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Objective The aim of the current study was to test whether behavioural automaticity and intention mediated the effects of past behaviour on a particular type of vigorous physical exercise: bootcamp attendance. Methods A community sample (N = 69) who had previously attended a bootcamp class was recruited from Queensland, Australia. Participants were asked to complete measures of their previous bootcamp attendance, behavioural automaticity, and intention to attend bootcamps (Time 1). One month later (Time 2), participants were asked to report their bootcamp attendance and behavioural automaticity in the previous month. Data were fitted to a Partial Least Squares-SEM model. Results Past behaviour predicted both intention and behavioural automaticity. However, while behavioural automaticity significantly predicted prospectively measured behaviour and mediated the past-future behaviour relationship, there was no significant relationship between intention and bootcamp attendance. Past behaviour still predicted future behaviour beyond both behavioural automaticity and intention. Conclusions Current results support dual process and habit theory in that behavioural automaticity accounts for a portion of the residual effect of past behaviour on future behaviour which is not accounted for by intentional processes. The lack of significant effect by intention may also support these theories, as bootcamp classes likely occur in a stable context (e.g., at a prescribed time and in a regular location), encouraging habitual responding over considered decision-making. peerReviewed

Background Digital health promotion programs tailored to the individual are a potential cost-effective and scalable solution to enable self-management and provide support to people with excess body weight. However, solutions that are widely accessible, personalized, and theory- and evidence-based are still limited. Objective This study aimed to develop a digital behavior change program, Choosing Health, that could identify modifiable predictors of weight loss and maintenance for each individual and use these to provide tailored support. Methods We applied an Intervention Mapping protocol to design the program. This systematic approach to develop theory- and evidence-based health promotion programs consisted of 6 steps: development of a logic model of the problem, a model of change, intervention design and intervention production, the implementation plan, and the evaluation plan. The decisions made during the Intervention Mapping process were guided by theory, existing evidence, and our own research—including 4 focus groups (n=40), expert consultations (n=12), and interviews (n=11). The stakeholders included researchers, public representatives (including individuals with overweight and obesity), and experts from a variety of relevant backgrounds (including nutrition, physical activity, and the health care sector). Results Following a structured process, we developed a tailored intervention that has the potential to reduce excess body weight and support behavior changes in people with overweight and obesity. The Choosing Health intervention consists of tailored, personalized text messages and email support that correspond with theoretical domains potentially predictive of weight outcomes for each participant. The intervention content includes behavior change techniques to support motivation maintenance, self-regulation, habit formation, environmental restructuring, social support, and addressing physical and psychological resources. Conclusions The use of an Intervention Mapping protocol enabled the systematic development of the Choosing Health intervention and guided the implementation and evaluation of the program. Through the involvement of different stakeholders, including representatives of the general public, we were able to map out program facilitators and barriers while increasing the ecological validity of the program to ensure that we build an intervention that is useful, user-friendly, and informative. We also summarized the lessons learned for the Choosing Health intervention development and for other health promotion programs. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040183

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented health, economic, and social consequences worldwide. Although contact reductions and wearing face coverings have reduced infection rates, and vaccines have reduced illness severity, emergence of new variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and the shift from pandemic to endemic patterns of infection, highlights the importance of ongoing preventive behavior adherence to manage future outbreaks. Research applying social cognition theories may assist in explaining variance in these behaviors and inform the development of efficacious behavior change interventions to promote adherence. In the present article, we summarize research applying these theories to identify modifiable determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors and the mechanisms involved, and their utility in informing interventions. We identify limitations of these applications (e.g., overreliance on correlational data, lack of long-term behavioral follow-up), and suggest how they can be addressed. We demonstrate the virtue of augmenting theories with additional constructs (e.g., moral norms, anticipated regret) and processes (e.g., multiple action phases, automatic processes) to provide comprehensive, parsimonious behavioral explanations. We also outline how the theories contribute to testing mechanisms of action of behavioral interventions. Finally, we recommend future studies applying these theories to inform and test interventions to promote COVID-19 preventive behavior adherence. peerReviewed

Objective: We applied an integrated social cognition model to predict physical distancing behavior, a key COVID-19 preventive behavior, over a four-month period. Design: A three-wave longitudinal survey design. Methods: Australian and US residents (N = 601) completed self-report measures of social cognition constructs (attitude, subjective norm, moral norm, perceived behavioral control [PBC]), intention, habit, and physical distancing behavior on an initial occasion (T1) and on two further occasions one week (T2) and four months (T3) later. Results: A structural equation model revealed that subjective norm, moral norm, and PBC, were consistent predictors of physical distancing intention on all three occasions. Intention and habit at T1 and T2 predicted physical distancing behavior at T2 and T3, respectively. Intention at T2 mediated effects of subjective norm, moral norm, and PBC at T2 on physical distancing behavior at T3, and habit at T1 and T2 mediated effects of behavior at T1 and T2 on follow-up behavior at T2 and T3, respectively. Conclusion: Normative (subjective and moral norms) and capacity (PBC) constructs were consistent predictors of physical distancing intention, and intention and habit were consistent predictors of physical distancing behavior. Interventions promoting physical distancing should target change in normative and personal capacity beliefs, and habit. peerReviewed

