Our visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM), a cognitive component responsible for wayfinding and arithmetical challenges, is negatively related to aging according to prior studies. At the same time,...Show moreOur visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM), a cognitive component responsible for wayfinding and arithmetical challenges, is negatively related to aging according to prior studies. At the same time, aging is related to a decrease in sleep quality. However, the triangular relation of these three variables is unknown. This current research aims to identify the direct relation between VSWM and age and sleep. Additionally, we tested if the relation between VSWM and age can indirectly be explained by sleep duration and sleep variability. Finally, the explorative part of the study looked at the effect that sleep duration the night before testing has on VSWM performance. Unique about this study is the use of tappigraphy as a measure for sleep. Tappigraphy is a naturalistic way of deriving data from people’s smartphone touches, allowing for the calculation of sleep duration and variability. The study included 151 participants, 99 for the explorative analysis, who installed an app on their smartphone (tappigraphy measure) and additionally had to complete a VSWM performance task (Corsiblock task). The analysis confirmed the negative relation between age and VSWM, but did not find a relation between sleep duration, variability and sleep the night before testing and VSWM. Additionally, no mediating effect of sleep on the relation between age and VSWM was found. In conclusion, while age and VSWM seemed related the sleep variables of current study did not show any relation to VSWM. This could be partially be explained by the limitations of this study. Future research should focus on constructs of sleep that do not deviate much from current literature. Plus, future research should aim to validate tappigraphy for an older population.Show less
Sinds het einde van de vierde eeuw voor Christus zoeken filosofen naar rust in de geest. Een van deze filosofen was Pyrrho van Elis. Pyrrho zou met zijn filosofische benadering op gebeurtenissen...Show moreSinds het einde van de vierde eeuw voor Christus zoeken filosofen naar rust in de geest. Een van deze filosofen was Pyrrho van Elis. Pyrrho zou met zijn filosofische benadering op gebeurtenissen rust bereiken. Mensen met overmatige angstklachten ervaren onrust. Zij beredeneren uitkomsten op gebeurtenissen negatiever en nemen positieve uitkomsten minder in overweging. Het is bekend dat vrouwen gevoeliger zijn voor angst. Wellicht heeft gender ook invloed op de relatie tussen het oordelen en de mate van ervaren van angst. In deze studie is onderzoek gedaan naar de relatie tussen het uitstellen van oordeel (suspension of judgement; SOJ) en angst en het moderatie effect van gender. Er is online een vragenlijst afgenomen. Een exploratory factor analysis is uitgevoerd op het SOJ-meetinstrument. Een lineaire en multipele regressieanalyses zijn uitgevoerd op totaalscores van SOJ en angst met gender als moderatie effect. De exploratory factor analysis gaf aan dat er een relatie is tussen de variabelen en dat er 4 verschillende onderliggende factoren zijn. De relaties tussen de variabelen zijn sterker wanneer alleen de intuïtieve vragen, vragen met tijdsdruk maar zonder argumentatie, worden meegenomen. Uit de regressieanalyse kwam een niet significant resultaat. Er is geen relatie tussen SOJ en de mate angst, wel is er een kleine relatie tussen de intuïtieve vragen van SOJ en angst gevonden. Uit de multipele regressieanalyse kwam naar verwachting een significant resultaat. Gender bleek de relatie tussen SOJ en angst te versterken. De invloed van SOJ op angst groter bij vrouwen.Show less
Klinische angst komt helaas veel voor. De effectiviteit van de hedendaagse angstbehandelingen voldoet niet. Cognitieve Gedragstherapie is bij minder dan de helft effectief. Er is dus belang bij een...Show moreKlinische angst komt helaas veel voor. De effectiviteit van de hedendaagse angstbehandelingen voldoet niet. Cognitieve Gedragstherapie is bij minder dan de helft effectief. Er is dus belang bij een alternatieve therapie om angst te behandelen. Volgens de filosoof Pyrrho (360 v. Chr.) neemt angst af door niet te oordelen. In dit correlationele onderzoek wordt nagegaan of er een relatie bestaat tussen het uitstellen van oordelen (SOJ) en de mate van angst. Hierbij wordt gekeken of slaapgedrag invloed heeft op deze relatie. 206 Respondenten werden op 10 stellingen gemeten in hoeverre zij het ermee eens of oneens waren. Ook werd een veelgebruikte angstvragenlijst afgelegd, de GAD-7. Er bleek geen significante relatie te bestaan tussen de mate van het uitstellen van oordelen en de mate van Angst. Er bleek wel een significante relatie te bestaan tussen oordelen onder tijdsdruk en mate van angst. Ook oordeelden mensen significant meer op de stellingen met tijdslimiet. Slaap bleek op zichzelf invloed te hebben op mate van angst, maar niet op de relatie tussen SOJ en angst. Om te kunnen vaststellen of een SOJ-behandeling echt zal aanslaan is experimenteel vervolgonderzoek nodig, met een voor en na meting. Omdat in de hedendaagse maatschappij mensen gedwongen zijn om onder continue tijdsdruk besluiten maken, is het bij vervolgonderzoek naar SOJ van belang om rekening te houden met de tijdsdruk component.Show less
This thesis researches the different effects that Chinese FDI has on the economy of Brazil as well as on Sino-Brazilian international relations. In particular, it takes the case study of Brazilian...Show moreThis thesis researches the different effects that Chinese FDI has on the economy of Brazil as well as on Sino-Brazilian international relations. In particular, it takes the case study of Brazilian oil company Petrobras and its cooperations with Chinese oil company Sinopec. The main argument provided in the thesis is that although FDI had an impact in the development of Sino-Brazilian economic relations, other factors, such as patterns of trade, played a larger role here.Show less
