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Incentivized product reviews: Positive to a fault?

Researchers found that direct compensation for posting written reviews increases positive emotion, but may lead to overly glowing reviews that don't accurately reflect the experience. In experiments, incentives increased review positivity by 55%, but had unforeseen negative consequences for consumers.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMay 25, 2021

Study examines how pandemic-related changes affect college students' motivation

A study of 182 undergraduate students found that pandemic-related changes affected motivation levels variably, with some students becoming more motivated while others remained unchanged or became less motivated. Demographic factors such as socioeconomic status and first-generation student status did not significantly impact the findings.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Microbiology and Biology Education·DateMay 25, 2021

High school students tend to get more motivated over time

A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that increasing students' sense of belonging in school is a key way to boost academic motivation. Over two years, the study followed more than 1,600 students and found that most shifted towards more adaptive profiles with better motivational characteristics.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateMar 1, 2021

What makes people want more self-control?

Researchers found that desire for self-control is influenced by societal demands and internal motivations, with individuals low in trait self-control expressing greater DSC. Desire for self-control hinges on sense of necessity to accomplish current goals, leading to increased willingness to enroll in training.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalMotivation Science·DateFeb 1, 2021

Voluntary or compulsory? New evidence on motivation for anti-COVID-19 policies

A study by the University of Konstanz found that voluntary motivation to comply with anti-COVID-19 policies is relatively high in Germany, but can be crowded out by enforcement. Measures like limiting contacts and vaccinations showed higher agreement when implemented voluntarily, while wearing masks and travel restrictions had the same...

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 22, 2020

How to be happier in 2021

Research suggests that goals involving helping others are more satisfying and lead to increased happiness. Acts of benevolence increase positive mood and energy, while narrow self-focused concerns can lead to decreased happiness. Experts recommend focusing on contributing to the world for a happier life.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateDec 21, 2020

A biased evaluation of employees' performance can be useful for employers

A new model suggests that biased evaluations can be useful for motivating employees, particularly those with high career concerns. The ideal evaluator should be stricter on capable employees but more lenient on less capable ones. This approach can be applied to various scenarios, such as organizing internships.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateDec 10, 2020

Caring for others is a key driver in getting people to use chatbots for mental health

A new study from North Carolina State University found that users' desire to help others with mental health problems is a powerful driver for using chatbots. The researchers surveyed 1,114 U.S. adults who had used chatbots for mental health services and discovered that helping others was twice as motivating as helping oneself.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Contingencies and Crisis Management·DateOct 5, 2020

Apps and social distancing: Why we accept corona rules - or not

A study by Professor Kai Kaspar found that people's motivation to socially distance increases with the severity of their perceived infection. Motivation to use corona apps also depends on trust in official providers and confidence in data handling, with users more likely to report higher motivation when they believe apps will help prev...

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateSep 4, 2020

Sleepiness and social contact

A study found that increased sleepiness is tied to decreases in social activity, especially on days off and in the evenings, while more social activity in the afternoon can lead to longer sleep duration. The complex relationship between social activity and subsequent sleepiness suggests that sleepiness may impede voluntary social contact.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2020

Just read my face, baby

A new study by the University of Rochester and University of Toronto found that couples who accurately perceive appeasement emotions, such as embarrassment, have better relationships. In contrast, couples where either partner feels negative emotions, regardless of whether those emotions are accurately perceived, have poorer relationships.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 20, 2020

Parents that know a child's preferences can assertively guide exercise

Children perceive coercion as reducing exercise motivation, while parent-child interaction, acceptance of lack of motivation, and participation in activities increase enthusiasm. Parents can support exercise motivation by taking into account children's interests and providing flexible boundaries for screen time.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMay 15, 2020

Initial motivation, a key factor for learning in massive open online courses

Researchers from the University of Seville found that initial motivation is related to individual differences in drop-out probability and satisfaction with the learning experience. The study suggests designing personalized learning plans based on a good initial diagnosis of students' learning intentions and motivational profiles.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalEducational Technology Research and Development·DateApr 28, 2020

Buffed-up avatars deter us from exercising hard

Researchers discovered that competing against an idealised avatar negatively impacts physical performance, whereas a realistic avatar increases motivation and improves outcomes. The study suggests that exergame designers should use realistic avatar customisation to enhance player experience and performance.

Leadership and assertiveness

A recent study by Jackson Lu, Richard Nisbett, and Michael Morris found that East Asians are disproportionately underrepresented in US leadership positions due to relatively lower assertiveness. The research suggests that diverse leadership styles are valuable for organizations and highlights the need for recognition of these differences.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2020

Chiton mollusk provides model for new armor design

Researchers developed a parametric 3D modeling methodology to mimic the geometry of individual scales from the chiton mollusk. The scale armor model provides dual protection-flexibility performance through converging inward upon one another when under force, offering varying amounts of flexibility.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 10, 2019

Rethinking the role of technology in the classroom

A new study by Annahita Ball found that adding tablets and home Wi-Fi to students in an urban New York State school district did not increase academic motivation. Instead, it pointed to the need for schools to focus on interpersonal aspects of learning and family engagement to support student motivation.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalChildren & Schools·DateOct 22, 2019

Icaros: Flight simulator home trainer

Researchers at the German Sport University explored the effects of full-body exergaming in VR on cardiovascular system and strength endurance. Results showed that VR-based training had little to no cardiovascular benefit but created incentives for increased physical activity, motivating users to take up exercise.

SourceGerman Sport University·JournalJMIR Serious Games·DateOct 7, 2019

The secret of motivation

Researchers identified a neural circuit in fruit flies that controls perseverance, with dopamine and octopamine neurotransmitters playing a key role. The finding suggests that simple organisms like fruit flies exhibit stamina and perseverance, challenging the idea that these traits are unique to humans.