Previous research has argued the importance of education for future gains (Palomino et al., 2019) and how inequality can negatively affect educational aspirations (Jia et al., 2021). Therefore,...Show morePrevious research has argued the importance of education for future gains (Palomino et al., 2019) and how inequality can negatively affect educational aspirations (Jia et al., 2021). Therefore, this study aimed to further demonstrate whether differences in perceptions of inequality of opportunity and outcome negatively affects students’ educational aspirations. Further, based on previous research demonstrating positive main effect of internal locus of control (Sagone & Caroli, 2014) and a moderating effect of internal locus of control (Jia et al., 2021) on educational outcomes, locus of control was added as a moderator to see if an internal locus of control offsets negative effects of inequality on educational aspirations. Our manipulation, videos explaining inequality of opportunity and outcome, failed to tease apart perceptions of inequality of opportunity and outcome and were consequently combined into one factor, inequality. We found no significant main effect of perception of inequality, but a significant positive main effect of locus of control on educational aspirations. An interaction effect between perceptions of inequality and locus of control on educational aspirations was found. However, unexpectedly, students perceiving inequality within the external locus of control group scored highest on educational aspirations. Implications, limitations, and avenues for further research are discussed.Show less
Individuals do not always engage in pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) in a consistent manner. They might juggle between green and non-green intentions and choose a sustainable option in one context...Show moreIndividuals do not always engage in pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) in a consistent manner. They might juggle between green and non-green intentions and choose a sustainable option in one context while opting for the unsustainable option in another context. Previous research suggested that three goal frames affect PEB: Normative, hedonic, and gain. A lab experiment was conducted (N = 90) at Leiden University to investigate the relationship between goal frames and the consistency of PEB, using three goal frames as between-subjects variables. Consistency was measured through three behaviours: paper use, recycling behaviour, and paper towel use. Participants in the normative condition were expected to engage with PEB more frequently and consistently than those in the hedonic and gain conditions. This effect was expected to be moderated by environmental self-identity. Although results were non-significant, this study provides a direction for future research to investigate pro-environmental behaviour within different contexts under the stronger influence of goal frames.Show less
People perceive a human action or outcome differently depending on their belief to what extent human abilities are modifiable. This comes from the differences in how people view the flexibility of...Show morePeople perceive a human action or outcome differently depending on their belief to what extent human abilities are modifiable. This comes from the differences in how people view the flexibility of their intelligence, personality, and skills. This phenomenon is defined as the spectrum of fixed versus growth mindset and is considered to have an influence on academic success (Dweck et al., 1995; Dweck & Yeager, 2019). The study from Drewery and Colleagues (2020) about lifelong learning mindset, gives us reasons to believe, that a growth mindset also has a positive influence on subjective and objective career success. We conducted four linear regressions with Psychology Master’s graduates from Leiden University (N = 94). We did not find any significant results to support our hypothesis. However, this thesis does provide the reader with interesting future research recommendations.Show less
People change their career on basis of objective career success, such as salary, and subjective career success, such as sense of fulfilment the job provides. Literature suggests that subjective...Show morePeople change their career on basis of objective career success, such as salary, and subjective career success, such as sense of fulfilment the job provides. Literature suggests that subjective career success in influenced by ability-related constructs, such as mindset and work self-efficacy. Current study investigated the interplay between mindset, work self-efficacy, and subjective career success. The sample of working adults based in the United Kingdom (N = 190) completed Dweck Mindset Instrument, Subjective Career Success Inventory, and Work Self-Efficacy Scale online. Linear regressions showed that mindset did not predict subjective career success while work self-efficacy did. Mediation analysis was non-significant, suggesting that the relationship between mindset and subjective career success was not mediated by work self-efficacy. Exploratory moderation analysis showed that mindset did not significantly moderate the relationship between work self-efficacy and subjective career success. Further theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Show less
The likelihood that someone will accept help is determined by several factors. Research in various fields of study have shown that having a higher need for autonomy decreases likelihood of...Show moreThe likelihood that someone will accept help is determined by several factors. Research in various fields of study have shown that having a higher need for autonomy decreases likelihood of accepting help. Therefore, the current research investigated the effect of need for autonomy on likelihood of accepting help in financial hardship. Furthermore, type of help was tested as a moderator of this effect. It was proposed that the effect would not exist for autonomy-oriented help, since this does not threaten people’s sense of autonomy (contrary to dependency-oriented help, which does threaten sense of autonomy). A survey in which participants were primed with financial hardship was conducted to test these effects. Need for autonomy was measured with the Index of Autonomous Functioning. Both the main effect and interaction effect were non-significant. Several explanations for these findings are proposed, such as a greater tendency to accept help among woman than among man.Show less
