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![University College Maastricht
The influence of social media on the political
interest of UM students
Riccarda Luz – i6157203
Methodological Approach
Prior Research
Quantitative analysis of the impact of
social networking sites on the individual’s
activities:
- Gil de Zúñiga, H., Jung, N. & Valenzuela,
S. (2012). Social Media Use for News
and Individuals' Social Capital, Civic
Engagement and Political Participation.
Journal of Computer-Mediated
Communication
- Gil de Zúñiga, H., Molyneux, L. & Zheng,
P. (2014). Social Media, Political
Expression, and Political Participation:
Panel Analysis of Lagged and
Concurrent Relationships. Journal of
Communication
Methodological Approach
Qualitative data collection:
• Semi-structured interviews
• Questions about: use of social media
platforms; following politicians; political
interest; political participation
• Participants from all UM faculties for
representative results
Results and Hypothesis
Holt, K., Ljungberg, E., Shehata, A. & Strömbäck, J. (2013). Age and the effects of news media attention and social media use on political interest
and participation: Do social media function as leveller? European Journal of Communication, 28 (1), 19-34. Retrieved from:
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0267323112465369
Stitcher (2018). Social Media and Politics [digital image]. Retrieved from: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/social-media-and-politics
University of Amsterdam (2017). The politics of Twitter [digital image]. Retrieved from: https://politicsoftwitter.wordpress.com
Riccarda Luz
i6157203
May 4, 2018
Research Methods II
University College Maastricht
Zwingelput 4
6211 KH Maastricht
The Netherlands
Aim and Research Question
Background
In the 21st century, social networking platforms such as Facebook and
Twitter became an important tool for political parties to communicate their
programs. Especially the support of younger generations can be achieved
through an active participation in social media. Whole election campaigns
were conducted via Facebook and Twitter in order to reach more people and
attract new voters (Holt, Shehata, Strömbäck & Ljungberg, 2013).
Consequently, the use of social media is an important contributor to political
participation (Bichard, Johnson, Seltzer & Zhang, 2010). The aim of the research is to recognize how
social media can impact the political interest
and orientation of young people by using
networks as a medium for spreading political
ideas and beliefs. In oder to investigate this,
the research focuses on UM students and
attempts to answer the following research
question:
In what ways does social media influence
the political interest of UM students?
References
Based on the suggested studies, the
expected hypothesis of the research
is:
Social media contributes
significantly to the political interest
and activity of young people.
In both studies, the relationship
between social networking sites and
online political expression and
participation are discussed. As
political parties are more present in
social media, online users are
animated to actively participate in
debates or actions against
government policies (Zúñiga,
Molyneux & Zheng, 2014). In addition
to these findings it is important to
investigate in how far the political
presence in social media influences a
young people‘s general interest in
politics.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-12-320.jpg)
![Introduction & aim
Relevance & justification
The research will be qualitative and will use physical as well as online
surveys to collect data. Additionally earlier research will be used to justify
the conclusions we make from the collected data. Sample size will be
around 70 surveys from the four main generations: baby boomers and
generations X, Y and Z. The surveys will be analyzed and similarity’s be-
tween the generations will be observed and researched.
Week 1: Revise research proposal, write survey, spread survey
Week 2: Continue collect survey data, analyze papers written connected
Week 3: Interpretation of all data & find things in common, finish 1st draft
Week 4: Finish writing the paper
Access& Limitations
References
[Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2018, from
https://goo.gl/images/X2jwU1
Amy Ingenhoest 6165082 UCM Research Methods II
How do different generations perceive their privacy in the World Wide Web?
Different generations have different opinions due to different experiences
they have had in in der life time. One of the BIG gamechangers was the
WORLD WIDE WEB. But it came with risks, that now are more viable than
ever as the Cambridge analytical scandal. The research will try to
establish if there is a continuity of decrease in perception in privacy and
weight the risks of this development.
Data and Method
The relevance of protecting our privacy has become more and more
prominent. However, often people share, upload and agree to things
with out knowing how it will/can and does intrudes their privacy. The
question now rises in Governments, do legislative adjustments need to
be made to protect people. And our research can provide some evidence
to this question if the state needs to intervene.
Earlier research
• Anne Adams (1999) comes to the conclusion that the perceived invasion of
privacy effects the users and predicts that this would lead to people being
against this violations.
• Akpojivi & Bevan-Dye (2015) showed that even if younger generations were
informed about the use companies make with their data they had nothing
against it until they heard about the intrusion of privacy. The key point is that
they need to see the user of their privacy as negative
• Christofides, Muise,& Desmarais
(2012) conclude that the plat-
form the information is collected
on can manipulate the level of
consciousness about sharing pri-
vate data.
With using online and physical surveys we will be able to
reach enough diverse sample set to generalize to a extend of
reliability. The limitations will exists due to a limited time
frame of spreading data as well as a limited possibility of
thoroughly going through a large number of surveys. Further
more, there will be difficulties reaching larger amounts of the
oldest generation why this generation will not be survey as
well as the youngest one too.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-28-320.jpg)
![References
To which extent does Wikipedia’s user-interface design affect the willingness of
users to consider editing articles?
Konieczny, P. (2009). Governance, organization, and democracy on the Internet: The iron law and the evolution of Wikipedia. In Sociological Forum (Vol. 24, No. 1,
pp. 162-192). Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Thornton-Verma, H. (2012). REACHING THE WIKIPEDIA GENERATION - from questions about measuring usage to patron-driven acquisition to the inexorable
challenge of dealing with wikipedia, lJ's reference editor and a gathering of publishers, aggregators, and librarians discuss reference trends and its thorny issues.
Library Journal, 137(7), 32-42.
Wikimedia (2017). English Wikipedia at a glance November 2017 [Table]. Retrieved from https://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/SummaryEN.htm
Zineldin, M. (2000). Beyond relationship marketing: Technologicalship marketing. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 18(1), 9-23. doi:10.1108/026345000103085
(2) Quantitative approach: Does design matter at all?
Questionnaire: Ranking of the prototype-designs
according to e.g. attractiveness,
understandability, professionalism etc.
Evaluation through e.g. Dowdall rule.
Wikipedia is a major source for quick acquirement of
knowledge information on Wikipedia should be as
accurate as possible.
The organizational set-up of Wikipedia ensures that a
higher amount of participants in the editing process is
increasing the reliability of information how can we
motivate more people to participate in editing articles?
Background
Methodology
(1) Qualitative part: What makes a good design for you?
- Semi-structured interviews / focus groups.
- groups of 6-9 people
- Example questions:
- What makes a good design for you?
- Do you tend to be involved with educational &
non-profit causes in general?
Mixed approach.
Development of five prototype-designs.
Theoretical framework
- Interpretivist paradigm: Only through
examining the very personal opinions
and ideas about what constitutes a
good design, the research can be
successful
- Includes a post-positivist assumption:
the result of the qualitative research
can be statistically verified
Hypothesis
A more responsive, flexible design which
puts a bigger focus on mobile devices, soft
shapes, and includes a theme color,
encourages people to contribute more to
Wikipedia in the short term.
Thilo Buchholz
i6165448](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-30-320.jpg)
![Sexism is the systematic inequitable
treatment of women by men or the
society as a whole. Structures of
sexism are based in culture,
institutions, and practices. Internalized
sexism refers to how women
incorporate sexist practices and how
these circulate among women. Women
are still under-represented in the field
of academia and bound by internal
pressures presumably different than
those faced by men. Furthermore,
while laws may be in place to restrict
discriminatory acts from occurring,
this study will analyze how women
feel how laws/policies in the
Netherlands are enacted and contribute
to their work environment.
Purposive sampling of 6
female UM professors
Problem-centered interviews
1. Elicit narration,
2. Structured questions
- When in your academic career did
you experience insecurity, pressure,
feelings of incapability?
- What were the relations with other
women in the academic sphere?
- *Reference NL Policies* - Where do
you feel are there short-comings,
what needs to be added?
Coding interviews
thematically by tally
frequency, and analysis
Introduction
Internalizing Structures of Sexism
Objectives
q What structures of sexism exist and have
been experienced by the participants.
q How women internalized these
structures.
q How women feel current laws impact
their environment.
Methods
References
Bearman, S., Korobov, N., & Thorne, A. (2009). The fabric of internalized sexism. Journal of Integrated
Social Sciences, 1(1), 10-47.
Plantenga, J., & Remery, C. (2015). The policy on gender equality in the Netherlands [PDF]. Brussels:
European Parliament.
Savigny, H. (2014) Women, know your limits: cultural sexism in academia. Gender and Education, 26(7),
794-809. DOI: 10.1080/09540253.2014.970977
How have female Academic
professors in Maastricht
University confronted structures
of sexism throughout their
academic careers, and how have
they internalized it?
Research Question
Empirical Research
Relevance
qUnderstanding how sexism still exists in
academia, and how that can inform a
women’s ability to strive for careers.
qAnalyzing existing structures, and laws and
how women can rely on them (Does it help or
hinder)
qWomen may also instigate sexist practices.
qHow a progressive society, such as the
Netherlands still experiences these issues,
and why this occurs.
qBearman, S., Korobov (2009) specifically studies the internalization of
sexism through dialogs with undergraduate women on their perspective of
competition between other women, and assertions of incapability's.
qPlantenga, J., & Remery (2015) published a report analyzing laws and
policies in the Netherlands showing how gender inequality (particularly in
the workplace) still exists to certain degrees; issues such as wage gap,
employment rate, anti-discriminatory measures.
qSavigny (2014) qualitatively explores examples of cultural feminism which
affect the working lives of British Women in Academia. Her study
concludes that the activity of academia is profoundly gendered and this
contributes to our understanding of the under-representation of women in
senior positions.
Transcribing data
anonymously
Send out, short pre-
interview questionnaires
Chloe Agnello i6152161](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-49-320.jpg)
![CompetitiveSports
& ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
at
WHAT? We are all told that exercise is good for our mental health, but does this reflect in our academic
performance at university too? Previous research comparing competitive sports and academic performance
has found inconsistent results. As you can see in the table to the right, a recent study in Saudi Arabia found a
positive relationship between the two variables (Alahmed, Yusof & Shah 2016). Another study found that
Latino students in particular found that those who participated in sports achieved higher scores in
mathematics than students of other ethnicities (Martinez & Mickey, 2013). Is this also true for students at
Maastricht? Is there a difference between male and female athletes? Does it matter which sport you do? And
how often? Does you ethnicityhave an impacton this?
RESEARCH QUESTION What is the effect of competitive sports on
academic performance (measured in GPA) for students at Maastricht
University?
HOW? This research will mainly revolve around qualitative analysis of a very comprehensive (e.g. includes
not only information on grades and sports but also age, sex, study, etc.) large-scale survey. This would
include questions like Which sport do you play? How often do you play sports? What is your GPA? How many
hours do you study? What is your gender?Whereare you from? Etc.
Week 1
1. Preparingsurvey
2.Collecting data
Week 2
1. Collecting data
2.Analysing data
Week 3
1. Analysing data
2.Writing report
Week 4
1. Writing report
2. Revising
Alahmed, M.,Yusof, A., & Shah, P. (2016).Attitude, sports participation and academic performanceof undergraduate student- athletes in Saudi Arabia. Journalof Physical
Education and Sport, 16(3),1000-1004. [157]. DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2016.03157
Sylvia Martinez & Evan Mickey (2013)The Effects of Participation in Interscholastic Sports on Latino Students’ Academic Achievement, Journalfor the Study of Sports
and Athletes in Education, 7:2, 97- 114, DOI: 10.1179/1935739713Z.0000000007
(Alahmed, Yusof & Shah 2016)
Heleen de Jonge i6153426](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-83-320.jpg)
![The Importance of Light in Classroom Settings
Paige Brockington
Previous Studies and Empirical Research:
Figueiro, M., Bierman, A., Plitnick, B., & Rea, M. (2009). Preliminary evidence that both blue and red light
can induce alertness at night. BMC Neuroscience, 10(1), 105. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-105
Knez, I. (1995). Effects of indoor lighting on mood and cognition. Journal Of Environmental Psychology,
15(1), 39-51. doi: 10.1016/0272-4944(95)90013-6
Robinson, S. (2011). Do You See What I See? [DVD]. London: BBC.
Veitch, J., & Gifford, R. (1996). Assessing Beliefs about Lighting Effects on Health, Performance, Mood,
and Social Behavior. Environment And Behavior, 28(4), 446-470. doi: 10.1177/0013916596284002
● These studies highlight various trends of the relationship between light and
mood. The first highlights how blue and red light increase alertness which the
documentary supports and the latter aims to prove that more lighting increases
mood and therefore performance.
Abstract
The influence light has on human behaviour has been analysed in the past, often linked
to consumer habits or workspace however, the effects that lighting has on students’
wellbeing and performance is disputed. Most studies focus on the difference between
natural light and synthetic or warm or cold lighting. However, recent studies have shown
that blue lighting as opposed to red warmer lighting could actually increase activity due
to a better mood. Studies show blue lighting increases activity and makes time pass
faster. Therefore, the question arises if this could influence activity and performance in
the classroom.
Why?
The results of this study could help in increasing the students’ wellbeing in classrooms
and lead to more productive sessions if we understand more about the effect light can
have.
Research Question: What effect do different types of lighting in
a classroom have on students’ ability to perform tasks?
Method ● Announced non-participant observation of sample group in first
two stages of the presentation and exercise sheet (qualitative
analysis on behaviour and performance of students)
● Students will be tested on their memory from the presentation.
The results of the test will be assessed to find out if test results
in certain light settings were higher (quantitative data).
● Students fill out questionnaire (qualitative personal
assessment on students’ feelings and self evaluation in
reflexive manner) to find out if they perceived any difference in
their ability to concentrate and complete the exercise sheet.
● To increase reliability and validity this experiment would be
carried out several times.
Dependent
Variable
Level of productivity and performance/ ability to perform task:
1. Students will be given a 10 minute presentation on a topic
2. asked to complete an exercise sheet
3. tested on their memory of the content of the presentation
Independent
Variable
Lighting:
1. red lighting
2. blue lighting
3. natural light
4. dim light
Control
Variables
Setting: Classroom set up and furniture remains the same
Sample group: 30 students (mixed gender of highschool age)
Hypothesis: students in blue lighting settings will perform better due to an
increased productivity and concentration due to an improvement in mood.
Students will perform worst when lighting is dim.
Methodology
Deductive approach to test the hypothesis established based on previous studies and
empirical research with a positivist epistemology. To test the ability of students to
perform tasks in relation to lighting four sets of classroom scenario rounds will be
conducted each with a different type of lighting in the classroom. The students will
partake in three activities (dependent variable) while being observed and will then be
asked to fill out a questionnaire for each lighting setting (independent variable). A mix of
qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. This experimental methodology aims to
confirm the hypothesis by looking at how students can concentrate during a presentation,
how able they are to complete an exercise and how well they perform on the test in
different light settings.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-96-320.jpg)
![VALUE FOR MONEY
Education in The Netherlands
Have current international events and discussions pushed new students to search for
increasingly accessible and affordable higher education courses in the Netherlands the past few
years?”
Hypothesis & Objective
1) The main hypothesis consists in expecting a
strong positive correlation between the increased
cost of education, and the number of students
going to Germany, and the Netherlands.
2) The objective is to understand if there is a link
between the increase of numbers of foreign
students in the Netherlands, and if there is a
correlation with events such as Brexit, and other
factors that might have influenced the decision
making of these current student.
3) Another hypothesis is that students from areas
such as Italy, Greece, and Spain will be
particularly exposed to this Phenomenon because
of evidence suggesting that they are particularly
exposed to this issue.
Research Question
1) In the wake of events such as Brexit, and
the current critique of increasing expenses
for bachelor programs in the US and UK,
more, and more international students are
choosing to attend courses in mainland
Europe
2) This has led to the question: “Have
current international events and
discussions pushed new students to search
for increasingly accessible and affordable
higher education in the Netherlands these
past few years?” The research will try to
answer any other questions that might
appear. during the course of the research.
Methodology
Sample size: The research will
focus on attempting to access all
student at Maastricht university
in order to access as much data
as possible. All of the 19
different faculties facilitated in
Maastricht University will be
targeted in order to assess the
view point of the most recent
students, proportionate to all
faculties.
Sample Method: All students
at University Maastricht will be
handed a questionnaire through
their school email, in order to
reach every student. The
research will also attempt to
collect not only quantitative
data but also
qualitative/personal information
through the questionnaire. The
students will have to answer
what was their first choice of
University, and if UM was that
choice. In case it wasn’t the
questionnaire will ask to list the
alternative offers, and if the
reasons for choosing this course
is linked to the proposed
hypothesis. Thus, being able to
understand if this sudden
increase of Students in the
Netherlands is correlated.
References:
- Singer, A. (2016, December 22). [Money for Education Equilibrium]. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/in-education-money-matter_b_13787022.html
- Minsky, C. (2015, September 30). Universities in Mainland Europe go Head to Head with the UK. Retrieved from file:///Users/brando_brandolini/Desktop/Universities in mainland Europe go head-
to-head with the UK | Times Higher Education
- Zillman, C. (2016, June 20). Why UK Universities are really worried about "Brexit”, Fortune Magazine. Retrieved from file:///Users/brando_brandolini/Desktop/Universities in mainland Europe go
head-to-head with the UK | Times Higher Education
Empirical Work
Some researchers like Carl Minsky in an article written in 2015 for the University Ranking website suggests that currently new
students seem to be moving toward more affordable courses in other regions of the globe due to high expenses, and inaccessibility
to student visas. UK Universities are worried over the impact of Brexit. The numbers external application has been on the decline
since the 2016 British election, these figures consist of mostly prospective European students (Zilman, 2016). British students
seem also to be leaving the UK and United States he due to the exorbitant costs, and crippling student loans that have been
plaguing these system, and it seems that now the effects are showing. Higher numbers of English courses are also appearing in
the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland which are already attracting more students to their campuses (Zillman, 2016) . It
seems that there been a rise in student demand for Universities in Mainland Europe, and the research will focus on this
particularly on the Netherlands. Although, Universities in the UK and US still boast a strong number of applicants due to their
prestige, quality teaching, and ranking.
Brandolino Brandolini d’Adda SN: i6165575 UCM
Abstract & Introduction
Many of the esteemed universities in the UK,
and the United States are now going head to
head with more affordable international
Bachelor courses in different parts of the
world. This was noted with the sudden
increase of students applying to countries
such as the Netherlands. It can be speculated
that is derived fro unexpected international
events, which have made accessing higher
education in the United States and the UK
increasingly difficult. More students seem to
want to attend courses in the Netherlands
and Germany. This leads us asking the
question if there is a connection
between these events, and sudden increase in
student demand for relatively newer courses
in the Netherlands. Which are offer good
bachelors programs at a fraction of the
price.. Furthermore, the increase in number
of English courses in mainland Europe has
allowed for more options, and the relative
low cost compared study programs in places
such as London makes it quite clear why it is
more appealing for a new student to look at
these alternative options. This is an
important phenomenon to observe, since we
are seeing a shift in regards not only to
International Politics, but also in regards to
higher education as a whole. Many countries
are closing themselves off, and now its is the
opportunity for the Netherlands, Germany,
and Switzerland to offer both prestigious
Undergraduate, and Postgraduate courses.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-110-320.jpg)
![To what extent does the University College Maastricht
environment influence students to a proclivity for veganism?
|
Introduction & Background
University College Maastricht (UCM) is known for its diverse, international, and
liberal students. Coming from over 50 countries, the 600 students (University
College Maastricht, 2017) that shape the college’s environment is composed
from cultures and traditions from all over the world. Each individual brings a new
part of the pie and influences the community differently. This is redundant and
obvious. But to what extent are students influenced by this environment?
By taking a small piece of the pie: looking at the dietary changes of a UCM
student, this study focuses on the choices they make with regards to their food
products and the types of meals they eat. The majority of students being
millennials, their choices differ from previous generations. They are less
concerned with the calorie intake, and more inclined to buy natural and
organic over processed foods, and fresh instead of canned products. Actively
involved with sustainability and whether the products are locally grown
(Rosenbloom, 2018), diets such as vegetarianism and veganism are
increasingly popular choices.
This has been a known phenomenon when studying at UCM, many students
encourage eating less animal products for various reasons such as: animal
cruelty, environmental impacts, health benefits and being influenced by their
peers and surroundings. In turn this study questions the correlation between
studying at UCM and dietary preferences.
Methodology
This investigation will adopt a mixture of quantitative and qualitative
research. An online survey will be conducted, enquiring on students age, sex,
year of study, dietary preferences before/during/after studying at UCM, and the
cause of these changes (Deshpande, Basil & Basil, 2009). This will be sent
throughout the faculty yielding answers from current students. Moreover, semi-
structured interviews of 5-10 minutes will be held to ask students about
their past/current/future eating habits, and the cause of their dietary choices,
dependent on the year of study. These students will be determined by stratified
random sampling choosing a sample of 7-10 students from each year of
study. Followed by an analysis comparing their dietary preferences (ordinal) and
year of study (ordinal) to obtain a correlation between the different variables
(age (interval), sex (nominal) etc.) and reasons.
Relevance
This investigation delves into further understanding of
the UCM community: how this particular environment
shapes its students’ and which element/s effect these
changes. The results may cause students to question
what and why they do things, influencing more active
change.
I6159024
i
Roseline Meijer
Aim & Objective
A. To capture a small part of
the impact that the UCM
environment has on its students.
It will focus on understanding
the possible relationship
between the dietary changes of
students over time and
discovering what part of the
environment effects this.
01. To observe students’
behavioural changes with regards
to their eating habits throughout
the course of studying at UCM
observe students’ behavioural
changes with regards to their
eating habits throughout the
course of studying at UCM
02. Understanding whether
these students are more inclined
to developing a taste for
veganism.
References
Deshpande, S., Basil, M. D., & Basil, D. Z. (2009). Factors Influencing
Healthy Eating Habits Among College Students: An Application
of the Health Belief Model. Health Marketing Quarterly,26(2),
145-164. doi:10.1080/07359680802619834
Foresto, A. (2018, March 31). 26 Hilarious Memes Every Avocado Lover
Will Understand. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from
https://www.popsugar.com/latina/photo-
gallery/42541166/embed/42541998/Avocado-Puns-Memes]
Petter, O. (2018, April 05). Number of vegans in UK soars to 3.5 million,
survey finds. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/vegans-
uk-rise-popularity-plant-based-diets-veganism-figures-survey-
compare-the-market-a8286471.html
Rosenbloom, C. (2018, February 21). Perspective | 9 ways millennials are
changing the way we eat. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/9-ways-
millennials-are-changing-the-way-we-eat/2018/02/20/6bb2fe60-
11eb-11e8-8ea1-
c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.32a131d7bf03
University College Maastricht. (2017, October 11). Retrieved from
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/education/bachelor/bachelor
-university-college-maastricht
“Number of Vegans in the UK
Soars to 3.5 Million Survey
Finds” (Petter, 2018)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-143-320.jpg)
![Mindfulness
Meditation and
Attention:
Doesmindfulnessmeditationhavean
improvingimpactonattentionandifyesisit
possibletoseeresultsinashortperiod?
Experiment:
1. 5-10 participants will take an attention span test
2. They will do mindfulness meditation for 2 weeks
3. They will take the test again at the end of the 1st and the
2nd week
4. Results will be compared to see the effect of meditation
Introduction:
Mindfulness is the state of being aware of
your presence and couscous. It is
something we own naturally but yet we are
mostly not aware of its importance.
Mindfulness meditation is a way of
bringing awareness to our mental
capabilities and
the environment we live in. Mindfulness
meditation is associated with observation
and connecting. Research suggest it helps
with anxiety and has a positive impact on
attention and memory formation.Therefore,
mindfulness can be an effective way to
increase our focus and solve attention
problems.
Earlier Research:
• Meditation activates hypometabolic autonomic
nervous system response and results in relaxation1
• Prolonged practice is found to effective on cognitive
and affective neuroplasticity2
Methodology:
• Quantitative and experimental
• Independent variable: Practice of mindfulness
meditation, the duration of the meditation
• Dependent variable: Score in an attention span test
• Measurement tools: Attention span test
Relevance: Mindfulness meditation is a practice which can be done in anyplace at any time. If it is effective to increase
focusing by releasing unclear thoughts it can become an easily accessible tool for improving attention problems.
Hypothesis:
• Mindfulness
meditation
will increase
attention
• Continuity will
effect the
improvement
level
Limitations:
• Limited
practice
time
• The
quality
• of the
attention
span test
References:
1: Manna, A., Raffone, A.,
Perrucci, M., Nardo, D.,
Ferretti, A., Tartaro, A.,
Londei, A., Del Gratta,
C., Belardinelli, M. and
Romani, G. (2010).
Neural correlates of
focused attention and
cognitive monitoring in
meditation. Brain
Research Bulletin, 82(1-
2), pp.46-56.
2: Lutz, A., Slagter, H.,
Dunne, J. and Davidson,
R. (2008). Attention
regulation and
monitoring in
meditation. Trends in
Cognitive Sciences,
12(4), pp.163-169.
Guyaux, F.
(2018). Mindfulness:
Getting Started. [online]
Mindful. Available at:
https://www.mindful.or
g/meditation/mindfuln
ess-getting-started/
[Accessed 4 May 2018].
Ceren Cingi i6159469](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-176-320.jpg)
![Research
Question:
In what ways is
yoga a different
stress reliever
from doing
sports within
UCM students?
Y
O
G
A
Instant
Zen?
References
Aan, R., Ar, S., Aj, K. R. C., & Mi, Z. (2009). Stress and coping strategies among
management and science university students: A qualitative study. International
Medical Journal, 8(2), 11-15.
Fox, K. R. (1999). The influence of physical activity on mental well-being. Public
Health Nutrition,2(3a). doi:10.1017/s1368980099000567
Ganpat, T., Nagendra, H., & Selvi, V. (2013). Efficacy of yoga for mental
performance in university students. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,55(4), 349.
doi:10.4103/0019-5545.120550
Milligan, C. K. (2006). Yoga for Stress Management Program as a Complementary
Alternative Counseling Resource in a University Counseling Center. Journal of
College Counseling,9(2), 181-187. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2006.tb00105.x
Scully, D., Kremer, J., Meade, M. M., Graham, R., & Dudgeon, K. (1998). Physical
exercise and psychological well being: A critical review. British Journal of Sports
Medicine,32(2), 111-120. doi:10.1136/bjsm.32.2.111
Yoga Lotus Position [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-yoga-lotus-position-silhouette-
vector-shape-image95686299
The pressure of being a university
student brings along feelings of stress due
to various factors. Nevertheless, each
individual student has his/her own
strategies aimed to serve as stress-coping
mechanisms. Throughout my educational
experience, I have found yoga to be a useful
stress-reliever, and I have realized that
these views are shared with some of my
peers in University College Maastricht.
However, other students favor sports as a
better way of dealing with stress.
Empirical Methodological
Approach & Concrete Steps
The relevance of this research proposal is further
justified by the findings of various previous
empirical research. Departing from the of
recommending exercise and sports as prevention
and treatment for several health diseases, the
studies Scully et al. (1998) and Fox (1999) provide
sufficient empirical evidence that correlates
physical exercise to treatment of mental health
conditions, namely depression and anxiety
disorders. In other words, these studies have
shown a significant link between performing sports
and an improved psychological well-being.
Nevertheless, these studies have not been recently
replicated among undergraduate university
students.
A study by Aan et al. (2009) demonstrated that
students listed financial concerns, lack of sleep, and
family problems as main causes of stress, and
identified wide array of coping mechanisms
including but not limited to meditating, spending
time with friends and seeking counseling advice
from a professional. Over the past years, the
positive effects of performing yoga has been the
focus point of psycho-physiological health studies.
As anxiety disorder are conditions that are usually
comorbid with feelings of stress, researchers have
addressed the effects of yoga as a behavior and
lifestyle modifier contributing to physical,
psychological and emotional well-being. This claim
can be supported by study analyzing brain wave
coherence which found empirical evidence that
correlates yoga practice with healthier physical and
psychological conditions as well as improved
mental performance within university students
(Ganpat et al., 2013). Similarly, yoga has been
concluded to be a successfully implemented stress
management program alternative to counseling for
undergraduate university students (Milligan, 2006).
By: Dorothy Puga i6162248
Previous Empirical
Research
Epistemologically, the research will entail a constructivist
approach with an interpretivist theoretical perspective.
This arises from the idea that truth emerges from an
interaction between the individual self and the world;
thus, human beings are considered meaningful actors in
the process of discovering knowledge. The individual
experiences of UCM students will be taken into account in
order to evaluate yoga and sports as stress coping
mechanisms.
The research approach of this study will be inductive by
following a bottom-up procedure from the specific context
of the UCM student community. Henceforth, this will be an
exploratory research as it does not depart from a
previously existing theory, and seeks to compare and
comprehend two different stress coping mechanism that
UCM students practice: yoga and sports. Following this line
of thought, the study will be an idiographic research
centered upon understanding and analyzing a particular
case within the specific context of UCM, and does not seek
to generalize the results into universally applicable laws.
The research will employ a qualitative approach assessed
through the methodology of a detailed survey research.
Subsequently, the data collection method this study will
employ is a survey questionnaire consisting on both
multiple choice and open answer questions.
Relevant questions to be addressed include a definition of
stress, possible causes, and the preferred stress-coping
mechanism (yoga or sports) of each individual. Then,
follow-up questions will assess the effects of these
mechanisms through questions relating to personal
feelings before and after performing the favored stress
relieving method.
Lastly, the time frame of the study will be cross-sectional,
and carried out in a time span of approximately three
weeks.
As there is empirical research that correlates
psychological well-being to the continuous practice of
both yoga and sports, this study aims to compare
both mechanisms in order to examine their
effectiveness, as well as to consider why students
might prefer one strategy over the other. The
relevance of this study also lies within evaluating yoga
and sports as stress-relievers, and their role in the
importance of psychological well-being for
maintaining an overall healthy body.
Introduction
Relevance](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-180-320.jpg)
![RQ: How do current UCM students, with either an authoritarian or very lenient upbringing, evaluate the impacts their parents or
other caregivers had on their emotional intelligence?
Dharaha Thanapalasingham (i6164562)
Introduction (including Prior Research)
Parents (other caregivers) influence children from the day they were born.
Nevertheless, one day children grow up to be independent adults. But is this
really true? Or do childhood experiences influence adults far more than they
realise or want to realise?
Robin Grille (2005) explained how crucial the healthy development
of emotional intelligence is for social relationships. Emotional intelligence
encompasses skills which are essential in dealing with own and other
people´s feelings. These skills develop especially during childhood when
children´s brains are rapidly growing. Consequently, this means that
parenting substantially contributes to the unfolding of abilities dealing with
emotions and social relationships.
Moreover, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study
examined the relation between child abuse and the prevalence of health risk
behaviour and disease in adulthood. The researchers found out that growing
up in a dysfunctional household significantly increased the occurrence of
diseases and being mentally unhealthy which is influential for social
relationships (Felitti et al., 1998).
Furthermore, it is important to note that 70% of the participants
were Caucasian and college-educated (Harris, 2014). A societal group which
would be associated with being wealthy and well-integrated into society.
Attributes which are also often associated with a positive childhood.
Nevertheless, the study could not confirm this assumption which is why
choosing UCM students as a focus group might lead to illuminating results,
even though it is a rather privileged and wealthy environment.
Relevance
How others relate to us will influence how we will relate to ourselves and others
in return. Especially, closely related people will have a strong influence on the
emotional development of individuals (Grille, 2005).
However, how far do earlier childhood experiences shape later social
relationships? How much have parents (other caregivers) already determined
future relationships of their children? These are important questions since it is
crucial to understand how much childhood impacts individuals and what kind of
upbringing probably leads to what outcomes in the future. This research aims at
bringing new insights into what child rearing style is more likely to have positive
influence on children which is crucial for their personal development but also for
future parenting techniques.
Sample
The sample size is going to be composed of 10 students from UCM. It is going to
be a maximum variation sample since there should be equally as many students
with authoritarian parents (other caregivers) as well as students with lenient ones.
Due to the small sample size and the methodological approach this research will
be very subjective and inductive. The aim is to understand the perspectives of the
participants and to examine whether common patterns can be found between
these opposing cases.
Methodology
This research is going to use a qualitative methodology. UCM students will be
interviewed with the help of semi-structured interviews. This interview approach
enables the combination of standardised questions to ask all participants but also
allows new viewpoints to emerge during the interview process. Subsequently, the
research is open to different developments while engaging with the topic.
The exact definitions of the two kinds of upbringings and the interview
questions will be constructed within the final group. The interviews themselves
should be at least 1.5 hours without an upper limit since it probably will take some
time to establish a bound between the interviewee and interviewer to exchange
personal information. After conducting the interviews, they will be analysed and
evaluated with a focus on similar patterns between students who were raised by
an authoritarian upbringing and between students who had a lenient upbringing.
However, it will also be examined if these two opposing groups show similarities.
Task
Week
Designing
Interviews
Conducting
Interviews
Analysing &
Evaluating
Data
Writing
Research
Paper
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
References
• Grille, R. (2008). What is emotional intelligence? Parenting for a Peaceful World (pp.242-255). Richmond, UK: The Children´s Project
• Waking Times (February, 2018). Adverse-Childhood-Experiences-Pyramid. Retrieved from http://www.wakingtimes.com/2018/02/20/shamanic-medicine-iboga-can-
resolve-heal-childhood-trauma/adverse-childhood-experiences-pyramid/
• Harris, N. B. (2014, September). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video File]. Retrieved from http://acestoohigh.com/2015/02/17/nadine-burke-
harris-how-childhood-trauma-affects-health-across-a-lifetime
• Felitti, V., Anda, R., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D., Spitz, A., Edwards, V., . . . Marks, J. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse
and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults:The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. doi:10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
• Harris, N. B. (2014, September). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video File]. Retrieved from
http://acestoohigh.com/2015/02/17/nadine-burke-harris-how-childhood-trauma-affects-health-across-a-lifetime](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-184-320.jpg)
![How does a multicultural environment affect personality?
- Do you think that some features of your personality have changed since the
beginning of your experience at UCM?
- How did your upbringing influence your ability to engage with people from a
different culture?
- Which role does your cultural background play in your daily life?
Ottavia Longhini i6156871
University College Maastricht
In our daily- life we continuously experience different cultures within our university. We
share ideas, thoughts, beliefs with people that come from a completely different cultural
background. This research aims to discover the influence that this fascinating environment
has on our personalities.
Hypothesis
Students with a multicultural background easily engage with people from
different cultures. However, students that were born and raised in a
monocultural environment are strongly affected by UCM s multicultural
atmosphere. The interactions among them have a strong impact on their
approach to this cultural diversity.
Incoming home students are not tabulae rasae, but rather have a range of personality,
experiential and attitudinal influences that combine to shape their comfort with cultural
diversity […]. For those […] who have grown up in monocultural areas, their
predisposition will tend to be against a positive engagement with international students,
because they have a strong preference for their own cultural group and/or because they
feel anxious or unskilled.
(Harrison, N., 2012, p. 235)
Methodology
This research will be phenomenological and exploratory. The sample size will comprehend currently
enrolled UCM students. It will follow a qualitative approach. Data will be collected through semi-
structured interviews.
References
Harrison, N. (2012). Investigating the impact of personality and early life experiences on intercultural interaction in internationalised universities. International Journal of
Intercultural Relations, 36(2), 224-237.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/allposters-180507165136/85/All-posters-2017-2018-P5-198-320.jpg)
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- 2. The ‘Perfect’ Worldof Instagram and our Standard of Beauty Research Question “To what extent does an increased use of Instagram influence and intensify our critic on our own appearance?” Methodology Sample: The sample consists of 200 females (N=200 females) equally distributed in 4 groups according to their age. The groups are as follows: age 13-18, age 19-24, age 25-30, and age 31-36. The distribution in different groups of age is important since this research wants to find out if the critical judgment of females’ appearance changed through new platforms such as Instagram. Young girls are grown up with Instagram, whereas, women in their 30’s maybe not using Instagram at all. Methods: Quantitative analysis will be used through a multiple-choice questionnaire. This will be distributed online in order to gain the most honest answers since it can include personal facts, which some people may feel uncomfortable to give in person. Independent variable: hours on Instagram, age Dependent variable: judgment of own appearance Data analysis: The questionnaire will be processed anonymously in a statistical analysis, which will either reject or approve the hypothesis. Introduction Probably we all compared our appearance at some point in our lives to ‘beautiful’ pictures of models or stars. However, one or two generations ago this was limited to advertisements or actors in movies. Yet, the current generation is overwhelmed with ‘perfect’ faces, bodies, and lives on social media platforms like Instagram. Does this extreme constant confrontation of ‘perfect’ lives and humans changed our standard of beauty, especially for ourselves? Do we feel forced to look ‘24/7’ as if we would have an Instagram filter over our face? The topic is of great relevance since a study has shown that young girls tend to find manipulated photos on Instagram more attractive, which in turn threatened their own body-image (Kleemany, Daalmans, Carbaat & Anschütz, 2016). Thus, young girls seem to have an extreme high standard of beauty. The aim of this study is to find out if there is indeed a correlation between the extensive use of Instagram and our judgment about our own appearance. Therefore, three generations of females will be compared according to their use of Instagram and their judgement about their own body since it is not rather clear if this tendency is a new one, which is intensified due to Instagram. References Kleemans, M. Daalmans, S. Carbaat, I. & Anschütz, D. (2016). Picture Perfect: The Direct Effect of Manipulated Instagram Photos on Body Image in Adolescent Girls. Media Psychology, 21(1), 93-110. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2016.1257392 Hypothesis There is a correlation between a great use of Instagram and a more critical and frequently judgment of our own appearance, due to the constant confrontation with assumed ‘perfect’ women. Nora Rosa Mannheims I6139978
- 3. Methodology - We willbe performing inductive research combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Research will be conducted in 2 parts Part 1: Perform interviews with students in order to build up and idea of perceived influence of mainstream media Part 2: Look at capstone papers published in regards to topic and theme and compare that to popular news, current affairs and academic publications at the time Sample: - Interviews will consist of an online survey attempting to poll as many students as possible - On top of this short interviews will be conducted with a sample of 60 randomly selected students with 20 from each year. This is to ensure a base 60-person sample. - If possible 20 students will participate in in depth interviews last 1-1.5 hours where they will be alerted to the aim of the research. Abstract Academia prides itself on being an unbiased discipline. Demanding a sort of accountability from power structures by offering public and critical perspectives of truth claims often presented by authorities and media. But to what extent is this true? Obviously one cannot be an academic 100% of the time, and how does the time spent in ‘the real world’(to put it bluntly) effect work in academia. Our study aims to shed some light onto the subject of academic influences, attempting to reveal if and how academics, specifically undergraduates are in fact influenced by things such as institutions and mainstream media and how that can then steer topics and opinions in what they publish. This information would be valuable in identifying biases when reading academia but also realising how we ourselves are influenced and biased, working to keep an academic discipline untainted by self interested institutions, retaining a critical view of the status quo and avoiding having academic sources being data mined by big business and corporations. Our focus will be on undergraduate students as we interpret them as being the future of academia will attempt to look at outside influences on academia through: a)perceived influence by students b)Comparing capstone topics with popular news and academic sources throughout the year and attempting to find some correlation RQ: How is academic practice within the UCM community effected by the outside world in terms of mainstream media and other academic publications? Does this contribute to the forming of ‘Academic Trends’? Alec Malatt, i6150093, Research Poster ,SKI1005, Jeroen Moes, 12, Dorothee Hoffmann, 2017/18 References: Vincent‐Lancrin, S. (2006). What is changing in academic research? Trends and futures scenarios. European Journal of Education, 41(2), 169-202. Tillman, M. (2010). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. International Educator, 19(3), 20 Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution: A report prepared for the UNESCO 2009 world conference on higher education. UNESCO. Expectations: One of our motivations for attempting to study the effects of mainstream and popular culture is the seeming lack of research done on the topic. While we can make predictions based on UNESCO’s (2010) extensive report on the changing shape of institutions in a globalising world (interestingly motivated for the same reasons as our own research). Which shows that the institutions themselves facilitating higher education, despite becoming more numerous and liberated by information technologies are likely to face hurdles such as funding cuts and privatisation. Limiting their ability to act in the interests of the public good. From this and other authors (Tillman, 2010; Vincent-Lacrin, 2006) we approach our research with the tentative hypothesis that especially at an undergraduate level tertiary education is strongly influenced by private interest, as well as mainstream/popular culture and media.
- 4. Independent, 2/11/2017 The Atlantic,16/10/2015 What is the impact of the amount of smartphone usage on degrees of technophobia in college students? Methods To find the relation between smartphone usage and technophobia, students will be asked to fill in a combined questionnaire. For the questions on technophobia, a recently produced test is suggested (Martínez-Corcoles, Teichmann & Murdvee, 2017). For smartphone usage, a questionnaire concerning estimated time spent with their mobile phone, and in specific on what activities they spend their time has to be created. These questionairres then can be merged and distributed in the sample (proposed n = 100). The data then can be analysed and the correlation between smartphone usage and technophobia can be calculated using statistical software like SPSS. Daily mail, 11/3/2015 Relevance and previous research New technology has always been accompanied by some degree of fear (Ha, Page & Thorsteinsson, 2011; Wilson, 2018). While entering the digital age at the end of the last century, previous research studied the anxiety of computers and mobile phones, technologies that have become normal in modern society. This previous research concluded that a third of our population suffers from some degree of technophobia - the abnormal fear or anxiety about the effects of advanced technology (Ahmad & Daud, 2011; Ha, Page & Thorsteinsson, 2011; Hogan, 2008). With the current speed of technological advances, psychologists expect technophobia to be an even more complex problem in the future (Osiceanu, 2015). At the same time, mobile phones have become part of most people’s daily life, with students even spending 8 to 10 hours a day on their devices (Wood, 2014). This modern piece of technology has a large impact on users’ lives, leading to both positive and negative experiences (Wood, 2014). This makes the question rise whether there is a relation between the degree of smartphone usage, and levels of technophobia in those users. Finding a possible link between degrees of smartphone usage and those of technophobia could help psychologists in the future to recognize and prevent technophobia in an early stage, or take smartphones into account during treatment. Expectations Based on prior research, it is likely that this study finds levels of technophobia (Ahmad & Daud, 2011; Hogan, 2008). Earlier percentages of moderate to high technophobia in students were even found to be up to 29% (Hogan, 2008). For the relation between hours spent on one’s smartphone and technophobia are three possible outcomes. H1: Smartphone usage correlates positively with technophobia. This could mean that frequent users are experienced and apparently aware of the dangers and possible negative consequences of technology. H2: Smartphone usage correlates negatively with technophobia. This could mean that frequent users feel experienced and in control regarding technology by past experiences with their phones. H3: Smartphone usage does not negatively, nor positively influence students’ fear of future technology. This outcome would be unexpected since smartphones are such an immense part of students’ life (Wood, 2014) and therefore are expected to shape the user’s view of modern technology. RESEARCH QUESTION Pepijn Alofs - i6150557 References Ahmad, J. I., & Daud, M. S. (2011). Technophobia phenomenon in higher educational institution: A case study. Paper presented at the 2011 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering. Ha, J., Page, T., & Thorsteinsson, G. (2011). A Study on Technophobia and Mobile Device Design (Vol. 7). DOI 10.5392/IJoC.2011.7.2.017 Hogan, M. (2008). Age Differences in Technophobia: An Irish Study. Information Systems Development 117-130. DOI:10.1007/ 978-0-387-68772-8_10. Martínez-Córcoles, M., Teichmann, M., & Murdvee, M. (2017). Assessing technophobia and technophilia: Development and validation of a questionnaire. Technology in Society, 51, 183-188. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2017.09.007 Osiceanu, M.-E. (2015). Psychological Implications of Modern Technologies: “Technofobia” versus “Technophilia”. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1137-1144. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.229 Wilson, L. (2018). 11 Examples of Fear and Suspicion Of New Technology | Len Wilson. Len Wilson. Retrieved 28 April 2018, from http://lenwilson.us/11-examples-of-fear-and-suspicion-of-new-technology/ Wood, J. (2014). College Students In Study Spend 8 to 10 Hours Daily on Cell Phone. Psychcentral.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018, from https://psychcentral.com/news/2014/08/31/new-study-finds-cell-phone-addiction-increasingly-realistic-possibility/74312.html Wood, 2014
- 5. Research Question: Areromantic movies detrimental to people’s relationship or mental health because they potentially confirm gender stereotypes and convey a misleading image of love and do factors like age, relationship status and gender have any influence? Introduction And Aim Of The Study Romantic movies are great fun to watch. We all love to follow the storyline like we are part of it, desperately anticipating whether another dream couple will get together or not. However, while watching another wonderful happy ending some people might ask themselves one or two of the following questions: “Does the couple not experience a perfect relationship as they go through thick and thin?” “Is the guy not the greatest gentleman on this planet?” “Is the girl not the perfect combination of sexy and cute?” “Why is my relationship not like theirs?” “How the heck could I ever find a partner like that?! It’s impossible!!” Even though romantic movies serve as a great distractor from our sometimes rather dull reality, their effects on our way of thinking as well as our (social) relationships can be severe and highly misguiding. Distorted images of relationships or love and unrealistic expectations of oneself, one’s significant other or the relationship itself could have negative impacts. This research aims to establish a correlation between romantic movies and external/internal insecurities on a psychological level. Are people who regularly watch romantic movies more likely to be insecure about their relationships and more likely to be disappointed in their partners due to unrealistic expectations? This study aims to reveal another factor which could imperceptibly contribute to dissatisfaction in life, as people tend to compare their own lives to that of others. Even though we all like to sink in romantic movies for a while, it should be remembered that most movies are being made for the purpose of entertainment only. Earlier Empirical Work • Research conducted by Dr. Bjarne M. Holmes, Heriot-Watt University: “Contradictory Messages: A Content Analysis of Hollywood-produced Romantic Comedy” This research found that some movies influence individuals into thinking that what is meant to be will always find its way, as some movies convey the idea of “that one” soul mate. This attitude results in couples not communicating. • Study by Susan Sprecher and Sandra Matts: “Romantic Beliefs: Their Influence on Relationships and Patterns of Change Over Time” this study reveals how relationships are influenced by romanticism, also stating that most individuals begin a relationship with ideals and expectations in mind. • Study by Alexander Sink and Dana Mastro: “Depictions of Gender on Primetime Television: A Quantitative Content Analysis”. This study shows how men in movies are portrayed as dominant whereas women are more likely to have sexually provocative roles. Methodology The sample consists of 25 male and 25 female participants between the age of 16 and 50. Individuals who are a) In a relationship b) Single c) Married will be tested It is significant to include several age groups in order to test whether younger and potentially unexperienced individuals are more likely to be influenced by romantic movies. In general, it is of great importance to test variances in reactions/answers with specific regard to age, as this has not been researched by any prior studies so far. By including the variable of age and relationship status, results could possibly reveal more profound information on differences in proneness to insecurities due to romantic movies. Independent Variable: Age/Relationship Status/Gender Dependent Variable: Participant is insecure about him/herself and his/her partner and compares his/her life to the flawless depiction of love in movies, Participant enjoys watching romantic movies but does not relate to them whatsoever , Participant’s expectations of relationships and his/her partner are too unrealistic due to romantic movies, etc Sampling Method: Questionnaires will be handed out, entailing multiple choice questions. The very first question will ask about the participant’s gender/relationship status/age and the frequency of watching romantic movies. The questionnaire will then be divided into two parts, whereby the first part will focus on the individual’s self-esteem and the second part on the individual’s expectations of his/her (future) relationship. In the first part, the multiple choice questions will ask about the depiction of gender and love in movies and how the participant feels about that, also asking if it influences him/her. The same procedure will be implemented in the second part, this time focusing on the participant’s (future) relationship and his/her expectations of his/her significant other. At the end of each part, one open-ended question will be answered. The first part will ask whether the participant can think of any movies which have made him/her feel bad about him/herself. The open-ended question at the end of the second part will ask whether the participant can think of any movies which have contributed to the participant being sceptical about his/her relationship or love in general.
