DSpace Collection: Honours and Coursework material that has been submitted by the School of Psychology
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/103031
Honours and Coursework material that has been submitted by the School of Psychology2024-03-29T01:50:52ZMotivation, Personality and Academic Achievement: Does Academic Motivation explain Variation in Academic Achievement beyond Personality and Intellect?
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/134610
Title: Motivation, Personality and Academic Achievement: Does Academic Motivation explain Variation in Academic Achievement beyond Personality and Intellect?
Author: Hartley, Matthew Ronald
Abstract: Obtaining a good education particularly a tertiary education has links with many important
lifestyle and health outcomes but requires students’ to be significantly self-motivated. This study
aimed to explore the relationship between motivation and academic achievement to determine
whether motivation constructs have incremental validity over conventional predictors of
academic achievement. Participants were surveyed using measures of intelligence, trait and facet
measures of personality and academic motivation. Correlational analysis and linear regression
were used to explore the data to identify what type of relationships existed between variables.
Facet measures of Conscientiousness and intrinsic motivation showed higher correlations with
academic achievement than trait measures. Motivation measures did not show incremental
validity over intelligence and Conscientiousness though amotivation accounted for an amount of
variance found significant in other studies indicating the present study suffered from low
statistical power. The main significant influences on academic achievement were intelligence
and Conscientiousness facet achievement striving with low motivation having more influence on
achievement than high motivation. While results should be generalized cautiously they indicate
first year students’ with low intelligence, Conscientiousness and high amotivation are at risk of
lower academic achievement with interventions targeting Conscientiousness and amotivation the
most likely improve academic achievement.
Description: This item is only available electronically.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Future of Rural Communities: The Impact of Farm Consolidation on Community Vitality and Individual Well-Being
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/134609
Title: The Future of Rural Communities: The Impact of Farm Consolidation on Community Vitality and Individual Well-Being
Author: Hancock, Joanna
Abstract: While some regional areas of Australia are prospering, the decline of small rural towns has been
well documented over recent decades. A major contributor has been the move from traditional
single family farms towards consolidating farms in response to changing international economies
and technology advancement. The environmental and economic effects of this change in farm
structure have been considered extensively, however the psychosocial outcomes for rural and
remote residents have been poorly researched. The current study addressed whether remote
residents were concerned about the effects of farm consolidation on their community’s vitality
and whether this was related to their individual well-being. Residents of the Southern Mallee
region in South Australia completed online questionnaires. The prevalence of high concern in the
population was 65.5% (95% CI: 53.3 to 77.7) indicating that majority of residents were highly
concerned about the effects of farm consolidation. A moderation analysis was conducted to
explore the relationship between perceived community vitality, social support and subjective
well-being. The results provided evidence for a positive relationship between perceived
community vitality and subjective well-being, which was stronger for participants with low
social support than those with high social support. It was concluded that for people with low
social support, their well-being is dependent on their perception of the community’s vitality,
whereas high social support acts as a protective buffer. Given the decline of rural towns may be
inevitable, future policy makers should consider the importance of maintaining social support
systems to improve the well-being of rural residents.
Description: This item is only available electronically.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Impact of Excessive Video-Gaming on Partners of Gamers: An Investigation of Harm and Coping Strategies
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/134608
Title: The Impact of Excessive Video-Gaming on Partners of Gamers: An Investigation of Harm and Coping Strategies
Author: Gold, Hannah Rose
Abstract: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) refers to a pattern of persistent gaming that results in
functional impairment to the user (APA, 2013). There is a wide range of intrapersonal harms
associated with problem gaming. Less attention is given in the literature to the potential
“passed on” harms to those around the problem gamer. The primary aim of this study was to
investigate whether partners of gamers (N=271) were experiencing harm in five domains
(relationship, emotional, health, financial and work). The secondary aim of the study was to
investigate what coping strategies (emotion and problem-focused) are most frequently
endorsed by partners of gamers and whether emotion-focused coping predicted the overall
harms experienced by partners. An online survey of partners of gamers investigated reported
IGD, as well as, examined the harms, psychological distress and coping strategies. The
18.1% of participants that reported IGD in their partner reported greater harm on all five
domains, in comparison to those who had non-IGD partners. Emotion-focused coping was
more frequently endorsed by those with greater psychological distress. A regression analysis
indicated that emotion-focused coping was not predictive of overall gaming related harm
beyond what was already predicted by IGD, time spent gaming, and psychological distress.
The present finding provided valuable information about types and strength of the harms
“passed on” to those close to a problem gamer and how partners of gamers may cope with
this situation.
Description: This item is only available electronically.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZEmployment and Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-analysis of Clinical and Demographic Correlates
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/134607
Title: Employment and Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-analysis of Clinical and Demographic Correlates
Author: Gerhard, Larissa Raphaela
Abstract: Background: Individuals with neurodegenerative multiple sclerosis (MS) experience
some of the highest rates of unemployment in early adulthood. Although
psychological characteristics associated with successful return-to-work have been
meta-analysed, the impact of illness and demographic variables remains unclear.
Objective: To compare clinical and demographic characteristics of employed persons
with MS with peers who are not in the workforce, and to map these differences
against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
Methods: Twenty-five independent studies (7053 employed, 11043 not employed)
were identified from a search of the Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed databases.
Standardised mean differences (Hedge’s g) with 95% confidence intervals and p
values, fail-safe Ns and heterogeneity statistics were calculated. Effect sizes were
categorised according to ICF domains: ‘body functions and structures’, ‘activities and
participation’ and ‘personal factors’. Results: Body functions and structures were
routinely assessed, with significant medium to large effect sizes observed for MS
subtype (gw= 0.80) and fatigue symptoms (gw= -0.51): those employed commonly had
a non-progressive illness subtype and were less affected by fatigue. The employed
group also reported significantly greater activity and participation levels (i.e. lowered
disability gw= -1.16, mobility gw= -2.43), were younger (gw= -0.62) and had a shorter
disease duration (gw= -0.63). Gender and pain were not significant factors.
Conclusions: Vocational interventions for persons with MS require multidisciplinary
input, aimed to improve impairment and disability of those who experience a relapse.
Longitudinal data is needed to determine whether clinical and demographic variables
remain a barrier to employment over time.
Description: This item is only available electronically.2017-01-01T00:00:00Z