Although several studies suggested considering gender in online learning, the literature about how male and female students would behave is fragmented. Little attention has been paid to the effect of gender on online learning behavioural patterns. This study aimed at investigating the roles of gender in online learning behaviours by analyzing the gender-related differences of students’ online learning behavioural patterns. We used the case study approach with descriptive statistical analysis, lag sequential analysis, and temporal log data analysis to investigate gender-related differences in students’ online learning behaviours. The results indicated no significant difference in the counts of occurrence of online single learning behaviours between female and male students. However, differences were observed in online learning behaviour patterns and how the online learning activities were performed over time. Females were more active in learning behaviours associated with achievement reports and peer list viewing. They tended to view their achievement reports before starting the main course learning activities, indicating that female students might be achievement-oriented. The findings provide further insights from a temporal perspective about how gender is associated with online learning. Implications on designing personalized online learning interventions based on considering gender-related differences are also discussed. peerReviewed

This study examined patterns of mothers' homework involvement (n = 680 in Grade 6 and 665 in Grade 7) and changes in them during 12-year-old Finnish adolescents' (n = 848; 391 boys) transition to lower secondary school. Moreover, the extent to which adolescents' motivational behavior and prior academic achievement predicted these patterns was examined. The latent transition analyses identified four relatively stable latent patterns of maternal homework involvement in Grades 6 and 7: averagely involved, psychologically controlling and intrusive, noninvolved, and intrusive monitoring and helping. The higher task avoidance and the poorer achievement adolescents showed, the more likely their mothers were to utilize a psychologically controlling and intrusive pattern, or an intrusive monitoring and helping pattern. Overall, these results suggest that some mothers may benefit from understanding of how to best support struggling and task-avoidant adolescents during the transition from primary to lower secondary school. peerReviewed

We tested a dual process model incorporating constructs that reflect both performing the target behaviour (behaviour directed habit) and habits that run counter to the target behaviour (opposing behaviour habit) in accounting for variance in two health behaviours: eating the recommended serves of fruits and vegetables a day and restricting sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. A prospective correlational design with two waves of data collection separated by one week was adopted. Participants (N = 606) comprising middle school students (n = 266) and university students (n = 340) completed an initial survey comprising self-report measures of past behaviour, intention, and habit to perform the target behaviour and habits that run counter to the target behaviour. One week later, participants (N = 414) completed a self-reported measure of behaviour. Results revealed that behaviour directed habits predicted fruit and vegetable consumption in both samples, while opposing behaviour habits predicted restriction of sugar-sweetened beverages in the middle-school sample only, with a moderating effect also observed. Current findings indicate that habits specifying avoidance of the target behaviour did not predict future behaviour. However, the moderating effect observed provides preliminary evidence that strong habits to perform a behaviour may override habit to avoid the behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: Many adolescents report a lack of physical activity (PA) and excess screen time (ST). Psychological theories aiming to understand these behaviours typically focus on predictors of only one behaviour. Yet, behaviour enactment is often a choice between options. This study sought to examine predictors of PA and ST in a single model. Variables were drawn from dual process models, which portray behaviour as the outcome of deliberative and automatic processes. DESIGN: 411 Finnish vocational school students (age 17-19) completed a survey, comprising variables from the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) and automaticity pertaining to PA and ST, and self-reported PA and ST four weeks later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported time spent on PA and ST and their predictors. RESULTS: PA and ST correlated negatively (r = -.17, p = .03). Structural equation modelling revealed that intentions and habit for PA predicted PA while ST was predicted by intentions and habit for ST and negatively by PA intentions. RAA-cognitions predicted intentions. CONCLUSION: PA and ST and their psychological predictors seem to be weakly interlinked. Future studies should assess more behaviours and related psychological influences to get a better picture of connections between different behaviours. UNLABELLED: HighlightsPhysical activity and screen time are largely mutually exclusive classes of behaviours and might therefore be related in terms of their psychological predictors.411 adolescent vocational school students self-reported variables from the Reasoned Action Approach and behavioural automaticity related to physical activity and leisure time screen time behaviours as well as those behaviours.Structural equation modelling revealed expected within-behaviour predictions but, against expectations, no strong connections between the two behaviour classes in terms of their predictors. Only intentions to engage in physical activity negatively predicted screen time.Future research should aim to measure a wider range of mutually exclusive classes of behaviours that cover a large share of the day to uncover relations between behaviours and their respective predictors. publishedVersion