- 6. Former research madeclear that the portraying of beauty standards such as thinness has a significant negative effect on people’s body satisfaction (Lavine, H., et al, 2016, and Henderson-King, E. and D. Henderson-King, 1997). Majority of this researched focused on females rather than males and hence a lot of attention has been addressed to the influence of unrealistic body images in media on women. However, the influence of social media on men should not be neglected. Over the last years, there is an increase in the portraying of an unrealistic muscular male physique, implicating a negative body satisfaction among men (Leit, R., Gray, J., & Pope, H., 2002). This is an important area to research, as body dissatisfaction is an important contributing factor for negative psychological health and even suicide attempts among especially young adult men (James Leone, 2011). Thereby, most former studies focused on traditional forms of media, such as tv and magazines, rather than modern ones as social media. However, social media is worth studying these days, as it is more interactive and demands more user activeness. As a consequence, users perceive images on social media more directly than in the traditional forms (Perloff, 2014) Sample: Show a group of 50 men an Instagram feed, containing images of the unrealistic muscular male physique, which is regarded as the ‘ideal body image’. Control group: show 50 men an Instagram feed with varied body images (fat, skinny, regular healthy, with and without clothes) Effect on body esteem: Ask participants of both groups after being exposed to the several social media images 1. To point out what body type they perceive to have their selves on a range of different body types from broad to skinny. 2. To point out what other people in general would perceive as the ideal male body type → Determine the average discrepancy of both groups: the difference between how the men perceive their own body type and what they view as the ideal body type → See if there is a significant difference in discrepancy between the test and control group. References: Lavine, H., Sweeney, D. & Wagner, S. H. (2016). Depicting Women as Sex Objects in Television Advertising: Effects on Body Dissatisfaction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 25(8): 1049-1058. Leit, R., Gray, J., & Pope, H. (2002). The media's representation of the ideal male body: A cause for muscle dysmorphia? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31(3), 334-338. Exists of 40 men between the age of 18 and 23. This group uses social media more regularly and has a higher chance of obtaining low body esteem than older generations of men. The control group exist of 40 men with the same criteria Leone, J., Fetro, J., Kittleson, M., Welshimer, K., Partridge, J., & Robertson, S. (2011). Predictors of adolescent male body image dissatisfaction: Implications for negative health practices and consequences for school health from a regionally representative sample. Journal of School Health, 81(4), 174-184. Perloff, R. (2014). Act 2: Extending theory on social media and body image concerns. Sex Roles : A Journal of Research, 71(11-12), 414-418 Eva Vleer i6152198
- 7. How Much Data Do You Share? RQ: Which facul8es at UM raise more awareness of online data privacy? What is the rela8onship between the amount of data shared on Facebook by a UM student and his or her awareness of data privacy? Hypothesis: I expect students aFending the law and DKE faculty to be most aware of data privacy issues on Facebook, resul8ng in these students sharing less data per day than those from other facul8es. Therefore, I would predict an inverse rela8onship between data privacy awareness and amount of data shared on FB per day Methodology Popula'on: UM students Sample: random sample of 20 students (10 male/female) per faculty (UCM, law, psychology and DKE) Approach: Quan8ta8ve survey research, deduc8ve, posi8vist Independent variable: faculty of the student Dependent variable: awareness of online data protec8on and amount of likes / shares on Facebook per day Collec'on: standardized survey with dummy variables, e.g : -Has your faculty taught you about data protec8on? (yes=0 no=1) Also, if student does not have FB, he counts as 0 shares/likes per day Analysis: Descrip8ve, sta8s8cal analysis; comparison of means (FB shares and data protec8on awareness) using t-test to compare between facul8es Introduc8on Very recently, the Cambridge Analy8ca data scandal hit the news and started a series of inves8ga8ons into Facebook’s data protec8on. However, what shocks me most is the fact that people seem to be unaware of the extent to which Facebook is using their data. I want to research if universi8es should inform students about online privacy or if the lack of awareness is due to the fact that students simply do not care. Therefore, the Objec've is to discover if certain facul8es raise more aFen8on to data privacy than others and if this affects the amount of data shared on Facebook by students. Thus, the Relevance of this research is to a) reveal if the UM educa8onal system is teaching students enough about online data protec8on and b) if this awareness impacts students’ willingness to share data on Facebook. Earlier Empirical Research Acquis8 and Gross (2006) à 3/4 of surveyed college students were aware of Facebook using their data. Raynes-Goldie (2010) à Students care more about the data shared with close friends than governments or corpora8ons i6153668 Jannik Döll 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 DKE UCM LAW PSYCH 0 = no 1 = yes Mean Data Privacy Awareness Alessandro Acquis8 and Ralph Gross, 2006. “Imagined communi8es: Awareness, informa8on sharing, and privacy on the Facebook.” In: Philippe Golle and George Danezis (editors). Proceedings of 6th Workshop on Privacy Enhancing Technologies(Cambridge, U.K., Robinson College. 28–30 June), Lecture Notes in Computer Science, number 4258, pp. 36–58. Kate Raynes–Goldie, 2010. “Aliases, creeping, and wall cleaning: Understanding privacy in the age of Facebook,” First Monday, volume 15, number 1, at hFp://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/ index.php/fm/ar8cle/view/2775/2432, accessed 9 July 2010.
- 8. The Interviews 1. Establishgeneral stance towards photojournalism 2. Show traditional photojournalism examples and ask for opinions 3. Show Participatory Photography pictures and ask for opinions 4. Show both set of pictures in comparison 5. Reflect on limitations, advantages, alternatives and ethics of Participatory Photography THE POWER OF PARTICIPATORY PHOTOGRAPHY ELINOR KARL – 6154817 Methodology • About understanding attitudes and experiences à Interpretevist • Qualitative and inductive • in-depth, long and semi- structured interviews with no more than 10 participants Week 1 • Prepare Interview Questions and agree on case studies • Hold practice interviews Week 2 • Data Collection, Interviews Week 3 • Review Data • Work on Paper Outline Week 4 • Write paper Introduction - What is Participatory Photography? • An approach to counter the asymmetry of representation and the reproduction of stereo-types (Bleiker & Kay, 2007) • By using photographs taken by local people who are affected by the issue at hand Bleiker & Kay, 2007) Relevance and Prior Research • Pictures are important to conveying news. They heightens our visual attention, improve message recall and can change audience opinion (Reimers, 2016). • Media images exercise power in shaping of news, politics and public opinion (Andén-Papadopoulos, 2008) • BUT who takes the pictures that offer a glimpse into a different reality? It is mostly male Western photographers who control all esthetic and political choices involved in the process of representation and deprive the ‘objects of voice and agency’ (Bleiker and Kay, 2007) Work ScheduleWHAT WHY HOW Research Question • How do UCM Students experience different examples of participatory photography in contrast to traditional photojournalism and assess its ability of to challenge stereotypes? Example recent work of photographer Eric Gottesman and the Addis Ababa community of Kebele, where he taught children how to use cameras to represent for themselves what it means to live with HIV/AIDS (Bleiker & Kay, 2007) Example Participatory Photography picture taken by Tenanesh Example Iconic HIV/AIDS photograph taken by Ed Hooper in 1986. It was published widely in the international media, and provided a ‘‘face’’ that could symbolize the AIDS crisis in Africa. Do you see a difference? Aims and Objectives • To find out how people respond to PP and why • To make assumptions about how effective it is, for what it can be used, based on how people respond to it and whether it has a future in mainstream media as an antidote to stereo-types? References Reimers, B. (2016). Building a bridge across the conflict theory-Practice gap: Comprehensive conflict engagement in community contexts. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 33(4), 437-458. doi:10.1002/crq.21166 Andén-Papadopoulos, K. (2008). The abu ghraib torture photographs. Journalism, 9(1), 5-30. Bleiker, R., & Kay, A. (2007). Representing hIV-AIDS in africa : Pluralist photography and local empowerment. International Studies Quarterly, 51(1), 139-164. HOW
- 9. Abstract: Music is a fundamental element of our daily life. Music can give you energy, inspire you, make you dance or bring you to tears. In this sense music is a very powerful force and can communicate feelings. These can directly relate to certain neurons in our brain which in turn affect our physical, mental and emotional balance. This research also has a scientific relevance in such that it aims to fill in gaps regarding the knowledge on the effectiveness of this type of music and the scientific explanation behind it. The Power andScience of Music Research Question: Does music, in particular music before the establishment of a 440 hertz tuning, have beneficial effects on the human brain? Hypothesis: Music at a 432Hz frequency and music from composers before the 440Hz tuning was established, can improve the ability to concentrate and enhance feeling conscious and balanced. Methodology: The approach: a qualitative method of gathering data and opinions with range of 15-20 interviews. The interviews will be semi-structured. There will be predefined questions but also free space to deepen certain arguments. This will be necessary because the spectrum of questions will also relate to attitudes of the person in question. Experiments : will be conducted in interviews, the interviewee being conscious of what he is asked of. Other Experiment: through an observational method. Sample: will be a random and stratified sample from the population of Maastricht. Previous Research: According to music theory, A=432 Hz is mathematically in accordance with the universe. This frequency is know as Verdi’s A, after the composer Giuseppe Verdi. The Schumann Resonance of 1952 explained that 8Hz is the ‘beat’ of the planet and 432Hz resonates with this frequency. Therefore 432Hz is considered to be the harmonic intonation of nature and the preferable frequency. Before mid- twentieth century the primary instrumental tuning standard was that of A=432Hz. Today , 440Hz has been established as the tuning standard. It was first introduced by J.C. Deagan in the United States. The Mozart Effect would demonstrate that music can also help you learn quicker and perform better in exams. This is what happened in the Mozart experiment. The final result was that the group of people who listened to Mozart performed 10% better on the test than those who did not. Reference List: Collins, Brian T. (2013). The Importance of 432Hz Music. Omega432. Hughes, L., & Ball, M. L. The Sacred Science of Sound: Music and Mathematics. Jenkins, J. (2001). The Mozart effect. Journal Of The Royal Society Of Medicine, 94. Bianca Ossicini i6155436
- 10. Research Question: Is therean information gap between Facebook users and non-users at UCM and what is the influence of this on their social lives? Introduction By the end of 2017, Facebook had about 2,219 million users (Statista 2018, 2018). The magnitude of Facebook became clear to me when I was told that I would not survive Maastricht University without Facebook. Facebook is used as a ‘social glue’ at university, it settles the students into university life, it keeps the students body together and it aids communication (Madge, Meek, Wellens, & Hooley, 2009). However, with the recent data leak of Facebook user information by Cambridge Analytica (Granville 2018), many questions have been raised regarding privacy. This has lead for some users to delete their Facebook accounts. For example, the Dutch tv show Zondag met Lubach has convinced 12,000 people, including myself, to delete their accounts (Loon & Wassens, 2018). This raises the question: if Facebook is a social glue, how do these people without Facebook stay in touch with their university’s social events? How do people with Facebook stay in touch with people without Facebook? Considering I myself am not on Facebook, I believe it would be useful to research the social glue that Facebook is at UCM. Therefore I wish to ask: is there an information gap between Facebook users and non-users at UCM and what is the influence of this on their social lives? Charlotte Buijtelaar i6156304 Methodology and Methods We will do empirical research by looking at what kind of posts are posted on the UCM Students Facebook group and what kind of information is spread about UCM social life via other media by the Social Board, Academic Council and all UCM committees (posters, emails, etc.). Through this, we wish to research whether there is an information gap between Facebook as a medium and other media. Furthermore, we wish to do qualitative interviewing with UCM students specifically with those who organize UCM events and with those without Facebook. We chose the method of qualitative interviewing to get more to the core of how UCM Social Events reach students and how this might be an obstacle when a student is not on Facebook. In these interviews, we shall take an exploratory approach as it will be semi-structured interviews. We shall try to interview 5 people per researcher. The research is idiographic, considering it is solely focussed on the situations UCM students face when acquiring or spreading information about UCM events. Purpose The purpose of this research is to provide insight on how information regarding UCM social events is spread throughout the student body and how Facebook might make it uncertain whether all information reaches the entirety of the student body. We hope the results might offer advice to the Social Board and the Academic Council of UCMSA Universalis on how to reach UCM students. Granville, K. (2018, March 19, 2018). Facebook and Cambridge Analytica: What You Need to Know as Fallout Widens. NY Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/technology/facebook-cambridge-an alytica-explained.html Loon, W. v., & Wassens, R. (2018, April 12, 2018). Arjen Lubach wilde vooral discussie. NRC. Retrieved from https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/04/12/arjen-lubach-wilde-vooral-discussi e-a1599188 Madge, C., Meek, J., Wellens, J., & Hooley, T. (2009). Facebook, social integration and informal learning at university: ‘It is more for socialising and talking to friends about work than for actually doing work’. Learning, Media and Technology, 34(2), 141-155. doi:10.1080/17439880902923606 Statista2018. (2018). Statista. Number of monthly active Facebook users worldwide as of 4th quarter 2017 (in millions). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-fac ebook-users-worldwide/
- 11. The Digital Age: Are webecoming more or less social due to social media? The internet has become one of our main interests in the 21st century and has a greater effect on people than before. It provides users with entertainment, news and social media platforms that enable us to like, share and follow people or organizations that we are interested in. Due to this revolutionary change in technology, services such as Instagram and Twitter become the most visited platforms on the internet. However, all these websites allow us to have social interaction with others, but is this a healthy interaction compared to real life communication? This research focuses on the question whether social media makes us less or more social in everyday life and whether the internet impacts our socializing skills negatively or positively. It is directed towards understanding the factors that play a role in this online and offline behaviour. Qualitative & Inductive Population Sample: 40 UCM students 20 males 20 females Conduct: The research will be non-probability sampling and is based on a strategically chosen sample of UCM students. The survey will have open and closed questions and obtain fitting inquiries that fit the topic of the research. Independent variable: the time (hours) students at UCM spend on social media platforms Example questions could be: 1. How much time on average do you spend on social media platforms? 2. What platform do you use the most? 3. How much do you care about your online image? Data Analysis: It is of importance to analyze the interviewee's responses in a thematic function to identify patterns within the collected data of all the 40 students. Key Words: Social media, attitudes, UCM students, Socializing Research Question: "How does social media impact our social behaviour and does it influence us negatively or positively in our social life?" Hypotheses: 1. The more social media accounts students have, the less social they are face-to-face. 2. The more followers a student has on their platforms, the more they care about their online image. References: Research made by Tugberk Kaya and Huseyin Bicen on: "Computers in human behaviour". Variables: - Students who know how to control their privacy - Facebook comments towards the students and reflects and increase in confidence Introduction Methodology Empirical Research Expectations The researcher expects to find out how the difference variables mentioned above influence the social behaviour of students at University College Maastricht. These results are relevant as it aims to uncover what impact social media has on our social life. The evaluation of the data would be of essence as it gives insight to the university and the students what solutions there are to overcome this social behaviour. Kaya, T., & Bicen, H. (2016). The effects of social media on students’ behaviors; Facebook as a case study. Computers in Human Behavior, 59, 374-379. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.02.036 Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukophadhyay, T., & Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? American Psychologist, 53(9), 1017-1031. doi:10.1037//0003-066x.53.9.1017 Saiidi, U. (2015, October 19). How social media is making us less social: Study. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/15/social- media-making-millennials-less-social-study.html
- 12. University College Maastricht Theinfluence of social media on the political interest of UM students Riccarda Luz – i6157203 Methodological Approach Prior Research Quantitative analysis of the impact of social networking sites on the individual’s activities: - Gil de Zúñiga, H., Jung, N. & Valenzuela, S. (2012). Social Media Use for News and Individuals' Social Capital, Civic Engagement and Political Participation. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication - Gil de Zúñiga, H., Molyneux, L. & Zheng, P. (2014). Social Media, Political Expression, and Political Participation: Panel Analysis of Lagged and Concurrent Relationships. Journal of Communication Methodological Approach Qualitative data collection: • Semi-structured interviews • Questions about: use of social media platforms; following politicians; political interest; political participation • Participants from all UM faculties for representative results Results and Hypothesis Holt, K., Ljungberg, E., Shehata, A. & Strömbäck, J. (2013). Age and the effects of news media attention and social media use on political interest and participation: Do social media function as leveller? European Journal of Communication, 28 (1), 19-34. Retrieved from: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0267323112465369 Stitcher (2018). Social Media and Politics [digital image]. Retrieved from: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/social-media-and-politics University of Amsterdam (2017). The politics of Twitter [digital image]. Retrieved from: https://politicsoftwitter.wordpress.com Riccarda Luz i6157203 May 4, 2018 Research Methods II University College Maastricht Zwingelput 4 6211 KH Maastricht The Netherlands Aim and Research Question Background In the 21st century, social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter became an important tool for political parties to communicate their programs. Especially the support of younger generations can be achieved through an active participation in social media. Whole election campaigns were conducted via Facebook and Twitter in order to reach more people and attract new voters (Holt, Shehata, Strömbäck & Ljungberg, 2013). Consequently, the use of social media is an important contributor to political participation (Bichard, Johnson, Seltzer & Zhang, 2010). The aim of the research is to recognize how social media can impact the political interest and orientation of young people by using networks as a medium for spreading political ideas and beliefs. In oder to investigate this, the research focuses on UM students and attempts to answer the following research question: In what ways does social media influence the political interest of UM students? References Based on the suggested studies, the expected hypothesis of the research is: Social media contributes significantly to the political interest and activity of young people. In both studies, the relationship between social networking sites and online political expression and participation are discussed. As political parties are more present in social media, online users are animated to actively participate in debates or actions against government policies (Zúñiga, Molyneux & Zheng, 2014). In addition to these findings it is important to investigate in how far the political presence in social media influences a young people‘s general interest in politics.
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- 14. Poster Research MethodsII Date: May 4th 2018 Name: Ottilie Dijkstal ID: i6158618 Title: Poster Tutor: Dorothee Hofmann Course coordinator: Dr. Jeroen Moes Course: SKI1005 Research Methods II Faculty: University College Maastricht
- 15. Research Question: How heavilyare social media users influenced by advertising on social platforms? Introduction Over the last decade, the use of social media has risen significantly. This caused for the concept of interactive media to arise; media that provides the opportunity to instantaneously advertise, execute a sale and collect payment. In 2015, spending for digital advertising was at 161.77 billion US dollars, and is expected to rise to 335.48 billion US dollars by 2020. The rapid growth of social media has made this an extremely relevant topic. The majority of advertising now occurs on social platforms and has allowed for the creation of various techniques to persuade users to purchase an advertised good. Online advertising can range from a simple commercial video to the tiniest detail in a TV-show or YouTube video. Therefore, it is relevant to assess exactly to what extent this impacts social media users. On top of that, it is relevant to understand how manipulative online advertising can be and how to look out for it. Previous Research 1. Engagement with Online Media and Advertising Effectiveness by B.J. Calder, E.C. Malthouse and U. Schaedel (2009) • Tested hypothesis; Engagement with the surrounding social media increases advertising effectiveness • Surveys regarding use of social platforms, advertising and reactions to ads • Looked at personal engagement and social-interactive engagement 2. The Effectiveness of Online Advertising: Consumer’s Perceptions of Ads by B. Pikas and G. Sorrentino • Researched time spent on the internet, regarding specific platforms as well as likeliness to view, click or like certain companies. References Calder, B. J., Malthouse, E. C., & Schaedel, U. (2009). An experimental study of the relationship between online engagement and advertising effectiveness. Journal of interactive marketing, 23(4), 321- 331. Pikas, B., & Sorrentino, G. (2014). The effectiveness of online advertising: consumer's perceptions of ads on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 16(4), 70. Methods Quantitative Methods: A questionnaire is the most useful form, offering multiple choice questions. This will be distributed online, though in case of lack of data it can be turned into an interview. An interview can offer further details and personalised information that a questionnaire might lack. Steps 1. Identify dependent and independent variables 2. Formulate questions for questionnaire 3. Collect data 4. Process all collected data How often do you click?
- 16. Research Question Does theusage of social media affect your perception of online privacy? Introduction Despite the recent headlines concerning the breach of the online privacy of millions of users, social media usage across the world is growing at an excessive rate (Smith, Anderson, 2018). To explain this strange trend, this research will investigate the relationship between the usage of social media and the perception of online privacy. Methodology Sample (Stratified Random) ● Stratas dependent on the usage of social media ● Social media platforms will include Facebook, Youtube, Whatsapp and Instagram Conduct ● Ranking of social media usage using ordinal categories. ● Mixed approach interviewing of grouped individuals Data Analysis ● Thorough transcription and evaluation of qualitative interviews based on semi-structured questionnaires. ● Plotting a graph to show the relationship between social media usage and perception of privacy (quantitative data) Relevance This research will provide the field of privacy studies with a renewed insight of the public perception of privacy. It’s relation to social media usage can help companies and institutions to develop policies that complement the users’ demands. It will also help create awareness amongst internet users to be more careful about the personal data they agree to share with social media companies like Facebook. References Smith, A., & Anderson, M. (2018, March 01). Social Media Use in 2018. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social -media-use-in-2018/ Epistemology - Post positivist - Relatively nomothetic - Qualitative and Quantitative Nashab Parvez I6158884 Research Methods 2
- 17. How do studentsdiscover the mobile applications they download? Relevance of Research Knowing how people come to know about mobile applications and how they choose which one to download is important for companies as it permits them to understand more about their consumers and, in such a way, ameliorate their marketing strategy. This research could also inspire future research to replicate these findings and extend them to broader and more representative samples, thus further deepening our knowledge of the process of application’s discovery. Limitations This research faces some limitations as the sample will only include students, as they are more accessible. Also, it is a rather small scale research and the sample size is not that large. Lastly, for future research, it would be ideal to gather some data from the App Store, such as download rate for specific applications, as this is not feasible for this study. Methodology Ø Sample: 15-20 students Ø Population: UCM students Ø Interview each participant individually and ask them the following questions: How many apps do you have on your phone? What do the apps do? How much do you use them? How much time have you had them for? How did you come to know about the app (s)? Ø Record the answers given during the interviews. Also, group data to see whether there are some differences in source of information for specific app categories the students have downloaded. By knowing how much the students use these apps, further conclusions can be drawn such as that source of app discovery predicts future usage. Prior Work Ø How do people discover, use, and stay engaged with apps. Think with Google. Oct. 2016. Friend/family usage= best predictor for app download & gives insight onto what users prefer Introduction In today’s world, the market offers a vast array of products. These can be very similar to each other, if not identical, and the competition for diversification and innovation is, therefore, high. Consumers choose which products to purchase according to their needs and personal preferences. However: another factor that affects market behaviour is how consumers come to know about the product. Therefore, marketing strategy is also key. In the technological world, the development of mobile applications is drastically increasing: the App Store offers a variety of categories for any sort of need. Applications do, in fact, assist us in organizing our shopping list, keeping track of new film releases, discovering new songs and places, as well as allow us to maintain relationships, and so on. For this reason, in such a vast market, companies must need to know not only what their consumers want and prefer, but also how they come to know about their application. This research thus aims to uncover such a question by interviewing a small sample of students on their personal mobile applications. # of app downloads worldwide in 2016, 2017, 2021 (billions) GraphtakenfromStatista Laura Guiso i6159251
- 18. What are thenext steps? 1. Setting up a standardized questionnaire a. three question sets concerning demographics, body image, Tinder use b. Available answer options will correspond to a six point Likert scale (with ‘strongly disagree’ (1), ‘disagree’ (2), ‘slightly disagree’ (3), ‘slightly agree’ (4), ‘agree’ (5) and ‘strongly agree’ (6) ) (Nemoto & Belgar, 2014, p.5) 2. Spreading the survey via internet to get a number of at least 75 participants a. The sample should be divided in three groups, based on Tinder use b. Frequent, moderate and control (no Tinder use) c. Each group should contain at least 10 male and 10 female subjects 3. Evaluating the results using descriptive and inferential statistics 4. Interpreting the findings provided by the statistical results found earlier a. Checking for generalizability and validity What is the Epistemology of this project? This project takes a post-positivist approach. Therefore, the research will use qualitative methods. The results of standardized surveys will be evaluated, trying to find an answer to the research question. Further, it aims to find nomothetic results. This means that results of the findings from the survey should ideally be generalized to a the larger population of our sample, in this case European millennials. Deductively, the hypothesis: ‚Frequent Tinder use leads to body dissatisfaction‘ will be tested. Within the research, researchers and subject will keep a distance, to allow the researchers to objectively evaluate and interpret the results. This is provided by reducing personal contact between researcher and subject to a minimum, e.g. by spreading the survey via internet and interpreting anonymous results. What has been found so far? Body objectification is a state when bodies are presented as objects rather than individual human beings. This is something widely used in advertisement, but also in social media (Fardouly & Vartanian, 2016, p. 3) . Exposure to body objectification leads to body dissatisfaction via self- objectification. This is based on the objectification theory by Fredrickson and Roberst (1997). It implies that if we keep seeing bodies presented as objects to us, we create a focus on the appearance of our own bodies rather than on their functionalities. This has been found to be correlated with a negative body image (Alleva, Martijn, Van Breukelen, Jansen, & Karos, 2015, p. 6). Therefore it can be assumed, that people who frequently consume social network sides (SNS) with a focus on body objectification such as Instagram, have a tendency to increasingly engage in self-objectification. As this can result in many negative consequences, including self-destructive behaviour, it is crucial to investigate the causes of self- objectification further. Thus, negative implementations can be spread and users will be made aware of the possible side-effects of Instagram and co. What has this to do with Tinder? Research was mostly conducted concerning the correlation between the use of SNS and self-objectification, but there is reason to assume that the same effect can be found for dating apps such as Tinder. Tinder lets users evaluate each others pictures by swiping right or left, depending on if they find them hot or not. Personal descriptions are very limited. The emphasis lies on the pictures which mostly involve body objectification. When using Tinder equals exposing yourself to body objectification and being exposed to body objectification is correlated to a negative body image, this could mean that using Tinder frequently leads to a negative body image. This assumption is supported by a study conducted by Strubel and Petrie (2017), who found that the use of Tinder is positively correlated to body dissatisfaction. However, the study was lacking in collecting information about how users interacted with Tinder. Factors such as frequency of use could play an important role in the strength of the relationship between Tinder use and a negative body image. Research Question What is the impact on reviewing other users pictures actively using the dating app Tinder more than once a week on the body dissatisfaction of people between the age of sixteen to twenty- nine years in Europe? Emma Julie Deutz, i6159809 References Alleva, J. M., Martijn, C., Van Breukelen, G. J., Jansen, A., & Karos, K. (2015). Expand Your Horizon: A programme that improves body image and reduces self-objectification by training women to focus on body functionality. Body Image, 15, 81-89. Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current opinion in psychology, 9, 1-5 Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T.-A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 173-206. Nemoto, T., & Beglar, D. (2014). Likert-scale questionnaires: JALT. Strubel, J., & Petrie, T. A. (2017). Love me Tinder: Body image and psychosocial functioning among men and women. Body Image, 21(5), 34-38. Swipe Right For a negative body image? Retrieved from https://www.teensafe.com/blog/teen-health-part-ii- body-image-and-social-media/ Retrieved from http://www.instyle.co.uk/celebrity/news/tinder-the-ultimate-guide Retrieved from http://www.pulse.ng/gist/tinder-my-experience-with-the-dating- app-id5519736.html
- 19. How does social media network Facebook affect teenagers’ caring relationships? ResearchQuestion A caring relationship is “a rich reciprocal relationship that includes a genuine concern for one another through listening and maintaining a desire for mutual growth and flourishing” (Hamington, 2010). The dynamics on Facebook challenge these relationships; we can actively choose to ignore or care for one’s posts, leading to either growth or decline of both offline and online relationships. Very much so (35%) A little (48%) Not really (17%) To what extent does Facebook help you as Facebook user care for your friends (Hamington, 2010)? Earlier Empirical Work Knop, K. et al (2015). Offline time is quality time. Comparing within-group self-disclosure in mobile messaging applications and face- to-face interactions. Burke, M., & Kraut, R. E. (2016). The Relationship Between Facebook Use and Well-Being Depends on Communication Type and Tie Strength. Hamington, M. (2010). Care Ethics, Friendship and Facebook. Relevance Deductive-Empirical Approach; theories about caring relationships in relation to teenagers and social media are important. However, these will not all be established prior to the research. The interviewed teenagers will also not be seen as simply variables, but as interdependent whole (Porta & Keating, 2008). Mixture of qualitative and quantitative research; an online survey amongst 13 to 19 year-olds on Facebook will be conducted, but also interviews. While the survey will give us relative numbers, the interviews will help us interpret these. Because the research seeks to analyze teenager’s personal experiences on Facebook and their views of these experiences, it is an interpretive research. Teenagers are developing their identities and relationships, in part, in online contexts such as Facebook (Eleuteri, Saladino, & Verrastro, 2017). The influence of this on their relationships, however, is not yet known. This research therefore hopes to present a more clear answer, especially for other teenagers to identify with. Namely, instead of naming various complex psychological processes, this research will put its focus on teenagers’ own interpretation of the phenomenon. Pixabay. (2017, April 18). Retrieved from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/nl/facebook- vrienden-communicatie-2229910/ Eleuteri, S., Saladino, V., & Verrastro, V. (2017, November 9). Identity, relationships, sexuality, and risky behaviors of adolescents in the context of social media. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 32(3-4), 354-365. Porta, d. D., & Keating, M. (2008). How many approaches in the social sciences? An epistemological introduction. In d. D. Porta, & M. Keating, Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences (pp. 19-39). New York: Cambridge University Press. References Week 1 & 2: literature review and data collection through survey and interviews Week 3: analyzing and structuring data Week 4: writing and revising Marie-Louise Beekmans i6160490 Who?
- 20. Elian Schure i6162177 Whydo students who keep either a digital or a paper diary prefer this medium for their diary? Introduction For many years, individuals have kept a diary to keep track of their thoughts, to describe certain events and to express themselves (Gleaves, Walker & Grey, 2007).Traditionally, a diary is kept on paper. However, today there are many possibilities to write a diary on a computer (Kawaura, Kawakami &Yamashita, 1998). Diaries are also used in academia sometimes for students to reflect upon their academic abilities and values (Gleaves, Walker & Grey, 2007, Sá, 2002). There have been researches comparing the use of paper diaries and digital diaries amongst students, but how do students experience the different media themselves (Gleaves, Walker & Grey, 2007)? Type of research To research the research question “why do students prefer either a paper or a digital diary”, a semi- structured interview will be conducted with approximately ten students who keep a diary and make use of it at least once a week.The research will be qualitative and exploratory. Schedule Week 1: Preliminary research, preparing and conducting interviews. Week 2: Conducting and comparing interviews. Start writing paper. Week 3: Finish interviews, compare and contrast paper and digital diaries. Write paper. Week 4: Finish research paper. Justification and aim This research aims to find out which medium students prefer to use for their diary. If the reasons why students prefer either method is known, this could be used to help other student who have difficulties with, for example, reflecting on their work and themselves. It could help students to find a suitable way for them to keep track on their thoughts and reflect in a way that is best for them. Sources: Gleaves, A., Walker, C. & Grey, J. (2007). Using digital and paper diaries for learning and assessment purposes in higher education: a comparative study of feasibility and reliability. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Eductaion, 32(6), 631-643. Kawaura, Y., Kawakami, Y. & Yamashita, K. (1998). Keeping a diary in cyberspace. Japanese Psychological Research, 40(4), 234–245. Sá, J. (2002). Diary Writing: An Interpretative Research Method of Teaching and Learning, Educational Research and Evaluation, 8(2), 149-168.
- 21. IS SOCIAL MEDIASABOTAGING YOUR GPA? 4 - W E E K - P L A N WEEK 1: SETTING UP OUR OUTLINE AND SURVEY WEEK 2: COLLECTING DATA WEEK 3: DRAWING CONCLUSIONS + FIRST DRAFT WEEK 4: FINISHING UP OUR MASTER PIECE S H O U L D Y O U L O G O U T F O R G P A ' S S A K E ? If you are a student chances are you have at least one social media account. In 2018, We Are Social found that the number of mobile phone user active on social media is 2.958 billion, with the largest group of users being between 18 and 24 years. (We Are Social, 2018) Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in how social media network use influences the academic performance of students. According to research done by Paul, Baker and Cochran (2012) a significant negative relationship can be found between time spend on online social media networks and academic performance. A considerable amount of literature has pointed out how the distracting and addictive nature of online social media networks leads to task-switching. Task-switching causes a decrease in both performance efficiency and performance effectiveness. (Karpinski, Kischner, Ozer, Mellott and Ochwo, 2013) However, research done by Alloway & Alloway in 2013 pointed out that that students who had used the social networking site Facebook for more than a year had higher scores in tests of verbal ability, working memory, and spelling, compared to their peers who had used it for a shorter time period. This raises the question: should university students log out in order to get a higher GPA or do they actually benefit from sharing and liking in between studying? Alloway, T. P., & Alloway, R. G. (2013). Social networking sites and cognitive abilities: Do they make you smarter? Computers & Education, 63, 10-16. Karpinski, A. C., Kirschner, P. A., Ozer, I., Mellott, J. A., & Ochwo, P. (2013). An exploration of social networking site use, multitasking, and academic performance among United States and European university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 29, 1182-1192. We Are Social. (2018, January 30). Digital in 2018: world’s internet users pass the 4 billion mark.. Retrieved March 2, 2018, from https://wearesocial.com/uk/blog/2018/01/global-digital-report-2018 R E F E R E N C E S W H A T ? H O W ? A N D W H Y ? WHAT WILL WE DO? AND HOW? * Surveying peers about their GPA and social media usage * Sample of at least 100 students at UCM * Quantitative approach * Online and paper-based surveys * Social media usage: no daily use, moderated daily use and high daily use. * Difference between freshmen, second year and third year UCM students? WHY THIS RESEARCH? A growing amount of research investigate the influence of online social network usage on academic performance, however few studies have investigated how online social network usage influences the academic performance of university students in particular. ** Find out if you should quit your social media habit for a higher GPA. ** R Q + H Y P H O T H E S I S RQ: Is there a correlation between high daily use of social media applications on mobile devices and a lower GPA of UCM students? HYPHOTHESIS: High daily usage of social media networks on mobile devices will negatively affect the GPA of UCM students. R O B I N V A N H A L T E R E N - 6 1 6 2 2 7 4 - M A A S T R I C H T U N I V E R S I T Y I S T H I S W H Y Y O U ' R E N O T G E T T I N G T H E G R A D E S Y O U W A N T ?
- 22. Online heroes -Offline zeroes? Does online engagement with issues such as climate change necessarily reflect an offline behaviour appropriate to the solving of these issues? The Issue I have seen posts relating to climate change, saving the environment etc. multiplying on my Facebook News Feed. The most recent one was ‘5 things you need to save the environment’. While using social media to raise awareness about this very pressing issue can be seen as a positive development, I also wonder if this does not make people feel as if they have ‘done their job’ by just liking and sharing, without actually implementing any change in their lifestyle. Prior Research Research has been conducted about the use of social media for political or other kinds of engagement (Carlisle and Patto, 2013; Junco, 2011), including climate change awareness (Ali,, 2011), as well as on the role of media in political engagement concerning climate change (Carvalho, 2008), but there is a gap in the field when it comes to linking the real life impact of using social media for these issues. Preliminary hypothesis While social media can be a useful tool to raise awareness, its use is not sufficient to guarantee an offline behaviour that is appropriate to solve climate change. ● confirmatory research ● qualitative surveys about Facebook use, household habits, recycling, etc. and control variables among UCM students (possibly also other faculties, UCs, etc) Method Coline Grimée Research Methods 2 UCM References Junco, R. (2012). The relationship between frequency of Facebook use, participation in Facebook activities, and student engagement. Computers & Education, 58(1), 162-171. Carlisle, J. E., & Patton, R. C. (2013). Is social media changing how we understand political engagement? An analysis of Facebook and the 2008 presidential election. Political Research Quarterly, 66(4), 883-895. Carvalho, A. (2010). Media (ted) discourses and climate change: a focus on political subjectivity and (dis) engagement. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 1(2), 172-179. Ali, M. S. S. (2011). The use of Facebook to increase climate change awareness among employees. In International Conference on Social Science and Humanity, Singapore.
- 23. Introduction Studies can bestressful and hard to cope with. It has been discovered that some students are under severe stress and that the number of mental health issues among students is rising (Robotham, 2008). UCM students will not be an exception, but they have an advantage. There is a strong community which stands to help coping the work. Pierceall and Keim (2007) found that the main stress release from students comes from conversations with friends and family, adding later on that community college students did not feel major stress from their studies. This could lead to the conclusion that there is a relation between community feeling and stress levels, although this was not examined by Pierceall and Keim. However, there is little literature on the negative effect communities could have on the stress levels of students. They might be feeling a lot of social pressure from the community, or exclusion once they are not part of the group. These factors can be stress enhancing rather than reducing. Once it is clear what effect the community feeling has on the students the knowledge can be used to reduce stress levels by altering the community feelings in a certain way, enabling students to perform their best. Research question How does the community feeling at UCM influence the stress levels of its students? Hypothesis Students with a greater community feeling will experience less stress. Empirical methodological approach For this research there will be a deductive approach, testing the relationship between community feeling at UCM and stress levels UCM students experience. The data will be collected via quantitative research, mainly existing out of a questionnaire that can be shared through Facebook, taking as depended variable stress levels and independent variable the community feeling. The participants will solely be UCM students. References Pierceall, E., Keim, M. (2007). Stress and Coping Strategies Among Community College Students. Community college journal of research and practice, 31(9), pp. 703-712. DOI: 10.1080/10668920600866579 Robotham, D. (2008). Stress Amongst Higher Education Students: Towards a Research Agenda. Higher Education, 56(6), pp. 735-746. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-008- 9137-1 Femke de Haan i6163623
- 24. Do you livein an information bubble? References Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 211-236. Pan, B., Hembrooke, H., Joachims, T., Lorigo, L., Gay, G., & Granka, L. (2007). In Google We Trust: Users’ Decisions on Rank, Position, and Relevance. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(3), 801-823. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00351.x Pariser, E. (2011). The filter bubble: What the Internet is hiding from you: Penguin UK. Introduction After the 2016 US election the issue of Fake News has become widely discussed. One study found, for example, that people were more likely to believe stories which were favorable of their preferred candidate (Allcott & Gentzkow, 2017). This shows that people tend to believe stories that are in line with their ideological identity. Google and Facebook, among others, know this and have developed personalized searches and news-feeds. People therefore become very vulnerable to reinforcing their own bias, because of the direction the search results yield. This, in turn, creates what is called an information bubble, where people are more likely to be confronted with opinions they agree with. Barack Obama, in an interview with David Letterman, has recently warned that this information bubble might lead to an increase in political polarization and fears that civic discourse could be negatively affected. Research Question and Hypothesis RQ: How conscious are UM students about possibly living in an information bubble and what demographic factors influence their likelihood of trying to step out of it? Hypothesis: UM students tend not to be aware of the algorithms being used by the likes of Google and make little effort to gather information rather by relevance instead of convenience. Purpose The aim of the study is to find out whether students, being rather educated, are aware of how Google and the likes personalize results so that their opinions are reinforced. Additional data on the respondents could reveal certain groups within UM who are more vulnerable to becoming isolated in their cultural or ideological sphere. It can be argued that UM, being an educational institution, has a certain responsibility to educate students about this topic, which will allow them to become better researchers. The study could then make implementation of educational countermeasures more efficient. Methodology and Plan Quantitative data collection through online questionnaires is most suitable for this research. These will be distributed among UM students and should be filled out by at least 100 students from as many faculties as possible. Execution: 1. Questionnaire creation 2. Distribution of questionnaires 3. Statistical analysis of results 4. Write report Previous research Previous research has shown that college students are likely to perceive higher positioned search results as more relevant, even when quality of lower results was lower (Pan et al., 2007). This shows that many fall victim to Google's algorithm. Eli Pariser (2011) has explained this phenomenon as a filter bubble and has exposed that results for the search term "BP" can yield very different results, depending on the user.
- 25. Theoretical Background andEarlier Research This research uses cognitive frameworks such as “social learning theory” and “child development theory” which examine the effects of the environment of development and learning. Previous research has shown that television exposure in the US resulted in lower confidence in white and black girls and black boys, and an increased confidence in white boys. This is due to television glorifying white male characters. In what ways does the lack of diversity in childhood cartoons affect the self-image of ethnic minorities in adulthood and why? Cartoons and Confidence Introduction We all know how powerful of an affect our favorite childhood cartoons had on us. However with the increasing diversity of societies, the children of ethnic minority groups in societies might be confronted with a physical and cultural difference between their real lives and the lives of their heroes. Since children tend to see fantasy characters as role models this might lead to a decline in confidence in adulthood or self-alienation. Hypothesis The majority of children exposed to cartoons that idolizes their own race and culture will be more confident. Methodology Since the research will be carried out in Maastricht, the minority group that will be studied will be people from a non-white or non-Western background. à a scale that measures self-worth through measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self. This is conducted through a face to face survey. à the sample needs to be ethnically diverse but all participants need to be exposed to the same kinds of cartoons at childhood. à Participants in the research need to be interviewed so that possible connections between their current life and their cartoon exposure can be found. In the end the results of the two groups will be compared. - Qualitative research - Confirmatory in finding the relation - Exploratory in finding the reasons for the relation - Psychology tests - Comparing different ethnic groups References: Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Goldberg, S. (2012, June 01). TV can boost self-esteem of white boys, study says. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/01/showbiz/tv/tv-kids-self-esteem/index.html. Relevance The aim of this research is to measure the extent to which cartoons can affect the behavior and happiness of people as grown ups. Media has been guilty of being biased against oppressed groups for a long time. Such research that shows the negative affects of this lack of diversity could prompt more change in society. Thus this kind of research is a step towards more equality in a globalized society.
- 26. What is theeffect of the use of social media on the school performance of students? Earlier empirical evidence: - College students who use Facebook have significantly lower grade-point averages than those who do not because they spent less time studying. - 90% of a sample answered `yes’ to the question if social media usage had a bad influence on their study efficiency. - Time spent on social media: 20% of students spend 0-2h, 50% spend 3-5 hours and 30% spend 6h or more time on social networking. Introduction: The use of social network and media is so rampant by students recently because of the easy access by multiple devices which are connected to the internet. Besides the number of devices, the number of internet pages also increases at an incredible quick tempo. Because of all that, excessive usage of social network and media tend to increase among students.What are now the perils if its effects on the academic performance of students? Is academic performance becoming a concern for some students now that they have constantly access to the internet? Aims and objectives: The main aim is to explore the relationship between the effects of social networking and student’s study efficiency, and to determine if and how social media interferes with the grades of students. It aims to investigate the student’s attitude towards social networking, the reasons for using it, the amount of time spent on the internet etc. and the effect that has on the academic performance of the student. Hypothesis (Expectancies): An excessive use of social media has a negative effect on the grades of students. Methodology: Mixed method Quantitative: hours spent on social network, grades of the students Qualitative: Reasons for the use of social network and the effects it has Sample: 50 First year University College students in Maastricht Tools: Pen and paper for: Questionnaires with open and multiple choice questions: what kind of sites, for what purposes (Quali) how many hours, GPA (Quanti) etc… Literature review: Wade C. Jacobsen and Renata Forste.Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.May 2011. Jacobsen, W. C., & Forste, R. (2011). The wired generation: Academic and social outcomes of electronic media use among university students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(5), 275-280. Emma Vergauwen i6164450 Research Methods II
- 27. The use of Smartphones Abstract In modern society,smartphones increasingly became an inherent part of daily life. Whilst smartphones are praised for enhancing social interactions, more recently, also negative aspects of their frequent use have been debunked. This research focuses on the influence of the frequent use of a smartphone compared to not using a smartphone while studying. Thus, the study aims at finding a pattern in the influence of smartphones on productivity in studying. How does the presence of a smartphone influence the ability of studying focused for students in Maastricht? Method • Approach: quantitative • Independent variable: presence of smartphone • Dependent variable: ability to focus • Sample: random sample of 50 students from Maastricht University • students are asked to put their phone out of reach for 3 days when studying. • The same students are then asked to put their phone right beside them while studying, again for 3 days. • After both experiments the students are asked to fill out questionnaires on how they perceived their ability to focus • Results of the study will, thus, be based on subjective self-reflection of the students.Previous studies • Studies on use of smartphones and their impact on social relations and psychological well-being (Al-Harrasi, A. S., & Al-Badi, A. H. (2014). The impact of social networking: A study of the influence of smartphones on college students) & (Park, N., & Lee, H. (2012). Social implications of smartphone use: Korean college students' smartphone use and psychological well-being.) • Study on use of smartphones in classrooms and its distracting features (Grinols, A. B., & Rajesh, R. (2014). Multitasking with smartphones in the college classroom.) 1. Construct questionnaire & find participants 3. Interpretation of questionnaires Interpretation of results 2. let participants conduct the experiment & fill in questionnaires Scientific relevance The scientific relevance of the study is grounded in its importance for psychological work: Can the presence of an object significantly influence our ability to focus? If the results show a clear pattern, methods for effective and productive studying can be improved. Design Research Methods II, i6164756, Nelia Mayer-Rolshoven 4. Results
- 28. Introduction & aim Relevance& justification The research will be qualitative and will use physical as well as online surveys to collect data. Additionally earlier research will be used to justify the conclusions we make from the collected data. Sample size will be around 70 surveys from the four main generations: baby boomers and generations X, Y and Z. The surveys will be analyzed and similarity’s be- tween the generations will be observed and researched. Week 1: Revise research proposal, write survey, spread survey Week 2: Continue collect survey data, analyze papers written connected Week 3: Interpretation of all data & find things in common, finish 1st draft Week 4: Finish writing the paper Access& Limitations References [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2018, from https://goo.gl/images/X2jwU1 Amy Ingenhoest 6165082 UCM Research Methods II How do different generations perceive their privacy in the World Wide Web? Different generations have different opinions due to different experiences they have had in in der life time. One of the BIG gamechangers was the WORLD WIDE WEB. But it came with risks, that now are more viable than ever as the Cambridge analytical scandal. The research will try to establish if there is a continuity of decrease in perception in privacy and weight the risks of this development. Data and Method The relevance of protecting our privacy has become more and more prominent. However, often people share, upload and agree to things with out knowing how it will/can and does intrudes their privacy. The question now rises in Governments, do legislative adjustments need to be made to protect people. And our research can provide some evidence to this question if the state needs to intervene. Earlier research • Anne Adams (1999) comes to the conclusion that the perceived invasion of privacy effects the users and predicts that this would lead to people being against this violations. • Akpojivi & Bevan-Dye (2015) showed that even if younger generations were informed about the use companies make with their data they had nothing against it until they heard about the intrusion of privacy. The key point is that they need to see the user of their privacy as negative • Christofides, Muise,& Desmarais (2012) conclude that the plat- form the information is collected on can manipulate the level of consciousness about sharing pri- vate data. With using online and physical surveys we will be able to reach enough diverse sample set to generalize to a extend of reliability. The limitations will exists due to a limited time frame of spreading data as well as a limited possibility of thoroughly going through a large number of surveys. Further more, there will be difficulties reaching larger amounts of the oldest generation why this generation will not be survey as well as the youngest one too.
- 29. This proposal isfor a study investigating how social media mediates between contemporary friendships. The proliferation of social media and subsequent importance in our lives has transformed the traditional mechanisms of friendship and personal bonds between individuals are no longer restricted to physical proximity (Chambers, 2013). Facebook and Instagram are two examples of social media that are used as a medium of interaction between individuals and groups. Liking, commenting and tagging each other in posts has become the main way we communicate and an implicit rule of modern friendship. Sharing posts with others has become a significant method of engagement and people are expected to present their friendships online. Research Question: How is social media used to maintain contemporary friendships? Hypothesis: Social media is used as a metaphysical platform to mediate contemporary friendships Methodology: The main method employed for this study will be a discourse analysis of Facebook and Instagram. Using Existing Empirical Work & References: • Chambers, D. (2013). Social Media and Personal Relationships. Palgrave Macmillian, UK. ProQuest
- 30. References To which extentdoes Wikipedia’s user-interface design affect the willingness of users to consider editing articles? Konieczny, P. (2009). Governance, organization, and democracy on the Internet: The iron law and the evolution of Wikipedia. In Sociological Forum (Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 162-192). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Thornton-Verma, H. (2012). REACHING THE WIKIPEDIA GENERATION - from questions about measuring usage to patron-driven acquisition to the inexorable challenge of dealing with wikipedia, lJ's reference editor and a gathering of publishers, aggregators, and librarians discuss reference trends and its thorny issues. Library Journal, 137(7), 32-42. Wikimedia (2017). English Wikipedia at a glance November 2017 [Table]. Retrieved from https://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/SummaryEN.htm Zineldin, M. (2000). Beyond relationship marketing: Technologicalship marketing. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 18(1), 9-23. doi:10.1108/026345000103085 (2) Quantitative approach: Does design matter at all? Questionnaire: Ranking of the prototype-designs according to e.g. attractiveness, understandability, professionalism etc. Evaluation through e.g. Dowdall rule. Wikipedia is a major source for quick acquirement of knowledge information on Wikipedia should be as accurate as possible. The organizational set-up of Wikipedia ensures that a higher amount of participants in the editing process is increasing the reliability of information how can we motivate more people to participate in editing articles? Background Methodology (1) Qualitative part: What makes a good design for you? - Semi-structured interviews / focus groups. - groups of 6-9 people - Example questions: - What makes a good design for you? - Do you tend to be involved with educational & non-profit causes in general? Mixed approach. Development of five prototype-designs. Theoretical framework - Interpretivist paradigm: Only through examining the very personal opinions and ideas about what constitutes a good design, the research can be successful - Includes a post-positivist assumption: the result of the qualitative research can be statistically verified Hypothesis A more responsive, flexible design which puts a bigger focus on mobile devices, soft shapes, and includes a theme color, encourages people to contribute more to Wikipedia in the short term. Thilo Buchholz i6165448
- 31. University College Maastricht– Paul Hausmann Bias in the media coverage of the 2014 Israel-Gaza War in German, French and British media Introduction: In the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict both sides depend on international sympathy in order to ensure crucial support primarily of financial and military nature from states all over the globe. This is why it is argued that the conflict is nowadays to a large extent fought in the media. In this regard, the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014 marks a recent culmination of media attention in the Arab-Israeli conflict and both Israelis and Palestinians accused each other of making use of propagandistic news reporting in order to influence public opinion and gain sympathy in the international arena. To what extent they might have been successful, will be investigated in this research project by answering the following research question: Prior research: Media bias in the coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict has been subject to a large number of studies. After WWII the image of Israel in Western media has overall been positive. This, however, changed after the 1967 Six-Days War and the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Israeli troops and is said to have reached a new all- time low after the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, in which according to the United Nations 2104 Palestinians and 72 Israelis were killed. Most of the previous studies have aimed to show a bias toward one of the sides but lacked to explain the origin of this bias. The study of Michael Neureiter about media bias in the coverage of the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid in German, British and US newspapers has been a crucial advancement, by testing the media bias in favor or disfavor of Israel on a correlation with public opinion, the political affiliation, the demographic composition of a country and the inter-state relations with Israel. His study is based on Dave D’Alessio and Mike Allen’s work, who developed a comprehensive framework for measuring media bias. Generally, there is a research gap on potential media biasses in the coverage of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict regarding German and French media, despite its high relevance. Also, Neureiter stressed the importance of conducting continuous research on the media coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict in order to detect shifts in media biasses. Relevance: Especially in the context of the recent debates about an alleged rise of antisemitic incidents in Germany and France, it is important to achieve an understanding to what extent this might be represented in the coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict, also because a one-sided portrayal of news can enhance the development of antisemitic tendencies. But the same might be said with regards to biasses favoring Israel and Islamophobic sentiments in the German, French and British society. Generally, due to the polarizing nature of the conflict, it is of utter importance to get a neutral picture based on empirical evidence of its portrayal in the media. This research will contribute to the analysis of potential bias in the media coverage of the conflict by filling the research gap regarding the portrayal of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict in British, French and German media. References: D'Alessio, D. & Allen, M. (2006). Media bias in presidential elections: a meta-analysis. Journal of Communication, 50(4), pp. 133-156. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02866.x. Groves, A. (2017). ‘From Gaza to the streets of Britain’: British social media coverage of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. Jewish Culture and History, 18(3), pp. 331-349. doi: 10.1080/1462169X.2017.1364051 Lopatin, E., Samuel-Azran, T. & Galily, Y. (2017). A clash-of-civilizations prism in German media? Documenting a shift from political to religious framing of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Communication and the Public, 2(1), pp. 19–34. doi: 10.1177/2057047316689795 Neureiter, M. (2016). Sources of media bias in coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict: the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid in German, British, and US newspapers. Israel Affairs, 23(1), pp. 66-86. doi: 10.1080/13537121.2016.1244381 Research Question: To what extent was the coverage of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict biased in German, French and British media and how can this be explained? Hypothesis: The British media coverage was least critical of Israel, whereas the media in France and Germany was more biased. This can partially be explained by analyzing the political affiliation of the newspaper and the public opinion and demography of each population. Methodology: • quantitative research • the research will be conducted in a responsible way in accordance with general ethical considerations • the design of Michael Neureiter’s study on the “Sources of media bias in coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict: the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid in German, British, and US newspapers” will be used which has shown a high degree of validity and reliability Sampling strategy: • random sampling to avoid selection bias • the sample includes all articles of five largest mainstream newspapers from Germany, France, and the UK in time frame of 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict (8 July - 26 August 2014) • from this sample for each newspaper 10 articles will be randomly selected, which will all together be the unit of analysis for study Variables: Dependent variable: media bias • will be established through checking the units of analysis on statement and coverage bias, based on D’Alessio and Allen’s framework for measuring media bias that consists of statement bias, coverage bias and gatekeeping bias • gatekeeping bias impossible to measure since it describes the process of selecting or deselecting certain issues for news agenda (based on ideological grounds) • only coverage and statement bias will be measured, as in Neureiter’s study • statement bias (also called presentation or tonality bias): when media is partial toward or against certain issues or actors • coverage bias (also called visibility bias): describing process when issues or actors are more or less visible in news Independent variables: • Political affiliation: the newspapers that will be part of the study will be divided into left-leaning and right-leaning based on already existing research • Public opinion: based on BBC poll where people in several countries where asked how they see Israel‘s influence in the world • Demography: based on the share of Muslim and Jewish population living in Germany, UK, and France in 2014 Steps in the project: Step 1: A representative sample will be created, including all articles of the newspapers that are part of the study in the time span of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. A random sub-sample of 10 articles per newspaper will be created. Step 2: The coverage bias will be measured by counting quotes from the newspaper articles in favor or disfavor of Israel. The statement bias will be measured by checking implicit and explicit arguments in the articles as in Neureiter’s study and then placing them on an ordinal scale from 1 (anti-Israel bias) to 10 (pro- Israel bias). Together they will account for the potential media bias in favor or disfavor of Israel. Step 3: The independent variables will be measured. Step 4: The potential correlation between the demographic composition and public opinion in each society and the political affiliation of the newspaper and the extent of media bias favoring or disfavoring Israel will be measured.
