Underpinnings of higher level motivational orientations

This thesis explored underpinnings of the higher level motivational orientations, generic to various types of human choice, such as pro-social, intrinsic, achievement motivation and free-riding. Two different choice situations were examined: a choice of degree was utilized as a model of a real life choice and an experimental economic game (e.g. a public goods game) was used to study choices in a controlled laboratory environment. Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST, Gray & McNaughton, 2000) was employed as a theoretical framework of biological motivational traits to examine their links to higher level motivational orientations. RST proposes that individual differences in a vast range of behaviours are linked to individual propensities to approach or avoid in rewarding or punishing contexts. Thus, an individual differences framework was applied to study underpinnings of higher level motivational orientations through their links to the basic motivational traits of behavioural approach and inhibition. The results demonstrated that similar motivations (e.g. pro-social or strategic achievement tendencies) affected individual choices in both situations. In addition, these motivations were linked in a coherent fashion to the biological motivational traits of approach and avoidance. Specifically, individual differences in both intrinsic and strategic achievement motivation were associated with the trait behavioural approach. Pro-social and free-riding motivations were linked to the behavioural inhibition. Furthermore, individual choices in two different situations were mutually consistent. This research agenda reinforces the notion that individual choices on different levels (with a long-term influence, e.g. a choice of degree, or with a short-term influence, e.g. making a charitable donation) in part depend on dispositional traits (e.g. behavioural approach and inhibition). Incorporating the knowledge of basic motivational and affective decision-making mechanisms into the models of individual differences in motivation could considerably improve predictions about individual choices in real life. The findings contribute to the understanding of basic mechanisms underlying individual motivation. Links are established herein of the basic motivational traits to the higher level motivational orientations. These can serve as a starting point to develop further hypotheses about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of higher level motivational orientations and individual choices in real life

Health specific traits beyond the Five Factor Model, cognitive processes and trait expression: replies to Watson (2012), Matthews (2012) and Haslam, Jetten, Reynolds, and Reicher (2012)

In this article we reply to the issues raised by the three commentaries on Ferguson's (2012) article. Watson argues that the four traits identified by Ferguson (2012) – health anxiety, alexithymia, empathy and Type D – do not lie outside the Five Factor Model (FFM). We present factor analytic data showing that health anxiety forms a separate factor from positive and negative affectivity, alexithymia forms a factor outside the FFM and while emotional empathy loads with agreeableness, cognitive empathy forms a separate factor outside the FFM. Across these analyses there was no evidence for a general factor of personality. We also show that health anxiety, empathic facets and alexithymia show incremental validity over FFM traits. However, the evidence that Type D lies outside the FFM is less clear. Matthews (2012) argues that traits have a more distributed influence on cognitions and that attention is not part of Ferguson's framework. We agree; but Ferguson's original statement concerned where traits have their maximal effect. Finally, Haslam et al. suggest that traits should be viewed from a dynamic interactionist perspective. This is in fact what Ferguson (2012) suggested and we go on to highlight that traits can also influence group processes

The ‘Dark Side’ and ‘Bright Side’ of Personality: When Too Much Conscientiousness and Too Little Anxiety Are Detrimental with Respect to the Acquisition of Medical Knowledge and Skill

