Search

The experimental psychologist Franz Hillebrand (1863-1926), who had been trained by Ewald Hering and Ernst Mach, worked in Innsbruck for three decades. His scientific research during this time focused on experimental investigations of spatial perception. His pioneering „alley experiments“ initiated the clarification of the important question of the geometrical structure of visual space. His study results suggest that visual space is inhomogeneous with respect to its geometry, which he assumes to be locally Euclidean or hyperbolic. Initiated by Hillebrand’s experiments, research received crucial and internationally visible input in a variety of fields such as spatial perception, the geometry of visual-spatial orientation, size constancy, as well as in the development of mathematical models and theories such as in the area of perception psychology. Additionally to the history and the results of the above-mentioned studies, the life and work of the pioneer of this research, Franz Hillebrand, will be introduced.

A process model (PM) represents the graphical depiction of a business process, for instance, the entire process from online ordering a book until the parcel is delivered to the customer. Knowledge about relevant factors for creating PMs of high quality is lacking. The present study investigated the role of cognitive processes as well as modelling processes in creating a PM in experienced and inexperienced modellers. Specifically, two working memory (WM) functions (holding and processing of information and relational integration) and three process of process modelling phases (comprehension, modelling, and reconciliation) were related to PM quality. Our results show that the WM function of relational integration was positively related to PM quality in both modelling groups. The ratio of comprehension phases was negatively related to PM quality in inexperienced modellers and the ratio of reconciliation phases was positively related to PM quality in experienced modellers. Our research reveals central cognitive mechanisms in process modelling and has potential practical implications for the development of modelling software and teaching the craft of process modelling.

The goal of this study was to examine associations between broad personality traits and gazing behavior when viewing car advertisements. As stimulus material, 12 different car advertisement pictures were selected from magazines; these depicted a car and varied in pricing with accompanying text. Two major areas of interest (AOIs) in the advertisements where analyzed in participants’ (N = 61) gazing: the car and price/text. The eye movement parameters number of fixations, mean fixation duration, and total dwelling time in the two AOIs were predicted from participants’ Big Five traits (measured with the NEO-FFI). Findings yielded that participants generally focused more on the car rather than the price/text and that neuroticism and extraversion were associated with more fixations on the car while neuroticism and conscientiousness with less fixations on the price/text. Findings are discussed regarding their implications for personality-congruent advertisement.

The present study elucidates how self-leaders are perceived by others by investigating which traits are ascribed to them. Participants (student dyad sample, N = 186) provided self-ratings on self-leadership and peer-ratings on the Big Five after working together on a cooperative task. Self-rated self-leadership was associated with other-rated Big Five traits to investigate how self-leaders are described by others. Results indicated that self-leaders were mostly described with agentic traits (extraversion, openness) and that this was primarily driven by natural reward strategies. Natural reward strategies play a crucial role in self-leadership perceptions which is an important finding for future self-leadership studies.

Die Beziehungen zwischen Motiven und zentralen Dimensionen des Führungsverhaltens wurden bislang nicht empirisch überprüft. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die Assoziationen zwischen den drei zentralen Motiven (Macht, Leistung und Anschluss) einschließlich deren Antriebstendenzen (Hoffnung und Furcht) und dem Full Range Leadership-Modell (transformationale, transaktionale und Laissez-faire Führung) empirisch an N = 59 Führungskräften mit langjähriger Führungserfahrung überprüft. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass die vermeidende Antriebstendenz des Machtmotivs (Furcht vor Kontrollverlust) negativ mit aktivem und effektivem Führungsverhalten (transformationale Führung) in Verbindung steht. Die vermeidende Antriebstendenz des Anschlussmotivs (Furcht vor Zurückweisung) zeigt positive Beziehungen zu inaktivem und ineffektivem Führungsverhalten (Laissez-faire Führung). Diese Beziehungen konnten unter Kontrolle des Geschlechts, des Alters und der Führungserfahrung bestätigt werden. Insgesamt zeigen die Daten, dass die hemmenden Antriebstendenzen des Macht- und des Anschlussmotives negativen Einfluss auf aktives und effektives Führungsverhalten ausüben., The relations between motives and leadership behavior have so far not been empirically examined. In the present study associations between the big three motives (need for power, need for achievement, need for affiliation) and the full range model of leadership (transformational, transactional, and Laissez-faire leadership) in N = 59 leaders with leadership experience have been investigated. The results indicated that the inhibitory motive tendency of need for power (fear of loss of control) is negatively associated with active and effective leadership behavior. The inhibitory motive tendency of need for affiliation (fear of rejection) showed positive relations to inactive and ineffective leadership behavior (Laissez-faire leadership). These relationships remained even after controlling for sex, age, and leadership experience. Overall, data indicated that inhibitory motive tendencies of need for power and need for affiliation exert negative influence to active and effective leadership behavior.