- 32. Poster Research MethodsII Date: May 4th 2018 Name: Tirza van den Boorn ID: i6166039 Title: Poster Tutor: Amrapali Zaveri Course coordinator: Dr. Jeroen Moes Course: SKI1005 Research Methods II Faculty: University College Maastricht
- 33. To what extentdoes Social Media have an affect on the buying behaviour of UCM students and what are the financial consequences? INTRODUCTION Over the last decades, the use of the internet has become inevitable. Millennials grew up during the rise of the internet, and the creation of social media. Most students scroll through social media daily and there is a big chance they come across advertisements. Brands use the interactive media to advertise, as it is very easy to reach the customer and online advertising campaigns have relatively lower costs than traditional media campaigns. Advertising on social media has become an enormous influencer on the buying behaviour of the consumer, as it has an effect on the decisions the consumers make as well. Brands have spent billions of dollars into their campaigns and consumers have spent their money on the advertised products. However, for students that are dependent on loans or an allowance from the government or family, the ads might have a negative influence on their finances as they might have too little money at the end of the month because they used their money on products they saw in advertisements. QUANTITATIVE METHODS & METHODOLOGY An online questionnaire, with multiple choice questions will be most effective. However, if there is not enough data, data collection can be expanded through the use of interviews. This will give more personal answers and will compensate with the lack of data from the questionnaire STEP 1 Identify dependent & Independent variables STEP 2 Create questions & Answers for the questionnaire STEP 3 Collect Data after distribution of questionnaire STEP 4 Process & Analyse Data from questionnaire & Write Report PREVIOUS RESEARCH Adoption and usage of online shopping (2007). - Decision making during shopping online and offline - Surveys to households - Amount of money spent online and offline PREVIOUS RESEARCH Effectiveness of Online Advertising (2014) - Time spending on the internet - Interest in certain brands - Interest in specific platforms REFERENCES Pikas, B., & Sorrentino, G. (2014). The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, The effectiveness of online advertising: consumer's perceptions of ads on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Vol 16(4), p. 70. REFERENCES Soopramanien, D.G.R., Robertson, A. (2007). Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Adoption and usage of online shopping: An empirical analysis of the characteristics of "buyers" "browsers" and "non-internet shoppers“. Vol 14(1), pp. 73-82. Doi 10.1016j.jretconser.2006.04.002
- 34. I S VE G A N I S M M E R E L Y A T R E N D S T A B L I S H E D B Y I N S T A G R A M ? N i c o l e B l o m m e n d a a l S t u d e n t I D : I 6 1 6 6 1 9 1 U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e M a a s t r i c h t R e s e a r c h M e t h o d s – S k i 1 0 0 5
- 35. Instagram and Self Esteem Instagram and Body Image Research Question: Do celebrity model Instagram pages impact the body confidence of their female followers aged 16-‐17? Relevance Instagram is a popular social media platform introduced in 2010 and since then has been widely used mainly by youth. It has heavily influenced the way that younger generations connect and share images of their daily real-‐world experiences online. The concept of liking images has been engrained by Instagram as images receive ‘likes’ from followers, and in many ways feel like a form of social validation. The more ‘likes’ one acquires, the more validation they receive. Due to the relative novelty of Instagram in the past decade, it is important to understand the effects it may have on youth, particularly females, at vulnerable ages. Instagram is deceptive because people generally only post their best self as if it is their standard, and it creates unrealistic beauty expectations. Studies have demonstrated how Instagram can affect beauty standards negatively and place pressure on females to satisfy unrealistic standards. Therefore, understanding how the new easy availability of celebrity pages can be detrimental to young girls’ body image is a necessary field of study in the new digital age in correlation to mental health assessments. Objective: The goal of this research project is to identify if celebrity model Instagram pages affect the personal body confidence of young female followers. Hypothesis: The Hypothesis for this research project is that celebrity model Instagram pages do negatively affect the body image of young female followers. Method Amount of global active Instagram users in 2018. 800M o Variables – Independent Variable: Celebrity Model Page; Dependent Variable: Followers o Sample Size: 100 High School Students ranging from grade 11 to grade 12 (50/grade) o Sampling Method: 1. Questionnaire to gather background information on their user activity and follow interests 2. Produce questions relating to research topic, and incorporate scales to rank feelings and personal views to measure the scale of Instagram impact. 3. Produce questions that ask for comparisons on body image prior removed from Instagram and currently on Instagram. o Data Analysis: Distribute surveys/questionnaire and gather data. Compile data to answer relevant questions. References Laura Meneses | i6169596 | May 2018 | Research Methods II Fleming, Olivia. “'Why Don't I Look Like Her?': How Instagram Is Ruining Our Self Esteem.” Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan, 7 Oct. 2017, www.cosmopolitan.com/health-‐fitness/a8601466/why-‐dont-‐i-‐look-‐like-‐her-‐how-‐instagram-‐is-‐ruining-‐our-‐self-‐esteem/. Gajanan, Mahita. “Young Women on Instagram and Self-‐Esteem: 'I Absolutely Feel Insecure'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 4 Nov. 2015, www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/04/instagram-‐young-‐women-‐self-‐esteem-‐essena-‐oneill. MacMillan, Amanda. “Why Instagram Is the Worst Social Media for Mental Health.” Time, Time, 25 May 2017, time.com/4793331/instagram-‐social-‐media-‐ mental-‐ health/.
- 36. Facebook and RomanticRelationships Emma Little | University College Maastricht | i6178907 | SKI1005 Research Question: Does spending more than 4 hours a week on Facebook affect romantic relationships among young adults aged 18-25? References Method Relevance: Facebook is a relatively new entity that older generations did not have to contend with in romantic relationships. In the past couple decades it has become increasingly popular and has changed the way that people create and maintain relationships. Facebook significantly changes the way that people meet and communication with each other. In a 2013 study it was found that there was not a significant correlation between Facebook usage and relationship satisfaction whereas a 2011 study found that Facebook usage was linked to relationship dissatisfaction. Spending time on social media, particularly Facebook, may have effects on romantic relationships that are currently unknown as there is little research on the topic. Hypothesis: The hypothesis for this research project is that spending more than four hours a week on Facebook negatively effects romantic relationships satisfaction. Objective: The aim of this research project is to determine whether the amount of time spent on Facebook effects the satisfaction in a romantic relationship. Benett, S. (2014, November 18). This is HowMuch Time we Spend onSocialNetworks Every Day. Adweek. Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/digital/social-media-minutes-day/ Elphinston, R. A., & Noller, P. (2011). Time to face it! facebook intrusion and the implications for romantic jealousy and relationshipsatisfaction. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(11), 631-635. doi:10.1089/cyber.2010.0318 Hand, M. M., Thomas, D., Buboltz, W. C., Deemer, E. D., & Buyanjargal, M. (2013). Facebook and romantic relationships: Intimacy and couple satisfaction associated withonlinesocial network use. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(1), 8-13. doi:10.1089/cyber.2012.0038 Sample Group • Determine independent and dependent variables • Determine sample group à 30 people between the ages of 18-25 that are in and were in a romantic relationship within the past year (distribute survey and questionnaire to 60 people ~ approx. 50% response rate) Questionnaire and Survey • Create questionnaire to gather information on demographics (age, sex, relationship length, Facebook membership length, etc.) • Create survey with questions pertaining to research question (use scales so respondents can rank their feelings) Analyze data • Distribute survey and questionnaire and gather data • Analyze data to answer research question 51 Minutes Average time spent on Facebook a day for adults aged 18-29
- 37. Is is timewe swiped left on Social Media? Introduction Cell phones have revolutionized the 21st century. However, they are also the quickest and easiest way that we can access social media. Social media is defined as any service where “individuals and groups create user-specific profiles”1. Popular social media sites include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and use has skyrocketed in recent years with teenagers and young adults being the primary users. A recent study shows that 71% of teenagers report using more than one social media site, and 24% report going online “almost constantly”2 . With such high rates of use, it is important to note the consequences involved. High use of social media has been associated with poor sleep, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem3. Research found that refraining from using Facebook for a period of 1 week led to higher levels of subjective well-being (SWB) in adults4. SWB is defined as “people’s cognitive and affective evaluations of their lives”5 and is a person’s evaluation of their own happiness. Now that more social media is being used, and mostly by teens and young adults, it would be beneficial to see the effects refraining from social media has on University students. Research Question Will deleting all major forms of social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) from mobile phones for 2 weeks increase university students levels of subjective well- being? Hypothesis #1 Student’s in the experimental group will have significantly higher levels of subjective well-being than those in the control group at Time 2 #2 Student’s in the experimental group will experience an increase in subjective well-being levels from Time 1 to Time 2. Relevance The objective of this research is to determine whether deleting social media can have a real effect on happiness of students. Similar research has investigated removing 1 social media site from lives of adults for 1 week. We wish to extend this to include multiple social media sites, as well as the population that is most affected – young adults. As mental health is affecting lots of students, it is important to find ways to increase their well-being. Method Participants • 30 student volunteers from University College Maastricht (ages: 18-22) Measures • Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) 6 questionnaire • SWLS = quantitative questionnaire using a 7-point scale to assess well-being Procedure • Half (n=15) randomly assigned to the experimental group and the others (n=15) to the control group • Participants will complete the SWLS prior to starting the study (T1), and once more upon completion (T2) • Participants in the experimental group will be instructed to delete social media apps from their mobile phones, and to refrain from browsing on their computers • Each day, the experimental group will keep a log regarding whether or not they stuck to the program (those who did not will be excluded from the study) Analysis • Calculate the average SWLS score from control and experimental groups for both T1 and T2 • T-tests: • Between-subjects: to compare control and experimental group SWLS scores at both T1 and T2 • Within-subjects: determine if there was a change in scores from T1 to T2 Limitations • Small sample may affect the external validity of the study, making it difficult to generalize to other university students • Rely on the participants to be truthful (internal validity may be compromised if they are not) • As it is a field experiment, difficult to control for extraneous variables References: 1. Obar, J.A. & Wildman, S. (2015). Social media definition and the governance challenge: An introduction to the special issue. Telecommunications Policy, 39(9), p. 745-750. 2. Lenhart, A. (2015). Teens, social media and technology overview. Pew Research Center. 3. Cleland Woods, H., & Scott, H. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression & low self-esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 51, p. 41-49. 4. Tromholt, M., Marie, L., Andsbjerg, K., & Wiking, M. (2015). The Facebook experiment: Does social media affect the quality of our lives. 5. Diener, E. (2000). The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55(1), p. 34-43. 6. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75. By Jamie Fournier
- 38. Gender Attitudes and SexualBehavior at UCM Research Question How are UCM students’ gender attitudes reflected in their sexual behaviour? Theoretical Framework Sexual script theory was initially proposed by William Simon and John H. Gagnon in their 1973 book Sexual Conduct, which presented the idea that all social behavior, including sexual behavior, is socially scripted (Wiederman, 2015). Sexual scripts can be defined as: “abstractions about sexuality that most individuals in a particular culture would recognize” (Greene & Faulkner, 2005, p.240) Dr. Michael Wiederman defined three distinct yet interrelated levels of scripting for sexual behavior: cultural scenarios, interpersonal scripts, and intrapsychic scripts. Arguably, these can account for the production of sexual activity as a social activity. Introduction Attitudes towards sex and gender determine sexual behaviour and are determined by the socio-cultural background of people. These socially rooted roles are what the researchers Gagnon and Simon (1973) called sexual scripts. They can be defined as “abstractions about sexuality that most individuals in a particular culture would recognize” (Greene & Faulkner, 2005, p.240). An example of a heterosexual male’s sexual script would be that he has to be the dominant, experienced figure during sexual activity. Closely interlinked with standard stereotypes, men are expected to be rather emotionally insensitive and fight for sexual partners. Contrarily, women’s scripts are formed around the passive, submissive position. These scripted roles can set a frame for sexual activity in general, its goals, behaviours and appropriate contexts. Hypothesis/Expectation Due to UCM’s philosophy of critical thinking and liberal political and social inclination, it is assumed that its students are sensitive to and aware of gender roles. As the education programme offers several courses on identity and gender studies, and promotes tolerance and open-mindedness, we predict that the participants’ approaches to men and women’s position in society contradicts the traditional cultural standard. Methodology This research project utilizes inductive reasoning. This means that we will start by collecting data, and only after analysing and verifying emerging patterns will we suggest relationships between variables. A mixed-method approach will be used. Data collection will be taken in the form of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Our sampling techniques for finding participants will be to interview friends or close acquaintances which allow us to conduct the most comfortable interview possible. A total of N=8 participants were interviewed, 4 males and 4 females. Relevance Gender bias and their conventional roles are still rooted in society through the perpetuation of cultural traditions, such as media and pornography. Gender roles build up expectations and eventually create gender- assigned scripts for sexual behaviour, which still prevail in heterosexual relationships. If that is true for the rest of society, this qualitative research examines to what extent UCM students might differ in acting out sexual scripts, as we assume they are more gender sensitive due to their social and academic environment. Muriel Kruize i6125527
- 39. Introduction Methodology Relevance Popular culturewebsites such as Cosmopolitan and GQ are strewn with headlines such as, ‘7 sad but true reasons women fake orgasms’ and ‘6 clues that she’s faking it’ (Breslaw, 2013). GQ journalist Sophie Thomas (2017) claims that “fake orgasms are a plague to humankind.” Why do some women choose to fake orgasms when having heterosexual sexual interactions? Many individuals view orgasm as the ‘goal’ of sexual interactions and/or perceive reaching orgasm as an indication of ‘successful’ sex (Thomas, Stelzl, & Lafrance, 2017). In response to such pressure, some individuals may pretend, or ‘fake’, an orgasm during sexual interactions. In fact, pretending orgasm is a widespread phenomenon, reported by both women and men, however more commonly observed in women (Goodman, Gillath, & Haj-Mohamadi, 2017). Studies have shown that between one-half and two- thirds of the women studied have pretended to orgasm (Thomas et al., 2017; Goodman et al. 2017). Some reasons for pretending to orgasm include: not into sex, insecurity, for partner’s pleasure, to enhance experience, or because it was expected. This research will adopt a qualitative approach as it concerns the reasons for faking orgasms among female university students who partake in heterosexual sex acts. It will be conducted in the form of a semi- structured interview by a female interviewer of approximately 15 to 30 minutes each. The questions will be open-ended to allow participants to elaborate on their reasons. Some key questions include: 1. What does a satisfying sexual experience look like for you? 2. How important is it for a woman to have an orgasm during intercourse? 3. What are some reasons why a woman might fake an orgasm?' Questions will be posed to infer the experiences, feelings, and opinions female university students have about faking orgasms. Content analysis will be done to extract recurrent themes and patterns from the responses to achieve a coherent answer to the research question. This study aims to illuminate the reasons why young women choose to pretend orgasm in sexual encounters with male partners. By illustrating these reasons, the research seeks to stimulate communication between partners and encourage more open, sex-positive sexual interactions. FAKING IT Why do young women fake orgasms in heterosexual sexual interactions? References Breslaw, A. (2013, November 13). 7 sad but true reasons women fake orgasms. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex- love/advice/a5048/reasons-we-fake/ Goodman, D. L., Gillath, O., & Haj-Mohamadi, P. (2017). Development and validation of the pretending orgasm reasons measure. Archives of sexual behavior, 46(7), 1973- 1991. doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0928-7 Thomas, S. (2017, April 28). 6 clues that she’s faking it. GQ. Retrieved from https://www.gq.com/story/sexy-faking-it Thomas, E. J., Stelzl, M., & Lafrance, M. N. (2017) Faking to finish: Women’s accounts of feigning sexual pleasure to end unwanted sex. Sexualities, 20(3), 281-201. doi: 10.1177/1363460716649338 Joanne Snel (6126531) University College Maastricht For partner 41% Not into sex 19% Insecurity 9% Dysfunction 14% Feels good 17% Data from: Goodman, D. L., Gillath, O., & Haj-Mohamadi, P. (2017).
- 40. Male vs. FemaleViews on Abortion Laws INTRODUCTION Abortion is one of the most controversial laws in the legal systems of European countries. Previous research has shown that people with a more religious background tend to prefer stricter laws regarding abortion (Hyne, 2015). In addition to that, the more communist countries tend to be more liberal with regard to the matter (Hyne, 2015). As for the question whether men and female differ in opinions, the results have been contradicting (Robbins, 2014). RELEVANCE According to Mooney and Lee (1999) moral laws need support of the mass public in order to survive. Knowing the differences between men and women can be beneficial in order to get a better understanding of the debate and its proponents and opponents. With women participating more in the labour market and in politics, abortion laws may become more liberal if women are generally more pro-abortion. HYPOTHESIS There is a clear correlation between gender and the amount of support of abortion laws. Females tend to feel more responsible for their babies than men and fear unplanned pregnancies more. They want to be in control over their own bodies. RESEARCH QUESTION “To what extent does gender play a role in a person’s opinion about abortion?” METHODOLOGY This research will make use of a quantitative analysis. In order to conduct a significant research, 50 individuals, both male and female, will be asked to participate. The people that agree to participate in the research will be asked to fill in a questionnaire with multiple questions. The questionnaire will first ask them some questions about their background, including religion, age, level of education and, naturally, gender. Then it will ask them some questions about their personal opinions on the matter. In this research the dependent variable is the support on abortion laws (0: no; 1: yes). De independent variable is gender, but variables like religion, age and level of eductation will also be taken into consideration. The research is to be considered nomothetic, since it aims to provide gerneral statements. REFERENCES Mooney, C.Z. & Lee, M.H. (1999). The Temporal Diffusion of Morality Policy: The Case of Death Penalty LegislaDon in the American States. Policy Studies Journal, 27(4), pp.766– 780. Hyne, J (2015). Region, rights and religion: Cross-naDonal determinants of aborDon laws. Student Paper Series Ins4tut Barcelona Estudis Internacionals, 22, pp. 32-33. Robbins, M. (2014). Why are women more opposed to aborDon laws? Retrieved from: hYps://www.theguardian.com/ science/the-lay-scienDst/2014/apr/30/why-are-women-more-opposed-to-aborDon Elise Vens (i6138814): University College Maastricht
- 41. Regional Identity, EnvironmentalConcern and Support for Protected Areas in South-Limburg Research Question Is there a correlation between regional identity affiliation among South-Limburgers and support for protected natural parks within the region, based upon environmental concerns? Hypotheses (1) There is a positive correlation between regional affinity in South-Limburg and support for protected areas (2) This support is based upon a causal environmental concern, which is increased by local regional affinity References: - Carrus, G., Bonaiuto, M., & Bonnes, M. (2005). Environmental concern, regional identity, and support for protected areas in Italy. Environment and Behavior, 37(2), 237-257. - Stoll-Kleeman, S. (2001). Barriers to nature conservation in Germany: A model explaining opposition to protected areas. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21, 369-385. Research Design • Stoll-Kleemann(2001) conducted a grounded theory qualitative, bottomup inductive approach, to generate insights as to underlying motivations based on interview evidence and associatedata. Fifty-nine problem centred interviews conducted in seven different protectedareas in Germany, in order to probe social-psychologicalfactors affectingthe establishmentof natural parks in Germany. (Stoll-Kleemann,2001, p.372). • This research’s methodology will be split into two parts, constituting mixed methods methodologicalapproach. Similar to Carrus, Bonaiuto & Bonnes (2005), Questionnaires will be used as sampling survey instruments producing quantitative validity. This will provide empirical data regarding the three variables from a representative number and distribution of respondents. This hypothetical-deductive (deductive- empirical) method will provide insight into the relationshipbetween regional identity, regional environmentalconcern and support for the setting up of natural parks. • In the second part of this research Stoll-Kleeman’s grounded theory approach will be used, as problem centred interviews will be used to test out our hypothesis and identify variables and their relationship, used in conjunction with the results of the previous survey. Interviewees will be selected from various interests involved in nature conservation,local governance and local landowners in South-Limburg. Relevance Ecologicalscientists have recognisedthe loss of biodiversity as a priority within the contemporary environmental agenda. At the same time, there is growing awarenessthat biodiversityloss, a problem at a global level, has important local dimensions (Carrus, Bonaiuto & Bonnes, 2005). However, an important barrier to the creation of natural protected areas is the frequent opposition of local residents and communities, who may perceive the protected area as a loss of freedom or an economic obstacle (Stoll-Kleeman, 2001). The aim of this research is to investigatethe impact that Local-Regional identity and affiliationhas upon communities’ support or opposition to the creation of natural parks in South-Limburg, and how this is associatedwith environmental concern. The local dimension of environmental governance is an important field of research. Variables i. Regional identity – How strong is the individuals affinity to South- Limburg? ii. Support for the setting up of natural parks – Are the individuals opposed or supportive of the establishmentof conservation areas in their region? iii. Environmental concerns – How concerned are individuals and communities regarding loss of biodiversity? Reprinted from: Stoll-Kleemann, S. (2001,p. 375). Timeframe Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Planning stage x Operational Stage / Questionnaire surveying x x Problem centred interviewing x x Analysis/writin g/decision on generalisation x Sam Smith. ID: 6139347
- 42. MALE PERCECPTION ON“FEMINISM” ABSTRACT What are the male perceptions on feminism? Do they fully understand the goals of the feminist movement? Are there any misperceptions? Feminism stands for the social, political and economic equality of sexes. However, many people associate the feminist cause with wrong ideas. For instance, that feminism is exclusive for women and that it implies a “war against men”. By asking the question: “How is the feminist movement perceived by male bachelor students in Maastricht University?”, this research aims to study the male comprehension on feminism. This will lead to the understanding of the misperceptions, and therefore, make it possible to know where and how to address the issue. RESEARCH QUESTION How is the feminist movement perceived by male bachelor students in Maastricht University? HYPOTHESIS Even though feminism stands for social, political and economic equality of sexes, many men have a wrong perception of the movement. Instead of assimilating feminism with its actual goals, men feel intimidated by false notions and not included in the cause. RELEVANCE This research is relevant in order to understand the male perception on feminism. If the hypothesis is confirmed, then it will be proved that greater efforts need to be made to clarify and spread the feminist goals. Many men agree with the principles of feminism. However, due to a wrong perception of the movement, they do not consider themselves feminists. Additionally, many male individuals believe they can not be feminists because they are men. There are many unclear concepts in feminism for males. The results of this research will make it possible understand where there are misperceptions and make it possible to address them. METHODOLOGY This research will consist of qualitative interviews with 10 male Maastricht University bachelor students. The interview will be based on pre-established questions. However it will allow flexibility to the interviewer and the establishment of new questions, if found relevant. The questions will begin with personal information about the interviewee, if he identifies himself as a feminist and in the following, perceptions on the feminist movement. This last section will be the major part of the interview. After gathering the data, an analysis will be made over the results in order to prove or refute the hypothesis of the research. REFERENCES: Osborne, S. (2001). Feminism (Pocket essentials. ideas). Harpenden, Herts: Pocket Essentials.; Swanson, E. (2017). Poll: Few Identify As Feminists, But Most Believe In Equality Of Sexes. Huffpost.; Killerman, S. (2012). 5 Reasons Why So Many People Believe Feminism Hates Men and Why It Is Not True. It’s pronounced metro sexual.; Kreitler, K. (2012). Why Men Need Feminism Too (Really, You Do!). Magazine.; n.a. (2017). Perceptions on Feminism. The Panoptic. Image retrieved from: https://girltalkhq.com/feminist-conversations-the-growing-trend-of-men-speaking-publicly-about-feminism/ Karina Boyce de Castro (i6149599) Image retrieved from: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/12/reasons-people-believe-feminism-hates-men/
- 43. ` • To understandhow nationalist narratives effect individual cultural identity. • To explore the significance of these folklore narratives in Europe • To answer the question; how students from a variety of European countries have been influenced by their nationality and their cultural heritage. • Historians who have studied the impacts of 19th and 20th century nationalism have emphasised the importance of the Nationalist movements in the creation of the modern state. They have contended that Literature and folklore have influenced the development of Nationalism by promoting an idea of national heritage and personal identity. • The term nationalism is characterised by a system of political self-governance and sovereignty. Deriving its legitimacy from shared identity characteristics such as culture, language, race religion and ancestry. What is this shared identity? And how do individuals characterise it? There have been a substantial amount of research done on individual and communal identity in reference to citizenship. • Recent European populist movements have placed emphasis on the effect of nationalism. It is important to understand this relationship in association with both European nations and historical perspective. • However, within academic literature there appears to be a gap in knowledge into the lasting impact these folktales have had on individual and national identity. The purpose of this research would be to identify if this link is present and to what extent it is still applicable today • Prior research has hypothesised a strong relationship between the popularity of Folklore and the characterisation of Nationalism through shared national identity. As a result, this research will take a confirmatory approach in an attempt to help prove the hypothesis. • It will also take a deductive standpoint on the grounds that nationalism is defined as a shared cultural heritage that includes folklore. Those folktales and associated values must represent the shared national identity. This national identity is also an aspect of an individual’s independent identity. • Because of the nature of the research, it is dependent on responses of the test subject. This means that the research will take a qualitative, interview structure in which the individuals country of Origins and their own personal experience will be discussed and taken into account. For example, a question ask “what national folktales they knew?” followed by in-depth analysis of their effects of their; • features that make them attractive or unattractive to the individual. • Reasoning behind their attitudes Week Task 1 Preliminary research and investigation. Refine and focus concentration depending on findings. 2 Data collection 3 Structure and data analysis 4 Write and revise findings • Abrahams, R. (1993). Phantoms of Romantic Nationalism in Folkloristics. The Journal of American Folklore, 106(419), 3–37. https://doi.org/10.2307/541344 • Commision. (2015). European citizenship. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/eb/eb83/eb83_citi zen_en.pdf • Laffan, B. (1996). The Politics of Identity and Political Order in Europe TT -. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies TA -, 34(1), 81–102. • Triandafyllidou, A. (1998). National identity and the other. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2(4), 593–612. https://doi.org/10.1080/014198798329784. • YouGov. (2016). YouGov Mega Survey Report. Retrieved from https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/smow6e2 p43/MegaEurotrackerResults_AugustSeptember2016_Toplines.pdf • Simpson, C (2018). Research Proposal, Research Methods I. Folklore, Nationalism and Identity. University college Maastricht. • YouGov 2016 Survey Report • Took a sample size of approx.1000 citizens from 12 European countries and looked that their political leanings and self-identification. The report indicated the number of self-identified right or left-wing citizens. It also covered questions surrounding nationalism, European Union membership and the importance of sovereignty. This report used both categorical nominal and ordinal question to illustrate the varying leanings and self-identifications within Europe. • The Standard Eurobarometer 83 European Citizenship report Research; Linked the ideas of identity, legitimacy and political order within Europe, centring around the development of European identity and nationalism. The report found that the majority of Europeans see themselves firstly by their nationality and only secondly as Europeans. • The results showed that the majority of European (52%) defined themselves firstly by their nationality and then as Europeans. This result shows that nationality, and therefore national identity, still plays an important role in determining the composition of independent and communal self. The report also looked at varying reactions across all 25-member states with 64% of UK citizens, 57% of Cyprians and 51% Greeks interviewed seeming themselves as solely by their nationality. A qualitative study on the construction of national identity through regional folklores and narratives.
- 44. How QUEER isUCM? Quantitative: It will consist of an online questionnaire, in which we ask queer students general questions about why they applied to UCM. This will be followed with a few in-depth interviews with a diverse range of queer people. Exploratory: The aim is to explore the reasons why Queer people want to come to UCM. Inductive: There is no hypothesis. In-depth interviews with the participants Online Questionnaire + find participants Organizing and analysing data Write paper STEPS Key issues for Queer students: - Curriculum and course content - Discrimination - Prejudice and bullying - Facilities and services for queer people When thinking about higher education, Queer people must take into consideration the location of their university, if the university aims at helping marginalized groups and the attitudes of the students. I want to know what factors contributed to queer people at UCM deciding to come to this institution. The research question asks: What makes UCM attractive to queer people? Reference List: Education Beyond the Straight and Narrow: LGBT students’ experience in higher education. (2014) National Union of Students, London. Retrieved from (02/05/2018): https://www.nus.org.uk/global/lgbt-research.pdf Renn, K. (2017) LGBTQ Students on Campus: Issues and Opportunities for Higher Education Leaders. American Council on Education. Retrieved from (02/05/2018): https://www.higheredtoday.org/2017/04/10/lgbtq- students-higher-education/ Emma Bussi i6149726
- 45. Does Your Gender Define Your Identity? Abstract How an individual defines themselves, says a lot about the society one lives in. Some contemporary feminist philosophers claim that gender is not relevant anymore, where others state that gender defines one place in society and therefore one’s identity. However, these philosophies are theoretical. How do students, in real life cases, in practice, define themselves and to what extend does gender influence their identity? This research tries to find answers to those questions. With on top of that, a philosophical analysis of the relation between gender and identity. The purpose of this research is to gain a better inside in the influence of gender on one’s feeling of identity. Literature Research 1. ’The Metaphysics of Gender’ by Charlotte Witt 2. ’Gender Trouble’ by Judith Butler 3. ’The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir How? & Methodology This research will be qualitative, with the use of in-‐depth interviewing (5 interviews) of 30 to 45 minutes and open-‐question questionnaires (50 questionnaires). The participants in both the interviews as well as the questionnaires are students from Maastricht University in the age of 18 to 30 years old. The second part of the project is a literature research, in which, the theoretical philosophical approach to gender and identity will be examined. The answers to the questionnaires and the in-‐depth interviews will be compared to the theories examined in the literature research. Are there similarities between the theories and the results? If the results are different, what could a new theory be? RQ: To what extend do students of Maastricht University in the age of 18 to 30 years old, define their identity by their gender? Phases of the research 1. Reading the existing literature and writing the survey + publishing the survey 2. Taking the in-‐depth interviews and writing the literature review. 3. Analysing the data 4. Writing the paper
- 46. RQ: What arethe factors that discourage ciswomen attending UCM to masturbate? METHODOLOGY AIM AND RELEVANCE Hypothesis: education, religion, gender guidelines of behavior, misinformation and feelings of awkwardness and shame about masturbation discourage ciswomen UCM students from masturbating. References: Levin, R. J. (2007). Sexual activity, health and well-being – the beneficial roles of coitus and masturbation. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 22(1), 135-148. doi:10.1080/14681990601149197 Wakeman, H. (2013). Women And The EpistemologiesOf Pleasure: An Analysis Of Female Sexual Appetites And Practices At Bucknell University. (Honors theses), Bucknell University Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/honors_theses/170 WHO. (2010). WHO Regional Office for Europe and BZgA–Standards for sexuality education in Europe: A framework for policy makers, educational and health authorities and specialists. Cologne: World Health Organization, Federal Centre for Health Education, BZgA. Ana Rosas I6151084 1) Health benefits to masturbation (Levin, 2007) 2) Normal human activity from an early age on. However: Women masturbate less than men do (WHO, 2010). Aim: discover if factors that discourage women from masturbating derive from gender-imposed barriers. Qualitative methodology. Social constructivism and interpretivism. Population: UCM students. Sample reliant of willingness to participate. Realquestions.Source: http://whisper.sh/search?q=masturbation +women+ Data Collection: 1. Questionnaires, interviews 2. Anonymous ‘confessions and questions’ platform about masturbation. Data Analysis: 1. Comparison and deductions of answers and notions collected about masturbation. 2. Assess extent of gender barriers. Inductive approach: form hypotheses. Feelings after masturbation 1) shame 2) sexual empowerment 3) fear of selfishness (Wakeman, 2013)
- 47. RESEARCH QUESTION How doesa lack there of sexual education affect the emotional wellbeing of Maastricht University students? ● Hypothesis: a lack of sexual education can be directly connected to negative self-esteem and self-confidence in Maastricht University students. INTRODUCTION William E., Snell Jr., Terri D., Fisher, Rowland S. and Miller (1991) created the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) through which they were able to measure four personality tendencies associated with sexual awareness and sexual assertiveness: sexual consciousness, sexual-monitoring, sexual assertiveness and sex appeal-consciousness. This research will further their study and look for the link between a lack of sexual education and negative emotional wellbeing further along the line. RELEVANCE The aim of this project is to show how the lack of sexual awareness and assertiveness negatively affects students’ emotional wellbeing. The very different backgrounds and upbringings of UM students make up for lack (or not) of knowledge that may cause a lagging behind of the student in social outings and confidence in general day-to-day situations The objective is to conduct survey research on UM students based on SAQ and more specific to this topic questions. Also, proposing solutions to the lack of sexual education on an institutional and academic level. For UM, as an high education institution taking part in the building of adult citizens, these topic is relevant in order to raise healthier individuals that can share this education and develop it to normalize sexual educaiton in society for future generations. METHODOLOGY ● Survey research, with a mix of SAQ questions and more specifically designed questions on sexual education received, sexual knowledge, emotional wellbeing and perceived emotional wellbeing. ○ Variables: gender, country/culture of origin, age, education system, sexual knowledge, sexual awareness, emotional wellbeing. ○ This research will use stratified-random sampling ● Snell, W. E., Fisher, T. D., & Miller, R. S. (1991). Development of the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire: Components, reliability, and validity. Annals of Sex Research, 4(1), 65-92. SEXUAL EDUCATION AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING María Julieta Barragán Sosa i6151931 University College Maastricht Tutor: Roos
- 48. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATIONDESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com The aim of the research is to improve marketing strategies of organizations that offer voluntary projects, allowing more volunteers to consider volunteering abroad, and for them to be matched with a project that provides them with a valuable experience. Aim 1. Female volunteers are more likely to choose projects related to education, health and gender equality. 2. Male volunteers are more likely to choose projects related to development and industry. 3. There is no difference in the likeliness between female and male volunteers with regard to environmental and sustainability-related projects. Hypotheses Methodology – Quantitative research • deductive and nomothetic research methods, with the aim to deduce general laws about choosing behavior with regard to voluntary projects • post-positivism, which argues for an independent reality that will be studied, whilst acknowledging that research can only make approximations about this reality Research Method • A web-based questionnaire with closed questions will be distributed among students of University College Maastricht (UCM) via Facebook. • Within the questionnaire, list questions, ranking questions and scale questions will be combined in order to achieve clear and generalizable results, whilst providing many different combinations of answering the questions. Focus group - University students that are interested in volunteering abroad or have done so in the past Sampling strategy - Purposive non-probability sampling in the form of cluster sampling Sample frame - UCM students that are active on Facebook Variables - Within the study, the only focus will be on gender, disregarding independent variables such as nationality or age. Sample size - N = 40, with 20 female and 20 male students. Research Question, Methodology and Research Method Resources Literature Review • Young adults are the largest group of volunteers in society and the percentage of 15-25 year olds engaged in voluntary activities has been increasing in the last years (Lopez, 2004). • Female volunteers tend to be more engaged in projects that are aligned with the traditional image of women in society, such as health care, education and religion (Wemlinger & Berlan, 2015). • These findings have been explained by using several disciplines, ranging from psychology over biology to history, emphasizing different brain structures and functions as well as historical images of gender. • One research supporting the findings is presented in Figure 1, indicating a difference between gender with regard to a willingness to volunteer in either more nurturing or dangerous environments (Wymer, 2011). • Most previous studies focused on volunteering in local organizations and in terms of donating money. • In the last years, a new type of volunteering emerged, which focuses more short-term, intensive projects. ‘New’ volunteers tend to be more involved in choosing their projects, looking at their own benefit and interests (Rehberg, 2005). Thus, can the findings be applied to the ’new generation’ of volunteers or does gender play an insignificant role in the choice of voluntary projects? Limitations • The sample size of N = 40 could be considered too small for quantitative research. • With the sample frame of UCM students, the results could be considered as not representative of the average university student in the Netherlands, as students within UCM tend to be very aware of gender roles and stigmas. References Lopez, M. H. (2004). Volunteering Among Young People. Rehberg, W. (2005). Altruistic individualists: Motivations for. international volunteering among young adults in Switzerland. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 16(2), 109-122. doi:10.1007/s11266-005-5693-5 Jesler van Houdt, i6152144 Are there ‘Female’ and ‘Male’ Voluntary Projects? Figure 1 ANOVA results about gender differences in volunteering (Wymer, 2011) Female vs. Male Volunteers? One of the sources of information will be the database of the organization AIESEC, which yearly sends thousands of volunteers abroad on voluntary projects. As a part-time AIESEC Maastricht member, I will have unconfined access to the relevant data. Research Question Empirical Research Hypotheses Web-based Questionnaire Internal Database of the Organization ‘AIESEC’ Confirmation or Rejection of the 3 hypotheses Wemlinger, E., & Berlan, M. R. (2015). Does gender equality influence volunteerism? A cross-national analysis of women’s volunteering habits and gender equality. Voluntas, 27, 853-873. doi:10.1007/s11266-015-9595-x Wymer, W. (2011). The implications of sex differences on volunteer preferences. Voluntas, 22, 831-851. doi:10.1007/s11266-010-9174-0 Week 1: preparation and distribution of questionnaire ; analysis of prior empirical research ; start with analysis of internal statistics of former AIESEC volunteers Week 2: analysis of questionnaire and collection of missing data ; further analysis internal statistics of former AIESEC volunteers Week 3: finishing of the analysis of the data ; start of interpretation of findings ; relating findings to prior empirical research Week 4: relation of findings to hypotheses and acceptation/rejection of these Work Schedule Web-based Questionnaire How big and what is the difference between the type of voluntary projects chosen by male and female volunteers that are going abroad?
- 49. Sexism is thesystematic inequitable treatment of women by men or the society as a whole. Structures of sexism are based in culture, institutions, and practices. Internalized sexism refers to how women incorporate sexist practices and how these circulate among women. Women are still under-represented in the field of academia and bound by internal pressures presumably different than those faced by men. Furthermore, while laws may be in place to restrict discriminatory acts from occurring, this study will analyze how women feel how laws/policies in the Netherlands are enacted and contribute to their work environment. Purposive sampling of 6 female UM professors Problem-centered interviews 1. Elicit narration, 2. Structured questions - When in your academic career did you experience insecurity, pressure, feelings of incapability? - What were the relations with other women in the academic sphere? - *Reference NL Policies* - Where do you feel are there short-comings, what needs to be added? Coding interviews thematically by tally frequency, and analysis Introduction Internalizing Structures of Sexism Objectives q What structures of sexism exist and have been experienced by the participants. q How women internalized these structures. q How women feel current laws impact their environment. Methods References Bearman, S., Korobov, N., & Thorne, A. (2009). The fabric of internalized sexism. Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, 1(1), 10-47. Plantenga, J., & Remery, C. (2015). The policy on gender equality in the Netherlands [PDF]. Brussels: European Parliament. Savigny, H. (2014) Women, know your limits: cultural sexism in academia. Gender and Education, 26(7), 794-809. DOI: 10.1080/09540253.2014.970977 How have female Academic professors in Maastricht University confronted structures of sexism throughout their academic careers, and how have they internalized it? Research Question Empirical Research Relevance qUnderstanding how sexism still exists in academia, and how that can inform a women’s ability to strive for careers. qAnalyzing existing structures, and laws and how women can rely on them (Does it help or hinder) qWomen may also instigate sexist practices. qHow a progressive society, such as the Netherlands still experiences these issues, and why this occurs. qBearman, S., Korobov (2009) specifically studies the internalization of sexism through dialogs with undergraduate women on their perspective of competition between other women, and assertions of incapability's. qPlantenga, J., & Remery (2015) published a report analyzing laws and policies in the Netherlands showing how gender inequality (particularly in the workplace) still exists to certain degrees; issues such as wage gap, employment rate, anti-discriminatory measures. qSavigny (2014) qualitatively explores examples of cultural feminism which affect the working lives of British Women in Academia. Her study concludes that the activity of academia is profoundly gendered and this contributes to our understanding of the under-representation of women in senior positions. Transcribing data anonymously Send out, short pre- interview questionnaires Chloe Agnello i6152161
- 51. FREELOVE LOVEand its enemies FREE FREE FREELOVE LOVE A QUALITATIVEINVESTIGATION OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS. RESEARCH QUESTION How do students in polygamous relationships embrace their sexual desires compared to ones in monogamous relationships? INTRODUCTION and RELEVANCE Do we have enough sex? Are we comfortable with our desires? Does sticking to one partner impede the fulfilment of our impulses and make us repressed? Does a polyglamous relationship instead necessarily mean that one is free and has a healthier relationship with their sexuality? These questions will be investigated in astudy that explores the two types of romantic relationships and tries to discover how and why people often supress their desi- res. Is it social norms or internal factors that determinate the silencing of an instinct? Or is it in fact the presence of a partner to whom a promise of faithful- ness hes been made? And is the absence of such a “contract” a sufficient condi- tion for one’s awarness and acceptance of their sexuality? The repression of sexual desires is known since the birth of psychoanalysis to have negative conse- quences on the well-being of the individual. At a young age (like it can be that of a university student), it is of a paramount importance to deal whith these in a mindful way. It is therefore relevant to look at what kind of romantic relationship allows for the healthiest approach to sex. PRIOR WORK - FREUD (1963): unfulfilled sexual desires > repression > harm psychologi- cal well-being of the individual. This can be adopted as a basic assumption for the research. - GRUNT-MEJER and CAMPBELL (2015): polygamy is perceived as less morally acceptable than monogamy. This study provides a relevance to our research: the practice of polygamy is disregarded because of the social stigma, but might be an unexplored answe to the issue of sexual repression -LEVITT (1988): 97.4% of people that have been in a polyglamous relation- ship report an enhancement in their perceived well-being. This finding can be compared to the answer obtained to see whether the enhanced well-being can be linked to increased sexual freedom REFERENCES Freud S. (1963). An Autobiographical Study: Norton. Grunt-Mejer, K., & Campbell, C. (2015). Around Consensual Nonmonogamies: Assessing Attitudes Toward Nonexclusive Relationshiups. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(1), 45-53. Levitt, E. (1988). Alternative lifestyle and marital satisfaction: a brief report. Annals of sex research, 1, 455-461 METHODOLOGY One’s freedom in dealing with his desires cannot be quantified objectively. Thus, the investigation will be qualitative and conducted under an interpretivist, inductive approach, and will aim at ideographic results. In depth semi-structured interviws will be followed by a second phase of discourse analysis of the mate- rial gathered to interpret it and draw the conclusion of the study. The sample will be of eight to ten students of which half will need to be engaged in a polyga- mous and half in a monogamous relationship. This will be the only criterion applied for the choice: among theese two categories the sampling will be random.
- 52. What Is BeautifulIs Good Methodology v This study will focus on both a same sex bias and an opposite sex bias to see whether or not there really is a difference between the two. v A survey will be spread through social media sites. There will be two parts in the survey. One will focus on pictures of females. One considered attractive and one less attractive. The same goes for the second part regarding males. v Previous research on what is attractive will be used to determine what will be considered attractive in the pictures. Moreover, the pictures will be random pictures from the internet, so it will not offend anyone. v Accompanying the pictures, there will be statements like I would rather go for coffee with person A or I perceive person A to be smarter/nicer etc. v Answers to these statements will be provided in a Likers scale. The options will be from I strongly disagree to I strongly agree References Agthe, M., Spörrle, M., & Maner, J. K. (2011). Does Being Attractive Always Help? Positive and Negative Effects of Attractiveness on Social Decision Making. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,37(8), 1042-1054. doi:10.1177/0146167211410355 Feingold, A. (1992). Good-looking people are not what we think. Psychological Bulletin,111(2), 304-341. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.111.2.304 Research question + hypothesis RQ: To what extend does the level of a persons attractiveness bias social interaction? Hypothesis: Opposite sex interaction will be positively biased by attractiveness, while same sex interaction will be positively biased only when it enhances a person’s self-perception Introduction v People interact with others all of the time and like to think they decide who they like and become friends with and who not. v However, multiple researches point out that there is a positive bias towards people who are perceived as good looking. v This study aims to test whether this bias influences our decisions regarding who we would prefer to interact with and whether our not that would change when it concerns different scenarios. Previous research v People who are considered attractive often viewed as more amicable, humorous, intelligent and socially skilled than people who are considered less attractive (Feingold, 1992). v A study conducted by Agthe, spörrle and Maner (2011), found that people will have a positive bias regarding attractive people when the subject is of the opposite sex. They found a negative bias when comes to people of the same sex. v This negative bias can be explained by wanting to avoid a perceived self-threat (Agthe, et al., (2011). Merel Aben; I6153545
- 53. IN THE PURSUITOF GLOBAL CITIZENS How Does Secondary Education Conducted at an International School Affect Students’ Perception of National Identity? Relevance Previous Research Introduction The study is relevant in several aspects. First, it will assist the understanding of whether international schools can help foster ’global citizens’ or if it has an opposite effect and instead nurture nationalistic sentiments. Second, it is a stepping stone to continued research on how studying abroad influence students, in a more general sense. Third, it portrays direct information for UWC Maastricht and a framework for further similar research by and for other international schools. Fourth, it can contribute to a general understanding of national identity – what fosters and reduces it. Dolby (2004) and Carlson & Widaman (1988) have conducted studies that touch upon US students’ appreciation of national identity when studying abroad. Carlson & Widaman, using a quantitative method and questionnaires, show that students become more critical and positive to their own nationality when studying abroad. Dolby, employing a qualitative approach in the attempt to understand the subjective experience of the students she interviews, shows that students sense of national identity increases as they study abroad. Although providing a framework for this study, the findings cannot be generalised as the studies only engage American college students – although relevant for education in the US, it may differ from students from other nations and in other levels of education. Nationalist sentiments are flourishing in the world, with Europe as a prime example. Simultaneously, the world is becoming increasingly globalised and interconnected. One illustration of this is the increase in international students. United World Colleges (UWC) is an organisation with international schools in 17 countries, with the goal to ”make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future” (”UWC Educational Model”, 2013). UWC Maastricht (UWCM) is one of these schools, with 104 nationalities represented (”facts and figures UWC Maastricht”). In its attempt to shape its students as global citizens, it becomes relevant to formulate a research question such as: How does secondary education conducted at an international school (such as UWC) affect students’ perception of national identity? Methodological Approach Research Plan Keywords: international students; study abroad; national identity; United World Colleges University College Maastricht – Amanda Björkman The paper will assume an interpretivist approach, as it believes that the research question can only be understood through the profound appreciation of students’ subjective experiences. Consequently, the research will be conducted in a qualitative and inductive manner with an exploratory approach. Unit of analysis: 20 randomly sampled students enrolled in the Diploma Program (secondary education) at UWC Maastricht, who have not previously lived and studied abroad (to limit the sample group and prevent biases) Data collection method: in-depth and personal interviews will be conducted with the sample group. The interview questions will be formulated in a way that gives the students as much freedom as possible to elaborate on their perceptions of national identity in relation to their education. References Carlson, J. S., & Widaman, K. F. (1988). The Effects of Study Abroad During College on Attitudes Toward Other Cultures InternationalJournal on InterculturalRelations, 12, 17. Dolby, N. (2004). Encountering an American Self: Study Abroad and National Identity. Comparative Education Review, 48(2), 23. Facts and Figures UWC Maastricht. Retrieved from https://www.uwcmaastricht.nl/about-us/facts-and-figures-uwc- maastricht UWC Educational Model. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.uwc.org/_site/data/files/what_we_do/A93FD8AF8D EBC9535B5ED4749F5B9FE3.pdf Week 1: - Contact UWC Maastricht and students suitable for the interviews (randomly sampled) - Formulate interview questions - Rough outline of paper: introduction, methodology, prior research and relevance Week 2: - Visit UWC Maastricht and carry out interviews with students Week 3: - Transcribe interviews - Analyse interviews and look for general trends in the answers - Finish first draft of paper Week 4: - Finish final draft of paper, proof-read and edit
- 54. Sex. It ispresent in most of people’s life. Yet the way students define sex varies for each individual. Living in a highly media-centred society has changed our perception on the topic. The idea that sex i s p u r e l y p h y s i c a l h a s increased within our minds. This paper will try to identify if through gender, age, culture, our definition of sex varies. Does our modern society affect the way young adults envision sex? If yes, to what extent? Qualitative methods will be used for this research. Interviews are the most appropriate form. They will include an in depth interview of ideally 4 to 6 students who study in Maastricht. Each interview should be structured and should not exceed 1 hour. Quantitative questionnaire are also relevant to this research. Distributed via social media, it will provide a wider outlook on the experience of Maastricht university students. Important aspects such as gender, age and culture will be taken in account. Abstract Identify the type of information required - find interviewees Formulate the questions in a structured manner for the interviews + simple questions and answers for the survey. Conduct the interviews as well as distribute the questionnaire —> Collect data. Analyse the data and write the report 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 0 45 90 135 180 Online Internet Video Technology influencing the vision of sex - 1980 to 2017 Katherine Ellen Folley (2017) Analysis of five decades of sex research showing an evolving spectrum of sexual norms. Steps Methods Previous research
- 55. WHERE ARE YOUFROM? – THE BIG QUESTION How do university students ask, perceive, interpret and answer this question when being asked and when asking? IDEA AND MOTIVATION Within UCM one can find at least 36 nationalities and cultures all mixed together. Through the changing influx of exchange students, the level of internationality may vary. Now, people are always and constantly curious as to what background one has, where they were born and raised, what official citizenship they possess, and finally, what nationality or culture they feel most connected and related to. Here comes the part where it gets interesting. How do people ask all of these enquiries compressed into a single question? WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Personally, I find that question confusing, and I never know as to what degree and detailedness the expected answer should be nor what exact question they actually implicate. DESCRIPTION To ensure the specificity of this qualitative research, a comparison between UCM students from the ages 18 up to 25 would be needed. Furthermore, important factors such as if they have lived abroad, what kind of high school diploma they have obtained, if the student themselves is a so called “Third-Culture-Kid” (TCK) will be taken into account. It would also be important and valuable to this research project to find out what information is wanted and expected from the question when it is being asked, how people interpret the question in their own way when their being asked and, lastly, how the question is being answered. What are the reactions as soon as it gets a bit more complicated and derives from a simple “One country” answer? Do university students with an IB/EB diploma have a different experience compared to students that attended another type of school system? METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH – SURVERYS AND INTERVIEWS Since this is a qualitative research project, it should focus on gaining a deeper understanding of people’s experience about how the question “where are you from?” is being asked, perceived and answered. Thus, an inductive approach within ethnography will be used to find a possible pattern within the answers. The methodological approach chosen for this would happen in form of surveys and interviews. Whilst the surveys would rather be closed questions (to make the data collection easier), the semi- structured or problem-centred interviews would be an opportunity for participants to explain their situation and experiences in more depth. Of course, the survey could also be used as a preparation for the problem-centred interviews. REFERENCES Huebener, T. (1963). The European School. The French Review, 37(1), 47-50. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/383441 Savvides, Nicola. “Developing a European Identity: A Case Study of the European School at Culham.” Comparative Education, vol. 42, no. 1, 2006, pp. 113– 129. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/29727769. Catalina Schlienger i6154447
- 58. Let’s talk aboutsex! Is there a relationship between our sex education as a whole and the way we experience our sexuality throughout our lives? DATA COLLECTION The questionnaire is composed by twenty-five questions which are asked to approximately one hundred students of Maastricht University. Half of the questions are asked in order to trigger signs of embarrassment when the participant responds, therefore the content of the answer is not relevant. In contrast, the second part of the questionnaire is trying to study the student’s sex education. RESULTS The answers are recorded using Google forms and the experimenters pretend to be recording every single answer in order not to influence the outcome in case the participants realize part of their responses are not being written down. At the same time, the researchers write down any manifestation of the different embarrassment signs when asking the questionnaire: gaze down, controlled smile, head turn away, gaze shift and face touches. This signs work as indicators of embarrassment when talking about people’s sex life by bringing up masturbation, sexual practices, sexual orientation, and frequency of sexual activity. At the end, the different results are studied and discussed in order to answer the research question through empirical research. Introduction WHERE? One hundred Maastricht University students are approached at the inner city Library. HOW? The experimenters locate themselves at the entrance and would ask every person that entered the library in order to randomize the research. WHO? All subjects are over the age of eighteen and none of the participants are aware that their embarrassment signs are being observed while asking the questionnaire.. this research has chosen two main divisions: gender and nationality. There were nine different nationalities: Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, France, UK, South Africa, Belgium and Greece. SAMPLE - Your sexuality is an essential part of your life and identity that will affect you both mentally, and physically. It is very important to learn about it and be able to communicate with others in order to fully convert it in a both enjoyable and enriching experience (Jannini, E. A., Fisher, W. A., Bitzer, J., & McMahon, C. G., 2009). - There is an outstanding rise of porn consumption that is constantly increasing. Not only that, but the average age of a person starting to consume porn has been decreasing in the late years due (partly) to a lack of information on the topic that leads to a seek for reachable sources that fulfill this purpose. However, porn is not a safe source of educational material but rather a misleading conception of sexuality (Bakker, P., & Taalas, S. (2007) - Furthermore, there has also been a rise concerning the contagion of STD’s in Europe for several reasons this paper will examine. This is indeed very problematic because of all the health risks that come with it and it could be potentially solved through a better sex education on STD’s. Smacchia, C.,etc. (2000) - Last but not least, the improvement of sex education in schools would definitely and inevitably have a positive impact on the percentage of sexual abuse and rape rate. If children at early ages were taught to respect consent and communication in depth, that would have direct results on the issues previously mentioned. We need to change our education in order to change the baselines of a society and this undeniable truth is applicable to our education in regards to sexuality. Relevance - It is an undeniable fact that education plays an essential role in shaping and determining one‘s sense and experience of the world. When many debates and critiques come about in our society, there is always a tendency to narrow it down to our education. - As a consequence of this tendency, a vast majority of people have a misinformed perspective on sexuality and the way they experience it, which usually lacks of information on the importance of communication and consent, the dangers of STD’s and sexualities that do not match with the heteronormative model, amongst many other things. - When it comes to sex education, there is also still a big room for improvement. Although there are many different factors which influence sex education one receives in school, there is a general tendency towards a lack of information on this important topic. - For this reason, this paper aims to not only describe the main issues concerning sex education within Europe but also to find the relationship between them and the way people experience their sex lives throughtout the course of their lives. METHODOLOGY . 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 REPLACE THIS BOX WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION’S HIGH RESOLUTION LOGO REPLACE THIS BOX WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION’S HIGH RESOLUTION LOGO POINT OF VIEW TYPE OF RESEARCH APPROACH REASONING Mixed methods Quantitative & qualitative Confirmatory Deductive Bakker, P., & Taalas, S. (2007). The irresistible rise of porn: The untold story of a global industry. Observatorio (OBS*), 1(1). Smacchia, C.,etc. (2000). Commentary: Immigration, HIV Infection, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Europe. AIDS patient care and STDs, 14(5), 233-237.