The current study tested the effects of an intervention based on the trans-contextual model (TCM) on secondary school PE students' sport injury prevention behavior and on theory-based motivational and social cognition mediators. Participants were PE students (N=1168; Mage =13.322±1.045, range=12-16; female=51.721%) who participated in a 3-month cluster-randomized controlled trial. Schools were randomly assigned to a treatment group, in which PE teachers received training to be more supportive of psychological needs in teaching sport injury prevention, or a control group, in which PE teachers received no training. Participants completed survey measures of TCM variables and self-reported sport injury prevention behavior at baseline and at 3-month post-intervention follow-up. The proposed TCM model exhibited adequate fit with the data, χ2 =143.080 (df=19), CFI=0.956, TLI=0.916, RMSEA=0.078 (90% CI=0.066-0.090), and SRMR=0.058. We found positive, statistically significant direct intervention effects on changes in perceived psychological need support (β=0.064, p=0.020). We also found positive, significant direct (β=0.086-0.599, p&nbsp

Excess intake of ‘free sugars’ is a key predictor of chronic disease, obesity, and dental ill health. Given the importance of determining modifiable predictors of free sugar-related dietary behaviors, we applied the integrated behavior change model to predict free sugar limiting behaviors. The model includes constructs representing ‘reasoned’ or deliberative processes that lead to action (e.g., social cognition constructs, intentions), and constructs representing ‘non-conscious’ or implicit processes (e.g., implicit attitudes, behavioral automaticity) as predictors of behavior. Undergraduate students (N = 205) completed measures of autonomous and controlled motivation, the theory of planned behavior (TPB) measures of explicit attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intentions, past behavior, implicit attitude, and behavioral automaticity at an initial point in time, and free sugar limiting behavior and behavioral automaticity two weeks later. A Bayesian structural equation model indicated that explicit attitude, subjective norms, and PBC predicted behavior via intention. Autonomous motivation predicted behavior indirectly through all TPB variables, while controlled motivation predicted behavior only via subjective norms. Implicit attitudes and behavioral automaticity predicted behavior directly and independently. Past behavior predicted behavior directly and indirectly through behavioral automaticity and intentions, but not implicit attitudes. Current findings suggest pervasive effects of constructs representing both reasoned and non-conscious processes and signpost potential targets for behavioral interventions aimed at minimizing free sugar consumption. peerReviewed

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of research play an important role in summarizing current knowledge on the efficacy of the behavior change techniques and mechanisms of action that comprise behavioral interventions. The current reviews in the science of behavior change (SOBC) special issue represent a ‘step change’ in evaluating current evidence on behavior change interventions and mechanisms. This concluding article outlines the key findings and emerging issues identified in the reviews (‘known knowns’), and summarizes the evidence gaps highlighted by the reviews that need to be addressed in future research (‘known unknowns’). Specifically, findings of the reviews indicate that: tests of mechanisms of behavior change intervention are not routinely conducted by primary studies and research syntheses; intervention study quality is sub-optimal and reviews do not sufficiently account for study quality when assessing intervention effects and mechanisms; substantive variability exists in descriptions of intervention content and putative mediators implicated in their mechanisms of action; limited data is available on the efficacy of many behavior change techniques; and moderators of intervention effects and mechanisms are seldom taken into account. In terms of potential solutions to these issues, we advocate: testing isolated effects of behavior change techniques and associated mechanisms of action; routine evaluation of study quality in behavioral intervention research; development of an evidence base of links between behavior change techniques and theory-based constructs involved in mechanisms of action; adoption of fit-for-purpose methods for synthesizing behavioral intervention mechanisms of action; and routine testing of moderators in intervention research. peerReviewed

