation. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature that indicates that the social aspects of physical activity are essential for physical and mental wellbeing. Further research is required to evaluate how social factors can be utilized to promote greater enjoyment of and adherence to physical activity.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka huruvida det är mer eller mindre motiverande för anställda inom mjukvaruindustrin att jobba enligt agila utvecklingsmetoder än enligt traditionella utvecklingsmetoder. Undersökningen har gjorts med teoretisk utgångspunkt från motivationsskapande variabler ur de kontemporära motivationsteorierna Self Determination Theory samt Job Characteristic model. Som en ansats till att besvara frågeställningen har en kvalitativ fallstudie genomförts på företaget Kambi Sport Solutions AB. Kambi Sport Solutions AB har under de senaste åren genomfört en organisationsförändring där traditionella projektledningsmetoder ersatts av agila projektledningsmetoder. Studiens empiri visar med stöd ur motivationsteori att övergången till agila metoder signifikant påverkat individens motivation positivt. Framförallt som en följd av en högre grad av självbestämmande, kunskapsvariation, identitet i och betydelse av arbetsuppgiften, autonomi samt feedback.