- 59. Research Question: How dounrealistic portrayals of one-night stands in popular film culture influence the expectancies about sex for young male university students (age18-20)? MALE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT ONE-NIGHT STANDS Abstract: Whereas it is often proposed that popular film culture has assumed a prominent role in the expectations about one-night stands for young adult males, empirical evidence supporting this idea has been slow to compile. Some evidence directs attention to how frequent exposure to popular films with sexual content is associated with higher acceptance of stereotypical and casual attitudes about sex (Ward, 2003). Additionally, it shows higher expectations about the sexual outcomes and sexual experience. Such expectations create a culture of high pressure in terms of experience and performance. The response to such a pressure includes the tendency to imitate positive bodily responses whilst having sexual relations with a partner, including the phenomenon faking an orgasm (Goodman et al., 2017). There are various reasons why pretending to orgasm occurs (Thomas et al.,2017), however, this research is specifically interested in those individuals who perform according to the implied expectations when having sex. Relevance: This research aims to provide motivation for understanding this area of expectations about sexual culture. The illustration will highlight popular film content as a main contributor to the high pressure regarding sexual expectations. Additionally, by way of this illustration, the research will pursue more discourse about the influence of popular film culture on sexual performance to promote more positive mental attitudes about sexual relations. Sources: Goodman, D. L.,Gillath, O.,& Haj-Mohamadi,P. (2017).Development andvalidation ofthe pretending orgasm reasons measure. Archives ofsexual behavior, 46(7), 1973-1991.doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0928-7 Thomas, E. J., Stelzl, M., &Lafrance, M. N. (2017)Faking to finish: Women’s accounts offeigning sexualpleasuretoendunwanted sex.Sexualities,20(3), 281-201. doi: 10.1177/1363460716649338 Ward, L. M. (2003). Understanding the roleofentertainmentmedia in thesexual socialization ofAmerican youth:Areview ofempirical research. DevelopmentalReview,23(3), 347-388. doi: 10.1016/S0273-2297(03)00013-3 PhilosophicalReflection: A phenomenological paradigm will be applied as it follows the idea that cultural behaviour is socially constructed and found in subjective contexts. Methodology: A qualitative and indictive approach is more suitable as it can investigate by means of semi-structured interviews how popular film culture influences the expectations about the outcome of sexual relations. Each interview will follow a set of key questions that are open-ended. Additionally, for the sake of precision, the interviewer will pose new questions if the relevance arises. A male university student sample will be chosen as a convenient sample is more relevant for this research. 10 interviews will be conducted for a broader scope of answers. A thematic analysis will be used to identify patterns or themes of the answers. Vilde Toft i6155718
- 60. Introduction I noticed thata lot of my friends want to have blond hair, be tall and have blue eyes. Is that really what men find the most attractive or is that stereotype altered? As Maastricht is really international and culturally diverse, the findings could provide an image that is seen as attractive cross-cultural wise. Moreover, one could also find out if certain cultures have distinct preferences. Additionally, some male students may think that personality also plays a big role in being attractive. One example that was given in the study of Grammer & Thornhill (1994), is that pictures containing retouched symmetrical faces were judged more attractive and sexier than normal pictures of female faces. Data & Method Independent variables: One cannot change the culture or country one grew up in, which might affect one’s perception. Moreover, the perception could be altered by the social environment. Sample size - 200 male bachelor and master students from different faculties of Maastricht with different cultural backgrounds, proportionally to the number of students of their faculty. Sample method - Online survey where they first have to answer some multiple choice questions about themselves - Then they have to answer open questions about what they find most attractive for different aspects (hair, length, body type) but also several personality traits. Research question What do male students of Maastricht find attractive in a women? Significance Many women struggle to fulfill the image and appearance society expects of them. Moreover, in a study of Lorenzo & al., they found out that attractiveness plays a big role in first impressions and only based on what women look like they will be treated in a certain way. References: Grammer, K. & Thornhill, R. (1994). Human (Homo sapiens} Facial Attractiveness and Sexual Selection: The Role of Symmetry and Averageness. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 108(4), 233-242. Lorenzo, G., Biesanz, J. & Human, L. (2010). What Is Beautiful Is Good and More Accurately Understood: Physical Attractiveness and Accuracy in First Impressions of Persona. Psychological Science, 21(12), 1777-1782
- 62. Research Question: Whydo European citizens discontent toward the European Union and its institutions grew during the last 5 years or so? DO EUROPEANS FEEL MORE OR LESS EUROPEAN THAN A FEW YEARS AGO? Why? During the last few years and due to a dissatisfaction towards the European Union and its institutions such as the European Commission there has bee an increase of the extreme right parties. The problem arose when the crisis that the European Union faced (Migrant crisis) became too much to bear and some countries were opposed to accept migrants. Countries felt threated and its population grew sceptical towards the European Union actions to tackle the matter. Methodology Qualitative research: In depth interviews conducted on two groups to compare the answers and to see their insight on the power of the European Union and its impact for them. Sample: 5 Adults and 5 students will be Dependent variable: Political orientation, attachment to the European Union. References - Jan Rood, (2017). A crisis of confidence in the European Union? - Eurostat, Population with confidence in EU institutions by institution - David Scutt, (2016). CHART: The stunning rise of Eurosceptic political parties. Retrieved for Business Insider Eva MILLOT i6157639 Expectation By conducting this research, the researcher seeks to gather more information and understanding on the Europeans view on the European Union. The questions will concentrate on what they expect from the EU and where did they failed to provide certain need that would be important to address?
- 63. Effect of Genderon PBL Participation How does gender affect the participation of SBE students aged 18-30 in PBL sessions? Prior research & Relevance As people primarily categorize others according to gender, additional social categories applied to a person become nested in a gendered understanding (Brewer and Lui, 1989; Ridgeway & Smith-Lovin, 2006). On this way, gender significantly shapes expectations of behaviour. Thus gender is a fundamental component in organizing interaction (Ridgeway & Smith-Lovin, 2006). Research investigating gender’s effect on interaction found that women are more tentative than men in discussions (Carli, 1990). Studies concerning gender and education have found that the educational gender gap is becoming smaller in industrialized countries, meaning female educational attainment is increasing (Pekkarinen, 2012). However, another study found that in the classroom, teachers generally give more attention to boys than to girls, showing the effect gender has in the classroom (Einarsson and Granström, 2002). There is little contemporary research on gender that combines interaction and education. Problem Based Learning (PBL) emphasizes the importance of students’ interaction in education, and this is thus where these two fields come together. Therefore, this study aims to find what effect a student's gender has on their participation in Problem Based Learning discussions, as this may affect their educational development. This study is of significance for educational gender equality as well as for equal interaction between the genders, as the results may show an unequal division of, for example, speaking time. When awareness about such inequalities are spread among students and tutors, steps to tackle these inequalities can be undertaken as to improve the situation. This study fits the academic fields of (social) psychology and sociology. Note: this study will attempt to include all genders as to reject the conventional dichotomy. Methodological approach • Epistomological paradigm: post-positivism. • Quantitative, a survey (questionnaire) will be given to the participants after the observed PBL session to control for the variables of perceived age, ethnicity and knowledgeableness of students by other students; how much they like each other; how much they want the others to like them. • Sampling approach: probability sampling (generalisable): cluster. • Sample: 60 to 120 SBE students aged 18-30, of which the amount of women is roughly equal to that of men. The population the sample represents is all current SBE students aged 18-30. • Data collection: 5-10 PBL sessions with preferably an equal amount of men and women in each (maximal deviation of 10%) will be observed by putting one camera and one voice recorder in the classroom. The recordings will then be used to tally/measure: How often does a man/woman interrupt a man/woman? How often does a man/woman ask a question (to a man/woman)? How often does a man/woman answer a question (of a man/woman)? How long is a man/woman speaking? How often does a man/woman use 'tentative' phrases such as 'maybe', 'I don't know', 'I guess' or synonyms of these? How often does a man/woman ask for confirmation of what they said was right? • Data: interval for the 'how often'-questions and ratio for the other question, meaning all data can be categorized under 'scale' in SPSS, the program that will be used. • Steps of the research : 0) Survey creation, collection of subjects 1) Observation of subjects 2) Surveying subjects 3) Tallying observations with questions 4) Data analysis 5) Conclusion Merel Pechtold, i6158275, Research Methods II Ethical considerations Participants will be informed about the study and will have to give their consent before participating. Preferably, they are not informed about the specific emphasis on gender, as this might influence the subjects' behaviour. Limitations It is acknowledged that this study may be subject to the researchers’ subjectivity, for example in defining ‘tentative phrases’. References Brewer, M. B., & Lui, L. N. (1989). The primacy of age and sex in the structure of person categories. Social cogni-tion, 7(3), 262- 274; Carli, L. L. (1990). Gender, language, and influence. Journal of Personality and Social Psycho-logy, 59(5), 941-951. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ 00223514.59.5.941; Einarsson, C., & Granström, K. (2002). Gender-biased interaction in the classroom: The influence of gender and age in the relationship between teacher and pupil. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 46(2), 117-127; Pekkarinen, T. (2012). Gender differences in education. Nordic Economic Policy Review, 1, 165- 195; Ridgeway, C. L., & Smith-Lovin, L. (2006). Gender and interaction. In Handbook of the Socio-logy of Gender (pp. 247- 274). Springer, Boston, MA. How often do students engage with students of their own gender as opposed to other students? What effect does one’s gender have on how long a student speaks? …
- 64. The Effect ofRomance Novels . on Female Sexual Health Introduction Research Question Methodology Earlier Research Hypothesis “To What Extent Do Romance Novels Have a Negative Effect On the Sexual Health of Female University Students in Maastricht?” • Kundan Iqbal (2014): The impact of romance novels on women’s sexual and reproductive health. • Jennifer C. Bun (2007): The Effects of Romance Novel Readership on Relationship Beliefs, Romantic Ideals, and Relational Satisfaction. The before-mentioned sources were used in order to frame the research question given. This research adds to the essay by Iqbal (2014) how romantification in literature (regardless of the sexual behaviour in the novel) can affect female sexual health and it builds upon Bun’s (2007) thesis in how unrealistic ideals can effect sexual health. Sample: 200 female university students aged 18-25 currently living and studying in Maastricht. The women have to be sexually active but not in a relationship and have to have read at least one romance novel in the last five years. Conduct: quantitative gathering of data through a survey questionnaire. It will be send via an email to all the professors of Maastricht University with the question whether they could distribute it amongst their classes. The survey is only for female students meeting the requirements of the sample. The Survey will be divided into two parts. The first part will consist out of questions related to the romance reading behaviour of the participant. The second part will deal with the participants sexual beliefs and behaviour in which she will first be first asked about her ‘actual’ and ‘ideal’ sexual encounters and later on about unrealistic and dysfunctional beliefs and Ideals on sexual intimacy. The second part will include 30 questions, each on a specific belief or ideal in which participants are asked to rate the beliefs on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7= strongly agree). Data & Evaluation: statistical analysis on survey findings. Romance novels create unrealistic expectations which can cause a negative effect on female sexual health. Epistimology Post-positivism perspective Methodology • Quantitative • Deductive • Confirmatory • Nomothetic The genre of romance is a billion-dollar industry, with women making up 84% of the consumers (Romance Writers of America, 2013). From the early 19th century onwards, however, there have been critical perspectives saying that the ‘unrealistic’ aspect of the novels could lead to unrealistic and dysfunctional expectations for women which consequently would lead to discontent (Goodman, McCulloch & Richardson, 2008). A lot of things have changed in society since then. Over the last 50 years the ‘stand-alone’ version of sexual intimacy (sexual intimacy without a relationship being present) has become much more prominent. Furthermore, the role of females in Western society has changed immensely, women having become more independent (and are also seen as such). This research introduces a new and modern question regarding romance novels and its effect on women. The question does not focus on relationships, as has always been done before, but instead on sexual intimacy as an independent factor as a shift has taken place in society which makes the ‘stand-alone’ version of sexual intimacy a more relevant focus. UCM, i6159588 Bun, J.C. (2007). The Effects of Romance Novel Readership on Relationship Beliefs, Romantic Ideals, and Relational Satisfaction (Honours Thesis). Retrieved from https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/cas_sites/communication/pdf/thesis07.b un.pdf Goodman, J., McCulloch, G. & Richardson, W. (Eds.). (2008). Social Change in the History of British Education. Abington, Oxfordshire: Routledge Iqbal K. J. (2014). The impact of romance novels on women’s sexual and reproductive health. Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 40, 300–302. DOI: 10.1136/jfprhc-2014-100995 United Nations Population Fund (n.d.). Sexual & reproductive health. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/sexual-reproductive-health Romance writers of America (n.d.). Romance Fiction Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=580 Good Sexual Health A state of complete well-being: physically, psychologically and socially, in all affairs concerning the reproductive system (United Nations Population Fund, n.d.) Relevance As casual sexual relationships have become more prominent in western society, it is relevant to look into, not the negative effects of romance novels on females in regards to a more traditional romance or relationship (as has been the topic of discussion thus far) but instead focus on the extent that romance reading could have negative effects, on the sexual health of females. As research on romantic novels, with its possible negative effects on female sexual health, is quite scarce, it is important to perform the research as due to the lack of it, awareness cannot be spread in order to protect against the possible consequences.
- 65. 15 % ofmillennials aren’t sexually active after 18 years old against 6 % for the GenX’ers born in the 1960s, what about YOU ? (National health statistics report) Introduction, relevance & earlier empirical work Despite being considered the most liberal generation, millennials’ sexual activity is surprisingly decreasing in comparison to earlier generations. Indeed, in the present culture, sex has become omnipresent, privacy boundaries do not seem to exist anymore and dating apps offer what appears to be the closest to what is considered a romantic relationship nowadays. University is often seen as a time in life to experience newfound freedoms. The earlier empirical work studied the United States millennials’ sexual behaviors to evaluate the influence of age and cohort effects on the rising numbers of young adults not having a sexual partner after the age of 18 and stated that the decline in sexual activity did not concern college students although many articles argued the opposite. Therefore the aim of this research would be to go deeper into the decline of sexual activity of millennials by tackling the main changes in the way they approach sex and love. The rise of social media has highly impacted the perception of privacy and the users self-confidence. Along with dating apps, pornography also influenced millennials view on love and its relation to sex. What was perceived as the « hookup generation » seems to be stuck between what they desire and the expectations of the modern culture. The main issue is the ironic lack of communication between millennials in an interconnected society. The earlier empirical study showed how millennials play a game of disinterest when it comes to dating in relation to the social media, dating apps and pornographic culture boasting a « hookup culture » although many would consider being in a relationship. Millennials’ desires are similar to previous generations but modern society’s expectations have changed and that is what this research aims to explore. References -Twenge, Jean M., et al. “Sexual Inactivity During Young Adulthood Is More Common Among U.S. Millennials and IGen: Age, Period, and Cohort Effects on Having No Sexual Partners After Age 18.” SpringerLink, Springer, Dordrecht, 1 Aug. 2016, link.springer.com/article/ 10.1007/s10508-016-0798-z. - National Health Statistics Reports - Centers for D i s e a s e . . . w w w . b i n g . c o m / c r ? IG=BD46752181784062A5F3D4367A5453E5&CI D=3583844AF0856D9604B78FAFF12A6C92&rd = 1 & h = Q U W q j 4 A r n 3 3 v e z w I 5 T z K t - ZNGPB1XgGSUYr4M9146Ew&v=1&r=https:// w w w . c d c . g o v / n c h s / d a t a / n h s r / nhsr104.pdf&p=DevEx.LB.1,5503.1. Hypothesis The hypothesis is that despite t h e i r b a c k g r o u n d o r education, there is indeed a positive correlation between the diminishing privacy, the role of dating apps and the normalization of pornography with the sexual inactivity of millennials Methodology Dependent Variable : Sexual inactivity Independent Variable : Use of social media, use of dating apps, consumption of pornography Sample : UCM millennials (age18-23) no matter their values or backgrounds as it will be deliberately conducted on an international community to match the earlier empirical work & inclusive of all genders and sexualities. The sample will be selected randomly in order to avoid bias. This is a quantitative, confirmatory, experimental study that will take a deductive approach. Concrete steps : 1) Participants are given consent forms in which it will be noted that everything derived from the experiment will remain anonymous 2) Surveys will be given to the students who are randomly selected, which will ask students about their sexual and dating behaviors, along with their use of social media 3) Semi-structured interviews will then be conducted on participant perception of sex, love and privacy in order to get a deeper understanding of their views on the topic 4) Participants are debriefed 5) Data analysis will be conducted, which will evaluate the correlation between sexual behavior and the independent variables mentioned earlier No more sex ? Research question : In an excessively interconnected society, to what extent is there a correlation between the diminishing privacy, the role of dating apps and the normalization of pornography and sexual inactivity of millennials ?
- 66. Can sex differencesin jealousy be explained by evolution alone? Emina Hrnjica _ i6160596 Abstract In 1997, a group of researchers (Buss. Larsen, Westen and Semmelroth) have questioned the differences between male and female jealousy. They stated that sex differences in jealousy can be explained from an evolutionary perspective. It is believed that sex differences in humans emerged as solutions to respective adaptive problems faced by each sex. Males risk both lowered paternity probability and investment in rival gametes if their mates have sexual contact with other males. Females on the other hand do not risk lowered maternity probability through partner infidelity. They are more concerned with how much attention their male partner pays to their offspring and their jealousy emerged from the risk of their male partners emotionally caring more about another offspring. Therefore, female jealousy can be translated into emotional jealousy and male jealousy can be described as sexual jealousy. The research conducted in 1997 by Buss, Larsen, Westen and Semmelroth, tested their hypothesis on this evolutionary perspective by asking a group of men and women about what would upset them more- a partner’s sexual infidelity or a partner’s emotional infidelity. After asking these questions, they recorded the subjects’ physiological responses to these questions in a second study. Their results of both studies have proved to be significant. For this research however, the significant results of these studies are questionable because homosexuality has not been taken into account. REVELANCE The aim of this study is to critically test the validity of the previous research from 1997 by Buss, et al. and to question whether or not their theory, which has proved to be significant, applies to homosexuals. The interesting aspect that is questionable is whether or not homosexuals should worry about offspring matters and reproduction. Homosexuals cannot procreate, they are however able to adopt a child and step into the roles of mum and dad and behave in the same way heterosexuals do. Does this affect the type of jealousy they experience? From this example, another question arises; is jealousy inhabited in one’s nature or does jealousy adapt to social measures and constructions. This research is concerned about homosexual behavior. If jealousy is hard-wired into humans because of evolution, then the findings of the research of Buss, et al. should be reproducible nowadays, even after all the cultural changes of the last 30 years. Additionally, there should not be a difference in jealousy between hetero- and homosexuals. Therefore this research sets out to gather data to answer the question: Can sex differences in jealousy be explained by evolution alone? Null hypothesis: Sex differences in jealousy can be significantly explained from an evolutionary perspective alone. Alternative hypothesis: Sex differences in jealousy cannot be significantly explained from an evolutionary perspective alone. SAMPLE The sample of this research consist of two groups; a homosexual group, and a control group; a heterosexual group. In order to get results which are significant, we try to have enough subjects in each group. Both the control group and the homosexual group consist of 50 male subjects and 50 female subjects. The subjects do not necessarily have to be in a relationship at the time of testing, the reason why will be further addressed in the methodology section below. All subjects must be aged above 18. This is because sexual jealousy develops in humans during puberty and it is most likely to be sufficiently developed at the age of 18 and this is why we take 18 as a starting point. Since we will only be taking into account the sexual jealousy in relation to gender and sexual preference, age differences are not taken into account. METHODOLOGY For this research, an online survey will be used in which the subjects will be asked the following questions which are identical to the questions Buss et, al. used for their subjects. 1. Age : 2. Gender : 3. Sexual preference : 4. Please think of a serious committed romantic relationship that you have had in the past, that you currently have, or that you would like to have. Imagine you would discover that the person with whom you have been seriously involved became interested with someone else. What would distress or upset you more (please circle only one): A) Imagining your partner forming a deep emotional attachment to that person. B) Imagining your partner enjoying passionate sexual intercourse with that other person. 5. For this question, again think of the same serious committed romantic relationship from the previous question and again, what from the following would upset you more? (please circle only one): A) Imagining your partner trying different positions with that other person. B) Imagining your partner falling in love with that other person. Only these questions are used for the research. This is a form of coding data qualitative into quantitative data. The dependent variable is the type of jealousy; sexual or emotional and the independent variable. The data analysis is the statistical analysis of the survey findings. These data will be put into histograms and measured against the histograms reported in the previous research from 1997 by Buss et, al. All histograms will be compared, the heterosexual group from this research will be compared to the heterosexual group from the original research to test for confounding (cultural) variables and the homosexual group will be compared with both heterosexual groups to test the evolutionary approach. Buss, D. J. (1992). Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, Physiology, and Psychology. Psychological Science, 3(4), 251- 255 REFERENCES:
- 67. Is it becauseI'm a white privileged man? Francesco Giura Longo - i6160903 MethodologyTheoretical Background Research Question The majority opinion in higher education appears to be in support of anonymous marking. Yet, though there is strong grounding to suggest that biases in marking do effect grading (Chakraborty et al., 2016), questions remain as there is a lack of overt evidence. Thus, it is relevant to explore the advantages and disadvantages of anonymous marking. This paper is a proposal for a research that investigates the affection of gender on marking papers and exams, that takes UCM as a case-study. The research question will therefore be: “To what extent does gender influence grading of the assessments in UCM? PREPARATION The research will be conducted through the gathering of quantitative data (results of papers and exams of UCM males and females first year students) and their successive statistical analysis (SPSS and excel). The comparison between female's and male's results is hypothesized to give a better understanding of the influence of gender on the attribution of grades. Final elaboration of the paper basing on the explanation outcomes of the research Statistical interpretation of the accumulated data Gathering of the results of the selected exams and papers - Chakraborty, S., Zhou, X., Hafeez-Baig, A., Gururajan, R., Paul, M., & Mandal, A. et al. (2016). Objective analysis of marker bias in higher education. 2016 IEEE International Conference On Teaching, Assessment, And Learning For Engineering (TALE). The sample will be isolated from the population and the target data will be chosen ELABORATIONINTERPETING DATACOLLECTING DATA
- 68. Abstract Love, sex, andromance are undeniably important parts of our lives. However, the way mass media portrays love, sex and romance affects us and our perceptions of it (Galician, 2004). We have been influenced by portraits of love, sex, and romance that depict and install stereotypes since our youngest age. These stereotypes advocate for passionate love, communication and openness about absolutely everything, and are based on notions such as fidelity, courage against society, political opposition and many more (de Botton, 2016). It often seems like there is no balance between dramatic events and a perfect life with the perfect love (de Botton, 2016). These images can put pressure on both men and women to expect or to act in certain ways (Galician, 2004). The aim of this research project is to understand how these perceptions of love, sex and romance impact our expectations. Methodology • Variables • Independent: films and series • Dependent: student expectations • Conduct of the research (Interpretivist paradigm) • Semi-structured interviews to get the most satisfying answers from the interviewees but still allow new ideas to emerge from the conversation. • Small questionnaire might be given to participants in order to collect basic information about them and their previous experience with relationships. • Analysis of the answers in order to identify similar answer or recurrent patterns in them. • Drawing a conclusion that answers the research question. • Sample: group of 4 to 6 participants that would answer questions for about 10 to 20 minutes. These participants should all be between the age of 18 and 25, preferably with no previous experience in living together with their partner or no stable relationship of over one year. • Possible outcome/hypothesis: No, students’ expectations are mostly not influenced by films and series as they know the portrayal of love by media does not always reflect reality. Relevance This research aims at understanding how students perceive relationships and what encourages them to believe certain things about relationships that are presented in films and series. This could lead to the understanding of expectations of young adults. It could further prevent deception in love, sex, and romance. The way the interviews are conducted aims at increasing engagement in a discussion about expectations and reality, and to shed the light on the fact that everything portrayed by films and series is not necessarily correct. Love and Deceit Sources de Botton, A. (2016, April 22th). How fiction ruined love, Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/905bf850-0588-11e6-a70d-4e39ac32c284 Galician, M-L. (2004). Sex, Love, and Romance in the Mass Media. Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.fr/books? id=5KyRAgAAQBAJ&dq=unrealistic+romantic +expectations&lr=&hl=fr&source=gbs_navlinks_s Research question How do films and series influence students’ expectations about love, sex, and romantic relationships ? Emmanuelle Ledure - i6160907
- 69. Introduction Within the politicalrealm of the Netherlands, some are calling for more direct democracy. They argue that the citizen should become more involved in the political life and are therefore proponents of for example a referendum. However, Dutch democracy has typically been a representative democracy, meaning that the voices of the citizens are expressed by chosen representatives. However, is this actually the case? And can democracy in the Netherlands further develop in a way in which it grants more power to the citizen? To establish the fundament on which these questions can be answered, it is important to look at the creation and changes of democracy in the Netherlands. Therefore, this research project will look at the changes in representation of the Dutch people. In this case, this means the changes and establishment of the House of Representatives, called the Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber). Methodology Archival research will be the main focus of this project. For example, the constitution of the Netherlands will be taken into consideration, and especially amendments to that constitution, which are important to find changes in the democratic model. Moreover, statutes with regard to the powers of the Second Chamber and democracy will be analysed. Research Question How has representation of the Dutch citizens evolved in the Netherlands? Sources: Oostrom, F. P. van (2007). A Key to Dutch History : The Cultural Canon of The Netherlands. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. A research poster by Wouter Groot Image: Dutch House of Representatives Image: the Dutch Constitution
- 70. Relevance: Why isnot reporting so dangerous? - Perpetrator cannot be punished, therefore potentially keeps offending - Public safety is therefore lower - Distorted perception on the wrongfulness of sexual assault - Victims may not get the professional support they need (e.g. psychologist) - Incorrect data for How likely is it that students in Maastricht would report personal experiences of sexual assault to the police and what factors influence that choice? What has been researched already? Sable, M. R., Danis, F., Mauzy, D. L., & Gallagher, S. K. (2006). Barriers to reporting sexual assault for women and men: Perspectives of college students. Journal of American College Health, 55(3), 157-162. Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2003). Reporting sexual victimization to the police and others: Results from a national-level study of college women. Criminal justice and behavior, 30(1), 6-38. The facts ❖ 1 out of 4 female college students will experience rape or attempted rape in the US (Sable et. al, 2006) ❖ Out of those, only 5% of victims report to the police ❖ Student Facebook pages in Maastricht have been recently showing self-reports of sexual assault ➔ But do students in Maastricht also report to the police? ➔ What influences students’ choice to make a report? Methods: -quantitative approach- Sample: 100 female University Maastricht students Data collection: anonymous online-survey that will be distributed over Facebook pages Data analysis: statistical analysis of survey data Dependent variable: likelihood to report experience of sexual assault to police measured in scale from 0(= certainly no report)-10( certainly report) Independent Variables: ❖ influence of drugs/alcohol in the assault situation ❖ perception of credibility ❖ shame and guilt feelings ❖ belief in the criminal system/police Maybe it was my fault, I shouldn’t have worn that mini skirt... I am so ashamed of what happened... Thepoliceisnotgoing to do anything anyw ay.. W asItoo drunk? No one is going to believe me... Ilana Kunkel (i6162678)
- 71. European Identity Janna Boreas6163325 University College Maastricht RMII 1.Introduction European identity is essential for European integration. Therefore, many academics have been interested in how a European identity is formed and what factors effect this feeling of being European. A factor that has a positive influence on the formation of an European Identity is social interaction with other Europeans as it would create more shared ideas, feelings and culture (Sigalas, 2010). As UCM has many students from different European countries, Dutch UCM students will be in contact with other Europeans students frequently. Consequently, it seems that Dutch students would likely develop some form of European Identity. However, other factors could also play a role in developing an European Identity (Sigalas, 2010). Therefore, it is interesting to look at how the experience of studying at UCM would influence the development of an European identity for Dutch students. It will provide a better understanding of the formation of an European identity and how UCM influences that. 2.Prior Research The influence of social interaction has mainly been tested through the ERASMUS exchange program, which is promoted by the European Union because it would help foster an European Identity. • A study done by Mitchell in 2012 suggest that students involved in the ERASMUS exchange programme do identify themselves more European than other students. • A study done by Sigalas in 2010 suggests that the ERASMUS students do have more social interactions with other European students and the regression analysis, also, shows that this has a positive effect on the formation of an European Identity. However, the data suggests that the overall experience of the year abroad did not have a positive influence and for some even a negative influence on the idea of an European Identity. Hence, studying in an international context can have different consequences for developing an European Identity. Research Question How has the experience of studying at UCM influenced Dutch UCM students’ meaning of Europe in relation to their identity? 3.Methodology Qualitative and inductive approach in which Dutch UCM students explain how their meaning of Europe and European Identity has changed or developed during their experience at UCM: • Population: all current Dutch UCM students. • Sample: 9 Dutch UCM students. (3 first year students, 3 second year students, 3 third year students). • Semi-structured interviews. • 20 minutes on Europe and European identity. • 20 minutes on the contribution of UCM to the meaning of Europe. • Probably a thematic analysis, which means that we would try to identify frequently occurring themes. However, I believe we should not predetermine the type of analysis but decide after the interviews. Mitchell, K. (2012). Student mobility and European identity: Erasmus study as a civic experience?. Journal Of Contemporary European Research, 8(4). Retrieved from http://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/473 Sigalas, E. (2010). Cross-border mobility and European identity: The effectiveness of intergroup contact during the ERASMUS year abroad. European Union Politics, 11(2), 241-265. doi:10.1177/1465116510363656
- 72. Fashion Needs NO Discrimination How doesunisex- clothing affect gender stereotyping at Maastricht University? Stages of Research Writing Process The results of the interviews, just as prior empirical research will be taken into consideration to explain and reason why the tackled phenomenon is taking place Interpretation The obtained data will be analyzed and evaluated through a variety of cultural- studies/ feminist lenses Data Collection The interviews will be conducted in an unstructured way. All interviews will be recorded on camera, later transformed into written notes, which will then be checked by participants themselves for accurateness Preparation Participants for the following in- depth interviews will be invited and appointments will be finalized “In fashion, more and more we are seeing physically masculine men wearing what might be traditionally be thought of as feminine. Function and individuality are now more important than a uniform idea of what’s conventionally appropriate” (Garbarino, 2018) A brief Introduction This essay is a proposal to conduct research on how gender perception and stereotypes can be challenged through dressing up in unisex clothing at the University of Maastricht. The topic leaves us to the research question ‘How does unisex clothing affect gender- stereotyping at Maastricht University?’ Additional to the research question issues like the influence of gender, sexuality and social context will be emphasized to shape the final content of the paper. Prior Empirical Research Prior research conducted by Owyong in the field of the semiotics of clothing suggests that power relations in society can be linked to how people chose to dress up (2009). Furthermore, research by Barry & Martin in 2016 states that fashion can be an powerful mean to provoke dialogue and question gender stereotypes. “Pants, the simple article of clothing that marked the power and clout of the male gender in the past, thus became synonymous with power and domination, with the person ‘‘wearing the pants’’ being the one in control, regardless of gender.” (Owyong, 2009, p.206) Methodology / Sample Following methodology will be executed to gain insights about the named topic: with the use of in-depth interviews of students and staff-members of Maastricht University, perceptions and assumptions about gender stereotypes linked to unisex clothing will be evaluated. The research will be qualitative and inductive. By using an exploratory approach, the ideographic nature of the topic will be emphasized. To provide suitable data to base the paper on, mixed methodologies, in the form of phenomenological research and grounded theory will be applied. The sample consists of 10-20 students/ staff members of Maastricht University, special attention will be paid to a prominent level of inclusion of various genders and sexual preferences. A UM Case-Study By Jonas Samland i6163379 References Barry, B., & Martin, D. (2016). Gender rebels: Inside the wardrobes of young gay men with subversive style. Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, 3(2), 225-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/fspc.3.2.225_1 Garbarino, S. (2018). Blurred Lines: Why Gender-Neutral Fashion Is the New Normal. GQ. Retrieved 2 May 2018, from https://www.gq.com/story/androgyny-trend-menswear Owyong, Y. S. M. (2009). Clothing semiotics and the social construction of power relations. Social Semiotics 19(2): 191-211.
- 74. Selina Fernandez Rumeu– i6164597 UCM 2018 – Research methods II Zimmer, O. (2003). Nationalism in Europe, 1890-1914. London: Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 4-23. ISBN: 0-333-94720-7 NATIONALISM IN OUR HISTORY CLASSES? Basic info Research Question How has compulsory education in history lessons, influenced people’s perception of the nation in UM students from Germany, the Netherlands and Spain? Type of research o Qualitative research –ethnography through interviews and overt observations o Inductive research o Ideographic – research aims to describe and understand how the role of compulsory education has influenced people’s perceptions of their ‘nation’ in these three European countries, aim is not to create generalizable laws. Methodology o mixed methods – for practical or pragmatic reasons o Interviews Conduct interviews with people of these three countries - minimum 30 minute interviews. Interview 3 people of each country (i.e. 9 people in total – all from UCM) Start with a set of well-defined but open- ended question - guiding questions could be added according to the interview The first few questions will be on what content the participants’ history classes were focused on, the second part will be focused on how they perceive their nation. In the third part, the interviewees will be asked about whether they feel there is a link between what they studied in history class and their perception of their nation Who will qualify for interviews: • Students who’s both parents are from the country they grew up in • Students who have studied in public schools in one of these three countries o Research on compulsory education Research will be conducted on what public/ state schools are obliged to teach their students – according to the information they make readily available in their websites. Earlier Empirical Research o Within the history academic discipline, nationalism is a highly contested topic, particularly whether it is ‘imagined’ or ‘real’. Historians such as Hobsbawn and Anderson believe that nationalism is a cultural construction, Kedourie believe that nationalism is a political ideology (Zimmer, 2003). The list of how historians perceive this phenomenon is endless. o Many history curricula in Europe is under scrutiny right now, with many journalists criticizing States for having ‘biased’ history classes. o The research would aim at understanding whether compulsory education is trying to portray a sense of nationalism in these three countries. Relevance of topic o Many historians, have argued that nationalism and the feeling of belonging to a nation that also aligns with the territory of the state is a modern phenomenon. o Some historians have argued that it is a political movement, ideology or tool, to ensure social acceptance of the regime type. o Compulsory primary education was established in the 19th century, this coincides with what many authors believe was the emergence of nationalism as a political movement. o Particularly relevant now because nationalist movements are reemerging in Europe, in places such as the Netherlands, France, Poland, and so on. Euroscepticism is on the rise, and in many cases movements are calling for the retreat into the nation-state, which is based on the idea that they need to go back to people that are like them - assumptions that they are a nation & have or share cultural commonalities from some time – but how do they perceive their country as a nation?
- 75. The effect ofenvironment on perceptions of masculinity and emotional expression INTRODUCTION In current-day society, men are often socialized to not show their feelings (as opposed to women, who are expected to be open in the expression of their emotions) (Bennett, 2007). ‘Don’t cry! Man up!’: expressing emotions of all kinds is not considered masculine. How these gender roles are perceived depends on one’s specific environment, including one’s domestic culture or one’s current social environment (Brody, 1997). UCM is exceptional in both of these: next to the fact that UCM’s student body is fairly international, UCM’s community is known for challenging traditional gender roles. This research will combine these two socializing factors by interviewing European male-identifying students at UCM on their personal perception of masculinity in relation to emotional expression, by inquiring how it has been taught to them in their domestic culture and by asking how their perception has changed since arriving at UCM. How do male-identifying students at UCM from different European nationalities perceive the link between masculinity and emotional expression? RELEVANCE Studies on perceptions of masculinity in relation to emotional expression help understand the constraints men feel regarding the expression of their emotions. This understanding has a large social impact, as it is vital in helping men relieve these constraints. This particular study will add a more specific insight by focusing on the effect of two different socializing factors (culture and the social environment of UCM) on this. The combination of these two will expand on previous research by combining two socializing factors instead of treating only one. PRIOR RESEARCH Brody, L. R. (1997). Gender and emotion: beyond stereotypes. Journal of Social Sciences, 53(2), 369-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540- 4560.1997.tb02448.x Bennet, K. M. (2007). “No sissy stuff”: towards a theory of masculinity and emotional expression in older widowed men. Journal of Aging Studies, 21, 347-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2007.05.002 Couretnay, W. H. (2000). Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men’s well-being: a theory of gender and health. Sociall Science & Medicine, 50, 1385-1401. EPISTEMOLOGY As the goal is to understand perceptions, the research will have an interpretivist approach and a qualitative methodology. Furthermore, it will be inductive and idiographic. Participants to the study will be chosen by multiple instances of homogenous sampling, including two or more participants per European nationality represented at UCM. In semi-structured interviews, participants will be asked about - their nationality - how their domestic culture perceives masculinity related to emotional expression (is emotional expression masculine?) - how they perceive masculinity related to emotional expression - whether that perception has changed since they arrived at UCM. These interviews will be transcribed and analysed.Sofia D’Arcio – i6165477 ‘Man up!’ ‘Don’t cry!’
- 76. ARE RESPONSES TOTHE #METOO CAMPAIGN DIFFERENT BETWEEN 18-23 YEAR OLDS AND 40-45 YEAR OLDS IN MAASTRICHT? INTRODUCTION The #MeToo campaign has facilitated a widespread public recognition regarding what constitutes as sexual harassment, how to respond to victims and what society can do to prevent future instances. This research will focus on the different age group’s responses to the possible outcomes of using the hashtag and their overall understanding of the existence of sexual harassment. This study will allow us to gage how different ages responded to the #metoo campaign and why, therefore revealing effective methods of communication for all of society with regards to sexual harassment and consent. Being transgenerational when conveying campaigns such as these is important if aiming to dismantle society’s harmful and violent secrecy on sexual harassment. HYPOTHESIS The responses of young adults (18-23 years) and middle aged adults (40-45 years) will differ due to: • Exposure to alternative forms of media • Generational connections to the high-profile figure accused of sexual harassment KEY QUESTIONS • Is sexual harassment being fully discussed and recognised as a result of the hashtag; has the campaign opened up the debate for the public as a whole? • How do the attitudes of people who identify as ‘male’ or ‘female’ differ and how does this differ between the ages? • Are the differences a result of the individuals’ media choices? • Is there a difference in response to the high-profile figures accused of sexual harassment due to generational connections to the accused? REVIEW OF LITERATURE Monique Ward (2009) conducted a study with the aim of establishing whether our perception of sexual encounters and heteronormative relationships is shaped by the media. With technology, information is accessible and instant; those engaged with #MeToo receive instantaneous views, thus influencing the formulation of their own. (Ward, M. (2002) Does television exposure affect adults’ attitudes and assumptions about sexual relationships? Correlational and experimental confirmation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 31, February 2002, pp. 1-15) Jozkowski and Peterson (2012) conducted a study into student’s understanding of consensual sexual relations. The study revealed how students did not hold a secure knowledge of what constitutes as consent. It will be interesting to see if there has been a change in Student’s understanding of consent as a result of the #MeToo campaign. (Kristen N. Joskowski and Zoe D. Peterson (2013) College students and sexual consent: Unique insights, Journal of Sex research, 50:6, 517-523, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2012.700739. Retrieved from, https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.700739) A report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) on violence against women, has shown that 45% of Dutch females report that they have experienced sexual assault in the Netherlands (FRA, 2014). METHOD: • Sample: Opportunity sample of age ranges 18-23 years (young adult) and 45-50 years (middle-aged) from Maastricht • Method: Surveys with open-ended questions regarding views on #MeToo, sexual harassment, media choices and connections to the exposed high-profile figures • Although this is a single-blind study it is likely that the participants will understand the context of the research on the basis of the questions asked in the survey • Data: This study will collate qualitative data in order to achieve a well-rounded understanding of the participants’ responses • Analysis: a thematic analysis will be adopted in order to draw legitimate conclusions. It will be an inductive study as patterns of response will be collated and interpreted. • (Being qualitative, anonymous and inductive is particularly beneficial for research of this nature since the topics #MeToo regards are intimate and complex thus perceptions of it will be personal and multi-layered) Isabella Rix i6165688
- 77. Personal Space Is therea difference in the range of personal space between men and women in the Netherlands? Personal Space “An area with invisible boundaries surrounding a person’s body into which intruders may not come” - (Sommer, 1969, p.26) Introduction Have you ever been in a situation in which you felt uncomfortable about someone sitting next to you on the bus, in a lecture hall or other public spaces? A stranger taking a seat next to you might already be an intrusion of your personal space. How close is too close? Scientists have defined the invisible boundary that marks our absolute limit of personal space as being between 20 and 40 centimeters (Gray, 2013). However, different circumstances can alter the range of your invisible area. It is unique in that it moves with the individual, is highly elastic and rapidly altered (Leibman, 1970). The distance increases with anxiety. Also, would you feel uncomfortable when a stranger comes sit next to you on the bus? What if it is the only free seat left, does that change anything? There has been established that cultural differences and familiarity towards someone have an influence on the range of your personal space. But what about gender? This conducted research will show whether or not there is a difference between the range of personal space and its alteration of the distance between men and women. Methodology Population: Dutch men and women Sample: 20 men and 20 women – 10 per distance (15 & 50cm) Conduct: Quantitative gathering of data through experiments and observation. One female researcher will take a seat next to a randomly selected person sitting on a park bench, who will not know that he or she is participating. This will either be with a distance of 15 cm or 50 cm. The researcher has to be female as this equalizes the level of threat towards the participants, which prevents the results from bias to a certain extend (Leibman,1990). The experiment will be conducted with two different distances, both 15 and 50 cm, in order to be able to conclude whether or not, and if so how, men and women’s behavior changes when the proximity is different. The other researcher will observe the participants behavior from a distance; are their physical responses, e.g. moving or change in body language, are there any verbal reactions, e.g. expression of surprise or asking the researcher to leave. Independent variable: proximity (15cm and 50cm) and gender (male and female) Dependent variable: physical reaction and verbal reaction References Gray, R. (2013). Personal space: how close is too close? The Telegraph. Retrieved from: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10269459/Personal- space-how-close-is-too-close.html. Sommer, R. (1969). Personal Space. The Behavioural Basis of Design. p-26 Lomranz, J. (1976). Cultural variations in personal space. The Journal of Social Psychology, 99(1), 21-27. Leibman, M. (1970). The effects of sex and race norms on personal space. Environment and behaviour, 2(2), 208-246. Expectations The expected outcome of the research is that women have a larger area of personal space, which in this way will be more easily intruded. Noortje van den Bogaert - i6166005 Week 2 Week 4 • Review research proposal • Preparationof the experiment • Collection of data by carrying out the experiment • Structuring the content of the paper • Interpreting all of the collected data • Writing preparational parts of the paper • Writing the paper based on the results and the conclusions drawn from it • Reviewing Week 3Week 1 Relevance In the first place, the outcome of this research will give a better understandingof the differencesin personal space between men and women. On an individual level it can give a greater insight in everyday contact,in order to avoid uncomfortable situations. Limitations The variable of age is not taken into considerationas the participants cannot be spoken to during the experiment. An estimation can be too unprecise. In this way, it is not possible to analyze the impact of age on the range of personal space.