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis of studies examining the determinants of behaviors performed by parents to promote the health of their child, termed "parent-for-child health behaviors," based on an extended theory of planned behavior. Specifically, the study aimed to meta-analyze correlations among theory of planned behavior constructs, planning, and past behavior, and use them to test theory predictions and effects of salient moderators. METHOD: A systematic search identified 46 studies that provided correlations between at least one theory construct and intention or behavior for parent-for-child behaviors. Theory predictions were tested using meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Studies were also coded for candidate moderators of model effects: child age, sample type, time lag between measures of theory constructs and parent-for-child health behavior, study quality, and behavior type, and the proposed model was estimated at each level of the moderator. RESULTS: Results supported theory predictions with attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicting parent-for-child health behavior participation mediated by intention. Perceived behavioral control and planning also directly predicted behavior, and planning partially mediated effects of intention on behavior. Model effects held when controlling for past behavior, supporting the sufficiency of the theory in this behavioral domain. Few moderator effects were found on relations between theory constructs. CONCLUSION: Findings identified the social cognition determinants of parent-for-child health behaviors, and highlight the potential processes by which they relate to behavior. The current model signposts potentially modifiable targets for behavioral interventions aimed at fostering parental participation in behaviors that promote the health of their children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Objectives: University students commonly engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED), which contributes to injury risk, deleterious educational outcomes, and economic costs. Identification of the determinants of this risky behaviour may provide formative evidence on which to base effective interventions to curb HED in this population. Drawing from theories of social cognition and dual‐process models, this study tested key hypotheses relating to reasoned and implicit pathways to action for HED in a sample of Australian university students who drink alcohol. Design: A two‐wave correlational design was adopted. Methods: Students (N = 204) completed self‐reported constructs from social cognition theories with respect to HED at an initial time point (T1): attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, intentions, habit, past behaviour, and implicit alcohol identity. Four weeks later (T2), students self‐reported their HED behaviour and habit. Results: An initial path model indicated attitude and subjective norm predicted intentions, and intentions and implicit alcohol identity predicted HED. Inclusion of past behaviour and habit revealed direct effects of these on HED. Effects of T1 habit on HED were indirect through T2 habit, and there were indirect effects of past behaviour on HED through habit at both time points and the social cognition constructs. Direct effects of intentions and implicit alcohol identity, and indirect effects of attitude and subjective norm, on HED, were attenuated by the inclusion of past behaviour and habit. Conclusion: Results indicate that university students’ HED tends to be governed by non‐conscious, automatic processes than conscious, intentional processes. peerReviewed

A major risk factor for many flood-related drownings is driving through floodwater. We aimed to understand Australian drivers’ experiences and beliefs with respect to avoid driving through floodwater using the theory of planned behaviour as a framework. Study 1 (N = 23) used a qualitative design to gain an in-depth understanding of individuals’ experiences with driving through floodwater. Study 2 (N = 157) used a survey-based design to identify the factors related to this behaviour including knowledge, beliefs, and social-cognitive factors. In Study 1, drivers identified a range of advantages (e.g., didn’t damage car), disadvantages (e.g., inconvenient, but not so terrible), barriers (e.g., urgency to reach destination), and facilitators (e.g., making plans and using existing plans) to avoiding driving through floodwater. Normative factors were also important influences on drivers’ decisions including normative expectancy, approval of significant others, and a moral obligation for the safety of others. In Study 2, participants were able to recall information about driving through floodwater (e.g., dangerous/risky) and its meaning (e.g., body of water over road). A range of experiences were described for avoiding driving through floodwater (e.g., took an alternative route). Across the studies, a range of behavioural, normative, and control beliefs were elicited. Finally, sex (women more likely), attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control significantly predicted intentions to avoid driving through floodwater, with the model explaining 55% of the variance. These findings can inform intervention targets and development of prevention strategies for effective behaviour change, saving lives otherwise lost to Australian waterways in flood.

In their commentaries on Hagger (2019), Gardner, Rebar, and Lally (2019) and Phillips (2019) provide welcome debate on the conceptualization and operation of habits in physical activity. In this response, I extend their comments by (i) calling for a redefining of habits to encompass contemporary views of habit, and (ii) suggesting that descriptions of physical activity habits should make reference to their relations with other implicit constructs that reflect automatic processes. Specifically, I contend that extant definitions of habits for complex behaviors like physical activity should move away from definitions of unitary responses to specific cues or contexts, and, focus on ‘macro’ expressions of the behavior that comprise multiple sub-actions, which can each be controlled by habitual or deliberative processing. It may also be useful for definitions to make the distinction between habitual instigation and execution, affording greater precision in descriptions of the processes that generate habitual behaviors. Finally, physical activity habits as cue-action relations are unlikely to be enacted in the absence of activation of other implicit processes, consistent with behavioral schema. Recognizing this, I contend that descriptions of habit should accommodate these links, and that they may be useful in elaborating on the processes by which habits determine subsequent physical activity behavior. peerReviewed

Background. Academic buoyancy refers to students’ ability to come through ordinary challenges they face in the academic context, and it can positively contribute to students’ beliefs and behaviours in learning situations. Although buoyancy has been found to be related to positive academic outcomes, previous studies have not examined how buoyancy influences academic emotions in learning situations and how these emotions further affect students’ learning-related expectations and behaviours. \ud Aims. This study investigated to what extent academic buoyancy predicts students’ failure expectations, avoidance behaviour, and task-oriented planning in learning situations, and to what extent academic emotions mediate the effect of academic buoyancy on these expectations and behaviours.\ud Sample. A total of 845 Finnish students in the sixth grade of primary school.\ud Methods. Self-report data for academic buoyancy and academic emotions in the autumn semester and learning-related expectations and behaviours in the spring semester were analysed using structural equation modelling, controlling for gender, grade point average, and previous levels of learning-related expectations and behaviours.\ud Results. The findings showed that high academic buoyancy indirectly predicted lower avoidance behaviour, fewer failure expectations, and higher task-oriented planning via academic emotions. High academic buoyancy was related to high enjoyment and hope as well as low boredom and hopelessness, which further predicted low failure expectations. High hope and low boredom also predicted low avoidance behaviour and high hope was associated with high task-oriented planning.\ud Conclusions. The findings suggest that academic buoyancy supports positive expectations and adaptive behaviours in learning situations through the regulation of emotions.

