Motivation to seek help and help efficiency in students who failed in an initial task

In the present study, we investigated whether help-seeking behaviors differ in their respective links to motivational variables such as achievement goals, help-seeking perceptions and self-efficacy. Eighty-two students who had failed to solve an initial word-processing task were invited – but not forced – to choose help before engaging in a comprehension task. While 19 of them did not seek help of any kind, 63 students opted for help. Taken together, our results suggest that i) those who refused to seek help did not differ from those who agreed to seek help on either motivational variables (except for self-efficacy), but ii) those who succeed on the comprehension task after using help were those who showed higher self-efficacy. The implications of these results for future research on the help-seeking process in interactive learning environments are discussed.     

Mindlessness and gaining compliance in Computer-Human Interaction

The computers are social actors (CASA) effect refers to the application of social rules when individuals interact with computers. Although the most plausible mechanism for CASA involves mindlessness, according to Langer, Blank, and Chanowitz’s (1978) original theorization, mindlessness stems from a motivational deficit during a compliance gaining interaction. Mindlessness occurs when individuals view their behavior as relatively unimportant or inconsequential. However, researchers often employ a cognitive deficit approach and examine the CASA effect as a perceptual rather than behavioral outcome. Moreover, previous findings suggest that computer agents may activate the norm of reciprocity to induce human compliance (Fogg & Nass, 1997). To test the mechanism of mindlessness and address possible methodological artifacts from past work on Computer–Human reciprocity, an experiment employing a 3 (request type: direct, placebic, or sufficient) × 3 (request size: large, medium, or small) design tested alternative hypotheses based on the cognitive and motivational explanations. The data are consistent the motivational hypothesis. In contrast to previous findings from Fogg and Nass, neither obligation, liking, nor mood correlated with compliance. The findings offer several directions for future work.     

The effect of motivation on shoulder-muscle tension in attention-demanding tasks

This paper evaluates motivation as a task-related factor causing the development of psychologically mediated (‘psychogenic’) shoulder-muscle tension. In four separate experiments using a visual display unit (VDU) based complex reaction-time task, motivation was established by means of continuous feedback on the level of performance (relative to a preset target performance level) or by means of a money reward for good performance. In all experiments motivation improved the performance, but an increase in the psychogenic shoulder-muscle tension was only observed in the money-reward condition. It is discussed whether this difference in the muscle-tension response is due to changes in the subjects' attitude unrelated to performance or due to a superior performance in the money-reward condition.     

探析成就动机的培养

通过研究发现,成就动机的强弱与个体学生对待其学业的态度以及对待其人际交往圈的态度息息相关,甚至是决定其成功与否的关键因素.因此,应将成就动机的培养作为教学工作中重要的心理教育环节,通过提高教师素养,调整教学方式,引导学生正确地进行自我认知和自我评价,有效地激发学生的成就动机,从而塑造其高尚美好的人格.     

Motivated humans for reliable software products

This paper focuses on the software engineer, as opposed to some software engineering discipline. The author's worldwide experience in software development has resulted in concluding that the vast majority of problems encountered while developing software are more people oriented rather than technology based. Therefore, for there to be any improvements in the reliability of software, it may be wise to revisit some of the people issues, otherwise, even the best methods, tools and techniques will not make an impact on the software development process so as to result in higher levels of software quality. Many are the problems which the software engineer is faced with while trying to piece together the complex information systems that the current global market dictates. Lack of office space and engineer concentration, unpaid overtime, non-productive meeting cultures, performance appraisals and absence of team work all contribute to the demotivation of the software engineer. Trying to introduce a new tool or a new technique to a demotivated staff is simply a waste of time. Thus, it is of paramount importance to realize that in the labour intensive software development world, the focus must first be on the human factor. Basic human nature has not changed over the years, therefore, the author sought out solutions from the past regarding the management of people, so as to be applied today in the development of software. This paper concludes with a ‘euphoria quadrant’ so as to provide a simple means for software producing units to gauge their management style and their overall working environment.     

Improving the Innovative Capabilities of Taiwan’s Manufacturing Industries with University–Industry Research Partnerships

The experiences gained from Taiwan’s university–industry collaborative program are presented by case studies. The frame-work of the university–industry partnership is presented. Both successful and failed case studies are detailed to extract the underlying understanding required to improve university–industry collaborative programs further. The capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the majority of all enterprises in Taiwan, and the various ways of improving their innovative capabilities by effectively using university–industry partnerships, are also discussed. Supporting evidence which indicates that proper partnerships are the most effective means of improving the innovative capabilities of the manufacturing industries are also detailed.     

高职学生英语学习动机调查与分析

本文调查并分析了我院高职一年级学生学习英语的动机。调查结果发现大部分学生有积极学习的愿望,且认识到动机与成就的关系,但在学习过程中则不能持之以恒;部分学生对英语学习没有多大的动机。针对调查情况,提出了加强教育与引导的意见。     

Money is not everything: A typology of crowdfunding project creators

While studies focus on how crowdfunding promotes the launch of innovative products or services through two-sided (creator-investor) platforms and digital tools, knowledge on the creator-side motivation is limited. To address this knowledge gap, our study identifies four types of crowdfunding project creators—social entrepreneur, fund seeker, indie producer, and daring dreamer—based on four motivations—achievement, monetary need, prosociality, and relationship building. We also examine how crowdfunding projects’ characteristics differ by the creator type and which characteristics are critical for enhancing projects’ performance. The study extends crowdfunding literature by deepening knowledge of creator-side motivation and contributes to crowdfunding practices by suggesting platform operators ways to attract and promote different types of project creators.     

The perceived importance of credibility cues for the assessment of the trustworthiness of online information by visitors of health-related websites: The role of individual factors

The varying quality of information available on the internet has increased the need for the assessment of the trustworthiness of online information. This need can be even more pressing in the consideration of information that has the potential to harm one’s health. This study examined the perceived importance of credibility cues for the assessment of the trustworthiness of online information among visitors of websites focused on nutrition, dieting, and fitness. Using cross-sectional survey data from 695 Czech respondents aged 13–62 (84% females), four credibility components were identified. The most important for the assessment of trustworthiness was reported as the surface component, followed by external sources, author-oriented component, and feedback. An examination of the links with individual factors showed that the perceived importance of these components was linked to demographics, online experiences, and the motivation for visiting the websites. The surface component was more important for women and those with the motivation to lose weight; external sources were more important for those with higher education, author-oriented component was more important for those who are more active online and who have motivation to lose weight and improve their health; and feedback was more important for visitors with weight-loss motivation. The findings are discussed with regard to the role of diverse credibility cues for trustworthiness assessment, inter-individual differences, and the implications for praxis.