- 79. Measuring and improvingstudent satisfaction at UCM To what extent do different factors affect student’s satisfaction at UCM, taking the level of importance given to those factors into account? References • Noel Levitz, R. (2017a). National student satisfaction and priorities report. Retrieved May 4th, 2018, from http://learn.ruffalonl.com/WEB2017NationalStudentSatisfactionReport_LandingPage.html • Noel Levitz, R. (2017b). Student satisfaction inventory. Retrieved May 4th, 2018, from https://www.usd.edu/-/media/files/institutional-research-planning-and-assessment/ssidatasets/nlssi-2017-summary.ashx • Roszkowski, M. J. (2003). The nature of the importance-satisfaction relationship in ratings: evidence from the normative data of the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior, 16, 221-231. • Schreiner, L. A. (2009). Linking student satisfaction and retention. Coralville, IA: Noel Levits Inc. • Siming, L., Niamatullah, Gao, J., Xu, D., & Shaf, K. (2015). Factors leading to students' satisfaction in the higher learning institutions. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(31), 114-118. Expectations The expectations are that similar factors are (un)satisfactory at UCM as in the US. as well as, that similar factors are given more importance than others by UCM students. Create and test questionnaire Distribute questionnaire to random sample Add data into SPSS Analyse data in SPSS and draw conclusions Write report Robin Martens, i6151185 Introduction Universities increasingly pay attention to student satisfaction, and with good reasons. Studies have shown that student satisfaction is positively related to student retainment, student performance, and university reputation (Schreiner, 2009; Siming, Niamatullah, Gao, Xu, & Shaf, 2015). Therefore, it is relevant to find out which factors influence student satisfaction and which factors students give the most importance. Then the university can determine how to increase student satisfaction effectively. Earlier empirical research Most research combining satisfaction and importance, use the Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) (Roszkowski, 2003). Previous research, using the SSI, found that the three factors students gave the most importance to in the US, are (1) Academic advising, (2) Instructional effectiveness, and (3) Safety and security (Noel Levitz, 2017a). Regarding satisfaction, the top three are (1) Academic advising, Instructional effectiveness, and Campus support services (Noel Levitz, 2017b). One factor is different, and thus measuring just satisfaction is not enough. We also need to measure the importance. Otherwise, the university might improve a factor with low satisfaction, while the students do not even value that factor. It is relevant to find out if the findings in the US are similar to those at UCM. Additionally, if the university has this knowledge, it can try to effectively increase student satisfaction. Approach This study uses quantitative methods. It is deductive, confirmatory, and nomothetic because the research compares results from UCM to results from a US nation- wide study to see if the same applies. Population All current UCM students, including exchange students Sample A random sample of 150 students so that the sample represents the intended population Tools A questionnaire similar to the SSI questionnaire. For different indicators, students have to indicate their satisfaction and importance level on a scale from (1) not satisfied/ important at all to (7) very satisfied/ important. The data will be analyzed in SPSS to find significant differences between levels of importance and satisfaction. Then, we can advise priorities for improvement. Methodology
- 80. Students have theopportunity to study in another country and discover a new culture. This experience has a lot of benefits regarding cultural, personal development and creative thinking. Creativity became an important and required skill in education, innovation and business. By showing the relationship between studying abroad and increased creativity, it will be possible to establish the overall benefits of studying abroad and encourage students to do it. Further, the extent to which students abroad benefit society can be discussed, since they do acquire a multicultural way of thinking which is necessary in a globalized world. Focus on what is called- Big-C Creativity- which « is the ability to solve a problem or create an object that has major impact on how other people think, feel and live their lives » (Kersting, 2003) How does studying abroad affect university students’ creative thinking skills? University students that are studying abroad will score higher on Torrance test of creative thinking (TCTT). References: Cramond, B., Matthews-Morgan, J., Bandalos, D., & Zuo, L. (2005). A Report on the 40-Year Follow-Up of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking: Alive and Well in the New Millennium. Gifted Child Quarterly, 49(4), 283-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001698620504900402 Kersting, K. (2003). What exactly is creativity?. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/creativity.aspx Lee, C., Therriault, D., & Linderholm, T. (2012). On the Cognitive Benefits of Cultural Experience: Exploring the Relationship between Studying Abroad and Creative Thinking. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 26(5), 768-778. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acp.2857 Leung, A., & Chiu, C. (2010). Multicultural Experience, Idea Receptiveness, and Creativity. Journal Of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 41(5-6), 723-741. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022110361707 Runco, M., & Jaeger, G. (2012). The Standard Definition of Creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2012.650092 Quantitative Questionnaire: data analysis Deductive approach, confirmatory Additional interviews (students reflection on their creativity evolution) Dutch students vs international students Use of TCTT Test: search for fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration in responses Dependent variable: creative thinking Independent variable: studying abroad or not • Unclear definition of creativity (Leung & all., 2010) • Only research for exchange students – only months not years • Cultural experience gained from studying abroad is the variable that accounts for increased creative thinking • The type of culture makes the impact on creativity vary: Chinese culture/American culture/European • The level of difference between home culture and abroad culture • Dual culture enhances creative thinking • Facilitation of complex cognitive processes promoting creative thinking enhanced (Lee & all, 2012) • Other benefits: self-development, better academic performance.... Week Review and preparation of questionnaire Sampling and collecting results Data analysis Discussion, conclusions and limitations 1st Draft Draft Modifications Final Draft and Deadline 1 x x 2 x x 3 x x 4 x x
- 82. HOW UM-wide Survey ConcerningOur Satisfaction of Shared Accommodation and its Effect on Our Social Lives WHY Maastricht is a young, vibrant and popular student city, but accommodation is not its strongest suit, with most rooms being offered on the private market having scarce regulations and varying qualities of living. This study aims to find the link between how pleased we are with the quality of our shared accommodation and how pleased we are with our social lives outside of university. One prior study found that on-campus versus off-campus accommodation plays an important role in a student’s social life and well-being (Muslim, 2012). Another study discovered the main aspects that students find lacking with regards to their rooms, such as bathroom quality, proximity to faculties and noise (Nimako, 2013). Other studies have also tried to link accommodation to university performance and have managed to find positive relations, but the improvements are low (Garrard, 2006; LaNasa, 2007). This study will constitute a basis for further research into the importance of good accommodation on students’ well-being and can be employed for building better student-tailored housing. EPISTEMOLOGY This study will employ a post-positivist philosophical perspective because it tries to make use of data and statistics to prove a real trend with student social life satisfaction and private and university-regulated accommodation. The ontology behind this paper is that reality is objective, meaning that it exists regardless of what the researcher thinks. Thus, the epistemological rationale behind this research is objectivist. The researcher is completely detached from the topic being investigated, merely being an objective observer in the world. The researcher has taken into account that their own perception of the truth can have an impact on the hypotheses, therefore the expected answer to the research question can turn out to be wrong as opposed to the objective truth. That is because, even though detached reality exists, and the researcher is aware of its existence, it is impossible to understand and reach it. IS YOUR STUDENT ROOM HINDERING YOUR SOCIAL LIFE? METHODOLOGY This project will employ a quantitative approach through a university-wide survey for (sample) students living in shared accommodation (guesthouse, flat, house) containing questions about where the participants live, how far away they live, and individual ratings for various facilities within their accommodation. The 1) first hypothesis will be that university- regulated accommodation is more consistent both in terms of quality and distance to the faculties and that private housing quality varies and is overall worse than university- regulated. The next questions of the survey will address the satisfaction of students with their social lives outside of university by asking various questions about hosting friends over, going out and making use of their accommodation for entertainment purposes. Hence, 2) the second hypothesis arises: the further away a student lives and the more displeased they are with the quality of their accommodation, the worse their social life is outside of university. In this case, the dependent variable will be satisfaction of social life and the independent variables will be distance to faculty and quality of accommodation. Hence, I will try to look for correlation. The controlled variable in this research is the accommodation, this study solely focusing on shared housing, such as rooms in an apartment, house, guesthouse or building. This study will be hypothetico- deductive, formulating initial hypotheses that will be put to test against the hard facts. The confirmatory aspect is observed with the preliminary assumptions that will be tested for applicability. The research is nomothetic because it tries group together the opinions held by students about private and university- regulated accommodation in order to observe a trend in their social lives. EARLIER EMPIRICAL WORKGarrard, D. C. (2006). The relation between a student's choice of living arrangement and student effort, achievement and college satisfaction. (Dissertation), The University of Texas at Austin. LaNasa, S. M., Olson, E., & Alleman, N. (2007). The Impact of On-campus Student Growth on First-year Student Engagement and Success. Research in Higher Education, 48(8), 941-966. doi:10.1007/s11162-007-9056-5 McGrath, P. T., & Horton, M. (2011). A post‐occupancy evaluation (POE) study of student accommodation in an MMC/modular building. Structural Survey, 29(3), 244-252. doi:doi:10.1108/02630801111148211 Muslim, M. H., Karim, H. A., & Abdullah, I. C. (2012). Satisfaction of Students’ Living Environment between On-Campus and Off-Campus Settings: A Conceptual Overview. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 68, 601-614. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.12.252 Nimako, S. G., & Bondinuba, F. K. (2013). An empirical evaluation of student accommodation quality in higher education. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 1(12), 164-177. Research question: What is the relation between the quality of private and university- regulated shared accommodation and students’ satisfaction of their social lives, within Maastricht university?
- 83. CompetitiveSports & ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE at WHAT?We are all told that exercise is good for our mental health, but does this reflect in our academic performance at university too? Previous research comparing competitive sports and academic performance has found inconsistent results. As you can see in the table to the right, a recent study in Saudi Arabia found a positive relationship between the two variables (Alahmed, Yusof & Shah 2016). Another study found that Latino students in particular found that those who participated in sports achieved higher scores in mathematics than students of other ethnicities (Martinez & Mickey, 2013). Is this also true for students at Maastricht? Is there a difference between male and female athletes? Does it matter which sport you do? And how often? Does you ethnicityhave an impacton this? RESEARCH QUESTION What is the effect of competitive sports on academic performance (measured in GPA) for students at Maastricht University? HOW? This research will mainly revolve around qualitative analysis of a very comprehensive (e.g. includes not only information on grades and sports but also age, sex, study, etc.) large-scale survey. This would include questions like Which sport do you play? How often do you play sports? What is your GPA? How many hours do you study? What is your gender?Whereare you from? Etc. Week 1 1. Preparingsurvey 2.Collecting data Week 2 1. Collecting data 2.Analysing data Week 3 1. Analysing data 2.Writing report Week 4 1. Writing report 2. Revising Alahmed, M.,Yusof, A., & Shah, P. (2016).Attitude, sports participation and academic performanceof undergraduate student- athletes in Saudi Arabia. Journalof Physical Education and Sport, 16(3),1000-1004. [157]. DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2016.03157 Sylvia Martinez & Evan Mickey (2013)The Effects of Participation in Interscholastic Sports on Latino Students’ Academic Achievement, Journalfor the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 7:2, 97- 114, DOI: 10.1179/1935739713Z.0000000007 (Alahmed, Yusof & Shah 2016) Heleen de Jonge i6153426
- 84. Method, type ofresearch and significance References McCrea, S. M., et al. (2008). "Construal Level and Procrastination." Psychological Science 19(12): 1308-1314. Perrin, C. J., et al. (2011). "MEASURING AND REDUCING COLLEGE STUDENTS' PROCRASTINATION." Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 44(3): 463-474.
- 85. Contemporary teaching methods Andtheir impact on development Research question What is the impact of contemporary teaching methods on cognitive abilities and self- fulfilment? Abstract The last decade was marked by significant changes in teaching methods. With the increase in technology, along with the increasing believe that more interactive, creative, and stimulating teaching methods were more fulfilling, many schools adopted new teaching styles. Be it using computers, artistic media, or problem-based learning approaches, the traditional classroom teaching-style dramatically shifted to more stimulating environment. Indeed, previous studies have shown the positive effect of these methods, especially in terms of cognitive skills, and personal self-fulfilment. Earlier empirical work The current hypothesis is that, by using more stimulating teaching methods, children’s motivation to contribute and their willingness to work both increase. This in turn leads to greater stimulation, and more receptive cognitive abilities. In addition, it is more beneficial psychologically, as children see school work as self-fulfilling and enriching rather than as a duty. Phases of Research ü Identify the most effective contemporary teaching methods ü Look at study that has been done on how effective those methods are ü Identify the impacts (positive and negative) different teaching methods have ü Design interviews based on these factors ü Conduct interviews ü Analyse answers ü Write report Methodology - Empirical research on the topic and previous studies conducted - Secondary data analysis: a sample of 30 children aged 10-15 will be selected. 15 will be children from school with traditional systems, and 15 with a more modern approach. Interview will be conducted, to assess children’s mental state, appreciation of their system and performance - Research Paradigm - Qualitative - Neo-positivist - Exploratory - Nomothetic
- 86. A HEALTHY MIND INA HEALTHY BODY INTRODUCTION Inspiration for this research came from the Latin proverb mens sana in corpore sano, meaning a healthy mind in a healthy body. The proverb addresses the reciprocal benefits of mental and physical health and the fundamental interconnectedness of the two. Various studies have previously investigated the famous correlation, as demonstrated in Excersise and well-being by Penedo and Dahn (2005), where the results of cross-sectional, longitudinal and randomized clinical controlled trial studies on the subject are compared. Upon reviewing the References: Lipson, S. K., & Eisenberg, D. (2017). Mental health and academic attitudes and expectations in university populations: results from the healthy minds study. Journal of Mental Health, 1-9. Penedo, F. J., & Dahn, J. R. (2005). Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity. Current opinion in psychiatry, 18(2), 189-193. RESEARCH QUESTION Considering the reported high levels of mental health issues amongst bachelor students at Maastricht University, to what extent does the self-reported amount of hours bachelor students of Maastricht University spent on physical activity, meaning sports or intensive manual labor, influence the overall self-reported mental well-being of the students? SUB QUESTION Additionally, to what extend is there a difference between habitual physical activity and externally imposed physical activity and the influence on mental health? SECOND METHOD What confounds the first research design is that people who sport, might inherently also have a better mental health, and that the measured correlation is not a causal connection. Therefore, a second research will be conducted to make the results more valid, considering that the aim is to universalize the results. The research design for the second study will be exactly the same in terms of the survey. Different from previously, however, we will conduct a randomized control trial. One randomly selected group of UM bachelor students will be given the task to sport 6 hours per week for a period of a month, after which it is asked to complete the survey on sports and mental health. The second, randomly selected group will be asked to abstain from any physical activity for a period of a month, after which it too will take the survey. OBJECTIVES By comparing the outcomes of the two surveys, it is possible to distinguish between the effects of habitual sporting and the accompanying lifestyle and the act of engaging in physical activity alone. The research assumes a post positivist approach. It should be recognized that the results are not absolute truths. Especially since the research relies on data gathered through self-report studies. This means that the research relies, to a certain extent, on subjective data, making it difficult to make any definitive claims. METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH To attain the best and most robust results, this research will combine two different types of mixed method research. The research is confirmatory of nature, as it aims to confirm the ‘Mens sana in corpore sano’ theory, thereby making it an universally applicable law. It is a deductive research as it is built upon the assumed relation between mental health and physical activity. FIRST METHOD Firstly, a cross sectional study in the form of a survey will be conducted. The survey will consider mental health to be the dependent variable and physical exercise to be the independent variable. The survey will collect quantitative interval data on the number of hours exercised per week, whilst it will collect qualitative ordinal data on the mental well-being of the subjects. To avoid confounding factors falsifying the results, we will also consider proximity to sporting facilities as well as proximity to university and friends. Moreover, we will consider the health of the individual, as well as its financial position. The aim is to eventually compare the data gathered and see if the increased physical activity has a positive correlation with mental health. previous research conducted, it becomes apparent that of all the different demographics targeted, no study has thus far researched the particular benefits for university students. With a rising rate of mental distress issues amongst students being reported world wide (Lipson & Eisenberg, 2017), examining whether physical health and in particular physical activity can be a solution, is highly relevant. Oskar Oonk I6154346 oskaroonk@gmail.com I6154346@unimaas.com Duration: 4 weeks Method: Mixed Concentration: Social Science N (Method 1): 100 N (Method 2): 20 Quick facts
- 87. RESEARCH QUESTION: What makesinternational students want to study abroad, with University College Maastricht as a case study? Gérard Lamarche i6154389 METHODOLOGY: The most appropriate research method for this paper is the a qualitative one, given that this research observes and describes what interviewees say in order to understand why students choose the Maastricht Liberal Arts College. In order to do this, the methodology used will be Phenomenological research, as it focuses on interpretations of people. The Phenomenological research will best be achieved by interviewing each international student, which will be randomly chosen. After interviewing the sample of 50 participants, which is very reliable, given that if the same participants were asked the same questions again, it is likely that their answers would be very similar to the first time. The interview will take 10-15 minutes and will be semi-structured. INTRODUCTION: Since the turn of the century, people have been travelling more than ever before (Akerman, et al. 2000, p. 43). The number of people in higher education across Europe has also risen and an increasing number of students study abroad (Wells, & Sadlak, 2007, p. 12). Thus, this research aims to investigate on the reasons for students to study abroad rather than in their home country. In order to understand why students choose to study in a higher education system and often abroad, one must define the term ‘higher education’. Cambridge dictionary defines it as “education at a college or university, where subjects are studied at an advanced level”. This work focuses on students in Maastricht University and more specifically at the Liberal Arts College (University College Maastricht or UCM). It provides an understanding of why non-Dutch students choose to study Liberal arts and why in Maastricht. REFERENCES: Akerman, J., Banister, D., Dreborg, K., Nijkamp, P., Schleicher-Tappeser, R., Stead, D., & Steen, P. (2000). European transport policy and sustainable mobility. Routledge. Wells, P. J., & Sadlak, J. (2007). The rising role and relevance of private higher education in Europe. L. Vlǎsceanu (Ed.). Bucharest: UNESCO-CEPES. Analysing Existing Data Conducting Semi-Structured interviews Analysing interviews + weighing them up against existing data
- 88. Mens Sana inCorpore Sano BACKGROUND “Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano” is what Giovenale, a latin poet, used to say in order to emphasize the relevance of the physical activity in maintaining good brain function. Indeed, following Giovenale’s thoughts, human beings should strive for only two goods: healthy soul and mind and healthy body. But it is really true? Does physical activity actually affect our mind? Research question Does practicing physical activity influences the college student’s academic performance? Hypothesis H1 The students who practice sports have higher academic results in terms of G.P.A. METHODS Quantitative research. Epistemology: Post-Positivism. Time-frame: Cross-sectional; from 10th of June 2018 to 29th of June 2018. Possible problems arising from the methodology: Short time for analyzing in a proper way the phenomena. 4-May-18 Simone Cioccai6154973 Variables - Indipendent variable conducting physical activity - Dependent variable high or slow academic performance; hours of study can differ among student; time that a student plays a sport per week Relevance Sport are relevant for multiple reasons. These can range from clinical reason, the more important ones, to appearance. However, this research is not going to be conducted neither with a clinical aim, nor to show how sports influences our physical appearance. Indeed, this study aims to raise awareness on the importance of physical activity showing how it can positively affect the academic performance. Experiment Participants 50 UCM’s student. 25 students have to practice at least one sport once per week, the remaining 25 do not have to practice an activity Sampling method Ask to 50 random UCM students (only who meets the criterias) and ask them if they want to participate in our research. Then, by email an online questionnaire will be send to the individuals. In order to avoid privacy issues, the questionnaire will be nameless and, therefore, anonymous.
- 89. Humor in theClassroom Empirical Research Torok et al. (2004, p. 14) points out that teachers must often convey knowledge, understanding and appreciation about certain topics to students while holding their undivided attention for particularly long periods of time, therefore humor can be employed to provide more engaging and interesting interactions. Furthermore, Wandersee (1982, p. 203) suggests that humor helps students to stay more alert and attentive in class, while its main intention should be to link teachers and students to the material in ways that is enjoyable. Additionally, traditional perceptions about humor being a waste of time in regards to education have evolved so that college students are now able to accommodate instructional humor with more creative and divergent ways of thinking then was previously possible, compared to the critical, traditional way of learning (Korobkin, 1988, p. 154). Furthermore, curriculum-specific humor has been found to improve retention and recall of students, hence Garner (2006, p. 177) suggests that teachers should consider the appropriate use of humor and be cautious against tendentious humor. Where to draw the line between these types of humor requires further research. Research Question To what extent can humor in the classroom environment be used as a strategy to reduce anxiety and stress levels, while improving academic performance of students at Maastricht University? Relevance Humor in the classroom is a relatively recent phenomenon, first becoming widespread late into the 20th century, thus little research has been conducted in regards to its level of effectiveness as a teaching strategy. Hence, the aim of our research would be to uncover whether humor in the classroom can reduce stress and improve learning in an international university setting. The findings would be used to improve knowledge on the effectiveness of humor in higher education, and perhaps education in general. Additionally, this paper aims to investigate how shared laughter between students and teachers can improve overall academic performance, as well as induce other positive physiological and psychological effects. Introduction Humor has often been separated from academics due to the notion that it is inappropriate and counterproductive to joke in a learning environment (Wandersee, 1982, p. 212). However, more recent studies have shown that humor, when used correctly, can serve as a teaching tool to illustrate ideas, encourage participation, reduce anxiety, and keep students thinking (Torok et al., 2004). It has even been suggested to enhance learning, as research has shown students pay more attention in class if they perceive their teachers to be light-hearted and funny (Wandersee, 1982, p. 14). In the last 30 or so years, humor has become generally encouraged among teachers across academic levels and disciplines as a way to improve student performance and reduce anxiety and stress, while increasing self- esteem and self-motivation (Berk, 2000, p. 151). However, if used wrongly, it may “destroy” a lesson and the learning process of the students. As a result, Wandersee (1982) argues that the solution to this issue can be found by investigating how different types of humor can be applied most appropriately by teachers so they have the maximum effectiveness on increasing productivity in the classroom. Can it reduce stress and improve student learning? Methodology Data would be collected through one-to-one interviews with 20 male and 20 female students from different faculties and cultural backgrounds, with participants between the ages of 18 and 25. The specifics of this sample are chosen in order to ensure a wide variety of tastes and preferences in terms of sense of humor are accounted for, based on gender, age, culture and academic interests. Participants would be asked to evaluate what level of humor they think is optimal for learning in a classroom environment, whether the current level of humor in their courses is high, adequate, low or inadequate, and whether they believe differences in these levels of humor can actually have positive or negative impacts on their learning (e.g. do you think the current level of humor in your courses can improve your willingness to learn/participation in class/final grades?). A follow-up questionnaire would be sent to the participants after completion of their courses, asking them about their final grades and to evaluate whether they still felt there was an appropriate use/level of humor in their classroom environment and if this had a positive or negative influence on their overall learning. Participants would also be asked if they felt humor in the classroom had any effects on their psychological and physiological wellbeing throughout the course (e.g. did it help to reduce stress?). The data would be analysed to determine if humor in the classroom had any positive correlation with academic performance, ability/willingness to learn or stress levels. References Berk, R. (2000). Does Humor in Course Tests Reduce Anxiety and Improve Performance? College Teaching, 48(4), 151-158. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27559016 Garner, R. (2006). Humor in Pedagogy: How Ha-Ha Can Lead to Aha! College Teaching, 54(1), 177- 180. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27559255 Korobkin, D. (1988). Humor in the Classroom: Considerations and Strategies. College Teaching, 36(4), 154-158. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27558304 Torok, S., McMorris, R., & Lin, W. (2004). Is Humor an Appreciated Teaching Tool? Perceptions of Professors' Teaching Styles and Use of Humor. College Teaching, 52(1), 14-20. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27559168 Wandersee, J. (1982). Humor as a Teaching Strategy. The American Biology Teacher, 44(4), 212- 218. doi:10.2307/4447475 Laurent Hebette (i6154999) Image Source: https://www.wlu.ca/future-students/index.html
- 90. Interdisciplinary and MonodisciplinaryApproach at the Level of Bachelor Studies Anđela Draganić – ID: 6156204 SKI1005 – Research Methods II May 4th 2018 To what extent is there a comparison between students’ GPA, satisfaction, and perceived purpose of their studies between students of monodisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach at the level of Bachelor studies? The issues which human race faces are becoming more complex and require critical thinking which cannot be simply addressed through a monodisciplinary approach. Consequently, interdisciplinary approach increasingly became present in academia. Previous academic work has proven that there are both advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. Monodisciplinary approach provides students with in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of a certain topic, but students may not be able to acknowledge different perspectives. On the other hand, interdisciplinary approach grants academic freedom and creativity to students, but students may become confused about their studies. Both influence the current pool of knowledge, but how do they relate to students’ satisfaction and perceived purpose of their studies still has not been fully explored. Lindvig proved that interdisciplinary subjects need to be further developed as there is a higher division of perception of purpose of studies within interdisciplinary students in comparison to monodisciplinary ones. However, the findings only apply on Masters and PhD students, not Bachelor students. Rijnsoever and Hessles proved that monodisciplinary research in comparison to interdisciplinary research tends to be more academically rewarding and less motivating for students. This empirical research sparked a thought of whether there is a relation between academic awards and students’ satisfaction. The empirical research of Kekale proved that the quality of education in monodisciplinary approach can only be understood through using academic criteria (grades), however the research did not focus on interdisciplinary studies. References: Kekäle, J. (2002). Conceptions of quality in four different disciplines. Tertiary Education and Management, 8(1), 65-80. Lindvig, K., Lyall, C., & Meagher, L. R. (2017). Creating interdisciplinary education within monodisciplinary structures: the art of managing interstitiality. Studies in Higher Education, 1-14. van Rijnsoever, F. J., & Hessels, L. K. (2011). Factors associated with disciplinary and interdisciplinary research collaboration. Research Policy, 40(3), 463-472. The academic relevance, the research is important in two aspects: first, it focuses on Bachelor level, the level of education which has not been explored so far; second, it takes into consideration the uninvestigated variables of satisfaction and perceived purpose of studies within the two disciplines. The social relevance of the research is that the future incoming students could decide whether to focus on a monodisciplinary or interdisciplinary approach based on whether they desire higher GPA or to be more satisfied with their studies. The research is an exploratory research, aimed at discovering the kind and nature of relationship between the variables without following any specific theory. No hypothesis are made and all outcomes of the research will be taken into consideration and assessed accordingly. The research thus employs an inductive and idiographic approach as the accumulation of data will take place first and the research will be carried out only within Maastricht University with a specific problem-based learning approach, making the research ungeneralizable. The research is pursued form the post-positivist philosophical paradigm, implying that the objective reality in this case is GPA, however the reality can never be perfectly explained because of the subjective elements of students’ satisfaction and perceived purpose. - Mixed method approach is used as to not only numerically evaluate GPA, satisfaction and perceived purpose, but also understand the reasons behind those numerical values - Two independent variables: monodisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach - Three dependent variables: GPA, students’ satisfaction and students’ perceived purpose of their chosen discipline - Anonymous survey handed out to Bachelor students of the two faculties of Maastricht University: University College Maastricht as interdisciplinary approach and Faculty of Law as monodisciplinary approach - Cross-sectional study – data collected only once - Quantitative aspects of the research - GPA, and qualitative notions of purpose and satisfaction will be transformed into quantitative measure on the scale from 1 to 5 - Qualitative aspects of the research – open-ended questions aimed at understanding the participants’ personal subjective reasoning Introduction: Earlier Empirical Work: Nature of the Research & Philosophical Paradigm: Research Question: Data & Method: Relevance:
- 91. University College Maastricht Howdoes the field of study influence the expectancy of tutoring qualities at Maastricht University? Jönne Huhnt, et al. (2018) Methods References Blumberg, P., Michael, J. A., & Zeitz, H. (1990). Roles of student‐generated learning issues in problem‐based learning. Teaching and Learning in Medicine: An International Journal, 2(3), 149-154. Oda, Y., Onishi, H., & Sakemi, T. (2014). Effectiveness of student tutors in problem-based learning of undergraduate medical education. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 232(3), 223-227. Walker, A. E., Leary, H., Hmelo-Silver, C. E., & Ertmer, P. A. (2015). Essential readings in problem-based learning: Purdue University Press. Correspondence to: Jönne Huhnt, UCM j.huhnt@student.maastrichtuniversity.nl University College Maastricht Student-ID: i6156761 F +3143 388 4149 University College Maastricht Zwingelput 4 6211 KH Maastricht Introduction/ Background In Problem Based Learning (PBL) the tutor has to meet different qualifications in different fields of study. Walker (2015) already recognised the importance of intense tutor training to develop their skills. However, there are many different PBL-techniques and the necessary skills vary substantially. Furthermore, existing research is limited to the skills required in one particular field of study (Blumberg, Michael, & Zeitz, 1990). Therefore, this study will examine how these qualities differ between different fields of study, i.e. at Maastricht University, and how that influences the expectation of the students. 1. Step: Informal Interview (<5min) with one member of each sample group about what qualities should be included in the questionnaire 2. Step: Analyse the data and create a questionnaire encompassing the different qualities 3. Step: Hand out the questionnaire in each faculty 4. Step: Analyse the data Sample • 20 Bachelor students of each of the following departments at Maastricht University: • Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience • Faculty of Law • School of Business and Economics • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences • University College Maastricht Relevance Particularly at learning facilities with a diverse offer of disciplines, is it crucial to be able to apply the most suitable qualities in order to create the most effective PBL experience. Aims • To identify the qualities that students expect from their PBL-tutors. • To find a correlation between different fields of study and the expected qualities. Variables • Dependent: Tutor expectancy. • Independent: Field of study. • Mediator Variables: • Learning material • Type of exam questions • Course setup
- 92. Where Is Africa?Ani s at o t de p en on A r a UC Res h u t o : Why is Africa so underrepresented at UCM? (potential subquestion: and what are the consequences?) Pot al H t is: The underrepresentation of Africa in the curriculum is due to the perceived international economic and sociopolitical insignificance of the region (largely justified and maintained by its underdevelopment) Pot al T s: This paper will aim to show why and how the exclusion of Africa in our curriculum and underrepresentation in the community is an issue, and to translate this phenomenon for analysis in the international political setting In od on: Africa is a continent that is often left out of mainstream Western academic instruction and discourse. Although we touch on it somewhat in some courses at UCM (CWH and Globalization and Inequalities), there is a serious lack of African representation in the texts that we read and in the courses we are offered. There is also a large underrepresentation in the student body and faculty, but the main focus here will be academic. Pre u R s a h: Ber , D. D., & Vil p o, O. (2002). An a t i f w e g ac i : The r l o t " le ma " k o l of l of r. Equ &Ex e l in E ti , 35(2), 169-180. An e k Cu n i6157416 Pot al M d : (Ma n ha n qu at ) ● Interviewing course coordinators, tutors, and other faculty ● Investigating how many readings (sample size of courses TBD) with African authors ● Use data on UCM demographics Rel ce: The African continent accounts for 16% of the global population, which is more than Oceana, North America, and Europe combined (UN). Leaving out such a big chunk of the world in academia undermines history and perpetuates a system of leaving such a huge part of our population out of crucial political discourse, which Africa, and arguably the rest of the world (at least in the long term) has to suffer the consequences of
- 93. Previous Research Note-taking hasbeen extensively researched, however, most current research is done about the difference between taking notes and not taking note (Kwiera, 1985). On top of that, note-taking techniques are often compared to eachother while testing for the absorption of the same types of information (Makany, Kemp, & Dror, 2009). We remember: • 10% of what we read • 20% of what we hear • 30% of what we see • 50% of what we hear and see (Lopez, 2005) Investigate if this is true, and if different note-taking techniques can influence the percentages. We can test the absorption of visual information, aural information, and a combination of both by using documentaries. ResearchQuestion HOW DO DIFFERENT NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES (VISUAL VS. WRITTEN) INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF INFORMATION (VISUAL VS. AURAL) THAT IS ABSORBED WHILE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY? Hypotheses 1) THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ABSORBED WILL INCREASE NOTES ARE TAKEN. 2) VISUAL NOTES WILL HELP THE RECOLLECTION OF VISUAL INFORMATION. 3) WRITTEN NOTES WILL INCREASE THE ABSORPTION OF AURAL INFORMATION NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES AND LEARNING Methodology Approach: quantitative experiment Variables: Independent: note-taking techniques visual: drawing, doodles, symbols, etc. written: only text combo of visual and written control: no notes Dependent: test score knowledge test with questions based on visual info, and questions based on aural info Population: students Data Analysis: statistical analysis AIM Find the best note-taking technique for students when they need to process both visual and aural information at the same time. Relevance This research will be able to help students in the future. Furthermore, it will fill some of the knowledge gaps that are currently present in the field. Additionally, it can give indications for lecturers about how to present information. Emma Windey i6157466 References: Kiewra, K. A. (1985). Investigating Notetaking and Review: A Depth of Processing Alternative. Educational Psychologist, 20(1), 23-32. Makany, T., Kemp, J., & Dror, I. E. (2009). Optimising the use of note‐taking as an external cognitive aid for increasing learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 40(4), 619- 635. Lopez, E. J. (2005). The art of using visual aids. The Nurse Practitioner, 30, 15-16.
- 94. Note-Taking Handwritten vs.Typed Sampling What (ifany) are the effects of different note-taking methods on UCM students’ final assessment grades in periods 4 and 5? Peter Arkle Previous Studies Knowledge Gap Research Question Methodology • Online survey in which students at UCM can indicate their note-taking habits and the final assessment grades they received for the courses they took in Periods 4 & 5. • There will be five options regarding note-taking habits: (1) Always longhand notes (2) mostly longhand (3) 50/50 (4) mostly computer notes (5) Always computer notes. • Participants will indicate their final assessment grades for periods 4 & 5 in a separate section. • Data will be put into a scatterplot to investigate potential correlations. • Sampling frame à UCM Students • Sample à UCM students that chose to answer the survey. • Participants will remain anonymous • These studies mostly focused on US university style of teaching with large lectures. • Different results could be expected due to UCM’s more interactive PBL system. • There has been little research directly addressing potential differences in laptop versus longhand note taking. • Much is focused on adverse effects of laptop-use for student learning,not direct comparison between handwritten and typed notes. Reference List - Fried, C. B. (2008).In-class laptop use and its effects on student learning. Computers & Education, 50(3),906-914. Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014).The pen is mightier than the keyboard:Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. Psychological science, 25(6),1159-1168. Johanna Kerins ID: 6157748
- 95. Gap years and theirimpact Are UCM students who took a gap year more involved in volunteering activities outside of university than their peers? Hypothesis Student who took a gap year are more involved in voluntary, extracurricular activities than their peers who did proceed directly to university. This is most prominent in social activities. Methodology Qualitative approach Population: UCM students Sample Group 1: UCM students who took a gap year Group 2: UCM students who did not take a gap year Random sampling Conduct explanatory survey to gather quantitative data based on a specifically designed questionnaire in which answers to choose from are provided Independent variable: gap year or no gap year Dependent variable: voluntary engagement Statistical analysis of the outcome of the questionnaires Abstract As the popularity of taking a gap year has risen exponentially in the last years, questions of whether its impacts are positive or not gain prominence. Motivations include the gaining of life experience as well as discovering other cultures. Recent studies show that a gap year improves the academic performance of students. Nevertheless, a year outside of the student’s normal environment is expected to have impact outside of the classroom as well. This research aims to find out whether UCM students who took a gap year are more involved in volunteering activities outside of university than those who did not. This civil involvement outside the academic spectrum will be categorized in political, cultural, sustainable and social activities. Those findings will help to shine light on the effects of a gap year in different areas of civil engagement. Expectations The statistical analysis will reveal if there is an effect of taking a gap year in relation to voluntary engagement. Furthermore, this will show in which areas of voluntary engagement the differences are most significant leading to insight into which categories of civil engagement are probably most affected by whether a gap year was pursued or not. All in all, this research is expected to contribute a new dimension to the discussion about the effects of a gap year. References Burkes, D. (2017). Research Shows That Organizations Benefit When Employees Take Sabbaticals. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2017/08/research-shows-that-organizations-benefit-when- employees-take-sabbaticals Hoe, N. (n.d.). American Gap Association National Alumni Survey(Rep.). Retrieved May 4, 2018, from Temple University website: https://gapyearassociation.org/assets/2015 NAS Report.pdf Snee, H. (2013). Doing Something ‘Worthwhile’: Intersubjectivity and Morality in Gap Year Narratives. The Sociological Review, 62(4), 843-861. doi: 10.1111/1467-954x.12116 Reasons for taking a gap year
- 96. The Importance ofLight in Classroom Settings Paige Brockington Previous Studies and Empirical Research: Figueiro, M., Bierman, A., Plitnick, B., & Rea, M. (2009). Preliminary evidence that both blue and red light can induce alertness at night. BMC Neuroscience, 10(1), 105. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-105 Knez, I. (1995). Effects of indoor lighting on mood and cognition. Journal Of Environmental Psychology, 15(1), 39-51. doi: 10.1016/0272-4944(95)90013-6 Robinson, S. (2011). Do You See What I See? [DVD]. London: BBC. Veitch, J., & Gifford, R. (1996). Assessing Beliefs about Lighting Effects on Health, Performance, Mood, and Social Behavior. Environment And Behavior, 28(4), 446-470. doi: 10.1177/0013916596284002 ● These studies highlight various trends of the relationship between light and mood. The first highlights how blue and red light increase alertness which the documentary supports and the latter aims to prove that more lighting increases mood and therefore performance. Abstract The influence light has on human behaviour has been analysed in the past, often linked to consumer habits or workspace however, the effects that lighting has on students’ wellbeing and performance is disputed. Most studies focus on the difference between natural light and synthetic or warm or cold lighting. However, recent studies have shown that blue lighting as opposed to red warmer lighting could actually increase activity due to a better mood. Studies show blue lighting increases activity and makes time pass faster. Therefore, the question arises if this could influence activity and performance in the classroom. Why? The results of this study could help in increasing the students’ wellbeing in classrooms and lead to more productive sessions if we understand more about the effect light can have. Research Question: What effect do different types of lighting in a classroom have on students’ ability to perform tasks? Method ● Announced non-participant observation of sample group in first two stages of the presentation and exercise sheet (qualitative analysis on behaviour and performance of students) ● Students will be tested on their memory from the presentation. The results of the test will be assessed to find out if test results in certain light settings were higher (quantitative data). ● Students fill out questionnaire (qualitative personal assessment on students’ feelings and self evaluation in reflexive manner) to find out if they perceived any difference in their ability to concentrate and complete the exercise sheet. ● To increase reliability and validity this experiment would be carried out several times. Dependent Variable Level of productivity and performance/ ability to perform task: 1. Students will be given a 10 minute presentation on a topic 2. asked to complete an exercise sheet 3. tested on their memory of the content of the presentation Independent Variable Lighting: 1. red lighting 2. blue lighting 3. natural light 4. dim light Control Variables Setting: Classroom set up and furniture remains the same Sample group: 30 students (mixed gender of highschool age) Hypothesis: students in blue lighting settings will perform better due to an increased productivity and concentration due to an improvement in mood. Students will perform worst when lighting is dim. Methodology Deductive approach to test the hypothesis established based on previous studies and empirical research with a positivist epistemology. To test the ability of students to perform tasks in relation to lighting four sets of classroom scenario rounds will be conducted each with a different type of lighting in the classroom. The students will partake in three activities (dependent variable) while being observed and will then be asked to fill out a questionnaire for each lighting setting (independent variable). A mix of qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. This experimental methodology aims to confirm the hypothesis by looking at how students can concentrate during a presentation, how able they are to complete an exercise and how well they perform on the test in different light settings.
- 97. StudentID i6158631| SKI1005Research Methods II | Maastricht University Research Question Why are students in Maastricht member of a student association? Introduction Student associations are a typical Dutch phenomenon. Every big university city, just as Maastricht has at least one of them. Maastricht has three associations with around 500-700 members. Most of the members are Dutch. Around 51% of the approximately 16800 (UM, 2016) students are international, which means that 8200 students are Dutch, of whom 1500 are member of a student association. This means that 18 percent of all Dutch students are member of an association, that is more than the national average of 8 percent (AD, 2012). Why are student associations so popular in Maastricht? In this research we will only include the three biggest associations. Relevance Procedure Make questionnaire in Dutch and English Step 1 Spread it and collect data Step 2 Interpret data and use SPSS to look for correlations Step 3 Write research paper Step 4 We expect to see a correlation between the fact that UM is so international and the popularity of student associations. But we also expect a correlation between the kind of studies, the length of those studies, family history and faculties and the popularity of student associations. Methodology Works Cited Amongst UCM students, students who join associations are not understood. - With this research we hope to explain UCM and other students why this ‘Dutch’ phenomenon is so popular and why Dutch students choose to join while Maastricht is so international. - The associations themselves can profit from this research as well, if they know why their attract members, they could make use of it. - The same counts for the university, student associations are a major player in the social life of students. If UM knows what students find important, they can adjust their policy. Expectations The research will have a quantitative inductive approach Population: Members of the biggest student associations in Maastricht. Sampling: probability sampling Data collection approach: survey Student Associations? Blergh! https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/british-people-happy-drinking-beer-pub-study- a7972316.html https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/over-de-um/organisatie/feiten-cijfers AD (2012, October 12). Aantal leden studentenvereniging stabiel ondanks langstudeerboete. Algemeen Dagblad. Retrieved from https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/aantal-leden-studentenvereniging-stabiel- ondanks-langstudeerboete~a54a7e5a/ https://www.circumflex.nl/ http://www.tragos2017.nl/ http://svkoko.nl/
- 98. Jenn Conformity Amongst Studentsin The University Research Question To what extent does the minority have affect over the majority in situation of social pressure? Figure 1 – Asch’s Experiment (1956) Figure 2 – Elephant illusion (2005) References: Lumbert, S. (2005). Conformity and Group Mentality. Personalityresearch.org. Retrieved 11 October 2017, from http://personalityresearch.org/papers/lumbert.removed Founder, E. (2012). The Elephant Illusion, Answer With Explanation - How Many Legs?. Brain Pages. Retrieved 11 October 2017, from http://brainpages.org/the-elephant-illusion/ McLeod, S. (2007). What is Conformity? | Simply Psychology. Simplypsychology.org. Retrieved 11 October 2017, from https://simplypsychology.org/conformity.html Ellwood, J., Et al. (2017). Conformity Amongst Students in The University College Maastricht (UCM). Maastricht University Abstract For educational institutions, it is indispensable to create an environment that permits the collective to learn and work as efficiently as possible. However, social pressure situations occur in many academic surroundings and can lead to peer pressure and suppression of opinions. It could be presumed that it could be damaging to sightlessly trust the opinion of minorities. The aim of the study to find out whether there could be a minority influence over the majority in an institution such as UCM. Experimental Hypothesis Students at the University College Maastricht will conform to the opinion of the minority under situations involving social pressures. Previous Empirical Data (Asch, 1951) Conducted several studies about group conformity on how the majority impacted the minority decision. Experiment shows group conformity behaviour and for what he calls the “Majority Effect”. The majority of a group can have an influence on the minority. That can go as far as the minority turning against their own perceptual knowledge. Data & Methodology o Qualitative method; Confirmatory study o Observational study; Deductive approach The experiment would be completed using an observational study. Participants around N= 120 students would be divided into two groups. Dependent Variable: Actions of the experimental group; approximately 75 students, of whom 25 serves as confederates. Independent Variable: 45 students build the control group of the experiment. All groups would contain of between seven and ten participants (non-manipulated) and, in the experimental groups three confederates also (30-40 percent). The group will be shown an image (figure 2) and be asked the number of legs seen. After answering the first time, the confederates will move to the pre-discussed answer. The same question will be asked again, and we will monitor whether individuals change their previous decisions. Relevance Studies on how the minority affect the majority are sufficiently lacking, unlike experiments on how majorities affect minorities. Therefore, it could potentially be interesting to turn a principle like Asch’s group conformity experiments around and see if manipulating a minority could already show signs of conforming behaviour. We may be able to discover which has the larger influence, the minority or the majority. Jennifer Ellwood Student no. i6158740
- 99. Birds of afeather flock together... For good reasons? * In self-selected teams, High-GPA students tend to associate with each other for group works in order to maintain their grades high. *The O-Ring model emphasizes that, in a team production, a less-skilled worker will tend to impact the quality of the output considerably, especially if the other workers are highly skilled. Due to this, workers with similar skills tend to associate to- gether. * In order to find out if the O-ring model effect would occur in an academic context, the aim of this research is to highlight if the final grade of a team work can be reduced by a low-GPA student. ABSTRACT * Practical relevance: Determining if the O-Ring theory applies to aca- demic production might help tutors to take better decisions in relation with group formation. For example, if the O-ring theory does not apply, it would play in the favor of imposing groups, since doing so would not diminish the overall results of the works produced. * Academic relevance: Applying a theory of economic development to the field of academic production is exclusive and might permit to validate or deny some assumptions. Furthermore, many studies have highlighted the importance of diversity of skills in groups; However, few have envisaged the overall impact that it would have on the final result. RELEVANCE * Quantitative method * Independent variables: the different GPA of the members of a group * Dependent variable: the final result of the group work * Sample size: 40 groups of three UCM students based on the research project of period 6 of June 2017. * Kind of sample: Purposive. Aims to analyze groups with important differences between at least two of the members’ GPA METHODOLOGYHow does GPA diversity in a groupwork impact the final result? The challenger disaster of 1986 emphasizes that the smallest detail can have tremendous impact on the final result... Is it the case in acade- mic production? Retrieved from: https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/challenger-shuttle-disaster/ References: Curşeu, P. L., & Pluut, H. (2013). Student groups as learning entities: The effect of group diversity and teamwork quality on groups’ cognitive complexity. Studies in Higher Education, 38(1), 87-103. doi:10.1080/03075079.2011.565122 Kremer, M. (1993). The O-ring theory of economic development. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108(3), 551-575. Oakley, B., Felder, R. M., Brent, R., & Elhajj, I. (2004). Turning student groups into effective teams. Journal of student centered learning, 2(1), 9-34. Can students with a low GPA impact the prospect of an ex- cellent output in a group with high GPA students due to a small drop in quality? retrievedfromhttps://blog.acolyer.org/2015/11/11/the-o-ring-theory-of-devops/ Dylan Reich - i6159391 - Research Methods II - Maasdtricht University Theoritical Framework: * the O-Ring theory is based on this function qH2 + qL2 > 2qHqL * qH² are the high skills workers and qL² the low skill workers. 2qHql represent the mixed groups * The total product is maximized if the teams are made based on skills-matching
- 100. The effects of taking a GapYear Nicola Friedman i6160303 Relevance Methodology Phases of research Hypothesis Earlier Empirical Research shows that... How does a gap year between secondary and tertiary education affect student’s motivation at university?