More than half of unintentional flood-related drowning deaths in Australia are due to driving through floodwater, despite on-going public campaigns. Currently, there is a knowledge gap in understanding why individuals choose to drive through floodwater and the decisions that may lead to such actions. We propose that a more complete understanding of individuals’ decisions to drive through floodwater needs to be considered in the context of the lived experience. Australian drivers (N = 20) who had intentionally driven through floodwater participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis based in an interpretivist approach. Past experience, individual perceptions (e.g., situation perceived as different to warnings), and the social and environmental context (e.g., pressure and encouragement from others, seeing other motorists driving through) emerged as major themes. Most salient was that although there was a common awareness of the risk posed by driving through flooded waterways, the decision to take this risk emerged as being heavily reliant on one's ability to construct a sense of self-efficacy in the lead-up to the incident. This study is the first to explore the lived experience of drivers who intentionally decided to drive through floodwater. Future research and public campaigns can draw on these findings to develop evidence-based interventions aimed at combating this risky driving behaviour. peerReviewed

Research shows that extraversion is unrelated to performance approach goal orientation, both at the trait- and the state-level. However, since previous studies have either focused on the trait- or the state-level, such a conclusion may be premature. Building upon the idea that acting against one’s trait consumes self-control resources, we reason that within-person deviations from one’s level of trait extraversion might negatively relate to performance approach goal orientation. Using experience sampling data from 47 employees across 10 days (N = 307), we found that deviations from one’s trait extraversion levels are associated with lower levels of performance approach goal orientation. These findings suggest that an integrative approach to personality allows to better understanding of the relationship between extraversion and performance approach goal orientation.

A major risk factor for many flood-related drownings is driving through floodwater. We aimed to understand Australian drivers’ experiences and beliefs with respect to avoid driving through floodwater using the theory of planned behaviour as a framework. Study 1 (N = 23) used a qualitative design to gain an in-depth understanding of individuals’ experiences with driving through floodwater. Study 2 (N = 157) used a survey-based design to identify the factors related to this behaviour including knowledge, beliefs, and social-cognitive factors. In Study 1, drivers identified a range of advantages (e.g., didn’t damage car), disadvantages (e.g., inconvenient, but not so terrible), barriers (e.g., urgency to reach destination), and facilitators (e.g., making plans and using existing plans) to avoiding driving through floodwater. Normative factors were also important influences on drivers’ decisions including normative expectancy, approval of significant others, and a moral obligation for the safety of others. In Study 2, participants were able to recall information about driving through floodwater (e.g., dangerous/risky) and its meaning (e.g., body of water over road). A range of experiences were described for avoiding driving through floodwater (e.g., took an alternative route). Across the studies, a range of behavioural, normative, and control beliefs were elicited. Finally, sex (women more likely), attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control significantly predicted intentions to avoid driving through floodwater, with the model explaining 55% of the variance. These findings can inform intervention targets and development of prevention strategies for effective behaviour change, saving lives otherwise lost to Australian waterways in flood. peerReviewed

Objective: Childhood sun exposure increases risk of skin cancer in later life. Parents of young children play an important role in minimizing childhood sun exposure. The aim of the current study was to identify the motivational, volitional, and implicit antecedents of parents' sun-protective behaviors based on an Integrated Behavior Change model. Method: Parents (N = 373) of 2- to 5-year-old children self-reported their intentions, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, autonomous and controlled motivation, action plans, habit, and past behaviors with respect to sun-protective behaviors for their children. Two weeks later (n = 273), the parents self-reported their participation in sun-protective behaviors for their child. Results: Data were analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling. Results showed significant direct effects of attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and past behavior on intentions, and significant direct effects of autonomous motivation, perceived behavioral control, intentions, action planning, habit, and past behavior on parents' participation in sun-protective behaviors for their child. There were also significant total indirect effects of autonomous motivation on intentions mediated by attitudes and subjective norm. Conclusions: Current results indicate that parents' sun-protective behaviors toward their children are a function of motivational (autonomous motivation, intentions), volitional (action planning), and implicit (habit) factors. The findings from the current study provide formative data to inform the development of behavior change interventions to increase parents' participation in sun-protective behaviors for their children. © 2017 American Psychological Association.