Distraction has been shown to increase the time people spend in a physical store as well as the amount of purchases people make in a physical store. However, many people shop online, and the online...Show moreDistraction has been shown to increase the time people spend in a physical store as well as the amount of purchases people make in a physical store. However, many people shop online, and the online market seems to be growing. The current research investigated if the findings of earlier research of distraction in a physical store are replicable to an online shopping environment. It was tested if distraction would increase the amount of time people spend, and amount of purchases people make in an online shopping environment. Participants were asked to perform a shopping task in an artificial webshop, and they were split into two groups. One group was distracted by an audio fragment while performing the shopping task, and the other group was not distracted. The amount of time that participants spend in the webshop, and the amount of purchases that participants made were measured. Although the distraction manipulation, as measured by self-report, seemed to be effective, no significant differences in amount of purchases and time spend in the webshop was found between the groups. These findings suggest a different effect of distraction in online shopping environments compared to shopping in a physical stores. This effect could be explained by the different ways people navigate through a physical store compared to a webshop.Show less
Urban centres are among the most vulnerable geographical locations for the impacts of climate change. Strengthening the green infrastructures of these urban areas is therefore increasingly...Show moreUrban centres are among the most vulnerable geographical locations for the impacts of climate change. Strengthening the green infrastructures of these urban areas is therefore increasingly important, as this contributes to their climate resilience. For the city of Leiden, as of many other Dutch cities, public space that can be used for greening initiatives is scarce due to urbanisation processes. The private urban gardens of Leiden can provide a solution for this. Many gardens in this cities are currently ‘grey’. Understanding why would provide valuable information for its policy makers. Therefore this study explored the behavioural motives behind the gardens of Leiden and answered the question: ‘why does a garden in Leiden looks like it does’. Next to that this study also researched the relationship between perceived impact and adaptation behaviour. The data for this study was collected through an online survey in which 67 garden owners of Leiden participated. The data gave insight on the behaviour and motives of these garden owners. It showed that green in a garden is often considered important, yet most garden owners had or wanted their garden (partially) tilled. A frequent motive given for this was the functionality of tilling for the use of a garden. Furthermore the data showed a moderately positive correlation between perceived impact of a garden on climate adaptation and the amount of green in a garden. Further research should examine the predictor in this relationship.Show less
In an effort to adjust to global warming the Municipality of Leiden wants to motivate her citizens to take a green garden. Even though there are plenty of campaigns to promote green gardens, most...Show moreIn an effort to adjust to global warming the Municipality of Leiden wants to motivate her citizens to take a green garden. Even though there are plenty of campaigns to promote green gardens, most gardens in Leiden are still grey. This qualitative study examined why people have the garden that they have. This was done through an online survey that was answered by 67 garden owners in Leiden. In addition to the main survey a small quantitative part was added to the study in which the relationship between having a green identity and having a green garden was investigated. The study resulted in a complete overview on how garden owners make use of their garden and what influences them in changing it. What prevents garden owners most from making their garden greener are time, money and know how. Furthermore, a moderately positive correlation was found between a green identity and having a green garden. Further research should examine what moderates this relationship.Show less
Green gardens are a solution to heat, dryness, and flooding, which is a big problem in Leiden. However, the majority of gardens in Leiden is grey. The municipality of Leiden would like to stimulate...Show moreGreen gardens are a solution to heat, dryness, and flooding, which is a big problem in Leiden. However, the majority of gardens in Leiden is grey. The municipality of Leiden would like to stimulate their citizens to create more green gardens. Previous research found intentions and motivations to be positively associated with environmental behaviours. Moreover, autonomous motivation is thought to moderate the intention behaviour relationship. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between intention towards garden greening, autonomous motivation and actual garden greening behaviour. This study found intentions to significantly predict garden greening behaviour, explaining 13% of the variance. With a dichotomous approach, autonomous motivation was found to be a predictor of garden greening behaviour, but not a moderator of the intention behaviour relationship. In order for the municipality of Leiden to stimulate their residents to green their garden, follow-up research looking into possible moderators of the intention-behaviour gap and autonomous motivation is necessaryShow less