- 101. UCM Freshmen’s Satisfaction Abstract Afteralmost one year at UCM, it is time to finally assess the level of satisfaction of the first academic year. There have been high and lows for everyone, and responses to exam- pressures and adapting to Maastricht’s life may have been different from person to person. Someone might be very satisfied, while others might still be struggling to be at ease with the new environment. This project will try to give a general evaluation of the satisfaction of freshmen. Research Question What is the level of satisfaction among freshmen at UCM, in regard to their first academic year? What are the reasons behind it? Hypotheses 1. Educational outcomes shape and are shaped by students’ satisfaction. 2. Extracurricular activities have an impact on students’ satisfaction. 3. Expectations have/have not been met. 4. Influence of relationships on satisfaction. 5. Academic significance's impact on satisfaction. Methodology and Resources • Pragmatic mixed methods research Research framework: 1. Framing and subsequent filling-in of an online quantitative survey on a voluntary basis (random sampling, but at least obtaining 50 responses) by UCM freshmen (September 2017 intake); 2. Collection and analysis of data; 3. Qualitative interviews with a purposive sampling of survey-participants, which are split in three categories (i.e. very satisfied, averagely satisfied, unsatisfied), to understand the reasons of different levels and discover similar patterns among each category (at least 10 interviews for each category); 4. Final analysis and presentation of results. Earlier Empirical Work • The reciprocity between GPA (an indicator of academic performance) and satisfaction has been analysed by Bean and Bradley (1986), but they did not find any significant correlation, although the results slightly varied between male and female students; • Students’ satisfaction also depends on whether the expectations where met by universities, as Elliot and Healy (2001) point out. Accordingly, three major factors that have strong influence on students: ‘student centred-ness’, ‘campus climate’, and ‘instructional effectiveness’. • Bean, J. P., & Bradley, R. K. (1986). Untangling the satisfaction-performance relationship for college students. The Journal of Higher Education, 57(4), 393-412. • Elliott, K. M., & Healy, M. A. (2001). Key factors influencing student satisfaction related to recruitment and retention. Journal of marketing for higher education, 10(4), 1-11. References Instruments Questionnaire questions + open-ended interview questions. © Emilio Lamura
- 102. Figure 2 Retrieved from:https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um/ organisation/facts-figures References: Hazel Christie , Moira Munro & Heidi Rettig (2002) Accommodating Students, Journal of Youth Studies, 5:2, 209-235, DOI: 10.1080/13676260220134458 Fincher, R., & Shaw, K. (2009). The Unintended Segregation of Transnational Students in Central Melbourne. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 41(8), 1884-1902. doi:10.1068/a41126 Houben, M. (2017). Helping hand with rental problems. Retrieved from https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/helping-hand-rental-problems Degens, W. (2018). Extra student rooms: UM is waiting on the city council. The Observant. Retrieved from https://www.observantonline.nl/English/Home/Articles/ articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13268/Extra-student-rooms-UM-is-waiting-on-the-city-council LIVING IN MAASTRICHT DREAM OR DISASTER? Introduction Maastricht University has an increasing number of international students (Figure 1). However, compared to the rest of the demographic of the city, the amount of internationals is quite small (Figure 2). This means that international students are being housed in a clearly Dutch city. It has become clear in the last municipal elections, but also on social media, that there are issues with student housing in Maastricht, particularly for international students. Research Question • How do non-Dutch students experience student housing in Maastricht? Why? • Student housing affects students health and well be- ing (Christie, Munro, & Rettig, 2002) • International students and local students can get se- gregated due to housing (Fincher & Shaw, 2009) • There is no clear analysis of what the issues are with housing in Maastricht yet, while the issues are there as a Housing Helpdesk has been created and the city council is asked to act (Houben, 2017; Degens, 2018) • Focus on what the issues are as it has been esta- blished that there are issues Methodology The study will be carried out using quantitative methods to shed light on the issue in a broad way. Specifically, a questi- onnaire will be designed including multiple-choice answers. It will be distributed via social media and if necessary hard copies will be handed out, aiming to reach a sample size (N) of at least 75 non-Dutch students. Previous research of the topic will be used to design the questionnaire. Process • First more research will be done on student housing, it’s effects and possible issues • Then questionnaires will be created, based on this pri- or knowledge and distributed via online platforms to collect data • After this the data is analysed and a report is written Figure 1 (non-Dutch residents VS. Total population) Retrieved from: https://maastricht.incijfers.nl/dashboard Jonathan Schoen (i6162188) 4-5-2018
- 103. Ioanna Antigoni Apostolakopoulou i6162635 Introduction: Multitaskingis the ability to perform two or more tasks at the same time. While it is very common for one to multitask while studying, it may not be the most efficient way of learning new information. Research suggests that multitasking when trying to study or learn new information disrupts the natu- ral learning system of the brain. This causes our ability to learn and recall to be greatly affected. This paper will provide evidence that multitasking, such as using the internet for recreational purposes, impairs one’s ability to recall the information they have been trying to learn, thus affecting their overall academic performance. Relevance: Due to the ever-increasing use of tech- nology and media, students find them- selves connected on social platforms while trying to study. Since this is very common, it is important to un- derstand how multitasking influences the efficiency of the learning process, in order to then better educate the gen- eral population in the hopes of better- ing their study methods. Sample: Two groups of 10 University College Maastricht (UCM) students: Group 1: reading an unknown article while com- pleting a task on a social media app—after they have completed both, recall will be tested by a short quiz about the article they just read. Group 2: reading the same unknown article, but no other task will be given for them to com- plete—they will also receive the same short quiz in order to test their recall of the article Research Question: How does multitask- ing while learning new information affect subsequent recall? Hypothesis: Multitasking causes the infor- mation one is trying to learn harder to re- call. Prior Research: Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N. J. (2013). Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education, 62, 24-31. Methodology: Quantitative methods though an experiment with two different groups will be used to test the hypothesis. The results will be concluded based on the responses on the short quiz the participants will have to answer at the end of their reading session
- 104. Zberea, A. (2016).Container Paradigm Designing structures for the future lifestyle. Sweden: Institute of Design, Linnaeus University. Retrieved 03/03/2018, from http://lnu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:938461/FULLTEXT01.pdf Botes, A. W. (2013). A feasibility study of utilising shipping containers to address the housing backlog in South Africa(Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University). Retrieved from http://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/85714 This research will take a closer look at student’s personal preferences and perspectives about container housing. Maastricht has encountered problems when it comes to housing. It is becoming an unaffordable and overpopulated student city and students budget usually does not meet the asking price for housing. Municipality Maastricht is considering to introduce affordable container apartments. These are living spaces made from customized shipping containers. They are affordable, ecological, efficient and flexible, which would result them to be sustainable option for students. Container apartments seem to be the needed solution for Maastricht and its residents. However, what do students themselves think about container living? In other words, is there a positive correlation between what container living can provide and what students require from student housing? Are container apartments, that are requested by Maastricht municipality, a wanted and appropriate living option for students? 1) Majority of students find container living an inappropriate living condition due to moral, practical, ethical or personal reasons. 2) Majority of students find container living an appropriate solution, they propose requirements and/ or changes to the living space in order to be made truly functional for university scholars. Population: University maastricht students Sample size: random sampling of minimum 5 and maximum 10 students of each faculty. Conduct: - Quantitative gathering by multiple answer questionnaires - Qualitative gathering by a follow up semi-constructive interviews that will fit to the interviewee’s answers to the questionnaires. - The interview will evolve around a spectrum of questions such as their opinion of what defines student housing, what students think about container living, their ethical and moral opinions on the matter and if this option is desirable. Independent variables: - University students Dependent variables: - Student satisfaction levels - Income - Age - Factors defining different types of container housing Data analysis: Statistical analysis of survey findings by making use of SPSS. Work schedule: - Gathering data: week 1 and 2 - Analysing data: week 3 - Writing paper: week 4 space neighbors transport (access, storage) landlord/ tenant/ company cubic meters shared/ personal space condition of the housingall inclusive/ exclusive Location Student satisfaction (on housing) open space/ garden price/ value
- 106. RQ: HOW DOFIRSTYEAR STUDENTS AT UCM CHOOSE THEIR RESEARCH TOPIC COMPARED TO EXSISTING APPROACHES OF ACADEMICS? HYPOTHESIS: FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AT UCM CHOOSE THEIR RESEARCH PROJECT BASED ON PERSONAL INTEREST AS WELL AS THE PROSPECT OFTHE LEAST AMOUNT OF WORK. Emperical research: -To give an overview of research patterns in the academic world - For example“DoingYour Research Project:A Guide for First-Time Researchers” by Bell & Waters - Methodology: - Mixed methods approach with an inductive framework - Gathering data in a Quantitative manner - tools: Surveys / Questionnaires with extensive pre-formulated questions on the subjects’ procedure in conducting a research project Sampling: - Nonprobability sampling, - UCM first-year students, - A group of 5-10 students from each of the 3 major concentrations at UCM Expectations from this Research: The researcher expects to gain insight on the process of choosing topic to be researched of a UCM student. This might reveal struggles unknown to higher educational positions at UCM. This possible reveal could help the educational institution to relieve these possible struggles from future generations of first-year students at UCM. I6163817 Research Methods ll 04/05/2018
- 107. HOW INFORMED AREUM STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR PARENTS' PROFESSIONS AND IN HOW FAR DOES THIS KNOWLEDGE INFLUENCE THEIR CAREER CHOICES? WE LIVE IN A WORLD FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES, YET... INTRODUCTION We live in a world with countless career paths. Everywhere we go, we are faced with new ideas and fields of interests. Yet, how do we decide which road to choose for ourselves in the end? Do each and every one of us consider the career paths of our parents? Why or why not? This is what our research aims to find out! While some students may know the daily work routine of their parents, it may be surprising that others do not. Therefore, the research aims to ask students about their parents professions and tries to investigate how much this knowledge influences the choices they make regarding future careers. RELEVANCE It is important to understand whether students are actually aware of what their parents do on a daily basis and whether it is the relationship between the parent and student or the attitude of the parent towards the profession that might influences a career decision. Furthermore, the results of the research could be useful to determine whether there needs to be more awareness for parents to introduce their professions to their children. Hannah Beaven i6164332 Maastricht University Research Methods II METHOD ONLINE SURVEY Come up with multiple choice and open questions Share survey online Analyse data Write paper 1-2 days 2 weeks 3-4 days remaining time (the aim is to reach a large number of UM students in order to create a significant answer to the RQ) EARLIER EMPIRICAL WORK Otto (2000) examined the perspectives of youth on parental career influence. This study found that high school juniors (female and male) find their mothers' advice most helpful regarding future career plans. Goodale and Hall (1976) found that parental background, especially the father's, only had an influence on boys' occupational plans. Liu, McMahon and Watson (2015) investigated parental influence on career development in mainland China and discovered that especially mothers respond to the children's career interests and provide opportunities for them to expand on these interests. Otto, L. (2000). Youth perspectives on parental career influence. Journal of Career Development, 27(2), 111-118. Goodale, J., & Hall, D. (1976). Inheriting a career: The influence of sex, values, and parents. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 8(1), 19- 30. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(76)90029-4 Liu, J., McMahon, M., & Watson, M. (2015). Parental influence on child career development in mainland china: A qualitative study. The Career Development Quarterly, 63(1), 74-87. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2015.00096.x REFERENCES EXPECTED OUTCOMES The results of the research are expected to show that there is a relationship between a parents' profession and the attitude of the student and parent towards the profession that guides career decisions. Therefore, the hypothesis is as follows: The more in depth the knowledge of a student regarding the professions of their parents, the stronger the motive to choose the same or an entirely different career path. Additionally, it will be interesting to examine gender differences as previous research has shown contradictory results. JOIN THE TEAM! As you can see this quantitative, deductive research approach aims to fill a gap in this research spectrum by examining the knowledge of the students about the professions rather than the interests of the parents. So, if this seems interesting to you, then... SOME FINAL WORDS
- 109. Research Methods II-Patricia de la Fuente Castelbón i6165502 SKI1005 The 'English Handicap' Empirical Review - Introduction Personality influences people's participation in class, extroverts contribute in a classroom setting more than introverts, who prefer an Internet environment (Caspi, Chajut, Saporta & Beyth-Marom, 2005). Although the latter are as conscientious as the former, introverts find it more difficult to contribute in an open social environment (Caspi et al., 2005). Another study by Dewaele & Furnham (2000) shows that introverts communicate with less fluency than extroverts in formal social situations. UCM is an international faculty that implements a way of learning by problem-solving discussions. The so-called PBL requires the students to discuss their findings on specific topics during tutorials. The fact that it is an international community implies that there are native and non-native English speakers. Thus, and assuming that in UCM there are both extroverts and introverts, one could wonder, based on the previous research, whether there are also differences among introverts with regards to the participation in the tutorials. Moreover, it could be interesting to know if language may be a handicap with regards to their contributions in the tutorials. Bibliography Caspi, A., Chajut, E., Saporta, K. & Beyth-Maron, R. (2005). The influence of personality on social participation in learning environments. Learning and Individual Differences, 16, pp. 129-144. doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2005.07.003 Dewaele, J-M. & Furnham, A. (2000). Personality and speech production: a pilot study of second language learners. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, pp. 355-365. Retrieved from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/personality-and-individual-differences Gray, D.E. (2014). Doing Research in the Real World (Third Ed.). London: SAGE Publications. Research Question To what extent does not being a native speaker of English influence the participation of introverts in problem-based learning tutorials at UCM? Quantitative approach: regression analysis of the obtained data with the help of SPSS in order to test our hypothesis (deductive approach). Quasi-experimental. We will use an online survey/questionaire. If more than 30% of the questions are answered with a 'yes', 'usually' or 'normally', we will consider that the person does not participate in the discussion because of the language (an example of the type of questions is provided in this poster). The questionnaires will be anonimous. For the people to identify themselves as introverts we will provide some guidelines about this personality trait. Population: introverted students at UCM. Sample: 50 people (25% native English speakers, 25% that speak English as their second language). This would be a purposive sampling. Cross-sectional study: data gathered in 1 week. Confirmatory study: we want to test our hypothesis and see whether there is a strong positive correlation between the language and the participation. Methodology Hypothesis: Introverts that are English native speakers will participate more in tutorials than introverted students that are non-native speakers of English. Dependent variable (y): participation in tutorials. Indepedendent variable (x): English as a mother tongue / English as second language. Hypothesis and Variables If a strong positive correlation is found between (x) and (y), then it would mean that there is an 'English handicap' that hinders PBL, for not everyone is able to contribute the same way. Thus, UCM could implement some resources that help introverts with English as their second language in order to enhance PBL outcomes. Relevance Sample question 1. How often is it difficult for you to find the right words in English? a. Always b. Usually d. Sometimes e. Hardly ever f. Never
- 110. VALUE FOR MONEY Educationin The Netherlands Have current international events and discussions pushed new students to search for increasingly accessible and affordable higher education courses in the Netherlands the past few years?” Hypothesis & Objective 1) The main hypothesis consists in expecting a strong positive correlation between the increased cost of education, and the number of students going to Germany, and the Netherlands. 2) The objective is to understand if there is a link between the increase of numbers of foreign students in the Netherlands, and if there is a correlation with events such as Brexit, and other factors that might have influenced the decision making of these current student. 3) Another hypothesis is that students from areas such as Italy, Greece, and Spain will be particularly exposed to this Phenomenon because of evidence suggesting that they are particularly exposed to this issue. Research Question 1) In the wake of events such as Brexit, and the current critique of increasing expenses for bachelor programs in the US and UK, more, and more international students are choosing to attend courses in mainland Europe 2) This has led to the question: “Have current international events and discussions pushed new students to search for increasingly accessible and affordable higher education in the Netherlands these past few years?” The research will try to answer any other questions that might appear. during the course of the research. Methodology Sample size: The research will focus on attempting to access all student at Maastricht university in order to access as much data as possible. All of the 19 different faculties facilitated in Maastricht University will be targeted in order to assess the view point of the most recent students, proportionate to all faculties. Sample Method: All students at University Maastricht will be handed a questionnaire through their school email, in order to reach every student. The research will also attempt to collect not only quantitative data but also qualitative/personal information through the questionnaire. The students will have to answer what was their first choice of University, and if UM was that choice. In case it wasn’t the questionnaire will ask to list the alternative offers, and if the reasons for choosing this course is linked to the proposed hypothesis. Thus, being able to understand if this sudden increase of Students in the Netherlands is correlated. References: - Singer, A. (2016, December 22). [Money for Education Equilibrium]. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/in-education-money-matter_b_13787022.html - Minsky, C. (2015, September 30). Universities in Mainland Europe go Head to Head with the UK. Retrieved from file:///Users/brando_brandolini/Desktop/Universities in mainland Europe go head- to-head with the UK | Times Higher Education - Zillman, C. (2016, June 20). Why UK Universities are really worried about "Brexit”, Fortune Magazine. Retrieved from file:///Users/brando_brandolini/Desktop/Universities in mainland Europe go head-to-head with the UK | Times Higher Education Empirical Work Some researchers like Carl Minsky in an article written in 2015 for the University Ranking website suggests that currently new students seem to be moving toward more affordable courses in other regions of the globe due to high expenses, and inaccessibility to student visas. UK Universities are worried over the impact of Brexit. The numbers external application has been on the decline since the 2016 British election, these figures consist of mostly prospective European students (Zilman, 2016). British students seem also to be leaving the UK and United States he due to the exorbitant costs, and crippling student loans that have been plaguing these system, and it seems that now the effects are showing. Higher numbers of English courses are also appearing in the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland which are already attracting more students to their campuses (Zillman, 2016) . It seems that there been a rise in student demand for Universities in Mainland Europe, and the research will focus on this particularly on the Netherlands. Although, Universities in the UK and US still boast a strong number of applicants due to their prestige, quality teaching, and ranking. Brandolino Brandolini d’Adda SN: i6165575 UCM Abstract & Introduction Many of the esteemed universities in the UK, and the United States are now going head to head with more affordable international Bachelor courses in different parts of the world. This was noted with the sudden increase of students applying to countries such as the Netherlands. It can be speculated that is derived fro unexpected international events, which have made accessing higher education in the United States and the UK increasingly difficult. More students seem to want to attend courses in the Netherlands and Germany. This leads us asking the question if there is a connection between these events, and sudden increase in student demand for relatively newer courses in the Netherlands. Which are offer good bachelors programs at a fraction of the price.. Furthermore, the increase in number of English courses in mainland Europe has allowed for more options, and the relative low cost compared study programs in places such as London makes it quite clear why it is more appealing for a new student to look at these alternative options. This is an important phenomenon to observe, since we are seeing a shift in regards not only to International Politics, but also in regards to higher education as a whole. Many countries are closing themselves off, and now its is the opportunity for the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland to offer both prestigious Undergraduate, and Postgraduate courses.
- 111. ADVERTIZING UCM EVENTSWHATIS THE BEST WAY FOR THE COMMITTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MAASTRICHT TO PROMOTE THEIR EVENT IN A SMALL COMMUNITY ? Mixed Approach Questionnaire & Interviews Sampling Questionnaire: 100 UCM students + Random sampling In-depth Interview: 5 to 10 in-depth interviews from students who answered the questionnaire Data collection Questionnaire (how students are informed about events, etc) In-depth Interviews: aims to underline the nuances and relationships between the different ways of advertising. A spectrum of questions will already be prepared. Data analysis Statistics, SPSS, excel for questionnaire In-depth interview: analysis of the relationship between word of mouth and social medias METHODOLOGY STEPS UCM STUDENTS! How do you hear about an event ? Word of mouth in the common room, posters on the walls, social medias ? This is what this study wants to find out! UCM has many committees which are offering every week a large panel of events. The walls of the common room are filled with posters promoting the upcoming events. However, It might be difficult for students to be aware about all the events going on. INTRODUCTION Scarpi, D. (2010). Does size matter? An examination of small and large web-based brand communities. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 24(1), 14-21. Dellarocas, C. (2003). The digitization of word of mouth: Promise and challenges of online feedback mechanisms. Management science, 49(10), 1407-1424. Herr, P. M., Kardes, F. R., & Kim, J. (1991). Effects of word-of-mouth and product-attribute information on persuasion: An accessibility-diagnosticity perspective. Journal of consumer research, 17(4), 454-462. Picture : M. (2017, November 14). University College Maastricht in a nutshell. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfi6Gubh3XM REFERENCES DISTRIBUTE questionnaire & COLLECT data IDENTIFY which promotions ways are used at UCM & WRITE questionnaire REALIZE interviews & COLLECT data ANALYZE data & WRITE REPORT In prior researches, Herr, Kardes & Kim (1991) highlighted that a face-to-face Word of Mouth (WMO) communication is more persuasive than a printed format. Furthermore, Scarpi (2010) found out that small communities emphasized the power of word of mouth, and developed higher loyalty to products (for our research, products would be assimilated to events). The development of the digital word of mouth and the social media brings new challenges and offer new possibilities in the field of promotion (Dellarocas, 2003). EMPIRICAL RESEARCH This study aims to provide UCM committees the best of communication to promote their events. For instance, maybe the printed poster in the common room are not making the student more aware of events (and maybe there is more sustainable ways to advertize!) The study wants find out to what extent word of mouth is powerful at UCM, and determine if advertising on social media is efficient in small communities. OBJECTIFS I6165864 JULIE ARNAUD
- 112. University College MaastrichtSanne Schuller – i6165954 Parental support and student adaptability How does the relationship between UCM freshmen and their parents influence the adaptation to university life? Introduction The adaptation to university life is a difficult process. New students leave their homes behind to discover a new environment and new responsibilities. The changes and adjustment can have negative effects on both physical and psychological well-being (Rachael & Kimberly, 2006). Students can develop physical illness or experience feelings of depression. However, scholars have found that parental support has a positive influence on student’s well-being (Kenny, 1987). Will a close relationship with one’s parents therefore facilitate the adaptation process? Additionally, is there a difference between males and females? Kenny, M. E. (1987). The extent and function of parental attachment among first-year college students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16(1), 17-29. doi:10.1007/bf02141544 Rachael, D., & Kimberly, R. (2006). Freshmen adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(10), 1231-1244. doi:10.1002/jclp.20295 Hypothesis Students that have a close relationship with their parents will have experienced less difficulty in adapting to university life. Methodology This research will take a quantitative approach. A sample of UCM students, for whom it is the first year to live separate from their parents, will be taken from the first year students at UCM. These will be asked to fill in questionnaires on: 1. Parental attachment 2. Adaptation to university life in the past year The gathered data will be analysed with SPSS to discover whether there is a correlation between the relationship between student and parents and the ability to adapt. Relevance The adaptation to university life is a stressful experience for most adolescents. Yet, it is not discussed much among students and within the university. This research will help shed a light on the feelings of first year students and provides an incentive to further discuss and perhaps ease the difficulties experienced by students.
- 113. Research question: Do LiberalArts students have a better knowledge on their subject if compared to students of a monodisci- plinary faculty? Previous Research: This research will cover fields which have not be fil- led yet. While there are many statisics on the employ- ment rates of Liberal Arts graduated, there is a lack of knowledge on which skills are acquired in these insti- tutions when compared to monodisciplinary faculty. Sample: The students involved will be sampled from second year students co- ming from different academic paths. Out of three selected subjects (Economics, Philosophy and Biomedical Sciences), candidates will be randomly selected from three different universities, namely Ma- astricht, Utrecht and Amsterdam. The students will be taken from Economics, Philosophy and Biomedical Sciences faculties, and from the Univesity Colleges of the univeristy involved. This latter selection of students will include Liberal Arts students whose cur- riculum is clearly oriented towards one of the disciplines examined. Methodology: The methodology adopted will be quantitave, and since there is no clear academic knowle- dge on the topic, the aim will be exploratory. Moreover, since there will be many inde- pendent variables to bias the sample, the re- sult will be only very carefully generalisable. Method: The assestment of students’ skills and knowledge will con- sist of a short on-line tests composed of timed questions. The text will be composed on questions on the general knowledge on the subject that a secon year bachelor stu- dent is expected to have, as well as by more logical and pro- blem-solving issues related to the discipline. The test will be composed by a selection of questions of past exams, col- lected from different Universities around the Netherlands. The research will be following the steps of: Creation of the test Collection of participants Correction of the tests Grading on the tests (with a score /100) Statistical analysis and conclusion. Abstract: The choice of pursuing a liberal arts education gives clear advantages in terms of a multidi- sciplinary knowledge, which is increasingly appreciated in many professions. However, little is known of the actual knowledge and skills that students of liberal arts with a (re- latively) monodisciplinary curriculum ac- quire, if compared to their peers enrolled in monodisciplyinary faculties. This research aims at filling this gap, in order to provide future students and families with more mate- rial to make the right choice for their future. It can be generally expected that monodisci- plinary faculties will have more academic knowledge on the subject, while liberal arts students will be more skilled in applying the- ories to real-life examples. It might howe- ver be interesting to find surprising results, and to create the base for further research. Hypothesis: Liberal Arts students have a more extensive knowledge on their subject, but are less prone to adapt it to real-life issues. Liberal Arts vs Monodisciplinary Education Independent variables: There are many independent variables that can influence the results of the research. Firstly, in the Netherlands sutdents of University Colleges are se- lected through a stricter process than those of monodisciplinary faculties, and the method of selection of the latter is to be investigated for univerisi- tes other than Maastricht’s one,. The effects of this variable migh though be mitigated by the choice of sampling second years student instead of first years. Secondly, the questions of the test can be biased, depending on the institutions in which the past exams (from which the questions will be ta- ken) were proposed. Thirdly, the limited number of participants expected limits the generalisability of the results. Lastly, the small number of insti- tutions taken into account can also influence the outcome of the research. References: Holland, K. (2014, 7 November). The case for a libe- ral arts education. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc. com/2014/11/07/the-case-for-a-liberal-arts-education.html Jenkins, A. (2014, January 22). New Report Documents That Liberal Arts Disciplines Prepare Graduates for Long- Term Professional Success. Retrieved from https://www. aacu.org/press/press- releases/new-report-documen- ts-liberal-arts-disciplines-prepare-graduates-long-term Moore, T. L., & Roberts, R. A. (1989). Statistics at libe- ral arts colleges. The American Statistician, 43(2), 80-85. A research proposal by Maddalena Fazzo Cusan (i6165979)
- 114. Handwriting VS. TYPING Abstract Electronicnote-taking is a failry recently developed trend within the educational system. It is nearly impossible to imagine a tutorial group or lecture at UCM without anylaptopsor tabletsonthe table. Hypotheses o Making handwritten notes, as opposed to typed notes, increases the abilityto memorise o Reading handwritten notes, as opposed to typed notes, increases the abilityto memorise Howdoesthe methodof handwritten note-takingincreasethe ability of UCM studentsto memoriseon a shortterm? Relevance If findings of this research implicate a significant difference in the ability to memorise matter, depending on the note-taking method, this information can be used to increase academic performanceofUCMstudents. Methodology Sample: 40 UCM students, divided into 2 groups of 20 students Methods:quantitative&qualitative o An empirical experiment in which the subject has to complete2differentmemory-tests o An interview in which the subject answers questions about how (s)he thinks the method of note-takingaffectshis/hermemory. Tools: 3 sets of 20 words of equal length and difficulty. The third set of words is printed in a hand-written versionanda typedversion. References Longcamp, M., Boucard, C., Gilhodes, J., & Velay, J. (2006). Remembering the orientation of newly learned characters depends on the associated writing knowledge: A comparison between handwriting and typing. HumanMovementScience, 25(4-5), 646-656. Smoker, T., Murphy, C., & Rockwell, A. (2009). Comparing memory for handwriting versus typing. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society AnnualMeeting,53(22), 1744-1747. Ford, B., & Banks, W. (1977). Perceptual differences between reading handwritten andtyped words. Memory &Cognition, 5(6), 630-635. Execution of research Group1 o 1stsetof20 wordsisreadout studentmakeshandwrittennotes 10secondsto overview studentisaskedto writeoutall 20 wordsagain o A typedversionof the3rd setof20wordsis given studentsget1 minuteto memorisestudentsisaskedto writeoutall 20 words o Interviewonpreferenceofnote-takingmethod o 2ndsetof 20wordsisreadout studentmakestypednotes 10 secondsto overview studentisaskedto writeoutall 20 wordsagain o A handwrittenversionofthe 3rdsetof20 wordsis given studentsget1 minuteto memorisestudentsisaskedto writeoutall 20 words o Interviewonpreferenceofnote-takingmethod Group2 Mira Bakker - i6165981 Add step-by-step overflow thingy Add text from word doc Rephrase?
- 115. RELEVANCEINTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY This research wouldtake a qualitative, idiographic, inductive and exploratory approach. The main method utilized would be in-depth interviews with UM students who volunteered abroad. This would enable elaborate responses and deeper understandings of the subject’s interpretations of their experiences abroad. Hopefully, this approach highlights the relationship between the independent variable – gap year volunteer tourism – on the dependent variable – white saviourism. Following a formulated hypothesis, A sample size would be defined, followed by in- depth interviews of the sample. The Interview data would then be interpreted and analysed using SPSS. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH I. Sydney Calkin’s Mind the “Gap Year” critically examines volunteer tourism program’s marketing strategies and concludes that while promotional material positions volunteering as well- intentioned, volunteerism is a manifestation of ongoing exploitation and domination of developing countries. II. C a r l o s P a l o c i o s ’ s Volunteer tourism, development and education in a postcolonial world conducted ethnographic research with an Australian program arranging short-term placements for university students in underdeveloped countries to contribute to the debate on appropriateness of Westerners engaging in volunteer work in developing countries. III. Butcher and Smith’s ‘Making a Difference’: Volunteer Tourism and Development argues that volunteer tourism reflects the need of idealistic young people who feel the need to make a difference. They also argue against the idea that volunteer tourism projects Western notions of superiority, rather holding that volunteerism is a post-development approach. REFERENCES Hogan, J. (2015) "Gap Year Saviours - An Analysis of the Role of Race in an Advertisement for Development Volunteering," Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies: Vol. 15.1(2) Butcher, J & Smith, P. (2015) ‘Making a Difference’: Volunteer Tourism and Development, Tourism Recreation Research, 35:1, 27-36, DOI: 10.1080/02508281.2010.11081616 Calkin, S. (2013). Mind the ‘gap year’: a critical discourse analysis of volunteer tourism promotional material. Global Discourse, 4(1), pp.30-43. Carlos M. Palacios (2010) Volunteer tourism, development and education in a postcolonial world: conceiving global connections beyond aid, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18:7, 861-878, DOI: 10.1080/09669581003782739 Lyons, K., Hanley, J., Wearing, S. and Neil, J. (2012). Gap year volunteer tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), pp.361-378. RESEARCH QUESTION GAP-YEAR SAVIOURS
- 116. No, you’re wrong! Methodology Theinterviewer will be leading the discussion they have with the interviewee, adjusting themselves as necessary to discover the interviewee’s discussion abilities. As such, this would be an example of overt non-participation. Week 1: Research nuclear energy as to be able to provide accurate facts on its dangers, advantages, and social impact during the interviews. Prepare the interview and find 6 UCM students that identify as sustainable and liberal and are willing to be interviewed using typical case sampling. Week 2: Interview 6 UCM students in a semi-structured manner to understand if they have an opinion on nuclear energy, how informed they are, and their willingness to change their opinion or simply have an open discussion on nuclear energy. Week 3: Transcribe interviews and begin coding them (this can be done simultaneously with week 2 to allow more flexibility) to give some measure of their willingness and begin writing final report. Week 4: Finalise report, prepare to give final presentation, give the presentation, and hand in the finalised report. The findings would be presented etically. There would appear to be a naïvety in discussions on nuclear energy as a sustainable source of energy. People allegedly agree or disagree on its use without compromise (Kermisch & Taebi, 2107). Could this also be the case amongst sustainable liberals if they are trained to think critically in an environment specifically designed to prepare them to solve real world problems? The research This project will be designed to investigate the extent to which green liberals propagate dichotomous discussion on nuclear energy as a source of sustainable energy, using UCM students as a representation of green liberals. This would be an ethnographic study that would gather its data from interviews and the notes made for the duration of those interviews. Relevance/Applicability If UCM students display open minded discussion, further research would need to confirm whether this is a green liberal trend. If it is not, it could demonstrate PBL’s utility. However, if UCM students propagate dichotomous discussion on nuclear power, this could then be used as the starting point for investigating dichotomies in other discussions in a liberal context. Expectation and limitation UCM students are not representative of most green liberals, as their learning environment trains them to solve problems (Maastricht University, n.d.), as opposed to having discussions that consist of retorts and lack critical thinking. Thus, this research will hopefully show that green liberals are capable of considering compromise. If shutting down nuclear power plants means replacing them with more gas or coal, wouldn’t it be more sustainable to build new nuclear power plants? How dare you even suggest such a thing?! Nuclear energy is horrible! Look at Chernobyl! I am offended! Goodbye you gross scum. ? Kermisch, C. & Taebi, B. (2017). Sustainability, ethics and nuclear energy: Escaping the dichotomy. Sustainability, 9(3), 446-446. doi: 10.3390/su9030446 Maastricht University. (n.d.). Problem-Based Learning. Retrieved from https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/education/why-um/problem-based-learning Ágúst Leó Axelsson | i6127106 | SKI1005
- 117. Literature Review Being sucha widely discussed topic in the last century, climate change is no short of scientific studies. A study conducted in 2006-2007 discovered that 18% of the world thought that climate change was not important (Pugliese & Ray, 2009). Furthermore, the study found that 39% were not aware of it at all; 46% of Asia was not aware of it and 56% of sub-Saharan Africa. While only 12% in Europe and 17% in the United States of America (Pugliese & Ray, 2009). However, a study conducted in 2015 found that 54% of the world held that climate change is a serious issue, having increased from 41% in 2006-2007 (Wike, 2016; Pugliese & Ray, 2009). Finally, in 2017, a study conducted displayed that there is a growing sense of negation of climate change, and that some countries such as Germany care more than other countries such as Russia who hold one of the higher populations of climate change deniers as seen in the chart below (Timperley, 2017). Climate Change Do Some Countries Care More? Methodology For this research project, a survey research is the most appropriate methodology. In the closed survey there will be a set of questions such as: Country of origin, Age, Sex and Do you believe in climate change? Followed up with, how strongly do you believe in climate change; Strongly, it exists but it wont affect me and I do not believe in it. Finally, the data collected will be compared the subject’s country of origin’s PGI (Genuine Progress Indicator), or GDP (Gross Domestic Product) if the GPI of all countries is not available. As for the data, a set of 20 students per country will be selected. Finally, using Chi Squared, a statistical analysis will be conducted in order to find the strength of the correlation of the two factors and from which conclusions will be drawn as to the relevance of the research question. Research Question Is there a direct obvious relationship between the socio- economic status of a country, and its youth opinion on climate change? Hypothesis The socio-economic factor in each country is quite important as it is the world in which the individual fosters their opinions on issues. There is little doubt that the students will on the majority believe in climate change, but the degree of which will vary. Bibliography Pugliese, A., & Ray, J. (2009). Awareness of Climate Change and Threat Vary by Region. Retrieved from http://news.gallup.com/poll/124652/awareness-climate-change-threat-vary-region.aspx Timperley, J. (2017). Germans most worried about climate change, analysis shows. Retrieved from https://www.carbonbrief.org/germans-worried-climate-change-analysis-shows Wike, R. (2016). What the world thinks about climate change in 7 charts. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/18/what-the-world-thinks-about-climate- change-in-7-charts/ Introduction Climate change, a phenomenon that almost everyone is aware of. Yet, it is a phenomenon that despite the scientific studies, and observable proof, still finds people who deny its existence. There is a trend in many studies to categorize by region or country, many times putting countries against each other, and claiming one cares more than the next. However, in most of the studies conducted, there is little to no discrimination based on age and educational background. This project aims to gather data from university students, aiming to find what the educated opinions of the youths are in relation to the issue, and fid whether or not the student’s country of origin can have an impact on one’s perception of the immediacy of climate change. Relevance With an ever-worsening climate and the subsequent degradation of the planet, climate change may be the most relevant issue of the current and future generations. Many people have already been displaced and negatively impacted by climate change. That is why the more data available to tackle the issue, the better. Furthermore, in a time where politicians held by their agendas, actively negating past achievements in the sector, it is important to make people aware that there are still those who conscious of the problem and are working towards improving it. Sam Sheikh (i6129711)
- 118. Green enough? i6150434 Benefits andRelevance Research could be useful for the municipal government of Maastricht, as it could be applied on a larger scalefor all habitants of the city, as a basis to better adapt public spaces. A follow-up study could be conducted among a larger amount of UM students with a larger sample sizein order to confirm the conclusionsdrawn from the research. Environmental relevance as there is a need to reduce air pollution in order to limit the effects of anthropogenic climate change Social relevance as it is of interest to examine the relation between green public areas and individuals to enhance life styles. Research question Would an increaseof green spacesin the city of Maastricht positively impact its students? Hypothesis Green spacesand nature help improve the state of being of humans (Swanwick, 1978). Students, who spend most of their time indoors and sitting would see their stress levels reduced and health and happinessincreasedif they had the opportunity to spend more time in nature without having to commute to such places. Previous Research Healthy: when spendingtime in nature, mental fatigue is relieved. Green spacescan help relax and unwind (Swanwick, 1978). Environmentally positive: pollution is controlled, vegetation allows air filtration (Verduras, 2017). Well being of the people: green spacesimprove the quality of life for people living in surrounding areas (Verduras, 2017). Step 1 - Conducting an online survey among UM students, including questions regarding stress levels, time spent indoor, level of nature is value. - Variables measured through scales. - Expected sample size: n=150 - Included categories: age, gender, faculty - Included open ended question as Step 2 - Evaluating the survey by means of a quantitative statistical analysis using SPSS. Step 3 - Comparing the findings to previous research done in this area. - Presenting - Providing explanations and solutions on how to improve life quality among UM students by answering the research question. Methodology References Swanwick, C. (1978). Nature, Role and Value of Green Space in Towns and Cities: An Overview. Jstor, 29, 13. Verduras, M. (2017). Green spacesin cities? (Master), University of Stockholm Stockholm. (SE- 106 91)
- 119. Is the worldbecoming a safer place? Methodology For this research, it is important to first establish a solid basis of what variables are considered to increase or decrease the feeling of safety in the world today. Then, around five people will be interviewed, preferably in a wide range of age, so that multiple perspectives can be covered and compared. Because of the fact that ‘safety’ has a broad definition, these interviews will be semi-structured, as there will be a list of issues that have to be covered, but there is a possibility to stray off a bit from the subject if needed. This approach is qualitative, it does not need to very generalisable and also idiographic, as every interviewee is seen as an individual. Limitations It is important in interviews that the interview remains neutral and unbiased, to ensure an natural answer from the interviewee, so that he or she does not feel uncomfortable; the interviewer effect must be avoided. Moreover, it would be convenient if the interviewees would have a bit of knowledge about history. It might be difficult to find people from all ages who are willing to participate on such a short notice. Earlier research and reference list Roser, M. (n.d.). Our World In Data. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/ Fukuyama, F. (1992). The End of History and The Last Man. New York: Free Press Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L. & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on violence and death. The Lancet, 5(360), 1083-1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11133-0. In this report, it was concluded that there are multiple challenges to preventing violence and that there are multiple factors that can cause violence. National Underwriter (2011). Is the world becoming a riskier or safer place? Property & Casualty. Retrieved from: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ub.unimaas.nl/eh ost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=bdbf2730-b642- 408b-80eb-ff352a70fdad%40sessionmgr4010. In this article, more than 30 top leaders were asked about their opinion whether the world was becoming safer or not. Different categories that can influence your feeling of safety • War and peace • Civil wars • Peace keeping operations • Terrorism • Nuclear weapons • Military spending • Homicides • Violent deaths • Causes of death • Happiness and life satisfaction • Optimism and pessimism • Climate change Relevance When Francis Fukuyama wrote in 1992 that world history would come to an end when every country would adopt the liberal democracy, he had this idea of progress in mind. 0ne cannot predict the future, but we can analyse the past to examine whether or not wars are less likely amongst liberal democracies, if there are less wars and deaths because of those wars, to see whether or not this idea of progress makes sense or if the human kind is doomed to fail because it is unable to learn from its mistakes. Research question Has the world become a safer place today and is an improvement in safety possible, when considering factors such as war, terrorism, nuclear weapons and the amount of deaths? Is the idea of progress possible, or are we doomed to fail? Do you believe in linear history, or are you an advocate of cyclical history? What is the end goal of humanity, or is there no end goal? Introduction Is progress possible in today’s world? Since the end of the Second World War, the amount of fighting between great powers has decreased, the amount of deaths at conflict has declined, just like deaths in international conflicts has been decreasing too since the beginning of the 20th century. The amount of deaths of civil war is in decline, but even though the amount of civil wars is declining, there was a peak in the amount of civil wars during the 80s and 90s last century. Moreover, the amount of peacekeeping operations by the UN has increased, just like the amount of terrorist attack has risen. In short, is the world a safer place than at the beginning of the 20th century? Annemiek Dols - 6151177 “But the world is also a safer place with respect to effective risk management and disaster preparedness” “Risk is the flipside of progress” “The risk of the unforeseen and the unpredictable has gotten much bigger” Planning of the project The interview will be set up in the first week and will be conducted in the second week. In the third week, the data of the interviews will be analysed. During the final and fourth week, the paper will be written and improved, before being submitted.
- 120. Introduction In the pastdecades there has been growing evidence of changing climate conditions, an increasing amount of storms, droughts, intense weather on a short period of time have ben recurrent events in the past decades The models established by the different organizations only predict further changes regarding decreasing air quality, rise of sea levels, loss of biodiversity as well as intense weather (floods or droughts) The consciousness amongst academia, scientist and even politicians is increasing. The data is there, but what do people actually think and feel in their personal environment. Methods The study will be based on a survey composed of different parts The first one will be about the respondents knowledge regarding climate change The second one about the perception of climate change in the respondents environment Finally the final part of the survey will ask the respondents to evaluate the future changes of the climate Population and sample: The survey will accessible online to all students of Maastricht university with the aim of reaching at leats 50 students of each faculty. Analysis: This survey will be followed by a statistical analysis to evaluate awareness amongst the students, as well as eventual difference regarding the faculties. This will then be compared with scientific data to evaluate the accuracy of the responses Previous empirical research A national survey in China evaluated the perception and risk assessment of the population regarding climate change and the associated risks regarding health IPCC reports establishing the previsions and consequences of the changing climate A global study about climate change and climate evolution explaining the changes of the seasons weather with the intense cold and warm episodes that occurred around the globe Research about wind tendencies over the past century in the Netherlands Dutch report on climate change with data concerning the rise of sea levels and rise in precipitations Relevance This study will allow to have an evaluation of the perception of climate change, consequently it can be used for policies in order to increase awareness. As this study is executed on a local level, the results will be beneficial for the different institutions of the university to take new approaches regarding climate change, as well as encourage further the research in this area. Furthermore as empirical research is lacking on a local level this study can be used in order to pursue further research. Research question How is climate change and climate change risks perceived by students in their personal environment? Climate Change and student perception in a personal environment Juliette van den Brule i6153726 References: http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/cms/dn11639/dn11639-2_808.jpg Chen, Y., Zhang, Z., Shi, P., Song, X., Wang, P., Wei, X., & Tao, F. (2017). Public perception and responses to environmental pollution and health risks: evaluation and implication from a national survey in China. Journal of Risk Research, 20(3), 347-365. doi:10.1080/13669877.2015.1057199 Hansen, J., Sato, M., & Ruedy, R. (2012). Perception of climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(37), E2415-E2423. doi:10.1073/pnas.1205276109
- 121. Introduction & Relevance: Theproblem of sustainability is rapidly growing and consumers are becoming more aware of the urgent need to change their consumption behaviour. It is believed that businesses are waiting for consumers to make the first step to change (Yates, 2011). Yet, it is unlikely that people will change on their own and a shift in the supply is needed. Consumers should be presented with the right offer, which leads them to buy ethically. Therefore, the proposed research question is relevant in providing the right options to supermarket customers to change their buying decisions. It is likely that supermarkets will continue to be the most convenient shops for people to do their groceries. As these shops offer a large range of different products, people mostly prefer this solution rather than going to small shops each selling different products. Therefore, if all supermarkets decide to supply sustainable products, it is believed that people would change behaviour and buy ethically Sustainability in Supermarkets: Changing Consumer Behaviour How should supermarkets influence customers towards a more sustainable consumption? Carrete, L., Castano, R., Felix, R., Centeno, E. & Gonzalez, E. (2012). Green consumer behavior in an emerging economy: confusion, credibility, and compatibility. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 29(7), 470-481. doi https://doi.org/10.1108/0736376121127498 Creyer, E. H.(1997). The influence of firm behavior on purchase intention: do consumers really care about business ethics?. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 14(6), 421-432. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/07363769710185999 Yates, L. (2011). The sustainable choice: changing the way consumers think. The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2018 on https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-choice-changing-consumers-think Empirical work: ● Carrete, et al, (2012) conducted a study on environmental-friendly people’s motives to consume differently. They have found that consumers are often confused, they have a lack of trust, credibility and compatibility in becoming more sustainable which blocks them to change their behaviour. Furthermore, when consumers do change their purchasing behaviour, they do it for personal benefits, cost-savings and because of strong personal values. ● Creyer (1997) analysed the importance of ethical stores to consumers and what is expected from these stores. The research concluded that ethical stores have a higher image to consumers who are willing to pay a higher price for ethical products. Moreover, even if consumers decide to buy unsustainable products they would like it to be rather cheap, to ‘punish’ the firm for being unethical. Methodology: Approach: ● Qualitative Sample: ● Supermarket consumers in Maastricht ○ Homogeneous groups: classified according to age, status, gender & values ● Around 10 to 15 people for each group ● Non-probability, quota sampling Conduct: ● Informal, semi-structured interviews with consumers ● Evaluation of different possible strategies that supermarkets could use Variables ● Independent: possible proposed strategies ● Dependent: consumer behaviour Data analysis: ● Link between the different strategies & consumer behaviour in supermarkets ● Open results, no preliminary bias Expectations: The aim of the research is to establish a better and deeper understanding of what needs to change in supermarkets to remove the barriers towards sustainability for consumers. The study will make interesting points on consumers’ willingness to change their buying behaviour and consumption habits. Esther Salem - i6154351
- 122. Health and sustainability,does one indicate the other? Research Question: How does health orientation influence sustainable food consumption behavior among UCM students? Hypothesis: There is a positive relationship between health orientation and sustainable food consumption. Those who engage in positive health behaviors will also be more likely to consume sustainably. Introduction With the global rise of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease and increasing environmental pressures from problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss, grocery shopping is no longer a simple task. Buying food especially has become a challenging process, consumers needing to think about its quality, origin, packaging, how it was produced, how it will affect their health, etc.. This issue, along with the rising need for more sustainable consumption patterns, has given rise to a number of studies investigating what motivates consumers to buy sustainably. Magnusson et al. (2003) found that perceived health benefit was the most significant motivator for the purchase of organic foods in Sweden. Similarly, Schifferstein and Oude Ophuis (1998) found that in the Netherlands, organic food buyers were generally more responsible for their own health. This raises the question of whether those consumers that have a more positive health orientation also consume more sustainably in general, going beyond just buying organically and also taking account the broader effects of their consumption behavior. Especially among students this is an interesting topic to investigate, as younger consumers tend to be more open to sustainable foods, but they also often face cost challenges (Magnusson et al., 2003). Earlier Empirical Research Magnusson et al. (2003) used questionnaires on attitudes and behavior towards organic foods in Sweden. They found that younger respondents were more positive towards organic foods, and that health benefits were the main motivators for organic consumption. They concluded that egoistic motives, rather than altruistic ones were the best predictor for organic consumption, as people perceived personal benefits from eating organically. Schifferstein and Oude Ophuis (1998) used a mixed methods approach with both questionnaires and interviews to compare buyers from health and natural food stores to the general population. Organic buyers considered themselves more responsible for their own health, were less likely to be overweight, less likely to follow a physician-prescribed diet, and more willing to sacrifice pleasure for the sake of their health. In general, organic buyers were more health conscious than non-organic buyers. Mei-Fang Chen (2007) used questionnaires to determine food choice motives and attitudes towards organic foods. They found no significant effect of health, but they did find that food involvement, which is one’s engagement in food-related activities and consciousness of food consumption, did have an influence. Those with higher levels of food involvement being more likely to purchase organically. References Chen, M.-F. (2007). Consumer attitudes and purchase intentions in relation to organic foods in Taiwan: Moderating effects of food-related personality traits. Food Quality and Preference, 18(7), 1008-1021. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2007.04.004 Magnusson, M. K., Arvola, A., Hursti, U.-K. K., Åberg, L., & Sjödén, P.-O. (2003). Choice of organic foods is related to perceived consequences for human health and to environmentally friendly behaviour. Appetite, 40(2), 109-117. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0195-6663(03)00002-3 Schifferstein, H. N. J., & Oude Ophuis, P. A. M. (1998). Health-related determinants of organic food consumption in The Netherlands. Food Quality and Preference, 9(3), 119-133. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0950-3293(97)00044-X Haws, K. L., Winterich, K. P. and Naylor, R. W. (2014), Seeing the world through GREEN‐tinted glasses: Green consumption values and responses to environmentally friendly products. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 24: 336-354. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2013.11.002 Picture: Healthy Food Choices for Optimal health. Retrieved from https://www.unlitips.com/healthy-food-choices-optimal-health/ Consumer health informatics research resource. Health Orientation. Retrieved from: https://chirr.nlm.nih.gov/health-orientation.php Methodology Step 1 Sample: The population of interest is UCM students. A questionnaire will be sent out to all students and the sample will be made up of the respondents. Step 2 Conduct: Quantitative approach A questionnaire will be developed containing indicators to measure health orientation and sustainable consumption behavior. The four indicators by Dutta-Bergman (2004) will be used to measure health orientation. Each indicator consists of a number of questions to which the response is measured through Likert scales. These indicators have been demonstrated reliable in earlier empirical research. To measure sustainable consumption behavior, the GREEN scale developed by Haws et al. (2014) will be used. This scale consists of 6 items that assess green consumption values and behaviors in a reliable and valid manner. Also these questions generate Likert scale responses. Variables: Independent (predictor) variable = health orientation score. Dependent variable = GREEN scale score Step 3 Data analysis: Regression analysis using SPSS to analyse the relationship between health orientation and GREEN scale scores.
- 123. ACTION AND AWARENESS OF CLIMATECHANGE Luís, S., Vauclair, C. M., & Lima, M. L. (2018). Raising awareness of climate change causes? Cross-national evidence for the normalization of societal risk perception of climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 80, 74-81 Salehi, S., Nejad, Z. P., Mahmoudi, H., & Burkart, S. (2016). Knowledge of global climate change: view of Iranian university students. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 25(3), 226-243. Tiller, T. R., & Schott, C. (2013). The critical relationship between climate change awareness and action: An origin-based perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 18(1-2), 21-34. Research question To what extent are individuals in Maastricht University more likely to act against climate change if they percieve themselves as aware of climate change? Relevance This research will provide insight into the interplay of awareness and action against climate change among university students. It is important to understand how these two factors act on each other to further adapt education and approaches to climate change mitigation. Introduction Action against climate change is a topic often discussed in today’s society. Its dangers are widely known and awareness has increased over the years. Yet, in some cases, action does not seem to accompany the knowledge of the dangers of climate change (Luís et al., 2018). Will it be the same within Maastricht University? Furthermore, as evidence of climate change are becoming more apparent rather than purely predictions (Tiller & Schott, 2013) are university students more likely to act against climate change? Aims The research aims to analyze the relationship between awareness and action among students in Maastricht University while taking into account factors such as age and education to see how they interact with perceived awareness and action against climate change. Previous research have found a relationship between faculties and climate change knowledge (Salehi, Nejad, Mahmoudi, & Burkart, 2016) Methodology - Quantitative approach consisting of a survey and structured interviewing Sample and method - Stratified sample which aims to include minimum of 10 people in each faculty within Maastricht University. (10 faculties x 10 participants) - Survey sent out to faculties - Structured interviewing of 7 individuals chosen randomly within the university Variables - Perceived awareness - Action against climate change - Control variables: Faculty, education, age and gender Hildur Á. 6154974
- 124. Waste separation andSustainable lifestyle Alexis Freytag von Loringhoven | Research Methods II Puzzle Research Question Are Undergraduate students from University College Maastricht (UCM) more likely to engage in waste separation as a form of a more sustainable lifestyle than students from the School of Business and Economics? Hypotheses: 1) UCM students are more likely to separate waste than SBE students 2) SBE students separate waste considerable less than UCM students 3) Economics costs, missing space and tragedy of the commons are main factors why students do not separate wastes Method Key References • Stereotype UCM students are most sustainable in every day life in Maastricht • Waste separation common form of sustainable life style • If UCM students claim to be sustainable do they engage more in waste separation? What about students form SBE? • What are the reasons for not separating waste? Quantitative 1. Random sample of 60 UCM students & 60 SBE students 2. Online questionnaire will be shared 3. Questions concerning whether they are. engaged in waste separation, how they separate waste and their motivation behind it. If they are not the Questionnaire also aims to identify the main reason for why not Ghani, W. A. W. A. K., Rusli, I. F., Biak, D. R. A., & Idris, A. (2013). An application of the theory of planned behaviour to study the influencing factors of participation in source separation of food waste. Waste management, 33(5), 1276-1281. Talay, I., Gunduz, S., & Akpinar, N. (2004). On the status of environmental education and awareness of undergraduate students at Ankara University, Turkey. International journal of Environment and Pollution, 21(3), 293-308. Who is more sustainable? • Questionnaire preparation time: 2-3 days • Distribution of online Questionnaire: 2-3 weeks • Evaluation and analysis of Results: 1 week • Writing final research report: 2 weeks Time planning
- 125. Background Charities constantly facethe challenge of finding effective ways to raise awareness about the topics they address. This includes motivating people to donate to their projects. Therefore, it is relevant to assess whether the amount of information given and the phrasing of this information can affect people’s donation behavior. Previous empirical research¹ • psychological findings indicate that positive phrasing is more effective in encouraging people to donate as opposed to the use of messages aimed at making potential donors feel bad • charity ads that emphasize the generosity of donors may positively affect donation behavior • previous research shows that the way the needy are represented by charities affects donation behavior of individuals • creating the feeling of responsibility in potential donors, perceived urgency, and clear and specific requests increase the possibility of people deciding to donate to charity Empirical methodological approach • quantitative research approach • sample drawn from UCM student population • methods: subjects rate given posters on a scale from one to ten o indicate motivation to donate to charity based on shown poster (low vs high) o Indicate how appealing the poster message was found to be o Indicate how much money one would donate to charity based on the given poster • statistical analysis of results using SPSS • independent variable: content of fundraising poster (phrasing, amount of information) • dependent variables: motivation to donate; amount of money the subject would be willing to donate; rating of the appeal of the poster message • procedure: creation of fundraising posters (differing in content) → gather data (randomly assign one poster to each subject; rating on scale, see above) → analyze data (SPSS) References: ¹Sargeant, A., & Ewing, M. (2001). Fundraising direct: A communications planning guide for charity marketing. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 9(1-2), 185-204. doi:10.1300/J054v09n01_12 Pictures: CC0-licensed images Objective of research This research aims at identifying how fundraising posters' content enhances or decreases people's willingness to donate to charity; using posters differing in the amount of information given and the tone of writing (e.g. positive versus negative messages; demanding versus encouraging to donate). To ensure comparability, the research will use made-up charities to exclude the possibility of people being biased towards specific organizations. Furthermore, all posters will aim at raising money for the same goal (end world hunger) and their design will be similar. Susanna Boettger
- 126. • Alton, L.(2016, January 5). 5 Factors That Directly InfluencePurchaseDecisions. Retrieved from: http://customerthink.com/5-factors-that-directly-influence-customer-purchase-decisions/ • Deforstation (2014). NationalGeographic. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/ • Greenpeace (2016, May14). Palm Oil Scorecard: FindOut Which Brands Are(and aren’t) Helping SaveIndonesia’s Rainforests. EcoWatch. Retrieved from: https://www.ecowatch.com/palm-oil- scorecard-find-out-which-brands-are-and-arent-helping-save-in-1882189657.html • Forest 500 (2017). Achieving 2020:how can theprivatesector meet global goals of eliminating commodity-driven deforestation?. Retrieved from:https://globalcanopy.org/publications/achieving-2020- how-can-private-sector-meet-global-goals-of-eliminating-commodity Lila Tyszkiewicz: i6161619 Introduction The preceding deforestation of rainforests worldwide is one of the most severe environmental threats of our time. If the destruction continues at its current pace, rainforests will disappear completely within the next hundred years. This has widespread, catastrophic consequences which are largely rreversible. Immense biodiversity loss and aggravation of global warming are among the most serious effects of deforestation, which will ncreasingly affect the life of people around the globe. (National Geographic,2017) One of the most prominent causes of these developments is clearance for the extensive plantation of the palm oil tree, which is frequently used as an ingredient in many popular costumer items. The enormous success of companies like Pepsico, Nestlé and Mars, which are amongst others the biggest contributors to rainforest deforestation, raises questions about the degree of awareness amongst western consumers which is intended to be found in the course of this study (Green Peace, 2016). Research Question: To what extend are the inhabitants of Maastricht aware of their contribution to the rainforest deforestation through their consumption of palm oil containing products and how is this reflected in their consumer behaviour? Environmental consciousness and consumer behavior Earlier empirical research: • Alton (2016): Pricing, brand name and packaging major factors primarily influence consumer choice. Environmental concerns play into choice rarely. • Greenpeace (2016): Compared promises made with regard to palm oil production and actual practices: Most companies like Colgate, Palmolive and Pepsi did not significantly change habits. • Forest 5000 (2017): Lack of commitment to environmentally friendly production due to insufficient government regulation but also not enough engagement of private sector in boycotting unsustainable practices • Scientific relevance: No study found which connects the degree of environmental concern among costumers with their consumer choice. This research will give new insights into the topic, especially in the area of Maastricht. Methods • Sample: 50 inhabitants of Maastricht, randomly selected • Independent Variable: Awareness on forest clearance caused by palm-oil tree farming • Dependent Variable: Consumption patterns of palm-oil containing products • Conduct: Quantitative analysis including multiple choice answers • First part of survey designed to find out factors that principally influence consumers purchase choice • later assess the awareness on deforestation in connection to the participants habits of consuming palm oil containing products.