BackgroundWhile gains in reducing smoking rates in Finland have been made, prevalence rates are still substantial. Relapse rates among smokers engaged in quit-smoking programs are high. Physical activity has been proposed as one means to help smokers manage cravings. Software and apps on mobile phone and handheld devices offer an opportunity to communicate messages on how to use physical activity to manage cravings as part of quit-smoking programs. ObjectiveWe aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of an mHealth mobile phone app, Physical activity over Smoking (PhoS), to assist smokers in quitting smoking in a randomized controlled trial. The app was designed to prompt smokers to engage in physical activities to manage their smoking cravings. MethodsRegular smokers (n=44) attended a group-based behavioral counselling program aimed at promoting physical activity as an additional aid to quit. After quit day, participants were randomly allocated to an intervention (n=25) or to a comparison (n=19) group. Participants in the intervention group were provided with the PhoS app and training on how to use it to assist with relapse prevention. Participants in the comparison condition were provided with generalized relapse prevention training. ResultsSome participants reported that the PhoS app was useful in assisting them to successfully manage their cigarette cravings, although compliance across the sample was modest and participants reported low levels of usability. Participants receiving the PhoS app did not report greater abstinence than those who did not receive the app. However, participants receiving the app were more likely to report greater abstinence if they did not use pharmacological support, while those who did not receive the app reported greater abstinence when using pharmacological support. Participants receiving the app reported greater levels of physical activity than those who did not. Results revealed that the app resulted in better retention. ConclusionsThe PhoS app showed some potential to reduce abstinence among participants not using pharmacological therapy and to increase physical activity. However, problems with usability and lack of effects on abstinence raise questions over the app’s long-term effectiveness. Future research should prioritize further development of the app to maximize usability and test effects of the intervention independent of quit-smoking programs. Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 55259451; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN55259451 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6cKF2mzEI)

This case study used qualitative content analysis to examine the cases of two intimately violent men. Both participated in a group intervention but experienced dramatically different outcomes. In the case of "Henri", the intervention was especially successful, but in the case of "Mikael" it was unsuccessful. The data of this study consisted of the video tapes of the men’s therapy sessions, and of the interviews of their spouses. The research questions were the following: 1) Were there changes in the men’s attitudes toward a) women, b) masculinity and c) violent behavior?, 2) How high was the men’s motivation for treatment and making changes in themselves? and 3) Did their attitudes and motivation differ from one another? Studying Henri’s therapy sessions revealed that his attitudes toward women, masculinity and violence changed during the treatment in a way that seemed to support non-violent behavior. In addition, he expressed high motivation for the treatment and for making changes in himself. In Mikael’s case, the therapy sessions revealed no significant changes in his attitudes toward women, masculinity or violence. Especially his attitudes toward women were very restrictive and he also tried to use these attitudes to justify his violent behavior. In addition, Mikael expressed low motivation for the treatment and for changing his behavior. In this study, intimate partner violence is viewed as a gendered phenomenon. The results offer preliminary evidence that men’s attitudes toward women, masculinity and violence are relevant factors to consider in the treatment of intimately violent men. In addition, it is argued that the participants' motivation for changing their violent behavior has a significant effect on the outcome of the treatment.

This dissertation investigates expatriate IT workers located in Japan in the contexts of their acculturation and thinking about workplace and business negotiations. Case studies of individual actors supported by surveys were chosen as the methods to gather data leading to findings about how expatriates develop in Japan, including their ability to adjust, accept, and reject schemata about business management situations. Individuals were chosen as a unit of study because they are the key figures who decide the economic fate of companies. Schemata were chosen as a study focus in the later articles because they are the cognitive location of information about home and host culture and come into play when actors decide their actions and strategies. Important findings are that individuals who are skilled and successful in cross border business management often have not only cultural informants, but interculturally fluent informants as guides and supporters. Further, hybrid managers can extend hybrid formations to internal company organizations and synergize their networks as well as their skills. Acculturation develops in some individuals moving along through stages recognized in previous intercultural work to create new types of expatriates not previously identified. Business schemata in negotiation, business management, and day to day workplace practices present a way to compare knowledge, approach and ability among managers from various cultures. Very successful actors studied in this thesis were able to activate home and host culture schemata as well as synthesize those schemata to create the results they targeted. Overall, the thesis shows that business actors in Japan’s IT landscape may have high success in acculturating to Japan and learn to manage a business environment very different from their home countries in North America and Europe. In addition to findings and implications regarding IT business actors and their thinking, the thesis proposes a refined model of decision making about schemata and the development of schemata as an actor gains experiences.