This study examines the relationship between the self-determination theory and perceived psychological safety, respectively popularized by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan; and Amy Edmondson. Whereas...Show moreThis study examines the relationship between the self-determination theory and perceived psychological safety, respectively popularized by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan; and Amy Edmondson. Whereas psychological safety has been found to positively contribute to team performance, the self-determination theory is used to assess individual needs and fulfilments, and can be a contributor to individual performance. The aim of this potential relationship is to enable the use and combination of individual-, and team-based strategies more effectively in order to enhance overall performance in organizations. I hypothesized that a significant positive correlation exists between self-determination theory factors and perceived psychological safety, and that the former could be used to predict the latter. The data gathered in an international online survey among people working in the healthcare sector supports that there is a significant positive correlation between the levels of the self-determination theory’s autonomy component and perceived psychological safety. However, when setting up a regression model, I found that the autonomy component of self-determination theory is the only significant predictor for the level of perceived psychological safety. This model explains five percent of the variance in the level of perceived psychological safety, and is thus practically of no use. Secondly, hypothesized that there are no gender-based differences in levels of self-determination theory and perceived psychological safety. In the analysis I found that there are generally no gender- based differences in either of the variables, except for the competence component of self- determination theory. This potentially signifies that men and women prioritize their psychological needs differently, but more research is needed to confirm this. In conclusion, based on the evidence gathered in this study, I cannot conclude that the relationship between self-determination theory and psychological safety can be used in a meaningful way to increase overall performance in the healthcare sector, or other organizations for that matter.Show less
This paper will discuss what role same-sex marriage legalized in 2019 has within Taiwanese diplomatic discourse (Ministry of Justice 2019). Taiwanese diplomatic discourse is heavily influenced by...Show moreThis paper will discuss what role same-sex marriage legalized in 2019 has within Taiwanese diplomatic discourse (Ministry of Justice 2019). Taiwanese diplomatic discourse is heavily influenced by the fact it has no official United Nations recognition (Schafferer 2020, 46). As the head of state, President Tsai shapes Taiwanese diplomatic discourse. Current academic work has discussed the role of human rights diplomacy and same-sex marriage in Taiwanese diplomacy to a very limited extend. This causes understanding of Taiwanese diplomacy to be lacking. Same-sex marriage has taken a prime position within global diplomacy. Discussing President Tsai’s diplomatic discourse can provide insights in how same-sex marriage is adopted within Taiwanese diplomatic discourse. This paper provides further insight on the mechanics of Taiwanese diplomacy and the role of human rights and same-sex marriage within Taiwanese diplomatic discourse. Through thematic content analysis it became apparent that President Tsai argues for recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty by mainly western actors based on shared values. The base of these relationships is shared liberal values, such as freedom, democracy, the upholding of human rights, and providing gender and LGBTQ+ equality. She also argues that the legalization of same-sex marriage reason to support Taiwanese democracy. The legalization of same-sex marriage legitimizes President Tsai’s narrative to present Taiwan as a beacon of freedom and democracy in Asia. Based on these shared values, President Tsai argues for protection by the international community of Taiwan from the People’s Republic of China. The legalization of same-sex marriage takes a position within Taiwan diplomatic, as presented by President Tsai, as proof to legitimize Taiwanese advanced democracy, respect for human rights, and Taiwanese sovereignty.Show less
Kirkpatrick claimed that French keyboard music sounded like French. Hall (1953) talked about a resemblance of Elgar’s Music and the intonation of British speech. Both discussed instrumental music...Show moreKirkpatrick claimed that French keyboard music sounded like French. Hall (1953) talked about a resemblance of Elgar’s Music and the intonation of British speech. Both discussed instrumental music and a likeness with the speech, which has remained controversial. This thesis investigates the robustness of the metrics used for the two experiments in rhythm and melody to provide information about their linguistic origins. To this end, this thesis replicates the two experiments of Patel et al. (2006) regarding the rhythm and melody of British English and French speech and instrumental music. In addition, a third parameter labelled as “slope” was tested to investigate if melody, when taking into consideration the durational property of the melodic interval, provides the same results as the two previous replicated experiments. We replicated the findings for rhythm and melody reported in Patel et al. (2006). The slope parameter, however, showed a reverse pattern raising some critical questions about the validity of the metrics to portray statistical evidence of national characteristics in speech and music.Show less
In August 2019, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to revoke the special status of the state of Kashmir. Because of this special status, the Kashmiris were able to...Show moreIn August 2019, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to revoke the special status of the state of Kashmir. Because of this special status, the Kashmiris were able to live under their own Constitution and host their own elections. Without a doubt, revoking this special status will have far-reaching consequences on the disputed region of Kashmir. Chances are that the fragile balance that exists in the area will be jeopardised by the decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status. However, the abrogation of the special status is not a completely random decision. It can be argued that this special status has never been effectively implemented. Thus, this thesis will analyse why this is the case, and which factors influenced the erosion of Kashmir’s special status. Furthermore, this thesis will analyse possible consequences of the revocation of this special status. In doing so, the aim of this thesis is to fill the research gap provided by the topicality of this research.Show less