- 127. UCM's volunteers - viewson developmentVolunteer programmes abroad often advertise themselves as a ‘meaningful’ impact on development. However, after returning from their service, volunteers might reflect on their experiences differently. Studying at UCM after their volunteer service could change their view even more. Given that several courses at UCM are concerned with power relations between the Global North and Global South, development and issues of multi- culturalism, the students’ perspective on their impact as volunteers is likely to differ from their initial motivations. exploring UCM students’ perspective on volunteering impact of the UCM curriculum on the self- reflection of volunteers revisiting volunteer programs' goals for development in the light of volunteers’ criticism Relevance in-depth qualitative interviewing semi-structured interviews inductive research purposive sample of 4-6 UCM students that have volunteered abroad for more than 6 months Methodology & Sampling Introduction Hypothesis: The critical paradigm regarding international power asymmetries between the developed global North and the developing global South at UCM influences long-term* volunteers’ perspective on their service abroad. *6+ months Simpson (2004) locates motivations of young volunteers between hedonism of tourism and the altruism of development work Tiessen and Heron (2012) examined the ambiguous perceived impact of volunteers on their host communities after their return Theoretical framework Tiessen, R., & Heron, B. (2012). Volunteering in the developing world: the perceived impacts of Canadian youth. Development in Practice, 22(1), 44-56. Simpson, K. (2004). ‘Doing development’: The gap year, volunteer‐tourists and a popular practice of development. Journalof International Development, 16(5), 681-692. Kutilek, P. (2017). Why you should volunteer abroad (Image). Retrieved from https://www.youcaring.com/blog/2017/volunteer-abroad How do former international volunteers at UCM view their impact on development? Lea Pehnt
- 128. Quantitative Methodology. TheGlobal Entrepreneurship Monitor offers a consolidated overview on South Africa’s economic profile, with the specific focus on entrepreneurial behaviour and attitudes. It quantifies the independent variable of entrepreneurial activity into comparable values, providing datasets, graphs, and special reports. Dependent variable of economic growth needs to be operationalised into a measurable value; hence World Bank data on annual real GDP growth can be considered as indicator and used for statistical analysis (The World Bank, 2018). Such statistical analysis may be calculating a Pearson correlation coefficient to quantify the relationship between each indicator for entrepreneurial activity and economic growth in South Africa from 2001 to 2017 in a single number. These statistical analyses have to be taken for each of the indicators independently, before drawing a general conclusion. Consequently, this allows to empirically pinpoint the specific entrepreneurial indicator, highlighting the specific variable of paramount significance to economic policymakers. Oliver James Hubbe (i6165452) University College Maastricht Adesida, O., Karuri-Sebina, G., & Resende-Santos, J. (2016). Innova@on Africa: Emerging Hubs of Excellence. Herrington, M., Kew, J., Kew, P., & Monitor, G. E. (2010). Tracking entrepreneurship in South Africa: A GEM perspec@ve. Smith, A. (2018). Entrepreneurship Accelerates Growth in Emerging Markets. The World Bank. (2018). Country Profile South Africa E n t re p re n e u r s h i p t h e K ey t o Economic Growth in South A frica ? RESEARCH QUESTION To what extent does entrepreneurial activity influence economic growth in South Africa from 2001 to 2017? Over the course of history Africa has been afflicted with wars, poverty, dictatorships, terrorism, and human rights abuses. However, in most recent times the thriving democracies, high rates of economic growth, sustainable developments and high-end digital enterprises have been writing the headlines. Entrepreneurship is being promoted as a bottom- up, ‘low cost-high impact’ approach, which can address individual-level needs related to income and employment, and can work with minimal infrastructure and resources. Therefore, entrepreneurs will likely play a key role in tackling issues like poverty, environmental challenges, and sustainable development in the future (Adesida et al., 2016). THESIS The general notion of innovation as growing business opportunities and wealth leads to the theory that entrepreneurial activity grows this wealth and with it the economy. The resulting hypothesis would be that increasing entrepreneurial activity in South Africa generates domestic economic growth. This needs to be empirically deduced and confirmed to allow for future explanations and predictions of similar phenomena. This research is especially of empirical relevance because of gaps in knowledge about reality. There is no hard evidence whether entrepreneurship in South Africa sparks economic growth or results as necessity during economic lows. This research is needed to find the specific factors and indicators that have the most effective influence on economic growth. In addition, this research is of social relevance to South African society, since answering the research questions will allow for a greater understanding of how the domestic economy can be grown to increase social welfare and standard of living. Potentially it could create a nomothetic model that can be applied and adopted by more countries in the sub- Saharan region. Focus. Previous research suggests that 73% of the workforce is employed by firms with fewer than 50 employees while 45% of those work in firms with fewer than ten employees (Herrington, Kew J., Kew P., & Monitor, 2010). Many of these are young start-up companies that focus on specific societal issues. The region's aggregate growth is expected to rise to 3.2% in 2018, and 3.5% in 2019. In other words, cities like Cape Town have a vastly expanding technological culture projecting astronomic potential for start-up growth (Smith, 2018).
- 129. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATIONDESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com Introduction On TV, ads about hungry children and dirty camps in Africa are shown on the daily to raise donations. Charity for ‘hungry children in Africa’, in our society, is and act of good will and is promoted by countless stars and politicians. This ‘charity culture’ is however completely detached from the history of Europe’s colonial past, which majorly shaped the issues Africa struggles with now (Lu, 2011). Instead, a more satisfying, self- celebratory good-samaritan charity was birthed, which satisfies the main motive for charity: ‘feeling good’ (Amos, 1982). White Saviour Complex This western approach to charity has coined the cynical term of the White Savior Complex (WSC): a term tied up in colonial history where Europeans descended to 'civilize' the African continent (Bell, 2013), and now describes westerners who try to help ‘poor, suffering, helpless countries’, looking for an emotional experience (Cole, 2012). Relevance If there is a correlation, historical education about colonialism would be a way to combat the WSC which currently sabotages an equal and fair approach to Third World struggles. To what extent does unawareness of postcolonial responsibility promote patterns of WSC thinking in UM students? The White Savior Complex Methodology ❖The sampling is focused on students, which is the most practical choice, and it reduces possible language barriers ❖Data will be collected through qualitative, semi-structured interviews: There will be predetermined questions which will direct the interviewee, but follow-up questions and a more dialogue-oriented approach will be favoured, mainly to simulate a casual conversation ❖Data evaluation will aim at finding patterns in the answers through grouping similar statements that suggest the interviewee’s stances on colonialism and charity, possibly revealing a pattern of WSC thinking ❖The large scope of possible outcomes and the little previous academic sources call for an exploratory approach What exactly are we investigating? Through investigating a possible interrelationship between awareness of European colonialism and view on charity, it will be studied if unawareness about the role of colonialism in creating contemporary African struggles goes hand in hand with WSC thinking patterns. Amos, O. (1982). Empirical analysis of motives underlying individual contributions to charity. Atlantic Economic Journal, 10(4), 45-52. doi: 10.1007/bf02300194 Bell, K. (2013). Raising Africa?: Celebrity and the Rhetoric of the White Saviour. PORTAL Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 10(1). doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5130/portal.v10i1.3185 Lu, C. (2011). . Colonialism as Structural Injustice: Historical Responsibility and Contemporary Redress*. Journal Of Political Philosophy, 19(3), 261-281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2011.00403.x
- 130. OUR AIR ISPOLLUTED,AS ARE OUR SEAS,WILDLIFE SPECIES HAVE GONE EXTINCT. THIS AND MUCH MORE IS FOR A BIG PART DUE TO GAS EMISSIONS. 14% OF ALL GAS EMISSIONS WORLD WIDE IS CAUSED BY THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. THESE EMISSIONS ARE CAUSED BY THE USE OF FOSSIL FUEL. IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE EMISSIONS THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES CREATED FOR FOSSIL FUEL. ONE SUCH AN ALTERNATIVE IS ELECTRICAL FUELED CARS. THIS RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON WHY THESE ALTERNATIVE CARS ARE NOT THE PRIMARY USED CARS. H O W C A N T H E C H A N G E F O R M C A R S F U E L E D B Y F O S S I L F U E L T O M O R E E N V I R O N M E N TA L F R I E N D LY C A R S B E F A S T- T R A C K E D ? Relevance: There are around 81,6 Million automobiles in the world. Only 1.2 Million of these cars are fueled by electrical energy. Companies such as Tesla have made these kind of cars their brand.Yet, elderly and youth both have shown a clear lack of motivation to invest in such cars. Only 0,4% of the cars owned by people form18 – 30 year old is hybrid or electrically fueled. How come that these alternatives for fossil fuel are so unpopular? And how can that be changed? Methodology: The first step of data collecting will be a literature research considering the previous project focused on electrical cars and their use. Afterwards,their will be a wide range survey conducted.Owners of non electrical or hybrid cars will be the focus group. The data regarding peoples chose for fossil fueled cars will clear up what the dilemma is with buying alternative fueled cars The last step will be personal interviews with owners of alternative fueled cars. An interview form is chosen in order to get a clear few on how to promote the alternative fueled cars References Denmark.DK. (2018, May 2). Cow dung - a source of green energy. Retrieved from The official wedsite of Denmark : http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/sustainable-projects/cow-dung-a-source-of-green-energy Energy experts explains why tesla and the electric car industry is here to stay. (2018, May 2). Retrieved from teslarati: https://www.teslarati.com/energy-expert-says-tesla-electric-vehicle-industry-here-stay/ Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions and sinks; 1990 - 2016. (2018, May 4). Sources of greenhoue gas emissions. Retrieved from EPA united states environmental protection agency: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions Number of cars sold worldwide from 1990 too 2018 (in million units). (2018, March). Retrieved from Statista : https://www.statista.com/statistics/200002/international-car-sales-since-1990/ statista. (2018, May 4). worldwide number of battery electric vehicles in use from 2012 to 2016 (in 1,000s). Retrieved from Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/270603/worldwide-number-of-hybrid-and- electric-vehicles-since-2009/ Visser, C. d. (2018, May 2). Drive a car around the world fuelled by the manure of five cows. Retrieved from Wageningen Univeristy & Research : https://www.wur.nl/en/article/fuelledbycowmanure.htm worldometers. (2018, May 2). current world population . Retrieved from worldometers: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
- 131. Recycling Behavior inStudent Households Understanding the factors influencing UM student households to recycle What? In the current environmental crisis, waste management became a key concern for governments, businesses and the general public (Taylor & Todd, 1995). An important aspect of waste management is household recycling as it allows for a more efficient use of resources, reduces pollution and contributes to increasing the awareness of the population on environmental issues (Oskamp & al, 1991). Although, households’ motivation to recycle has already been extensively researched and analyzed, the existing literature mainly focuses on traditional (family) households and does not consider other types of households such as student households. As a result, the proposed research seeks to develop a better understanding of the factors influencing student households’ motivation to recycle Why? Students typically lead a very different lifestyle and as a result, it seems reasonable to suppose that their recycling behavior as well as the factors influencing their motivation to recycle differ from traditional households. Relevance? 1) On a local level, students make up an important share of the population in Maastricht and understanding the factors influencing their motivation to recycle could thus help the city of Maastricht improve its waste management process. 2) As student households have been largely excluded from the existing researches, the findings could be used by other researches in other cities with a large student population. Methodology: The research will examine recycling motivation in an interpretivist approach and will be conducted through qualitative interviews with University Maastricht student households. The aim is to analyze the complex interactions between their specific environment, their personal values and their lifestyle and develop an understanding as to how these different factors interact with each other and impact the motivation to recycle of student households.. The data will be collected through interviews of households strictly composed of University Maastricht students and the different households will be separated into two groups: households recycling their waste and household not recycling their waste. RQ: How is the motivation to recycle of University Maastricht student households’ influenced by external factors? Arthur Bribosia – i6166026 – Research Methods II - 5th of May, 2018 Sources: Oskamp, S., Harrington, M. J., Edwards, T. C., Sherwood, D. L., Okuda, S. M., & Swanson, D. C. (1991). Factors influencing household recycling behavior. Environment and behavior, 23(4), 494- 519. Taylor, S., & Todd, P. (1995). An integrated model of waste management behavior: A test of household recycling and composting intentions. Environment and behavior, 27(5), 603-630. Retrieved from: https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=waste+management+problems+europ
- 132. How a developingcountry’s economic growth can benefit from the improvement of public health and sanitation? DECODING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Introduction Economic growth is particularly important to developing countries. Traditionally, local politicians try to reach the target by direct measures such as to invest infrastructure and education. International aids also mainly focus on these fields. The increase in income then improves public health. However, many recent research also shows it works in the other way round. The development is greatly benefit from the improvement of public health. Reference Todaro, M., & Smith, S. (2015). Economic development (Twelfth edi- tion. ed., Pearson series in economics). Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited. Akekere, J., & Karimo, T. M. (2016). Public health expenditure and economic growth in Nigeria: What causes what? African Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), 114-122. Methodology Approach Quantitative, confirmatory, Sampling Symmetric: gathering three countries’ data from each developing region. Variables Independent: life expectancy, health expenditure, lifetime risk. Dependent: GDP growth rate Data collection tools Archival research: world bank, CIA factbook, CNTS, individual govt websites, secondary resources. Schedule: Week 1: data and reference collection Week 2: data analysis Week 3+4: completing the paper Expectancies Confirm the hypothetical causal relation from public health to economic growth. Calculate the correlation between them such as Pearson’s R. Early Empirical Work Health is agreed to be a significant part of human capital by development economics. Economic growth benefits from increasing public health expenditure in Nigeria from 1970-2013. Empirical data from developing countries shows great correlation between public sanitation and economic growth.
- 133. A Recipe tothe Perfect Diet Prior Research The concept that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand has been around for centuries, the education behind such a phrase is key to every individual, but more importantly university students who need a healthy mind in order for mental functions to be at an optimum. Prior work that has been done in this field has looked at the importance of a healthy diet, how to promote healthy living and many more on the general importance of the food one eats. The focus that this study will have to diverge from all previous studies, will be that of focusing on university students, their limitations, living situations, accessibility, and all other components that set them apart from the general standards professionals have believed to be constant in past research. Methodology • Quantitative, experimental research • The subject group will consist of 30 university students at Maastricht University 1. Preliminary questionnaire to see subjects’ initial knowledge 2. Presentation on the roles different food components play in everyday diet and how accessible being healthy is in everyday life 3. A final short interview to see if an impact of presentation References Applegate, E.A. (2016). Nutrition Basics for Better Health Performance. S.I. : Kendall Hunt Lifestyle, H., & Beauty, N.The importance of a healthy diet. Pignone, M. P.,Ammerman,A., Fernandez, L., Orleans, C.T., Pender, N.,Woolf, S., ... & Sutton, S. (2003). Counseling to promote a healthy diet in adults: a summary of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. American journal of preventive medicine, 24(1), 75-92. Research Question: To what extent can education in nutrition in regards to a well-balanced diet influence university students to pursue a healthier lifestyle? Relevance The focus will be on how healthy eating can be promoted in a safe, inexpensive, and time-saving manner accessible to all. It is a general belief that university students live an unhealthy lifestyle as a result of. It often is the case that beliefs and multiple different factors, such as, expenses, lack of time, and unawareness of healthy food choices impede individuals, specifically college students, from taking the necessary steps to live a well-balanced lifestyle. The aim of this research is then to educate university students that healthy eating is accessible, inexpensive, and uncomplicated. Vio Masetti-Zannini - i6137686 ‘Mens Sana in Corpore Sano’ – A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body
- 134. Correspondence to: Naam Onderzoeker,afdeling Email-adres Website Department of... T +3143 388 0000 F +3143 388 0000 Maastricht University P.O. Box 616 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands Showmehowyoushopand Itell youhowhappy you are Literature review Research Question & Hypothesis Introduction Justification Philosophical reflection & Methodology The epistemology of this proposed research project is (post-)positivistic, as I believe, that once a good and quantifiable definition of happiness is found, it is possible to access the true relation between happiness and the consumption of fashion. I think it is helpful and possible to generalize the results of the study to a bigger group, in this case the students of UCM/UM. Therefore, I make use of a nomothetic approach to knowledge. As I start with a hypothesis and will test it during the research project, the procedure is deductive. According to my philosophy, I will make use of a quantitative methodology, which will allow me to generalize results in the end. The aim is, that the research results are representative and that the research itself is as objective as possible. Thus, it is necessary to make use of a quantifiable and objective understanding of happiness, which will be the happiness scale, which was developed by Sonja Lyubomirsky, who mainly deals with the topic of human happiness (Lyubomirsky, 2018). Furthermore, I will make use of probability sampling to aim for the representativeness of the results. An idea is, to generate random names and numbers and to pick people from the mail list of UM. Another idea is to generate random numbers and approach the people with that pigeon hole number. The chosen people will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Access & Ethics References DeLeire, T., & Kalil, A. (2010). Does consumption buy happiness? Evidence from the United States. International Review of Economics, 57(2), 163-176. Gardetti, M. A., & Torres, A. L. (2017). Sustainability in fashion and textiles: values, design, production and consumption: Routledge. Guven, C. (2012). Reversing the question: Does happiness affect consumption and savings behavior? Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(4), 701-717. Headey, B., Muffels, R., & Wooden, M. (2008). Money does not buy happiness: Or does it? A reassessment based on the combined effects of wealth, income and consumption. Social Indicators Research, 87(1), 65-82. Lyubomirsk, S. SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY. Retrieved from: http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/ Šeinauskienė, B., Maščinskienė, J., & Jucaitytė, I. (2015). The relationship of happiness, impulse buying and brand loyalty. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 213, 687-693. MarlaSchiefeling Everyone pursues happiness. But once there, how do people behave? Or how do people behave, who search unsuccessfully? Specifically, how do they consume fashion? Fashion is used to express and impress. In our day-to-day life, (fashion-) advertisement makes us very aware of what we do not have and tries to tell us how we could potentially improve our reputation, social life, happiness. Do unhappy people (unconsciously) pursue happiness through fashion? Do happy people just stop buying? This study will look at the relation between subjective happiness and the consumption of fashion. In contrast to the existing studies, the planned project will understand “happiness" less as a mood but rather as a more consistent life satisfaction. It does therefore also not aim to understand the immediate mood swings caused by consumption, or the consumption caused by mood swings. This study will have the advantage, that it will work with a scientific definition of happiness, which has been developed by Lyubomirsky, who focuses her study on the issue of happiness. This quantifiable approach allows a less subjective and more large scale research. This, in contrast to a qualitative research using a less clear definition of happiness, allows to a larger extent generalisation of the results. Furthermore, it will be focused on a specific group of consumption products, which differs to other on the one hand due to its ecological and social significance, and on the other hand due to its connection to the self-perception of the consumer, as fashion is used to express and impress. Even though this study is not able to draw cause and effect relations, the relation between shopping behaviour and happiness is essential due to two different reasons. If we think happiness is important we need to know how it is created and which factors do and do not play a role. Second, the fashion industry is extremely unsustainable and causes major ecological problems (Gardetti & Torres, 2017). It is important to test, if the justification that this type of consumption is connected to happiness(Gardetti & Torres, 2017) holds. Studies have found different relations between happiness and consumption in both, the positive and the negative direction (Headey, Muffels, & Wooden, 2008). At the same time, the causation was approached from two sides. Studies found, that consumption does not lead to happiness, except leisure consumption (DeLeire & Kalil, 2010). On the other hand, through using sunshine as a predictor of happiness it was found that happy people tend to consume less and save more (Guven, 2012). Contrary, other studies have found no relation between happiness and impulse buying (Šeinauskienė, Maščinskienė, & Jucaitytė, 2015). Is there a correlation between happiness, measured with Lyubomirsky’s subjective happiness scale and the consumptions of fashion of students at the University College Maastricht? My hypothesis is, that there is a negative correlation between happiness and the consumption of fashion, as the latter is portrayed as a mean for a more fulfilled life, especially in advertisements. People who are unhappy are probably more likely to try to achieve higher satisfaction through consumption. The only access which is needed is to the students of UCM/UM. There are no ethical considerations. Ressources & Limitations As the questionnaires will be electronically, there is no need of any physical resources. We will need tools to generate „random“ numbers and programs for the statistical analyses of the results. This study is limited through the lack of a universal understanding of happiness and our approach to let people subjectively estimate their level of happiness. Other approaches are possible and could possible lead to different results. “Whoever said money can‘t buy happiness didn‘t know where to shop“ Timetable
- 135. Abstract: Some buildings lookjust like an artwork, like the Sydney Opera House. This makes you wonder. Could you say that buildings are art? Is architecture art? What exactly is architecture? And what is art? The paper will talk about both. First there will be a literature study, in which is described what art and architecture is and whether there is a relation between both. Furthermore, a survey will be conducted in which is asked peoples opinion on the question is architecture art? Methodology: The paper will be constructed out of two parts. One part will be a literature study, in which will be investigated what art and architecture is and their relationship. The other part will consist out of an empirical research. A survey will be conducted, in which is asked the opinion of people on art and architecture. This survey will obtain quantitative data. The survey will be spread as broadly as possible in person, but also on social media. This in order to get as much opinions as possible. Also the participants will be random, because of the broad spread of the survey. The second part of the paper will be smaller, however not less important, because it contains the public opinion on this topic. Expectations: The answers to the questions what is art and architecture, will probably determine that architecture is not art. However art is interwoven into architecture. Some architectures use art as inspiration. In the literature study the relationship between art and architecture will be extensively investigated. The public opinion on this topic is probably that architecture is not art, because there are also a lot of buildings, which people find ugly. However art is a matter of taste, so that argument would be invalid. But as mentioned earlier, there are more requirements when it comes to designing a building, like the foundation. So the expectations is that architecture is not art. Hypothesis: No, architecture is not art, because buildings are build to be functional and buildings have some requirements, like a solid foundation. These are all things which are not necessary within art. Making art is a lot more free minded and spirited than architecture. Furthermore, the public opinion would be that architecture is nor art. The research question: Is architecture art? Kathleen Cornelissen, i6150254 Reference: Hosev, L. 2016. Why architecture isn’t art (and shouldn’t be) Arch daily https://www.archdaily.com/783412/why-architecture-isnt-art-and-shouldnt-be
- 136. References ● ● ● Introduction ★ ★ Does movingto Maastricht, where moderate cannabis consumption is tolerated, increase its use among UCM students? ● ● → ● Research Approach ● ● ● ● ● ● Limitations ● ● ● Variables and Hypothesis ● ● ● design questionnaire Step 1 Discuss findings Step 5 Gather and transcribe data Step 3 Analyze results Step 4 Send questionnaire to sample Step 2 Relevance and Prior Research ★
- 137. A research onUCM students’ breakfast eating habit Research Question Abstract Background Methodology How has the habit of eating breakfast changed among students of University College Maastricht after the transition to college? Approach: qualitative Method: semi-structured interview Population: UCM students Sample: 15-20 random samples Arguably the most important meal of the day, breakfast offers a wide range of benefits, not only in terms of nutritional values but also the sense of well-being. However, little has been found on the breakfast eating habit of college students. This research aims to bridge the gap in knowledge about the change in breakfast eating habits after the transition to college. This exploratory study seeks to discover the different patterns represented in UCM students concerning their breakfast habits. -Breakfast is frequently skipped, and large amounts of fast food are consumed among college students (Huang et al., 1994). -Eating behavior is moderated by the characteristics of the alma mater (Deliens et al., 2014). -The transition from high school to college is a monumental one, which influences nutritional issues (Fromme et al., 2008; Wengreen & Moncur, 2009). Relevance References Deliens, T., Clarys, P., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Deforche, B. (2014). Determinants of eating behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC public health, 14(1), 53. Fromme, K., Corbin, W. R., & Kruse, M. I. (2008). Behavioral risks during the transition from high school to college. Developmental psychology, 44(5), 1497. Huang, Y. L., Song, W. O., Schemmel, R. A., & Hoerr, S. M. (1994). What do college students eat? Food selection and meal pattern. Nutrition Research, 14(8), 1143-1153. Wengreen, H. J., & Moncur, C. (2009). Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight among young-adults during the transition from high school to college. Nutrition journal, 8(1), 32. -Gaining insights into the transitional stage from high school to college -Assisting review and development of health intervention and health promotion programs -Providing help for college administrators and counsellors -Raising students’ awareness, encouraging a healthy lifestyle Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Data collection x x Data analysis x x Report x Thu Nguyen i6151961
- 138. Research Question How dostudents eating habits change when it comes to eating meat, being vegetarian or being vegan in the three years that they are at UCM? Methodology Sample: 60 UCM Students, all gen- ders, all years, randomly selected Conduct: Quantitative data gathe- ring through an anonymous survey, asking them how they eat now, how they ate growing up and the reason for their choice Independent variable: UCM Student Dependent variables: meat-eater, vegetarian, vegan, reason for choice, what they ate growing up Introduction Some students left home for the first time when they started studying, others have lived on their own already and other still live with their pa- rents. Both starting to study and leaving home is likely to cause dietary changes (Edwards & Mei- selman, 2003). Often diets of students seem to deteriorate, eating more junk food and less healthy fruits and vegetables (Kyrkou et al., 2018). However, at UCM it has been said that “towards the end of the third-year half of the students will have turned vegan”. Turning vegan does not inherently mean eating better or healthier. And half of all third-years sounds like a lot of students. UCM Students come from all around the world and have had all kinds of diffe- rent upbringings. Therefor this research will in- vestigate the changes UCM students have made in their diets concerning meat-eating, vegetaria- nism and veganism. What this research will take into consideration are the reasons for students’ choice, what year they are in and their upbrin- ging concerning food. Hypotheses 1. There will be an increase in vegetarianism and veganism the further UCM-students are in their studies. 2. Students who grew up at home vegetarian or vegan will not switch to meat-eating at UCM. 3. Reasons given for vegetari- anism and veganism will in- clude the environment and health. References Edwards, J. S. A., & Meiselman, H. L. (2003). Changes in dietary habits during the first year at university. Nutrition Bulletin, 28(1), 21-34. Kyrkou, C., Tsakoumaki, F., Fotiou, M., Dimitropoulou, A., Symeonidou, M., Me- nexes, G., . . . Michaelidou, A.-M. (2018). Changing Trends in Nutritional Behavior among University Students in Greece, between 2006 and Expectations Students who are vegan or vege- tarian seem to be more vocal about it and that could make it seem like more students at UCM are vegetarian or vegan then the- re actually are. Therefor the ex- pectations for this research are that there is an increase in vegeta- rianism and veganism the further UCM students are in their studies. However, this increase will not be too drastic. It is also expected that the way students ate growing up has an impact on how they eat now. Can be that they continue eating that way or that they did not agree with it and choose their own way of eating now.
- 139. Ruben Dominguez Payne– i6153797 SKI1005 Research Methods II 4th May 2018 Carrell S. E., Hoekstra M. & West J. E., (2011). "Does drinking impair college performance? Evidence from a regression discontinuity approach," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(1-2), pages 54-62 DeSimone. J., (2010). "Drinking and academic performance in high school," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(12), pages 1481-1497. Lindo J. M., Swensen I. D. & Waddell G. R., (2013). "Alcohol and student performance: Estimating the effect of legal access," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 22-32. Research Question: To what extent is there a relationship between student GPA and alcoholism within the University of Maastricht? Introduction: As students leave home and become the legal drinking age, freedom can be daunting and detrimental. Excessive drinking and alcoholism is prevalent amongst youth and university students. This, we assume, has a detrimental effect on academic achievement as excessive drinking is seem as unhealth and we give negative connotations and do not attribute it to positive attributes such as academic success. Hypothesis: The hypothesis for this study is that there is a negative relationship between a UM students academic success, quantified in Grade Point Average (GPA) and the amount of alcohol that they consume. Explicitly, as average alcohol consumption increases, average Grade Point Average amongst students will decrease. Method: Quantitative data will be most appropriate for this research. This is because both GPA and alcohol consumption can be quantified. A google form (survey) will be sent to all current students attending UM faculties via email. This will include multiple choice questions asking about their studies and their alcohol consumption. A postpositivist approach is adopted as we recognize that a independent truth can be recognized from the results of the research. All participants will be 18 years of age and above. This will be an exploratory research using Inductive Reasoning, as data will be collected, and upon collection, analyzed for mathematical relationships. This will be analyzed using SPSS software. This research is Idiographic as it focuses on looking at consistencies in data, and in order to deduce and reinforce a consensus of rules and laws or to discover. Relationship between alcohol consumption and academic GPA Previous Empirical Research: Carrell, Hoekstra & West apply the regression discontinuity design to see how the increase of alcohol consumption. Their results where not sufficient to conclude a rule as they only focused on the US (21 drinking age and largely different drinking culture. Also they do not have data on frequency or intensity of consumption.
- 140. The Effect ofCaffeine on Information Processing Elze Stankeviciute (i6154339) Research Question To what extent does caffeine act as a factor in increasing one’s information processing ability? Experimental Hypothesis Participants in the experimental group (caffeine) will process the information faster and will therefore perform better on the Stroop test Introduction Caffeine is one of the most consumed psychostimulant in the world and can be found in many different foods and beverages. But of course, the most popular caffeine beverage remains to be coffee. If you look around any University institution, there will always be someone holding a cup of coffee on a daily basis. We consume coffee, because we expect it to increase our alertness and other mental capabilities such as information processing. But is it acctually an effective drug? The aim of this study is therefore to find the effect of caffeine on people’s information processing abilities. Earlier Empirical Research ● Swift & Tipaldy (1988) studied how caffeine impacts young versus elder people’s alertness ○ Elderly people were more sensitive to the objective effects (decision making, attention) of the drug ○ Young people are mroe sensitive to the subjective effects (interest, feelings of determination etc.). ● Ritchie et al (2007) conducted a study on people aged 65 and over and searched for a link between cognitive decline and caffeine intake. ○ Findings: psychostimulant properties present in caffeine reduce cognitive decline in women. Ritchie, K., Carrière, I., De Mendonça, A., Portet, F., Dartigues, J., Rouaud, O., Barberger-Gateau, P., Ancelin, M. (2007). The neuroprotective effects of caffeine: A prospective population study (the three city study). Neurology, 69(6), 536-545. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000266670.35219.0c Scarpina, F. & Tagini S. (2017). The stroop color and word test. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 557-557. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00557 Swift, C., & Tiplady, B. (1988). The effects of age on the response to caffeine. Psychopharmacology, 94(1), 29-31. doi:10.1007/BF00735876 Population and the Sample In the case of this study, the population would be students attending Maastricht University, with an age range of 18-23. The sample would contain 20 males and 20 females. 10 of each group would be assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Participants will be randomly allocated to the groups to avoid any bias. Methodology ● Experimental study with controlled variables (such as age, gender, education, etc.) ● Deductive approach, Confirmatory study, Quantitative method ● Concent forms and debriefing ● Stroop test ○ Neuropsychological test used to assess the ability to inhibit cognitive interference (Scarpina & Tagini, 2017). ○ Subjects are asked to name colors of the words in 2 different tables ■ First: color names in matching colors (blue in blue) ■ Second: color names in non-matching colors (orange in blue color) ○ The time taken to say all the colors out loud is measured ● The Stroop test will be done twice, prior to the consumption of coffee and after (controlled group would also perform it twice). The test will be done 40 min after the caffeine intake. ● Prior to the study: participants are asked not to consume any caffeine for at least 12 hours and have good night sleep ● Data will be analyzed in a form of an average → ANOVA and a t-test will be used Variables Independent: Caffeine intake; Operationalized by giving the same amount and type of coffee to the participants in the experimental group Dependent: Information Processing; Operationalized by timing the time taken to complete the Stroop test Relevance There is a lack of studies conducted on the student age group that consume larger amounts of caffeine-induced beverages. It is important to research this in order to see if caffeine actually helps students or only harms their body.
- 142. Does the ‘hothand’ exist in Basketball? References Gilovich, T., Vallone, R., & Tversky, A. (1985). The hot hand in basketball: On the misperception of random sequences. Cognitive psychology, 17(3), 295-314. Yaari, G., & Eisenmann, S. (2011). The hot (invisible?) hand: can time sequence patterns of success/failure in sports be modeled as repeated random independent trials? PloS one, 6(10), e24532. Introduction Basketball fans and commentators commonly use the term ‘hot hand’ to describe a basketball player shooting the ball seemingly better than he normally would. But does this ‘hot hand’ really exist or are we just misinterpreting randomness? The first research done into this subject was conducted by Robert Vallone and Amos Tversky (1985). Their findings suggested that the ‘hot hand’ does not exist, which led to criticism from many basketball fans, who seemed convinced the ‘hot hand’ was real. Later research criticised the statistical analysis by Vallone and Tversky but conclusion were still different. Gur Yaari and Shmuel Eisenmann (2011) found strong evidence for the existence of the ‘hot hand’ while taking free throws, while Daks, Desai and Goldberg (2017) did not find any evidence for the existence of the ‘hot hand’ while analysing the shooting streaks of Golden State Warriors stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. Furthermore, Jonathan Koehler and Caryn Conley (2003) found no evidence for the existence of the ‘hot hand’ while analysing the three-point contest. Daks, A., Desai, N., & Goldberg, L. R. (2017). Do Steph Curry and Klay Thompson Have Hot Hands? Koehler, J. J., & Conley, C. A. (2003). The “hot hand” myth in professional basketball. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 25(2), 253-259. Research Question and Hypothesis Does the ‘hot hand’ phenomenon in NBA basketball exist? Our hypothesis is that The ‘hot hand’ phenomenon in NBA basketball does not exist. It can be explained as a faulty interpretation of randomness. Aims The aim of this research project is to come to come to a conclusion about the existence of the ‘hot hand’ phenomenon. Methodology This Research will make use of quantitative methods of data collection. It will analyse strings of ‘hits’ and ‘misses’ in order to examine the existence of a ‘hot hand’. These strings of shots will be obtained from data gathered from NBA games, since this is the most important place where the phenomenon occurs, from the three-point contest, since in these surroundings every shot is the same and the strings are easy to obtain and from an experiment in which we let participants shoot the basketball. We use the collected data to find out if the chance of a player making a basket is higher after a streak of two or more consecutive makes, than his ‘normal’ chance of making a basket. Definition of a ‘hot hand’ Before the research even starts, it is important to define what exactly we mean when talking about a ‘hot hand’. As definition we will use a slightly modified one from the one used by Daks, Desai & Golberg (2017). A ‘hot hand’ is the phenomenon when a player has a higher chance of making a shot after a streak of two or more consecutive makes, than his ‘normal’ chance of making a shot. Limitations There are certain factors that make research into this subject more difficult. The law of small numbers makes for example misinterpreting data very easy. Also the nature of the shot is not the same for every shot during an NBA game. All of which may complicate research. Jules Wouters, i6158797
- 143. To what extentdoes the University College Maastricht environment influence students to a proclivity for veganism? | Introduction & Background University College Maastricht (UCM) is known for its diverse, international, and liberal students. Coming from over 50 countries, the 600 students (University College Maastricht, 2017) that shape the college’s environment is composed from cultures and traditions from all over the world. Each individual brings a new part of the pie and influences the community differently. This is redundant and obvious. But to what extent are students influenced by this environment? By taking a small piece of the pie: looking at the dietary changes of a UCM student, this study focuses on the choices they make with regards to their food products and the types of meals they eat. The majority of students being millennials, their choices differ from previous generations. They are less concerned with the calorie intake, and more inclined to buy natural and organic over processed foods, and fresh instead of canned products. Actively involved with sustainability and whether the products are locally grown (Rosenbloom, 2018), diets such as vegetarianism and veganism are increasingly popular choices. This has been a known phenomenon when studying at UCM, many students encourage eating less animal products for various reasons such as: animal cruelty, environmental impacts, health benefits and being influenced by their peers and surroundings. In turn this study questions the correlation between studying at UCM and dietary preferences. Methodology This investigation will adopt a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research. An online survey will be conducted, enquiring on students age, sex, year of study, dietary preferences before/during/after studying at UCM, and the cause of these changes (Deshpande, Basil & Basil, 2009). This will be sent throughout the faculty yielding answers from current students. Moreover, semi- structured interviews of 5-10 minutes will be held to ask students about their past/current/future eating habits, and the cause of their dietary choices, dependent on the year of study. These students will be determined by stratified random sampling choosing a sample of 7-10 students from each year of study. Followed by an analysis comparing their dietary preferences (ordinal) and year of study (ordinal) to obtain a correlation between the different variables (age (interval), sex (nominal) etc.) and reasons. Relevance This investigation delves into further understanding of the UCM community: how this particular environment shapes its students’ and which element/s effect these changes. The results may cause students to question what and why they do things, influencing more active change. I6159024 i Roseline Meijer Aim & Objective A. To capture a small part of the impact that the UCM environment has on its students. It will focus on understanding the possible relationship between the dietary changes of students over time and discovering what part of the environment effects this. 01. To observe students’ behavioural changes with regards to their eating habits throughout the course of studying at UCM observe students’ behavioural changes with regards to their eating habits throughout the course of studying at UCM 02. Understanding whether these students are more inclined to developing a taste for veganism. References Deshpande, S., Basil, M. D., & Basil, D. Z. (2009). Factors Influencing Healthy Eating Habits Among College Students: An Application of the Health Belief Model. Health Marketing Quarterly,26(2), 145-164. doi:10.1080/07359680802619834 Foresto, A. (2018, March 31). 26 Hilarious Memes Every Avocado Lover Will Understand. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from https://www.popsugar.com/latina/photo- gallery/42541166/embed/42541998/Avocado-Puns-Memes] Petter, O. (2018, April 05). Number of vegans in UK soars to 3.5 million, survey finds. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/vegans- uk-rise-popularity-plant-based-diets-veganism-figures-survey- compare-the-market-a8286471.html Rosenbloom, C. (2018, February 21). Perspective | 9 ways millennials are changing the way we eat. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/9-ways- millennials-are-changing-the-way-we-eat/2018/02/20/6bb2fe60- 11eb-11e8-8ea1- c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.32a131d7bf03 University College Maastricht. (2017, October 11). Retrieved from https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/education/bachelor/bachelor -university-college-maastricht “Number of Vegans in the UK Soars to 3.5 Million Survey Finds” (Petter, 2018)
- 144. Empirical methodological approach Toobtain the data needed for this research we will be making a survey. The first section of survey questions will focus on general information of the participant. The second section is more focused on the research and will contain more in-depth questions about the research. The survey will be send to the possible participants through Facebook or it will be send to the university email. The steps In the first phase of the research the questions for the survey need to be specified. When the survey is made it will be distributed among the University students. In the second phase of the research the data of the survey needs to be collected and analysed. The third and last phase will be us- ing the data to write our research report. References • Lewis, T., & Mobley, A. (2010). Substance Abuse and Dependency Risk: The Role of Peer Perceptions, Marijuana Involvement, and Attitudes toward Substance Use among College Students. Journal Of Drug Education, 40(3), 299-314. • Chen, K., & Killeya-Jones, L. (2006). Understanding Differences in Marijuana Use Among Urban Black and Suburban White High School Students from Two U.S. Community Samples. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse, 5(2), 51-73. • Tu, A., Ratner, P., & Johnson, J. (2008). Gender Differences in the Correlates of Adolescents' Cannabis Use. Substance Use & Misuse, 43(10), 1438-1463. Marijuana use among students at the University of Maastricht What are the differences of marijuana usage among students of the different faculties of the University of Maastricht? There are multiple researches done on the use of Marijuana among stu- dents and the effect it has on their studies. Other studies have looked at (social) groups, like race and gender, and how they interact differently with marijuana. In this research pro- ject these two questions will be com- bined into one. The research question will be: What are the differences of marijuana use among students of the different faculties of the University of Maastricht? By Mirte Embregts, I6159678
- 145. Introduction & Expectations A growingnumber of countries is adopting a more sensitive approach towards drug use, by presenting new policies which encourage cannabis legalization or regulated use of certain drugs. Whereas some states such as the Netherlands have demonstrated to legalize cannabis, the question remains open for the regulation on other hard drugs. What do Maastricht University think of hard drug consumption? What are the factors that fuel their opinions? Ethnicity, nationality, field of study, and other factors will be taken in consideration as they shape who we are and how we reason on things. Main Goals & Relevance - Collect data on participant’s use of 10 main hard drugs, their idea of the danger brought by these substances and inclination to try them, frequency an other. - Construct an overal picture on different people’s perception on the matter. - Have a large set of data collection so to have a consistant data processing and encoding, which groups the data by the factors listed above. (+ analyse/compare with statistical measures) - Understand how different traits play a role in making students more inclined to take be okay with certain drug use. - Relevant: find opinion of students (large consumers of drug) to understand different positions, so to find realistic measures of prevention and cure. - Build a society more sensible to people’s desires/needs/beliefs. Previous Empirical Data 1. Perception on drug abuse as national crisis and on drug policies, grouped by ethnicity and gender. PRC, (2014). Section 1 Perceptions on Drug Use. PRC - 2. Access/perception/consumption of drugs in the European Union - The European Opinion Research Group, (2002). Attitudes and opinions of young people in the European Union on Drugs. EORG. 3. Use of soft and hard drugs in the UK survey. Insight on population disparities. Mann, J (2014). British drugs survey 2014: drug use is rising in the UK – but we're not addicted. The Guardian Methodology & Sampling - mixed method: quantitative questionnaire + qualitative interviews. - Examples of questionnaire questions: How inclined are you to try the following hard drugs on a scale of 1 to 10? How acceptable is it for you to be on the following hard drugs on a scale? Have you tried any of these hard drugs? - Example of interview questions: ‘Do you view a friend of yours differently if (s)he tells you (s)he tried one of these drugs and why?’ Elaborate on your position regarding the consumption/legalization of the following drugs’ - sample: Maastricht University Students (n=100), randomly selected. - Independent variable: factors of participants (age, gender, nationality ecc) - dependent variable: opinion (reluctance/acceptance on hard drug use) - Controlled variable: location, time of experiment, script for interview and questionnaire - Limitations: size of sample, exterior variables. RQ: Which trait(s) make Maastricht University students more inclined to be acceptant/reluctant towards hard drug use? Hypothesis: If these traits: field of education, ethnicity, nationality, gender, political view, age, religion, prove to play a role in determining a student’s opinion (acceptance/reluctance) towards hard drug use, I believe nationality and field of education will be the most statistically significant factors. What factors affect a person’s opinion on ‘hard drugs’ use? I6162026 Sara D’Andrea
- 146. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES INCONSUMER BEHAVIOR Research question: How do cultural differences influence the package choice of food products? Introduction As core attributes like quality and functionality become increasingly homogenous in food products, the focus of producers is increasingly shifted towards aesthetic packaging (Reiman et al., 2010). Previous research has shown that individuals tend to choose aesthetic packages over products in standardized packages despite higher prices (Reiman et al., 2010). Colour, size and shape of food packaging influences product evaluation and experience (Becker et al., 2011). Although several studies found out about the influence of aesthetic packaging on consumer behaviour, there is a lack of research that examines the cultural differences in food product choice.The aim of this study is to find out if there is a difference of product choice due to packaging among individuals from different cultural backgrounds and what gives rise to the product decision. Methodology: The conduction of this research is partly quantitative and partly qualitative. At first, all participants get to choose between two kinds of the same food product for a total amount of 5 products.The products only differ in their package appearance, price and some other minor features (for example production differences). In order to find out whether or not there is a product choice tendency in patients from one culture compared to the other cultures, the choices of the country- groups will be compared to the other country- groups. However, the main focus of this study lies in finding the reasons for the participants’ choices and if these choice derive from different motivations across participants from different countries. To find out about that, participants have to fill out open-ended questionnaires where they state their motivation for their product choices. In the end, results are compared and analyzed.Sample: The sample consists of 40 students between 18 and 23 years from Maastricht University, of which 10 are from Germany, 10 from Italy, 10 from America and 10 from France References: Reimann, M., Zaichkowsky, J., Neuhaus, C., Bender, T., & Weber, B. (2010). Aesthetic package design: A behavioral, neural, and psychological investigation. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 20(4), 431-441. Becker, L., van Rompay, T. J., Schifferstein, H. N., & Galetzka, M. (2011). Tough package, strong taste: The influence of packaging design on taste impressions and product evaluations. Food Quality and Preference, 22(1), 17-23. ?? Time Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Gathering sample & reviewing literature X Data collection X X Data analysis X X Writing and revising X X Relevance The research topic is relevant because of several factors. First of all, by conducting the second part of the study in a qualitative way, the feelings, thought and experiences of people from different countries can be captures.This is especially important, as Maastricht is a international city, where people from diverse countries live. Variables In the first part of the study, an experimental setting is used in order to find a tendency that can be applied to a broader range of people. Thus there are dependent and independent variables. Independent variable (x): à Package appearance of product Dependent variable (y): à Choice of participant
- 147. Hypothesis: Recreational Cannabisuse is common among stu- dents in my experience. Therefore the overall feeling towards marijuana is likely to be positive. However, its usage in relation to studying it is unlike- ly that students will feel it beneficial. This is because of the sedative effects that Cannabis can provide which is unlikely to aid mental focus needed for studying. Alternatively, students are likely to have net benefits from consuming Cannabis because of the relaxing and pleasant feeling that it can provide. When in conjunction with responsible consumption Cannabis may, overall, help studying. Method: Does smok- Introduc on. Recreational Cannabis use has been decriminalized in the Netherlands since 1972. With much talk in the international community in 2017 and 2018 about the effects of Cannabis, how do students person- ally feel it effects their studies? This research paper will focus on utilizing qualitative data in order to obtain more accurate student views on Cannabis us- age and its effects on their studies. Research Ques on: What perceived effects does recrea onal Cannabis use have on UCM students, in rela on to their stud- Joshua Walker - University College Maastricht - 6163334 - Research Methods II Key Ques ons: To further understand how recreational Cannabis use affects UCM students ability to study and to record how students themselves feel on the topic of recreational Cannabis use. What percentage of UCM students consume recreational Can- nabis and seeing if this is higher than the national average of 5.4%. Do students feel that Cannabis use has a net positive or nega- tive effect on their studies? Review of previous literature: A study conducted by Patte, Qian and Leatherdale concluded that delaying alcohol and Cannabis use results in better academ- ic performance by students aged grade 9-12 over a period of two years. They did find however that weekly Cannabis usage increased likelihood of college ambitions. This would suggest that Cannabis use has a mixed effect on study however UCM students are older therefore the results may change due to this age difference. Whether UCM students agree with the findings of this study will be interesting because many would have consumed Cannabis in Participants: UCM students (Opportunity Sampling) Materials: Participants will be approached and asked if they wish to participate in a study on Cannabis use. Participants will be provided with a question- naire which will contain preliminary data such as: Age Sex Age at which they started using Canna- bis. Frequency of Cannabis usage. This questionnaire will be used in order to help provide direction to the interview that will be carried out. It will also provide quantitative da- ta which can be analyzed post interview. A semi-structured interview will then be car- ried out with the participant and two research- ers. One will be asking questions to the partic- ipant and the other will be recording details. A spectrum of questions will be asked, includ- ing such questions like from how the partici- pant consumes Cannabis, how they feel it ef- fects their ability to study, and whether they believe it has a net positive or negative benefit to their studies. Analysis: A thematic analysis will be utilized in order to identify common themes and answers given by participants in order to create a well round- ed answer to the research question. I will use an inductive approach to analyze this data, A statistical analysis will be utilized when look- ing at results from the questionnaire in order Poten al Issues. A questionnaire is subject to demand characteristics which could effect the va- lidity of results. An interview on Cannabis could potential- ly be stressful because of societal views on drugs, therefore the participant must be assured that all details will remain con- fidential. Sample size may not be representative of the wider university population because it will not be accurately representative, References: Pa e, K., Qian, W., & Leatherdale, S. (2017). Marijuana and alcohol use as predictors of academic achievement: A longitudinal analysis among youth in the cOMPASS study. Journal of School Health, 87(5), 310‐318. doi:10.1111/josh.12498
- 148. Isa Laurent i6163918 How docontemporary artists relate to the small and selective public they reach and interest within the high culture bubble their art often functions in? Introduction and earlier empirical research Contemporary art is often claimed to be characterized by isolation, the rejection of the taste of the masses, and high complexity and mystery (Barrett, 2000). Art institutions like museums and theatres are considered to be secular temples of an high culture in which too incomprehensive language is used (Zeng & Zhang, 2017). This together with other factors like financial ones still creates a big threshold for many people. On the other hand, there is an increase in contemporary art in public space and interactive art education, which exemplifies that contemporary art can have a social and educational function for a more diverse and larger public. It can provide a big variety of people and places with insights, information, knowledge, and beautification (Barrett, 2000). However, scepticism hereon remains present within the mainly exclusive art world and market (Zeng & Zhang, 2017). This research project wants to give voice to artists’ opinions on this issue. Methodological approach The research project will adopt a qualitative approach, because it deals with in- depth interviews on the artists’ perspective. The population of this research project will be artists which are active or based in Maastricht. There will be taken contact with local galleries, (semi-) professional art centres, and museums within Maastricht to construct the sample. The latter will be selective, because the research project wants to address artists from different disciplines and with various backgrounds. In total ten-fifteen interviews will take place of each 30-60 minutes. A possibility would be to include more creative ways of interviewing. An example would be to show one of the artist’s works photoshopped in a public space or museum, and asking what it does to the artist and the work. However, because the interviews will be conducted in a semi-structured way, the direction each interview takes will vary. References Barrett, T. (2000). About Art Interpretation for Art Education. National Art Education Association, 42 (1), 5-19. doi: 10.2307/1320749 Zeng, X., & Zhang, R. (2017). Participatory Art Museum: Collecting and Modeling Crowd Opinions. In AAAI (pp. 5017-5018). Roadmap 1: Specifying of research and methodology 2: Preparing and conducting interviews 3: Transcribing and decoding interviews 4: Finalizing research paper