Among adolescents, many parenting practices have been associated with the initiation and development of drinking behaviors. However, recent studies suggest discrepancies in parents' and adolescents' perceptions of parenting and their links with adolescent use. In this study, we derive two independent sets of underlying parenting profiles (based on parent and adolescent reported behaviors at age 11–12 years), which were then examined in relation to adolescents' drinking behaviors at ages 14 and 17½. Results indicated that the two sets of profiles accounted for little shared variance, with those based on adolescents' reports being stronger predictors of adolescent drinking. Moreover, comparisons of drinking levels across profiles pointed to multiple parenting strategies that may effectively reduce adolescent alcohol experimentation, including simply sustaining a moderate level of awareness of adolescents' whereabouts and activities and avoiding excessive conflict and strictness. peerReviewed

This thesis focuses on a systematic assessment of the feasibility and performance of situated crowdsourcing, as well as a basic understanding of the behaviours of its workers. While these aspects have been extensively studied for online and mobile crowdsourcing, this is not the case for situated crowdsourcing mainly due to its relative novelty. Such an assessment is crucial for the development of the crowdsourcing research agenda, so that task requesters and researchers alike can leverage, whenever appropriate, situated technologies for crowdsourcing efforts with more confidence. The key findings of this thesis illustrate how appropriately designed crowdsourcing tasks can perform well even in a complex deployment setting: situated technologies in public spaces. In the articles presented in this thesis, we empirically demonstrate that situated crowdsourcing performance can compete with other means of collecting crowd contributions. While situated technologies have been reported in the past to suffer from credibility and misappropriation issues, one should not forego the use of these technologies for crowdsourcing purposes assuming that the tasks are not haphazardly designed. The thesis also explores the behaviours of situated crowdsourcing workers through in-situ observations, video analysis and longitudinal individual tracking. Towards the end of the thesis, we revisit the research questions put forth in the thesis, and highlight how they were answered. We then discuss the benefits and drawbacks of situated crowdsourcing, and the differences between using non-personal and personal devices for this purpose. In both cases, the decisions made by the task requesters or researchers will ultimately depend on their goals and the task itself. We conclude the thesis by restating the thesis’ research agenda, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of situated crowdsourcing, and our future work within this area. Tiivistelmä Tämä väitöskirja keskittyy paikkasidonnaisen joukkoälyn käyttökelpoisuuden sekä tehokkuuden järjestelmälliseen arviointiin. Väitöskirja pyrkii myös ymmärtämään joukkoälyjärjestelmien työntekijöiden käyttäytymistä ohjaavia tekijöitä alustavalla tasolla. Paikkasidonnaisuus on tekijä, jota useimmiten verkossa tai mobiililaitteissa tehtävässä joukkotyötutkimuksessa ei ole mahdollista ymmärtää perusteellisesti. Paikkasidonnaisuus muodostaa kuitenkin elintärkeän osan joukkoälytutkimuksessa, ja sitä hyväksikäyttämällä sekä joukkotyön teettäjät että joukkoälytutkijat voivat soveltuvissa tilanteissa hyödyntää paikkasidonnaisia teknologioita luotettavamman joukkoälytiedon tuottamiseen. Väitöskirjan keskeisimmät löydökset osoittavat kuinka tarkoituksenmukaisesti toteutetut joukkoälytehtävät tuottavat luotettavaa tietoa, jopa monimutkaisissa käyttöympäristöissä kuten paikkasidonnaisia teknologioita hyödyntävissä julkisissa tiloissa. Väitöskirjan artikkelit osoittavat empiirisesti paikkasidoinnaisen joukkoälyn olevan kilpailukykyinen muiden joukkoälyteknologioiden kanssa, vaikka paikkasidonnaisten teknologioiden on aiemmin osoitettu kärsivän uskottavuuden puutteesta sekä väärinkäytöstä. Tämän väitöskirjan löydökset osoittavat, että oikein suunnitellut joukkoälytehtävät sopivat hyvin käytättäväksi kyseisten teknologioiden kautta. Suorituskyvyn sekä tehokkuuden lisäksi väitöskirjassa esitellään empiirisiin havaintoihin, videoanalyysiin, sekä yksilöiden pitkäkestoiseen tutkimukseen pohjautuvia löydöksiä joukkoälytyöntekijöiden käyttäytymismalleista. Väitöskirjan loppuosa käsittelee henkilökohtaisten ja julkisten laitteiden hyötyjä sekä haittapuolia suhteessa paikkasidonnaisten joukkoälyjärjestelmien käyttöön. Löydökset osoittavat, että kummassakin tapauksessa laitetyypin valintaa ohjaavat joukkoälytyön teettäjien tai tutkijoiden asettamat tavoitteet, sekä kyseessä olevat joukkoälytehtävät. Väitöskirjan päätteeksi palataan asetettuihin tutkimuskysymyksiin sekä vastaaviin löydöksiin, ja pohditaan paikkasidonnaisen joukkoälyn tuomia haasteita, mahdollisuuksia sekä tulevaisuuden visioita.