Theory suggests that personality traits evolved to have costs and benefits, with the effectiveness of a trait dependent on how these costs and benefits relate to the present circumstances. This suggests that traits that are generally viewed as positive can have a ‘dark side’ and those generally viewed as negative can have a ‘bright side’ depending on changes in context. We test this in a sample of 220 UK medical students with respect to associations between the Big 5 personality traits and learning outcomes across the 5 years of a medical degree. The medical degree offers a changing learning context from pre-clinical years (where a more methodical approach to learning is needed) to the clinical years (where more flexible learning is needed, in a more stressful context). We argue that while trait conscientiousness should enhance pre-clinical learning, it has a ‘dark side’ reducing the acquisition of knowledge in the clinical years. We also suggest that anxiety has a ‘bright side’ enhancing the acquisition of skills in the clinical years. We also explore if intelligence enhances learning across the medical degree. Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling we show that medical skills and knowledge assessed in the pre-clinical and clinical years are psychometrically distinguishable, forming a learning ‘backbone’, whereby subsequent learning outcomes are predicted by previous ones. Consistent with our predictions conscientiousness enhanced preclinical knowledge acquisition but reduced the acquisition of clinical knowledge and anxiety enhanced the acquisition of clinical skills. We also identified a curvilinear U shaped association between Surgency (extraversion) and pre-clinical knowledge acquisition. Intelligence predicted initial clinical knowledge, and had a positive total indirect effect on clinical knowledge and clinical skill acquisition. For medical selection, this suggests that selecting students high on conscientiousness may be problematic, as it may be excluding those with some degree of moderate anxiety

Ytterbium and Europium Complexes of Redox-Active Ligands: Searching for Redox Isomerism

© 2017 American Chemical Society. The reaction of (dpp-Bian)Eu II (dme) 2 (3) (dpp-Bian is dianion of 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene; dme is 1,2-dimethoxyethane) with 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) in toluene proceeds with replacement of the coordinated solvent molecules with neutral bipy ligands and affords europium(II) complex (dpp-Bian)Eu II (bipy) 2 (9). In contrast the reaction of related ytterbium complex (dpp-Bian)Yb II (dme) 2 (4) with bipy in dme proceeds with the electron transfer from the metal to bipy and results in (dpp-Bian)Yb III (bipy)(bipy - ). (10) - ytterbium(III) derivative containing both neutral and radical-anionic bipy ligands. Noteworthy, in both cases dianionic dpp-Bian ligands retain its reduction state. The ligand-centered redox-process occurs when complex 3 reacts with N,N′-bis[2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (mes-dad). The reaction product (dpp-Bian)Eu II (mes-dad)(dme) (11) consists of two different redox-active ligands both in the radical-anionic state. The reduction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-ethoxyphenoxy)-2-ethoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienone (the dimer of 2-ethoxy-3,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy radical) with (dpp-Bian)Eu II (dme) 2 (3) caused oxidation of the dpp-Bian ligand to radical-anion to afford (dpp-Bian)(ArO)Eu II (dme) (ArO = OC 6 H 2 -3,6-tBu 2 -2-OEt) (12). The molecular structures of complexes 9-12 have been established by the single crystal X-ray analysis. The magnetic behavior of newly prepared compounds has been investigated by the SQUID technique in the range 2-310 K. The isotropic exchange model has been adopted to describe quantitatively the magnetic properties of the exchange-coupled europium(II) complexes (11 and 12). The best-fit isotropic exchange parameters are in good agreement with their density functional theory-computed counterparts

Participant acceptability of digital footprint data collection strategies:an exemplar approach to participant engagement and involvement in the ALSPAC birth cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Digital footprint records – the tracks and traces amassed by individuals as a result of their interactions with the internet, digital devices and services – can provide ecologically valid data on individual behaviours. These could enhance longitudinal population study databanks; but few UK longitudinal studies are attempting this. When using novel sources of data, study managers must engage with participants in order to develop ethical data processing frameworks that facilitate data sharing whilst safeguarding participant interests. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to summarise the participant involvement approach used by the ALSPAC birth cohort study to inform the development of a framework for using linked participant digital footprint data, and provide an exemplar for other data linkage infrastructures. METHODS: The paper synthesises five qualitative forms of inquiry. Thematic analysis was used to code transcripts for common themes in relation to conditions associated with the acceptability of sharing digital footprint data for longitudinal research. RESULTS: We identified six themes: participant understanding; sensitivity of location data; concerns for third parties; clarity on data granularity; mechanisms of data sharing and consent; and trustworthiness of the organisation. For cohort members to consider the sharing of digital footprint data acceptable, they require information about the value, validity and risks; control over sharing elements of the data they consider sensitive; appropriate mechanisms to authorise or object to their records being used; and trust in the organisation. CONCLUSION: Realising the potential for using digital footprint records within longitudinal research will be subject to ensuring that this use of personal data is acceptable; and that rigorously controlled population data science benefiting the public good is distinguishable from the misuse and lack of personal control of similar data within other settings. Participant co-development informs the ethical-governance framework for these novel linkages in a manner which is acceptable and does not undermine the role of the trusted data custodian

