The Effect of Computer and Internet Attitudes and Anxiety on e-Health Search Behaviors

While the need for health information is a seemingly universal concept, comfort using computers and the Internet is not. Yet studies have shown that users within a large range of years of computer experience search the Internet for health information (“e-health information”) at ever-increasing rates. The purpose of the current study is to discover how a searcher’s attitudes toward and self-perception of their computer and Internet competence affect his or her e-health information-seeking behaviors. An online survey was distributed with questions that served to measure participants’ computer and Internet anxiety, as well as questions pertaining to their e-health attitudes and search behaviors. Participants’ anxiety levels had a statistically significant effect on participants’ (1) feeling that their e-health searches are generally successful (or unsuccessful), (2) satisfaction with the information obtained, and (3) tendency to share e-health information with a health care provider

The Assessment of Factors Affecting Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Thoughts control, attention, and concentration are the effective factors in studying and learning. The lack of attention and concentration is the result of the invasion of intrusive thoughts. This research was conducted to explore the factors affecting the unwanted intrusive thoughts in normal people in 2017. Method: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis (thematic analysis). Research or databases include all print media, articles, books, and dissertations related to the subject of the research. Sampling was performed using purposive sampling. All information-rich resources that were related to the subject of the study were included and unrelated sources were excluded. Finally, data were collected by a deep study of 120 papers, 10 books, and 4 dissertations. Results: The findings included 285 coding concepts, 75 subthemes, and 8 main themes. The main themes in terms of the frequency were thought control strategies, metacognitive beliefs, mood characteristics, intrusive thought characteristics, mindfulness, personality traits, context and culture, and working memory capacity, respectively.. Conclusion: The most effective factors on intrusive thoughts, in terms of the frequency, were thought control strategies, metacognitive beliefs, mood characteristics, intrusive thought characteristics, mindfulness, personality traits, context and culture, and working memory capacity, respectively. The results of this also provided a model to determine the effect of main factors affecting unwanted intrusive thoughts

واکاوی عوامل مؤثر بر افکار مزاحم ناخواسته: مطالعه کیفی

چکیده مقدمه: یکی از عوامل کلیدی و مهم در مسیر مطالعه و تحصیل، کنترل افکار، توجه و تمرکز است. از عوامل نبود توجه و تمرکز هجوم افکار مزاحم می‌باشد. این پژوهش به‌منظور کشف عوامل مؤثر بر افکار مزاحم ناخواسته افراد بهنجار انجام شد. روش‌: پژوهش حاضر از نوع کیفی به روش تجزیه‌وتحلیل محتوا بود؛ که برای تحلیل محتوا از روش تحلیل مضمون استفاده شد. محیط پژوهش شامل کلیه رسانه‌های چاپی، مقالات، کتب و پایان‌نامه‌های مرتبط با موضوع پژوهش بود. نمونه‌گیری به‌صورت هدفمند صورت گرفت. منابعی که حاوی اطلاعات غنی و مرتبط با موضوع پژوهش بودند انتخاب شده و منابع نامرتبط با موضوع کنار گذاشته شدند. در نهایت داده‌ها از مطالعه عمیق 120 مقاله، 10 کتاب و 4 پایان نامه جمع‌آوری شد. یافته‌ها: یافته‌ها شامل 285 مضمون کد شده، 75 مقوله فرعی و هشت مقوله اصلی بود. هشت مقوله اصلی عبارت بودند از: راهبردهای کنترل افکار، باورهای فراشناختی، ویژگی‌های خلقی، ویژگی‌های افکار مزاحم، ذهن آگاهی، صفات شخصیتی، بافت و فرهنگ و ظرفیت حافظه کاری. نتیجه‌گیری: عواملی که بیشترین تأثیر را روی افکار مزاحم داشتند، به ترتیب عبارت بودند از: راهبردهای کنترل افکار، باورهای فراشناختی، ویژگی‌های خلقی، ویژگی‌های افکار مزاحم، ذهن آگاهی، صفات شخصیتی، بافت و فرهنگ و ظرفیت حافظه کاری؛ نتایج دیگر این پژوهش دستیابی به مدلی بود که تأثیر عوامل اصلی بر افکار مزاحم ناخواسته را نشان می‌داد