In this research we look at why people living in debt are possibly not receiving the help that is available to them, and that they need. It is hypothesized that at the base of this socioeconomic...Show moreIn this research we look at why people living in debt are possibly not receiving the help that is available to them, and that they need. It is hypothesized that at the base of this socioeconomic problem lies a negative relationship between the Need for Autonomy and the Acceptance of Free Debt Advice. This is based on the notion that through accepting help you relinquish a part of your ability to fully make your own choices, meaning you would actually give away a piece of your autonomy by accepting help. Participants, (N=75), completed an online questionnaire that measured their need for autonomy, using the Implicit PSEAutonomy Measure, and their acceptance of help, using a question based on the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. The data showed no significant correlation between the two variables. We must conclude that in the current research we were unable to detect there a possible relationship between Need for Autonomy and Acceptance of Debt Relief Help. Recommendations to improve on this research in the future are offered however, such as ensuring more balanced samples on the basis of gender and educational level.Show less
In Great Britain 4% of households experience problematic debt, which can cause depression, anxiety and physical illness. Still, people who live in debt do not always use help services, possibly...Show moreIn Great Britain 4% of households experience problematic debt, which can cause depression, anxiety and physical illness. Still, people who live in debt do not always use help services, possibly because accepting help infringes on their need for autonomy. To test this, an online questionnaire was used measuring people’s implicit need for autonomy and the extent to which they would accept offered debt advice. A one-sided Spearman analysis showed no significant negative correlation between need for autonomy and accepting help. This means that the need for autonomy might not stop people from accepting debt advise. This could be because the relationship between need for autonomy and receiving help is moderated by the context in which the help is offered. Also, the limitations of this study, like reliability and time, could have caused a non-significant finding in this study.Show less
Financial debt is a worldwide increasing problem associated with multiple negative psychological, physiological and physical consequences. Getting out of debt is hard. But even though help is...Show moreFinancial debt is a worldwide increasing problem associated with multiple negative psychological, physiological and physical consequences. Getting out of debt is hard. But even though help is offered to get out of debt, people do not always accept this. A high need for autonomy could be a reason why people in financial debt do not accept help; they may prefer to be independent and solve their problems themselves. To what extent does the need for autonomy correlate with the willingness of people in debt accepting free debt advice? This was researched with an online questionnaire measuring implicit need for autonomy and willingness to accept help by imagining being in debt and being offered free debt advice. Our results show that there is no correlation between the need for autonomy and the willingness to accept free debt advice. In the discussion of our research, other factors that might be related to the reason why people in debt do not accept help will be examined.Show less
Free debt advice is an option for UK debtors who want advice on how to get out of their financial situation. However, not everyone who could benefit from this type of help actually receives it. One...Show moreFree debt advice is an option for UK debtors who want advice on how to get out of their financial situation. However, not everyone who could benefit from this type of help actually receives it. One of the reasons people do not accept help when in debt, is that they do not want others involved in their situation. Previous research suggests that this relates to the need for autonomy. This study attempts to investigate whether high need for autonomy is negatively related to acceptance of free debt advice. 75 participants took part in an implicit measure of the need for autonomy, and a hypothetical debt scenario after which they had to indicate their likelihood to accept free debt advice. A nonsignificant, negative Spearman correlation was found. Several limitations were discussed and recommendations for future research were formulated based on these limitations.Show less
The combination of rising debts in the UK and the evidence for debts negatively affecting people’s health is alarming. There are organizations that offer help to those struggling with debts. To...Show moreThe combination of rising debts in the UK and the evidence for debts negatively affecting people’s health is alarming. There are organizations that offer help to those struggling with debts. To improve the help that these organizations offer, more knowledge on help-seeking behaviour is needed. Based on previous research indicating the diminishing effect of the need for autonomy on the willingness to accept help, we investigated if the need for autonomy serves as a barrier for accepting help for people living with debts. We hypothesized that there is a negative relationship between the need for autonomy and the likelihood of accepting help. In this study, respondents answered a questionnaire that measured their implicit need for autonomy and their willingness to accept help. A negative correlation was found, however non-significant. Our sample showed a strong willingness to accept help, which is unrepresentative of the UK population. We argue that the relationship between the need for autonomy and the willingness to accept help is likely to exist, even though we were unable to detect it. Future research is needed to understand this phenomenon better. We recommend future research to use a sample that is living with debts.Show less