Only abstract. Paper copies of master’s theses are listed in the Helka database (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Electronic copies of master’s theses are either available as open access or only on thesis terminals in the Helsinki University Library. Vain tiivistelmä. Sidottujen gradujen saatavuuden voit tarkistaa Helka-tietokannasta (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Digitaaliset gradut voivat olla luettavissa avoimesti verkossa tai rajoitetusti kirjaston opinnäytekioskeilla. Endast sammandrag. Inbundna avhandlingar kan sökas i Helka-databasen (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Elektroniska kopior av avhandlingar finns antingen öppet på nätet eller endast tillgängliga i bibliotekets avhandlingsterminaler. Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin Peluurin, rahapeliongelmaisille ja heidän läheisilleen tarkoitetun auttavan puhelimen, puhelinraporttitietokannan kirjauksia. Peluurin kokeiluvaiheen alkujaksolta 1.9-31.12.2004 tarkasteluuun valittuja kirjauksia oli 81 kappaletta. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli työstää aineistosta kokonaisuus, joka tiivistää yhteen aineiston sisältämät kategoriat. Muodostettavan kokonaisuuden kautta pyrittiin hahmottelemaan rahapeliongelmaan olennaisesti liittyviä piirteitä ja luomaan näkymys siitä, miten Peluuriin soittaneet rahapelaajat ja heidän läheisensä pyrkivät ymmärtämään rahapeliongelmaa arkielämäänsä, ihmissuhteisiinsa, talouteensa ja ihmisyyteensä vaikuttavana tekijänä ja ottamaan haltuun elämänsä eri puolia, jotka rahapeliongelma on saattanut epäjärjestykseen. Kirjauksia tarkasteltiin aineistolähtöisellä Grounded Theory -menetelmällä. Tutkimuksessa analysoitiin ja koodattiin aineistoa systemaattisesti ja intensiivisesti. Avoimen koodauksen tuloksena syntyneet koodit tiivistettiin selektiivisen koodauksen vaiheessa jäsennellyiksi kokonaisuuksiksi. Koodausprosessin kautta hahmottui keskeinen aineiston ydinkategoria, joka integroi analyysiprosessissa tuotetun teorian ja selitti suurimman osan aineistosta muotoillun ilmiötä koskevan käyttäytymismallin vaihtelusta. Ydinkategorian teoreettinen integraatio tuotti substantiaalisen teorian aineistosta löytyneistä käyttäytymismalleista. Ensimmäisessä tutkimusprosessin vaiheessa kysyin 1) Minkälaisia syitä tai taustaoletuksia rahapelaamiselle soittajat ovat antaneet?; 2) Minkälaisia seurauksia rahapelaamisesta on soittajille ollut? ja 3) Minkälaisia selviytymiskeinoja soittajat ottavat esiin? Havaintojeni mukaan soittajat etsivät pelaamisensa syitä ensisijaisesti sosiaalisesta, psyykkisestä ja fyysisestä todellisuudesta ja pyrkivät ulkoistamaan pelaamiseen liittyvän problematiikan. Soittajien kertomasta välittyi etenkin talouteen, arjen sujumiseen ja omaan ihmisyyteen liittyviä ongelmallisen rahapelaamisen seurauksia ja vaikutuksia. Soittajien esiin ottamista selviytymiskeinoista hahmottui kolme soittajan käyttämää toimintamallia; passiivinen ja poissulkeva; avun hakemiseen aktivoitumassa oleva ja aktiivisesti apua hakeva. Toisessa tutkimusprosessin vaiheessa kysyin edellisten kokonaisuuksien pohjalta 1) mistä syiden, seurausten ja selviytymiskeinojen pohtiminen kertoo ja 2) mitä Peluuriin soittava tavoittelee ja haluaa. Vastaukseksi näihin kysymyksiin hioutui edellä esiteltyjä kategoriakokonaisuuksia vertaillen ja niiden keskinäisiä suhteita tutkien ydinkategoria Rahapeliongelman ymmärtäminen ja oman elämän haltuunotto. Tutkimuksen keskeisenä tuloksena on substantiivinen malli, joka tiivistää ja kietoo yhteen peliongelmaisen hahmottamat syyt ja seuraukset sekä hänen käyttämänsä selviytymiskeinot. Peluuriin soittava tavoittelee pelaamisensa syitä ja sen seurauksia pohtiessaan ymmärrystä peliongelmansa luonteesta. Muodostamansa ymmärryksen kautta hän pyrkii hallitsemaan pelaamisen sekasortoon saattamaa elämäänsä. Tämä oman elämän haltuunotto eli pelaajan mieltämät mahdollisuudet ohjata omaa elämäänsä vaikuttavat hänen valitsemiinsa selviytymiskeinoihin. Keskeisiä lähteitä olivat taustan ja tulosten näkökulmasta Murto & Niemelä (1993), Poteri & Tourunen (1995) ja Mielonen & Tiittanen (1999) ja valitun menetelmän näkökulmasta Siitonen (1999), Strauss & Corbin (1998) ja Glaser (1978).

Boiling blood : anger at the start of the modern era in England Abstract: Boiling blood : anger at the start of the modern era in England Abstract: Boiling blood : anger at the start of the modern era in England