A Preliminary Introduction to the OTAM: Exploring Users’ Perceptions of their on-going Interaction with Adopted Technologies

A common criticism directed at Davis’ (1986; 1989) Technology Acceptance Model relates to its failure to adequately frame the “experienced” user’s ongoing adoption and exploitation of information technologies. Given the pervasive nature of technology into individual users’ ongoing, everyday communication and information interactions, along with the “new adopter” becoming an increasingly rare entity, the TAM is in danger of becoming a somewhat obsolete framework for investigating user-technology interaction. Presented is a critical analysis of the development and current state of the TAM, followed by a proposed addition to the existing Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEoU) TAM constructs. The paper contends that the inclusion of a Perception of Interaction (PoI) construct allows researchers to develop an investigative framework which facilitates an exploration of users’ ongoing perceptions of the predictability of their technology interaction processes

Expert Elementary Readers: A Profile of Reading Proficiency

This study examined, through think-aloud protocols, the metacognitive processes that proficient fourth-grade readers use while they read to explore what types of thinking are present in successful elementary-school readers. Using an embedded mixed methods design, I studied the reported thinking processes of 12 proficient, fourth-grade readers to determine what these readers reported thinking as they read informational texts and what types of patterns were evident in their thinking. Several common themes emerged from the analysis of the students’ think-alouds and the findings indicated that the participants applied multiple, similar reading strategies while reading to aid their comprehension

Cognitive processing and growth following trauma

The possibility of positive psychological change following traumatic life experiences has now been well documented in the literature. This phenomenon is most commonly referred to as posttraumatic growth. Several theoretical models have sought to explain the development of posttraumatic growth, many of which have emphasised the important role of cognitive processing (Calhoun, Cann & Tedeschi, 2010; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004a). This thesis sought to further our understanding of the nature of posttraumatic cognitive processing and its association with psychological growth following trauma and adversity. A narrative review of the existing literature on cognitive processing and posttraumatic growth was conducted (Chapter 2) and suggested that cognitive processing might be best understood as comprising intrusive, deliberate and ruminative subtypes. Two cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study were then conducted to develop and test this conceptualisation using samples of survivors of sexually traumatic experiences (Study 1; n = 123), trauma-exposed individuals recruited from trauma-focused websites and support forums (Study 2; n = 254), and trauma-exposed students from the University of Nottingham (Study 3; n = 174). The influence of these three subtypes of cognitive processing on levels of growth following adversity were also tested using the expressive writing intervention (Study 4; n = 24). Taken together, findings from the four studies supported the conceptualisation of cognitive processing as multidimensional, comprising intrusive, deliberate and ruminative subtypes that are differentially associated with posttraumatic growth. Results also provided consistent evidence to suggest that deliberate processing is especially important in the occurrence of growth following trauma and adversity. Unexpectedly, intrusive processing was not found to positively influence posttraumatic growth in the ways hypothesised by existing theoretical models. Implications of these findings with respect to both further research and clinical work with trauma survivors were reviewed in the final chapter

Is digital advertising effective under conditions of low attention? : the impact of low attention processing on consumer brand consideration and choice : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

A crucial task for digital advertising is to influence choice despite consumers' lack of attention. Although lack of attention can reduce advertising effectiveness, recent research suggests that incidental exposure to ads while accessing digital content can lead to some outcome for the exposed ads. This evidence prompts four critical questions: (1) is digital advertising effective if processed at low attention; (2) can low attention processing increase brand consideration and choice; (3) what specific brand/product characteristics embedded in the ads are likely to influence the effect; and (4) what measures are appropriate to capture the low attention effects. To address the questions, three experimental studies (n = 1,423) were conducted in laboratory and online settings. The research manipulates two conditions for low attention processing, namely divided attention and incidental attention. The results show that, at least in the Twitter environment, advertising is effective even under conditions of low attention. Although focused attention still drives the greatest impact, low attention significantly increases the likelihood of target brands being included in the brand consideration and selected as preferred brand choice more than ‘no exposure’. The low attention effects were obtained without subsequent correct respondent recognition. This shows that brand consideration and choice measures were capable of capturing the low attention effects that the recognition measure failed to do. However, the results for source factors – factors that can moderate the effect of stimuli on the outcome – are more nuanced. Brand familiarity, utilitarian/hedonic products, rational/emotional appeals, and (mis)matching between appeals and brands affect the results in some unexpected ways when they interact with low attention. The thesis makes substantive contributions to the application of attention theory in advertising research, testing methodology for ads that are not actively processed, and design of advertising that can work at low attention. The findings are particularly relevant to address current phenomena such as multitasking, multiscreening, and ad avoidance behaviour. Unless advertisers understand how to make advertising work at low attention, the practice of bombarding consumers with attention-grabbing ads will continue to rise, and ad avoidance will accelerate, which in turn, will put advertising at a greater risk of being wasted