Underpinnings of higher level motivational orientations

This thesis explored underpinnings of the higher level motivational orientations, generic to various types of human choice, such as pro-social, intrinsic, achievement motivation and free-riding. Two different choice situations were examined: a choice of degree was utilized as a model of a real life choice and an experimental economic game (e.g. a public goods game) was used to study choices in a controlled laboratory environment. Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST, Gray & McNaughton, 2000) was employed as a theoretical framework of biological motivational traits to examine their links to higher level motivational orientations. RST proposes that individual differences in a vast range of behaviours are linked to individual propensities to approach or avoid in rewarding or punishing contexts. Thus, an individual differences framework was applied to study underpinnings of higher level motivational orientations through their links to the basic motivational traits of behavioural approach and inhibition. The results demonstrated that similar motivations (e.g. pro-social or strategic achievement tendencies) affected individual choices in both situations. In addition, these motivations were linked in a coherent fashion to the biological motivational traits of approach and avoidance. Specifically, individual differences in both intrinsic and strategic achievement motivation were associated with the trait behavioural approach. Pro-social and free-riding motivations were linked to the behavioural inhibition. Furthermore, individual choices in two different situations were mutually consistent. This research agenda reinforces the notion that individual choices on different levels (with a long-term influence, e.g. a choice of degree, or with a short-term influence, e.g. making a charitable donation) in part depend on dispositional traits (e.g. behavioural approach and inhibition). Incorporating the knowledge of basic motivational and affective decision-making mechanisms into the models of individual differences in motivation could considerably improve predictions about individual choices in real life. The findings contribute to the understanding of basic mechanisms underlying individual motivation. Links are established herein of the basic motivational traits to the higher level motivational orientations. These can serve as a starting point to develop further hypotheses about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of higher level motivational orientations and individual choices in real life.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

USING THE ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF BREEDING PROCESS TO DEVELOP SPRING TRITICALE CULTIVARS

Since 2003, a large-scale study of spring triticale source material of different ecogeographic origin was carried out to launch the breeding work with this crop in the non-black-soil zone of Russia. Accessions and populations from the collections and nurseries of CIMMYT (Mexico), Vavilov Institute, Krasnodar Agricultural Research Institute and Science and Production Centre for Agriculture (Belarus) were evaluated. The breeding process was arranged according to the ecological principle: identification of the required sources and the study of hybrid populations and the developed breeding lines were done concurrently at several sites under different environmental conditions. As a result, four cultivars of spring triticale have been included in the State Register

[Consultation] Response to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation: [call for a] review of online targeting

Data driven technologies and the internet provide the tools to target content, products and services to different individuals at massive scale and relatively low cost in highly sophisticated ways, monitor outcomes and iterate and improve on targeting approaches in real-time. These tools - and the breadth and depth of data commonly held about people and their online behaviours - distinguish online targeting from the relatively broader kind of targeting of populations that has been used for years. The purpose of the review was to analyse the use of online targeting approaches and to make practical recommendations to the UK Government, industry and civil society for how online targeting can be conducted and governed in a way that facilitates the benefits and minimises the risks it presents. Ther definition of online targeting centres around the customisation of products and services online (including content, services standards and prices) based on data about individual users. Instances of online targeting includes online advertising and personalised social media feeds and recommendations.Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a pluralist worl