From motivator to ‘psychoeducator’: A critical exploration of emotional distress and recovery

The overall purpose of this research is to contribute to a deeper understanding and alleviation of emotional distress, which has individually unique as well as generic features. To contribute to that purpose, the aim of this research undertaking was to make sense of my own experience of emotional distress and the search for a cure from the perspective of an author of several self-help books, a motivational speaker and a coach. The chosen method is critical memoir. The objectives to achieve that aim were dialogues with the internal and external influences on my route to recovery. The artefact presented which accompanies this commentary is a draft of an intended publication that diverges from my usual publications and seeks to share insights into a personal journey which have taken my professional work in a new direction. From seeing myself as a motivational expert giving speeches to ‘unleash potential’, my role is shifting more intentionally to ‘psychoeducator’’, one who facilitates a process of learning to assist in emotional healing. This research ensures that I continue my own personal and professional development to fulfil my purpose of helping those who try to cope quietly and privately with anxiety behind their successful personas. Note: To avoid confusion, in this work I use ‘practice’ as a noun and ‘practise’ as a verb. The exception may be when I am quoting an author. Also, wherever possible, male, female and trans will be referred to with the pronouns ‘them’ or ‘they.

An Examination of Cognitive Biases and Imagery in Perfectionism

This present research explores the relationship between perfectionism and the tendency for individuals to focus their attention towards, and interpret ambiguous information as, stimuli that signals failure. The relationship between perfectionism, repetitive negative thinking, imagery and psychological distress was also explored. Perfectionism was associated with an increased likelihood to focus on failure, interpret ambiguous information in way that indicated failure, and were more likely to experience distress due to intrusive images about the future

Cognitive processing and growth following trauma

The possibility of positive psychological change following traumatic life experiences has now been well documented in the literature. This phenomenon is most commonly referred to as posttraumatic growth. Several theoretical models have sought to explain the development of posttraumatic growth, many of which have emphasised the important role of cognitive processing (Calhoun, Cann & Tedeschi, 2010; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004a). This thesis sought to further our understanding of the nature of posttraumatic cognitive processing and its association with psychological growth following trauma and adversity. A narrative review of the existing literature on cognitive processing and posttraumatic growth was conducted (Chapter 2) and suggested that cognitive processing might be best understood as comprising intrusive, deliberate and ruminative subtypes. Two cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study were then conducted to develop and test this conceptualisation using samples of survivors of sexually traumatic experiences (Study 1; n = 123), trauma-exposed individuals recruited from trauma-focused websites and support forums (Study 2; n = 254), and trauma-exposed students from the University of Nottingham (Study 3; n = 174). The influence of these three subtypes of cognitive processing on levels of growth following adversity were also tested using the expressive writing intervention (Study 4; n = 24). Taken together, findings from the four studies supported the conceptualisation of cognitive processing as multidimensional, comprising intrusive, deliberate and ruminative subtypes that are differentially associated with posttraumatic growth. Results also provided consistent evidence to suggest that deliberate processing is especially important in the occurrence of growth following trauma and adversity. Unexpectedly, intrusive processing was not found to positively influence posttraumatic growth in the ways hypothesised by existing theoretical models. Implications of these findings with respect to both further research and clinical work with trauma survivors were reviewed in the final chapter