- 149. Noah Jacobs i6164769 Tolive or to visit, that is the question Abstract Methodology There are many places to visit in this big world Population: UM students ,but is there a difference in preference for living sample: Send out the survey to all UM students, try to get a and visiting? If we can analyse why some people minimum of 100 students to react. prefer visiting or living in a certain place we can Process: The survey will consist of a few qualitative questions, use this to improve our own tourism and living asking to make a top 5 of the 50 European countries they situation. would prefer to visit and another asking the top 5 for where Earlier research shows that different groups of they would prefer to live. After answering this the question people are attracted to different aspects of the why will be asked with several options such as economic countries such as culture/history or weather condition, culture, familiarity, and more. There will also be conditions. To make the research doable we an open option called ‘other’ in case the reason is not in the will be looking at UM students only. survey, this will be done for both visiting and living. After receiving a minimum of 100 replies we will look for the highest frequency for all the answers and draw inferences from this. We will also ask the nationality of the student to look at this influence, for the rest the survey is anonymous Research question Where do UM students prefer to live and visit and what is the biggest factor that differentiates them? Hypotheses Reference 1. Students prefer to visit more cultural places Davidson, R. (1998). Travel and tourism in Europe (No. Ed. 2).. , but rather live in an economic stable country Addison Wesley Longman Ltd 2. West-Europe is the most popular for living 3. South-Europe is the most popular place for visiting
- 150. RQ: HOW DOESTHE SOCIAL AND SPATIAL ENVIRONMENT OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE MAASTRICHT STUDENTS AFFECT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING CONSUMPTION OF HARD DRUGS? Introduction Generally speaking, European governmental discourses concerning drug consumption among students tend to exclude pleasure as a potential motive but reinforce visions of consumption as characterized by compulsion, pain and pathology (O’Malley & Valverde, 2004). On the contrary, college students favor to view contemporary drug culture as results of experimentation, peer group pressure, mood altering influences and availability. In Maastricht, the Netherlands, consuming hard drugs – narrowed down to Cocaine, Speed, Ecstasy and LSD – is remarkably popular and, thus, accepted. It is, therefore, important to investigate how the social environment in combination with the geographical position of Maastricht contribute to a gradual change in attitude concerning handling hard drugs responsibly. Relevance • Detrimental effects of inconsiderate substance abuse on physical well-being • Already established correlation between drug abuse and risky sexual behavior in students • Negative consequences for academic efforts Methods • Research is set up in an idiographic manner because it aims at collecting individual accounts for a locally restricted phenomenon • Participants • 40 students enrolled at University College Maastricht will be picked using a Convenience Sample because of prior personal connections to and insights of participants’ lives and habits • No investigation of gender differences, as the research is merely addressing individual changes because of the stay in Maastricht • Conducting qualitative, exploratory and anonymous interviews: 1. Open ended question on what type of hard drugs the individual consumes/ has consumed. 2. Self-reported estimates of participants about frequency and recency. 3. Statement on how current, individual attitude is different in comparison to prior to enrolling in UCM. 4. Investigating what factors the individual figures to have the most profound impact on him-/herself. 5. Series of questions modeled in accordance with criteria of the National Survey of Drug use and Health Expectations • I hypothesize the social environment of UCM students, especially existing peer pressure, to have a more profound effect on (new) students by inducing them to try at least once Limitations • Irrespective of how much data will be collected in the end, certainty cannot be established, because of the falsifiability of individual self-reports Social Environment Potentially influential factors • Commonly held attitude regarding drugs rather liberal • Social pressure conveyed by peers, even though possibly involuntarily, might push students who are less experienced in terms of drugs towards consumption Spatial Environment Potentially influential Factors: • Accessibility and price affected by Location (Maastricht close to 3 borders) and drug-policies of the Netherlands • Ties in with Social Environment because Maastricht is a city with a myriad of students. References: Arria, A. M., Caldeira, K. M., Kasperski, S. J., O’Grady, K. E., Vincent, K. B., Griffiths, R. R. & Wish, E. D. (2010). Increased alcohol consumption, nonmedical prescription drug use, and illicit drug use are associated with energy drink consumption among college students. Addict Med. 4(2), 74-80. Arria, A. M., Caleira, K. M., O’Grady, K. E., Vincent, K. B., Wish, E. D. & Zarate, E. M., (2009). Prospective associations between alcohol and drug consumption and risky sex among female college students. Alcohol Drug Education, 53(2). Hewstone, M., Stroebe, W. & Jonas, K., (2015). An Introduction to Social Psychology (6. ed.), West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. O’Malley, P. & Valverde, M., (2004). Pleasure, Freedom and Drugs: The Uses of ‘Pleasure’ in Lieral Governance of Drug and Alcohol Consumption. Sociologz, 38(1), 25-42. doi: 10.1177/0038038504039359. RM Poster Laurenz Sachenbacher i6165020
- 151. Superfoods = healthy lifestyle? Is the new trend of superfoods changing the way we think about eating healthy? Introduction The new idea that some food are healthy, unhealthy and some super healthy is influencing our perception of eating healthy. This new viral trend of superfoods promise you to change your life by gaining vitality, reducing risk of chronic disease, adding years to your life etc. It is presented as the new road map to success to be healthy, but how has it change our perception of a healthy nutrition? Aims & objectives The aim of this research is to understand how the superfood viral trend may influence nutritional choices and behaviour. The objectives of this research is to explore through qualitative measures the change of global-mindset regarding our understanding on healthy nutrition. Methodology Sample: • Two types of purposeful sampling o Selective sampling : to choose the first participant (a student who is strongly involved with food) o Snowball sampling : to find the rest of participants (to focus on the same criteria of selection, thus having similarities within the sample) Conduct : • 10 semi-structured interviews o Open-end questions (30- 45 mins) o Rather detailed quality data than data quantity o Come up with meaningful explanations Data analysis: • Thematic analysis o Analyse, identify and report themes across the 10 interviews Relevance This research will enable to understand how individuals’ relationship with food has changed since the superfood movement. Furthermore, it will allow to discover how healthy food and superfoods have become health and social statutes. Earlier empirical work Howatson, M. (2017). Examined how our consumption choices and behaviour have been influenced since the superfood trend on the digital space. The study suggests that it is changing contemporary consumer’s food relationships and perceptions. The research conducted a similar qualitative approach. References: Howatson, M. (2017). Food for thought: Consumers' responses to superfood presentation in the digital age. Joséphine Botermans de Moreau i6165030
- 152. SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS ANDTHEIR INFLUENCE ON VOLUNTARY CHANGES OF NUTRITION Lea Bickel – i6165430 Research Question How does the social environment of the UCM influence an individual student’s voluntary decision to change nutrition towards Veganism? - A case study from the University College Maastricht and its current student body Methodology Conduct an exploratory, qualitative & inductive research à In order to reach the depth of each individual case that is needed and to find out the root and reason for the phenomena of Veganism at UCM. Multiple methods à In order to really be able to grasp the results and to consider different aspects of the process Phenomenological research Interviews Semi – structured Audio recordings About.“The University College Maastricht (UCM) seems to give a lot of people space for unfolding and discovering their opinions, ideas and moral norms in communication and exchange with others. Students seem to cultivate, if not already existent, strong political opinions and views about society. Just as well as I observed that individuals in my environment at UCM and in my personal group of significant others, who are all UCM students, are increasingly deciding to nourish themselves vegan. This realization shifted me towards further thinking about the topic of Veganism in our society and the possible reasons for the increasing amount of Vegans in my immediate environment and made me wonder how the faculty and its student body has an influence on that decision.” (Bickel, 2018, p.1) Epistemology Interpretivist approach à The UCM is in my eyes a unique educational environment and a not broadly comparable institution, which would make it reprehensible to objectify the topic in this case à Examine the totality of each case Survey Factional and Formal questions E.g. “For how long have you been a Vegan?” “How many of your friends follow a plant-based diet?” Provides extra information that will be helpful in comprehending the complexity of the phenomena Analyze and interpret with great detail and focus on each individual participant Prior Research and Literature à There are multiple different reasons and motivations for Veganism, they are often health- and environment related or rise from an ethical background (Fox & Ward, 2008, p. 142) à Veganism is a lifestyle movement that goes along with other culture - trends and social movements (Cherry, 2015) à Researchers found that there were three different kind of vegans: organized Vegans, conformed Vegans and individualistic Vegans (Larsson, Rönnlund, Johansson, & Dahlgren, 2003) à Former vegetarians are more likely to take the step to Veganism (McDonald, 2000, p. 15) à Being vegan can be an identity-statement & identities are “situational, relational and part of a constant process of negotiation.” (Greenebaum, 2012, p. 142) Relevance. “Finding out what motivations students have to become a Vegan and how the social environment of UCM influences that decision could help to understand other lifestyle and social movements as well. To find a possible force that is driving young people to change their eating habits that drastically could be important for further research in sociology and eating Psychology. àCould give important answers and indications to if and how social constructions and environments lead to an individual’s decision àFindings would perhaps reveal if and how far the social environment we live in interferes in our personal, private space. àCould help environmentalists and supporters of the vegan-movement to develop strategies on successfully convincing others, especially young students” (Bickel, 2018, p.2) References. Bickel, L. (2018). How does the social environment of the University College Maastricht and its present student body influence a current individual UCM - student’s voluntary decision to change their diet restrictions towards Veganism within their time at the faculty? A Research Proposal. Unpublished Manuscript, University College Maastricht, NL. Cherry, E. (2015). I Was a Teenage Vegan: Motivation and Maintenance of Lifestyle Movements. Sociological Inquiry, 85(1), 55-74. doi:10.1111/soin.12061 Fox, N., & Ward, K. (2008). Health, ethics and environment: A qualitative study of vegetarian motivations. Appetite, 50, 422-429. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2007.09.007 Greenebaum, J. (2012). Veganism, Identity and the Quest for Authenticity. Fod, Culture and Society, 15(1), 129-144. doi:10.2752/175174412X1319051022210 Larsson, C. L., Rönnlund, U., Johansson, G., & Dahlgren, L. (2003). Veganism as status passage. The process of becoming vegan among youths in Sweden Appetite, 41, 61-67. doi:doi:10.1016/S0195- 6663(03)00045-X McDonald, B. (2000). „Once You Know Something, You Can’t Not Know It“ An Empirical Look at Becoming Vegan. Society & Animals, 8(1). Sample Collect a small sample, up to 15 students that have turned vegan during their time at the UCM à Non – probability sampling Typical Case Collect e.g. through Facebook Snowball sampling Current students of UCM that turned vegan during their time at the faculty Create Survey and prepare semi – structured Interviews Structure Find participants (P) Collect data Analyze and interpret with great detail and focus on each individual participant Let P fill out surveys & conduct interviews (https://www.zazzle.com/vegan+stickers) (https://imgkid.com/certified-vegan-logo.shtml) (http://hundestudio-bremen.de/)
- 153. Literature review Hooks (1992)concept of an oppositional gaze: • observation in cinemas: perpetuation of white supremacy, constructing the black presence as absent • As a consequence, female spectators of colour adopted an ’oppositional gaze’ and developed an awareness for the underlying racism in cinematic representation Medved, Cupchic and Oakley (2004) on interpretative memories of artworks: • on a longterm, artworks are associated with emotions and autobiographical memories Frois and Silva (2014) found three different modes of encountering an artwork: • procedural, contextual, interpretative White Supremacy in the Museum Realm Research Question How do people who identify themselves as People of Colour experience the lack of representation in the Rijksmuseum’s permanent exhibition of the Old Masters? Methodology • phenomenological paradigm: • interpretivist stance, everything is socially constructed • we are interested in the impact of artworks on the identification of the individual • exploratory, qualitative, inductive researchAbstract Our society is multicultural, constituted by many different social, ethic and gender groups. However, the representation in traditional museums in the Netherlands remains still far fetched from being diverse. The study aims to analyse how especially People of Colour feel about their under-, mis- or lacking representation. The research explores whether portrait artworks can have an impact on the process of identification of individuals. References Fróis, J.P. & Silva, C. (2014). A Research into Meaning Making Strategies in Encounters with Artworks. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 32(1), 43-73. doi: 10.2190/EM.32.1.EOV.5 Hein, G. (1998). Learning in the museum (Museum meanings). London: Routledge. Hooks, B. (1992) The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators. In Amelia Jones ed. The Feminist and Visual Culture Reader (pp. 107-117) Marshall, K. J. (2017, May 09) Kerry James Marshall and the invisible man/ Interviewer: C. Dercon. Medved, M., Cupchik, G., & Oatley, K. (2004). Interpretative memories of artworks. Memory, 12(1), 119-128. doi:10.1080/09658210244000441 “I went to art school even before the 1970s (…) every single model they had in those classes was a white woman or a white man. That body is being the body that’s supposed to be in a painting. (…) You never get this sense that you are a part of any of that.“ Kerry James Marshall (2017) Portrait Gallery of the Golden Age in Amsterdam Amy Sherald, Michelle Lavaughn Robinson Obama, 2018 In the National Portrait Gallery in Washington Sample a purposive non-probability sampling (size: 7 and 7) • we will specifically choose people who identify as Person of Colour and visited the Old Masters exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and compare them to the same amount of respondents that do not identify as People of Colour. • semi-structured interviews, depending on the course of the interviewee’s responses • questions evolve around the identification with certain subjects of the artworks, their relation to the depicted scenes, sense of national belonging • the research can be conducted directly at the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam day-trip) as well as by finding respondents that match the pre-set criteria Relevance • the study offers an occasion to to question the perpetuating underrepresentation of People of Colour in the 21st century • The social impact of the underrepresentation People of Colour needs to be investigated in order to challenge the current inequality in representing Hein (1992) about the museum as education: • the educational role of museums is increasing Hanna Burhoff | i6165661 Questions Interviews Analysing
- 154. Methodology For this researchwe will be working with questionnaires. This questionnaire will mainly ask the grade point average (GPA) and the average alcohol intake per week of the participants. Other questions concern for example one’s typical amount of alcohol per session, and the amount of time one is part of a university. Sampling The sample group we are going to be using consists of people who need to fulfil the following requirements. The participants need to: A) be students at a university B) have a grade point average C) be able to give a reasonable indication of their drinking behaviour. These participants include people of all ages and also include people who do not drink at all. The number of participants needs to be as high as possible and could be influenced by the amount of people conducting the research, since more participants means more time needed. Despite this I believe 100 participants is a reasonable number. The quantitive results of this questionnaire will be statistically analysed. Approach This research will compare the previously mentioned positive and negative approach to alcohol consumption and try to figure out which one will weigh the heaviest on the proposed research question. Since this is not a new theory in itself, the research will be mostly deductive. Variables The independent variable will broadly be the alcohol consumption, measured in alcoholic consumptions per week and per session. The dependent variable will be a c a d e m i c p e r f o r m a n c e , measured in GPA. Expectations In this research we expect to find a certain curve for the correlation between alcohol consumption and grade point average. This curve will have an extreme value for the “best” amount of alcohol relating to GPA. Theoretical perspective This research is to be considered post- positivistic, since what we are looking for is an objective truth based on stated theories, while trying to approach this truth as close as possible What is the optimal level of alcohol consumption for optimising one’s academic performance? Alcohol consumption is mostly considered a bad thing, due to the commonly known fact that it is generally bad for you. Alcohol consumption, can negatively impact for example cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric disease and liver disease (Rehm, 2011). Next to these health risks, some researchers also state that alcohol consumption may lead to lowering grades, however this is just stated very briefly (White & Hingson, 2013). This topic becomes interesting when Park’s study is introduced, which considers the positive effects of alcohol such as, stress relief, more romantic encounters and increased ability to express oneself (2004). Both the negative influence on physical and neural health, and the proposed positive influence on stress and mental health can be of influence on one’s academic performance. Since these are both induced by alcohol consumption, one could assume that there is an optimum in the amount of alcohol one should consume to maximise their academic performances. Consequently, this is what we are looking for in this research. Alcohol & Academia Introduction References Park, C. L. (2004). Positive and negative consequences of alcohol consumption in college students. Addictive behaviors, 2 9(2), 311-32 Rehm, J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol Research & Health, 34(2), 135. White, A., & Hingson, R. (2013). The burden of alcohol use: excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences among college students. Alcohol research: current reviews. Sven Kerstjens i6165701
- 156. The Perception ofCannabis Laws in German and Dutch Society Research Question: Can the consensus theory of legal development be applied to Dutch and German cannabis laws today? Background: ❖ Legal sociologists like Durkheim: role of societal consensus(political culture, social structure) is important for legal development → laws reflect society‘s common morality and beliefs (Sutton, 2001) ❖ Legislative responses to the use of cannabis in Germany and the Netherlands differ since the 70‘s: Germany criminalized it The Netherlands decriminalized it ❖ Rubin (1975): emphasized the role of sociocultural aspects in the usage of cannabis, but focussed mainly on non-Western states ❖ Grossmann, Williams & van Ours (2011): researched reasons for people tolerating cannabis usage, but focussed on individual‘s experiences with the drug, not cultural aspects ❖ Scheerer (1978): explored the political situation and culture in Germany and the Netherlands at the time of the emergence of the drug laws: Political culture differed (stronger conservative coalition in Germany) -> Symbolic issue in Germany, more scientific approach in the Netherlands Aim of this Research: ❖ Follow up on the three earlier works, by looking at sociocultural influences on the perception of the drug within western society ❖ Questions to consider: − Are people in the Netherlands and Germany still content with their governments current legal strategy? − Is there a link between their current attitude and their political views and personal experiences with the drug? − Do the laws in both countries still reflect societal consensus and does a possible change in attitude go hand in hand with changes in for example political culture or social structure? ❖ Research Question Methodology: ❖ mixed-methods approach (qualitative+ quantitative): deals with quantifiable variables such as gender, political affiliation, etc., then wants to explore the underlying values of people ❖ Mainly deductive, confirmatory: the aim is to explore whether the consensus theory is applicable in this context ❖ Partly exploratory: certain qualitative aspects of the research ❖ Epistomology: Poisitivst; measures the social world through obervation Data and Methods: ❖ Population: German & Dutch people (living in urban areas) ❖ Sample: Stratified random sample; stratification variable: city Sample size: 50 people for each group ❖ Method: Standardized questionnaires with a few open questions for qualitative research ❖ Variables: Dependent : Satisfaction with the respective cannabis laws Independent: Characteristics, values, beliefs References & earlier empirical work: ❖ Gray, D. E. (2014). Doing Research in the Real World (Third ed.). London: SAGE Publications. ❖ Grossman, M., Williams, J. & van Ours, J. C., (2011). Why do some people want to legalize cannabis use?. National Bureau of Economic Research. Cambridge, MA, Faculty of Commerce and Business, University of Melbourne. ❖ Sutton, J. R. (2001). Law/Society: Origins, Interactions, and Change. Sociology for a New Century Series, Sage Publications, London. ❖ Rubin, V., & International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (9th : 1973 : Chicago, Ill.). (1975). Cannabis and culture (World anthropology). The Hague: Mouton. ❖ Scheerer, S. (1978). The New Dutch and German Drug Laws: Social and Political Conditions for Criminalization. Law & Society Review, 12: 585. Phases of the Research: 1. Preparing surveys for data collection 2. Data collection 3. Analyzing the data using SPSS 4. Varifying or falsifying the consensus theory in this context.
- 157. On the wayto lucidity A qualitative assessment of lucid dreaming Research question How do lucid dreamers perceive risks and benefits of lucid dreaming when acquired as self-learned skill? (*this research is purely exploratory; hence it is not suggesting a hypothesis.) REFERENCES: Dane, J. R. (1991). Ethical Issues for Applications of Lucid Dreaming: An Introduction. Lucidity Letter, 10(1), 1–7. Gackenbach, J. (1987). Concerns with Lucidity Essay Clinical and Transpersonal Concerns with Lucid Dreaming Voiced. Lucidity Letter, 6(2), 1–4. Haque, N. (2012). Lucid dreaming: Rise of a nocturnal hobby. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18277074%0A%0A La Berge, S. P. (1980). Lucid Dreaming as a Learnable Skill: A Case Study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 51, 1039–1042. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1980.51.3f.1039 LUCIDDREAMING Introduction Through the discovery of the technique of Lucid Dreaming, individuals gained access to control consciously their dreams. Opinions about the impact of this technique on the mind differ highly. On the one hand Lucid Dreaming is considered being a key technique for mental healing. On the other hand, it exhibits risks to alter the ability to distinct between dream and reality (Dane, 1991; Gackenbach, 1987). Facilitated through a recently increased interest in introspective through meditation and dream analysis, individuals attempt to learn this ability outside of clinical settings and without guidance of a psychologist (Haque, 2012; La Berge, 1980). How do psychologically untrained lucid dreamers perceive the benefits and risks of Lucid Dreaming? Do they correspond with results psychological research has revealed? Methodology This symbolic-interactionist research embodies an ideographic understanding of knowledge. It is interested in different perceptions on benefits and risks of Lucid Dreaming of individuals having acquired the ability themselves. For this, semi-structured interviews will be used to collect several personal experiences. 1) Qualitative semi-structured interviews with experienced Lucid Dreamers a. Topics: personal assessment of lucid dreaming as technique, perceived benefits and risks of short and long term practise, relationship to dreams and introspective. b. Selective sample size: 7–10 experienced lucid dreamers. c. Interviews will take around 20–40 minutes. 2) Transcription and categorisation of recorded interviews. 3) Analysis and comparison between clinical studies and own research results. Relevance • The increased interests of individuals to learn lucid dreaming requires further knowledge and insight into risks and benefits. This leads to an improved assessment of the practicability of such a technique. • A gap in knowledge exists between scientific clinical studies and non-clinical approaches of lucid dreaming. An investigation into non-professional lucid dreamers allows new comparisons to be made, dealing around practicality and risk evaluation.
- 158. DO STATUS SYMBOLSMAKE YOU MORE ATTRACTIVE? Introduction What makes someone attractive? Is it great looks? A caring personality? Or maybe someone who makes you laugh? How big of a role do status and financial stability play in this decision? Previous studies have shown that attractiveness can be enhanced through status-enhancing symbols such as fancy cars, expensive clothing etc. (Dunn et al., 2010). Especially females have shown to focus on cues of wealth and status when making an attractiveness related decision (Dunn et al., 2010). Men on the other hand, seem place more emphasis on physical attractiveness (Dunn et al., 2010). The differential effect of status on perceived attractiveness between gender can be explained within the context of social exchange throughout evolution. As so, it has always been the role of the man to serve maternal security, whereas the female contributes her physical appearance(Hill, Nocks, Gardner, 1986). Due to a limited amount of prior research discussing this topic, this research project aims to identify the degree of effect status symbols have on attractiveness, depending on gender. Relevance AIM: Is there a positive correlation between status symbols and attractiveness in differentiation to men and women? OBJECTIVE: How would people rate another person‘s attractiveness based on exposure to status symbols? RELEVANCE: To what degree does attractiveness rely upon physical features in contrast to exterior status-enhancing tools? The importance lies within the power of financial status in the process of choosing a potential mating partner. What do people value more, status or looks? Research question Is there a positive correlation between the attractiveness of a person and his/her use of status symbols? How does it vary between gender? Hypothesis There is a positive correlation between how attractive a person is perceived and the amount of status symbols he/she uses. Status symbols express wealth and financial superiority. These indications have an evolutionary impact on attractiveness. Due to the theory of parental investment, women show more response towards financial well being and status, whereas men focus more on physical appearance. • Elizabeth M. Hill & Elaine S Nocks & Lucinda Gardener(1986) Physical Attractiveness: Manipulation by physique and Status displays, 143-154 (1987) • Michael J. Dunn, Robert Searle (2010) Effect of manipulated prestige-car ownership on both sex attractiveness ratings, 101, 69–80, British Journal of Psychology • Yi Ming Li, Jian Li, Darius L.-s- Chan,, Bo Zhang (2016) When Love meets money, Frontiers in psychology 2016; 7: 387 Sample The sample consists of 45 male and 45 female participants from the same age group (18-30 year olds). Subjects should not be involved in a relationship to avoid spouse loyalty bias. Subjects exposed to hormonal influences such as an irregular menstrual cycle or consume of oral contraceptives should also be avoided. Methodology Approach: Quantitive Sampling: Systematic within sampling frame: Male and female between 18 and 30 years. Variables: - Dependent: Perception of attractiveness - Independent: Presence of status symbols Measurement tools: Analytical Survey that is distributed through social media and hardcopies Testing: Exposing participants to images of people in absence or presence of status symbols, comparing these images and asking participants how attractive they find them. Analysis of Data: Interpretation of Data with SPSS Kyra Thoma (i6150433) Empirical research Previous research suggests that status-and money reflecting symbols have an effect on the perceived attractiveness of a person (Hill et al., 1987). This claim originates from the theory of parental investment by Trivers (1972). According to this, human mating strategies seek monetary and physical factors when ensuring reproductive success. While women attach more importance to her mate’s resources, a man‘s reproductive success is restrained to the women’s physical indication of fertility (Li et al., 2016). According to this, females appear to value indices of wealth and status approx. twice as important as men (Dunn et al., 2010). Thus, the differential effect of status on perceived attractiveness varies between gender (Dunn et al., 2010).
- 159. Reference list: Heatherton, T.F., & Baumeister, R. F. (1991).Binge eating as escape from self-awareness. Psychological bulletin, 110(1),86. Jacobson, R. (2017).The Pros and Cons of Being Self-Aware. Scientific American. Seth, A. (2016).the hard problem of consciousness is a distraction from the real one. Aeon. Van Velsor, E., Taylor, S., & Leslie, J. B. (1993).An examination of the relationships among self‐perception accuracy, self‐awareness, gender, and leader effectiveness. Human Resource Management, 32(2‐3),249-263. What is self-awareness In this study the model of self which will be used is that by Anil Seth where he breaks the self down into 5 separate sections; bodily, perspectival, volitional, narrative and social(Seth, 2016). Self-awareness is when using this model is how aware an individual is of these 5 aspects of their sense of having a self. If somebody has a great deal of knowledge about how their social milieu views then they would have a high level of social self- awareness.. Within each of these categories their would be different types of self-awareness which could be tested such as your emotional intelligence which win this research would come under the narrative sense of self as that is where the ‘I” comes into play. How do you test for self-awareness? The logic behind a test for self-awareness would be to ask for the person’s subjective opinion of themselves and then take a more objective opinion or empirical test. To test for bodily self-awareness some form of mirror test could be performed similar to that performed on primates, however with a greater degree of complexity than just recognizing themselves. For perspectival self it would be a test on how somebody views the world to the actual reality in which they live, for example ask them a question about their community and see how close they actually are. Volitional self could not be tested or have any real relevance to improving a sense having intentions and agency over one’s actions. Due to the increased complexity in understanding the narrative sense of self it would need a variety of tests to check one possibility would be a emotional intelligence test given that emotional self-awareness is one of the qualities tested. Social self-awareness would be done by asking somebody to fill out a questionnaire about what they think people who they socialize think about them and then asking others to do the same about what they actually think about them and compare the results., or something of this ilk The end result is likely to be a score from 1-10 in each of the categories and then a mean can be calculated from all of the categories. This part will need to be refined further however given previous research in the field it is definitely feasible and possible to test self-awareness. To obtain a random sample of UCM students would be possible due to the unique number allocated to each individual’s pigeonhole number. Using or creating a random number generator to select the sample would make this help in making the research valid. How the rest of the sample would be collected would need additional thought or the alternative would be to reduce the population to UCM students. Potential use of the research One potential use of the data which is collected in this research other than trying to discover how self-aware university students would be to create a program which has the capabilities to predict somebodies self-awareness. This would be based upon certain variables which will also be collected during the research, which could be indicators towards how self-aware an individual is. If there are strong correlations between certain personality traits and habitual behaviours which those individuals who have low levels of self -awareness repeatedly partake in then it should be possible to create a classifier which predicts a person’s level of self-awareness. Relevance of the research To defend the research the benefits of increased levels of self-awareness are needed to be stated. For balance the down sides to self-awareness are needed to be mentioned before the overwhelming positives are stated. Research has shown that people prefer conversing with people who are less self-aware and do not notice all of the possible defects that people have(Jacobson, 2017). It has also been shown that those in short-term relationships tend to be happier with a lower level of self-awareness. However the inverse it true for long-term relationships where a truer understanding of the partners involved is of great benefit. Another benefit of having a greater level of self-awareness is that you are likely to be a better leader and cope better when given positions of authority over others(Van Velsor, Taylor, & Leslie, 1993). Not based upon research but rather reason and logic and personal experience it would make sense that you will be able to develop more as an individual with a greater level of self-awareness, given that you have more knowledge about personal flaws and have identified them. Once they have been identified you can then work on and improve them. Some negative effects of having a low-levels of self-awareness of trying to avoid finding out about yourself are linked to negative personal habits for example binge eating. This is clearer a bad situation to find yourself in where you have a distorted view of yourself to the point where to avoid having to confront it the escape is found in binge eating. Also given that the previous research in the field(which I have seen) did not have a target group. The benefit of narrowing the group to university students is that causal relationships may be able to be found. Previous research in the field has already shown that some Research questions a) How self-aware are university students in Maastricht? b) What are the factors effecting university students level of self-awareness c) Is there a way to predict self-awareness in university students.
- 160. NO TIME Introduction University studentsexperience different levels of stress everyday. It is often lead by a fear of not having enough time to do the needed assignments. Time perception is a subjective experience that can be influenced by the subject’s context and people have been found to perceive time distortedly after exposure to a negative stimuli1. Furthermore, it has been suggested that a stimulus which triggers a negative emotional response leads to dilated perception of time; it lasts longer2. Methodology Sample: Sample of 100 consenting UM students, randomly chosen Conduct: After a 1 minute conversation with each subject and consequently asking how long they think the encounter was, they will be asked to evaluate their stress with the flowchart. Material: timer, Pound Place flowchart3 Variables: - Independent: stress of the students at time of study - Dependent: difference between time estimated and real duration of talk References 1van Wassenhove V, Buonomano DV, Shimojo S, Shams L. Distortions of subjective time perception within and across senses. PLOS ONE. 2008;3(1):e1437. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001437. 2Bar-Haim Y, Kerem A, Lamy D, Zakay D. When time slows down: The influence of threat on time perception in anxiety. Cognition & Emotion. 2010;24(2):255–263. doi: 10.1080/02699930903387603. 3Figure 1: How Stressed Are You? (2016, March 30). Retrieved from https://www.poundstopocket.co.uk/ pound-place/how-stressed-are-you/ Research question: Does stress influence students’ perception of time? Hypothesis: the higher the stress level, the bigger inaccuracy in time perception Expectations: It is expected to find a correlation between stress and wrong time perception. The result will be helpful to show the importance of planning work ahead, to have an objective view on time which will help reduce the level of stress. i6151693
- 161. HOW DOES LANGUAGESHAPE THE WAY WE THINK? Abstract This research, by nature of the question, aims at investigating two categories of influence. These categories can be defined as how cognitive processes and brain activity differs between different native speakers and how bilingualism impacts cognitive development in children and adults. It is already well understood that language has a powerful effect on the human mind, and that its influence starts in the earliest stages of cognitive development. Over 7,000 different languages are spoken on earth, all with varying vocabulary and linguistic rules that dictate how thoughts, memories and knowledge are communicated between individuals. Thus raises the question, how do different languages impact our perception, interpretation and processing of the world around us? To answer this question an understanding of how language effects cognitive development is necessary, of which this research will also cover. Methodology Applied Research: o Investigation is build on pre-existing empirical research Secondary Data Analysis: o Pre-existing studies offer quantitative and qualitative data fit for analysis Secondary Empirical Research o Further research is necessary to understand and explain concepts and relationships to cognitive psychology (In the form of theories and basic understanding) Prior Research 1. Susanne Ebert (2014): Longitudinal Relations Between Theory of Mind and Metacognition and the Impact of Language 2. Kaoru Sekiyama, Denis Burnham (2008): Impact of language on development of auditory-visual speech perception 3. Seidenberg, Mark S.; MacDonald, Maryellen C. : The impact of language experience on language and reading: A statistical learning approach (For more information on prior research, the QR code provides abstracts and links for each study) References • Boroditsky, L. (2001). Does Language Shape Thought?: Mandarin and English Speakers Conceptions of Time. Cognitive Psychology,43(1), 1-22. doi:10.1006/cogp.2001.0748 • Ebert, S. (2014). Longitudinal Relations Between Theory of Mind and Metacognition and the Impact of Language. Journal of Cognition and Development,16(4), 559-586. doi:10.1080/15248372.2014.926272 • Sekiyama, K (2008). Impact of language on development of auditory-visual speech perception. Developmental Science, 11(2) https://doi- org.ezproxy.ub.unimaas.nl/10.1111/j.1467- 7687.2008.00677.x Research Question: How does language impact cognitive development and further cognitive processing? Alexandra Lange i6152710 Objectives o This paper aims at investigating, comparing and understanding how and why language impacts cognitive psychology, as well as the different impacts and contrasts between native speakers of different languages. o By doing this, a better understanding of why cognitive processes vary so much between individuals, especially those in international communities. Relevance o The impact of language on cognition carries relevance for numerous other processes, such as memory, learning and basic communication. Understanding how these factors effect each other can allow improvement for these processes depending on what is necessary for the individual. For example, tailoring studying and learning to best benefit a group or individual. o Understanding cognition and its environmental influences is a step toward further understanding the human mind and more general psychology. “The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is.” – Lera Boroditsky (TEDWomen, 2017)
- 162. STRESS AND SUBCLINICAL OCD IN STUDENTS Research question: Is there a link between stress and subclinical OCD in students? Hypothesis: Students show more symptoms of subclinical OCD when experiencing stressful events. “OCD is like having a bully stuck inside your head and nobody else can see it.” -Krissy McDermott What is OCD? obsession: intrusive thought that provokes anxiety. Obsession is followed by repetitive actions called compulsions that relieve the anxiety from the obsession. Subclinical symptoms of OCD include obsessions and compulsions that do not interfere with daily functioning. Methodology Population: UCM students Sample: random sample consisting of people who will fill out the online survey (~200 students). Conduct: A quantitative survey will be posted on Facebook. Students will have to answer questions about whether or not they experienced OCD symptoms in the past year and whether those symptoms were stronger in periods of stress ( exams, midterms,...). Relevance The aim of this study is to assess whether or not subclinical symptoms of OCD are stronger when the individual is under stress. This is particularly interesting as not much is known about subclinical OCD and its causes. Moreover, this study can also help participants by making them aware that these mild obsessions and compulsions are normal. Introduction Previous studies have shown that lack of perceived mental control induces OCD (McLaren & Crowe, 2003). According to Sulkowski et al., 3-6% of college students display symptomology that is consistent with a diagnosis of OCD (Sulkowski et al., 2011). However, no research was made about symptomology of subclinical OCD in students therefore this study is aiming to look at a field where more research is needed. McLaren, S., & Crowe, S. F. (2003). The contribution of perceived control of stressful life events and thought suppression to the symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder in both non-clinical and clinical samples.Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 17(4), 389-403. Sulkowski, M. L., Mariaskin, A., & Storch, E. A. (2011). Obsessive- compulsive spectrum disorder symptoms in college students. Journal of American College Health, 59(5), 342-348. Obsessive thought Anxiety Compulsion Temporary Relief Monika Somogyi
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- 164.
- 165. CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND(COD) AND BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD) OF WATER Research Question: How good is the quality of water from the different water bodies in Maastricht in terms of COD and BOD? Introduction "Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen that bacteria will consume while decomposing organic matter under aerobic conditions." (Appendix B, NGRDC, 2001) "Chemical oxygen demand (COD) does not differentiate between biologically available and inert organic matter, and it is a measure of the total quantity of oxygen required to oxidize all organic material into carbon dioxide and water" (Appendix B, NGRDC) Relevance Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center. (2001, May). A GUIDEBOOK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR DEVELOPING REGIONAL WATERSHED PROTECTION PLANS. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from https://epd.georgia.gov/sites/epd.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/devwtrplan.pdf References: The higher the BOD and COD values, the higher the amount of organic compounds in water. The process of decomposing this matter depletes dissolved oxygen levels in water and can result in less oxygen available to the aquatic life in the respective water bodies. Purpose To compare the experimental results with previous COD/BOD studies in the Netherlands and any set standards and assess the relative quality of the water bodies in Maastricht. Method Quantitative research: COD and BOD of water specimens. Samples: Multiple samples of each water body so as to find a mean value. The usual chemical experiments for COD and BOD would be carried out. Limitations COD can sometimes include the oxidation of inorganic chemicals, but with further tests, these chemicals can be removed from the samples before testing. Sharanam Soni
- 166. Why care? Here at University Maastricht College, thanks to our international environment many of us are both simultaneous or sequential bilinguals. This brings about the unique possibility to compare these two types of bilingualism, allowing us to fill the gap in academic literature as well as giving further insight into the possible reasons for the bilingual advantage. This research could also have possible practical relevance by potentially helping parents decide when to introduce a new language to their children. Research Question: “Do simultaneous and sequential bilinguals equally benefit from the bilingual advantage based on their task-switching and stimuli inhibitory abilities?” Abstract Bilingualism is defined as the ability to speak two languages fluently. For the first part of the 20th century researchers thought bilingualism lowered the IQ since it creates confusion in the brain. However, modern researchers suggest quite the opposite. Bilingualism is thought to enhance cognitive control or conflict resolution abilities. In fact, evidence suggests that it is also protective from dementia by delaying its onset by an average of five years (Vince, 2016). However, almost no studies have attempted to compare simultaneous versus sequential bilinguals. Simultaneous meaning that the child learns the languages at the same time, whereas sequential is first learning one then the other. Does it matter? Will both have the same cognitive advantages? Procedure The process of data collection will be done as follows: • Population: UCM Students • Sample: 10-15 simultaneous bilinguals and 10-15 sequential bilinguals (learned the second language between ages 8-16) • Both groups will complete two short tests duration of about 2 min each • Flanker Test: Tests for the ability to ignore/ inhibit irrelevant stimuli • Task-Switching Test: Looks for the ability to alternate quickly between two different tasks Once the data is collected, it will be evaluated with the program SPSS in order to determine the significance of the findings. Expectations This research expects to see a slight difference between the two groups, with simultaneous bilinguals having a slight advantage over sequential bilinguals. What we know so far.. As previously mentioned the research has focused on the difference between monolingual and bilingual. The main findings can be summarized as follows: • Bilingual proficiency positively influences conflict resolution abilities (Singh, 2012). Potentially because of bilinguals ability to look at things from different perspectives. • Bilinguals are better at switching between multiple tasks than monolinguals (Prior & Gollan, 2011). Potentially due to their brains being trained in switching between tow languages quickly and constantly. • Bilinguals outperform monolinguals in inhibitory tasks (Bruin, 2014). Potentially due to bilinguals constant need to ignore one of the languages while speaking the other. Methodology In order to answer the research question, this research project will use a quantitative approach. This way, the results will be able to be statistically analyzed in order to determine whether there is a difference between simultaneous and sequential bilingualism and if it is significant. References De Bruin, A., Treccani, B. and Della Sala, S. (2014). Cognitive Advantage in Bilingualism. Psychological Science, 26(1), pp.99-107. DOI: 10.1177/095677614557866 Prior, A. and Gollan, T. (2011). Good language-Switchers are Good Task-Switchers: Evidence from Spanish-English and Mandarin-English Bilinguals. Journal of the International Neuropsychology Society, 17(04), pp.682-691. DOI: 10.1017/S1355617711000580 Singh, N. and Mishra, R. (2012. Does language proficiency modulate oculomotor control? Evidence from Hindi-English bilinguals. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 15(04), pp771-781. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S13667289120000665 Vince, G. (2018). The amazing benefits of being bilingual. BBC. Available at: hyyp://bbc.com/future/story/20160811-the-amazing-benefits-of-being-bilingual Research Methods II Caroline Bussu ID: 6154438
- 167. Introduction In past timesit was the strongest man who would have been considered the most “attractive”. That was because being strong meant being able to survive. However nowadays in order to survive individuals need money. The more money a person has the more likely it is for him to live a peaceful life. We always seek for survival and finding someone that can guarantee that survival will rate him more attractive. Nowadays, being able to survive does not consist in being able to hunt, but rather to have a constant income of profits, which guarantees for survival. Furthermore, it is true that women are more attracted to man who maintain a “high occupational status”. This result in man being able to attract and marry more attractive women (Workman and Reader, 2014). Much of the occupational status can be said by the looks of the outfit. Therefore, I think that by looking at a men in uniforms of certain jobs, they will appear more attractive. Sample There will be one group of five different men, which will be the “models”. This sample group will be shown to different groups of female judges who will rate their attractiveness on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 as being not attractive at all, and 10 as being the most attractive. The models will be shown to 10 groups of 5 judges while being dressed in casual clothing. Here a vote will be given to all the models that reflects their attractiveness. Afterwards, the 10 groups of judges will change, along with the clothing of the models. Here they will change into clothing that reflects 5 different jobs; Doctor, Mechanic, Lawyer, Farmer, Pilot. Again, a vote will be given on the attractiveness of the models in job uniforms. Lastly there will be another group of judges that will have to vote the models. Here however, the models will exchange job uniforms, in order to give another “impression” of themselves. Research Question Is there a positive correlation between how attractive a person is and his job? Hypothesis The Hypothesis is that there is a positive correlation between the competence of the job and how attractive a person will look. The higher the competence of the job is, the more attractive the person will be. Methodology The first group of models being judged from the first groups of judges will serve as ‘guideline’ for all the future votes. A table will be created, having on the vertical columns the names of the models, and horizontally the vote that was given to them by the 50 different people. Therefore, a mean is going to be created for every model. This will serve as the starting point of comparison with the future votes given. The same table will be created with the second group of judges that will vote on the attractiveness of the models, while wearing work related clothing.Again, here a mean will be created for every individual model. The procedure used for the third group of judges is as the previous ones, however the clothing of the models will be changed again. This time the jobs will be exchanged in order to create a third perspective of the models. When all the means of every model are gathered from each of the three scenarios, a bar chart will be created. The bar chart will show all the means next to each other (labels respectively; casual, job #1, job #2) of every individual model. Therefore, we will see if there is a positive correlation between the job and the attractiveness. The ‘higher’ the job , the higher the attractiveness. References Workman, L. and Reader, W. (2014). Evolutionary psychology. 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. i6154732By Federico Sada
- 168. Do adult dogpet owners walk more than adult leisure walkers in Maastricht? Dog pet owners walk significantly more compared to leisure walkers in Maastricht. List of References: Brown, S. G., & Rhodes, R. E. (2006). Relationships among dog ownership and leisure-time walking in Western Canadian adults. American journal of preventive medicine, 30(2), 131-136. Cutt, H., Giles-Corti, B., Knuiman, M., & Burke, V. (2007). Dog ownership, health and physical activity: A critical review of the literature. Health & place, 13(1), 261- 272. Netherlands: households owning cats and dogs 2010-2016 | Statistic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/517027/households-owning-cats- dogs-europe-netherlands/ Abstract: Have you ever seen a dark figure standing in a cold winter by the side of a street park, dog at a leash, enthusiastically cleaning after his four-legged friend? You indeed have, considering that only in the Netherlands it is estimated that 19% of households own a pet dog*. Indeed, walking dogs is a commitment owners have to comply with, but to what extent does this affect their everyday lives? Do they dedicate more hours to walk than other adults who walk for leisure in city parks? Our research aims to confirm previous studies conducted in Australia and Canada, where dog owners were found to be more likely to be physically active than non-owners. Our comparison of dog owners and leisure walkers intends to provide a more detail estimation of the former’s more frequent activity. Methodology: Population: adult dog owners and adult leisure walkers of Maastricht city parks. Sample: Cluster sampling Conduct: Questionnaires of maximum 1 page will be given out in Stadspark, De Griend, and Geusselt with reward for compilation (8th -10th June). Questions will be both in English and Dutch and will ask for sex, age, whether they are dog owners or leisure walkers, and an estimate of walking activity per week. The aim is to reach at least 150 responses. Dependent variable: minutes per week of walking Independent variable: Dog ownership Data analysis: inferential statistical analysis of the survey findings * ("Netherlands:households owning cats and dogs 2010-2016", 2018) Who is more active: Dog owners or leisure walkers? Tosatto Silvia, i6155193 Example of statistical analysis conducted in a previous study (Browns and Rhodes, 2006) Expectations: Considering the time of the year and the suggestive nature of Maastricht city parks, we can expect to have many responses from both sides. Furthermore, we expect to confirm our hypothesis, as while leisure walking is an activity usually conducted on sunny weekends, dog walks require daily frequency. Hence, owners are forced to go on walks more frequently, and independently of weather conditions. moreover, we assume that the improved weather conditions motivate dog owners in the same measure as leisure walkers, thus having a cumulative effect upon the physical activity of the formers. Ethical Considerations: Consent will be asked prior to data collection.
- 170. WORD ASSOCIATION References: Deyne, S.D., & Storms, G. (n.d.). Small World of Words. Retrieved from https://smallworldofwords.org/en Meara, P. M. (2009). Connected Words : Word Associations and Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Co. Otgaar, H., Howe, M., & Muris, P. (2017). Maltreatment increases spontaneous false memories but decreases suggestion-induced false memories in children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 35(3 ), 376-391. doi:10.1111/bjdp.12177 Relevance: In a legal setting, word association can lead to false confessions and wrongful convictions. By studying word association lists, a greater understanding about how false memories are created through memory association can be achieved. Method: - A qualitative and confirmatory approach. Population: UCM students. Sample: a random sample of at least 20 UCM students. - Steps: read a list of 10 words that are associated with sweetness (e.g. chocolate, sugar, candy), and then ask the participant to repeat the list back. If the person recalls a word that was not on the list, record it. Attempt to find words that are commonly recalled but not on the list. - Independent variable: the list of words that are said to the participant. - Dependent variable: whether or not the participant adds a word to the list and what word they add. - Constants: speed that the list is being presented to the participant and the environment (e.g. a quiet room). HOW LIKELY ARE UCM STUDENTS TO FALSELY RECALL WORDS WHEN ASKED TO REPEAT A LIST? Empirical Research: - In our brains we have a network of word associations. In this network, the nodes are words and the connections to other words are the associations. There are multiple associations made with each word (Meara, 2009, p. 59-60). This means that when people think of a certain set of words, they often group these words together and associate them with another words. For example, the words heat, beach, tanning, and swimsuits are often associated with the word sun. - There is a type of false memory that is called spontaneous false memories. These memories are more likely to arise due to memory inside the brain and internal word association networks (Otgaar, Howe, & Muris, 2017, p. 377) .
- 171. RESEARCH QUESTION: “Lying isjust so ordinary, so much a part of our everyday lives and everyday conversations that we hardly notice it. And, in many cases, it would be more difficult, challenging, and stressful for people to tell the truth than to lie”. (Hening, 2006) To what extent does the ability of lie detection improve over time? RELEVANCE HOW • Methodology: Quantitative, experimental • Subjects will be shown a video of different people being interviewed about an everyday topic (such as: what did you do in you in your last summer vacation?) and asked afterwards to grade, from a scale from one to ten how true the statements given in the video they thought were. The sample consists of 40 subjects; 20 college students (10 female and 10 male) and 20 adults (40+) Moreover, the grade of accuracy on the detection of lies will be assessed, comparing both groups in order to determine whether or not the ability to detect lies improve over time. • The ability to lie detect is a key aspect in the field of Psychology and Law. through methods such as polygraph tests, law enforcement is capable of deciphering dishonest suspects. this research though will focus on the human aspect of lie detection through self awareness. • The results uncovered may further the knowledge not only in the field of Psychology in terms of lie detection, but in the field of Law, in regards to law enforcement developing new and improved methods of lie detection. • Rate of accuracy on detecting a lie is 54 percent • If being able to rehearse, the specific lie would be harder to detect. • Training makes people more confident on their own ability to lie, and therefore they are able to provide more detailed arguments. • Liar’s stereotype- people tend to show nervous behaviour, look down, stutter. PREVIOUS RESEARCH SAMPLE DePaulo, B. M., Lindsay, J. J., Malone, B. E., Muhlenbruck, L.,Charlton, K., & Cooper, H. (2003). Cues to deception. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 74–118. Kassin, S. M., & Fong, C. T. (1999). “I’m innocent!” Effects of training on judgments of truth and deception in the interrogation room. Law and Human Behavior, 23, 499–516. Henig, R. (2006, February 5). The new science of lying. The New York Times Magazine, pp. 1–12. Costanzo, M., & Krauss, D. (2018). Forensic and legal psychology: Psychological science applied to law. New York, NY: Worth. . Maria Lopez-Perea I6155586
- 172. Methodology: Sampling:1two$sample$groups$ from$UCM$students;$children$of$ divorce$and$children$of$happy$ marriages. Approach:1Quantitative Data collection: extensivesurveys$ and potentially further interviews Independent variable: status$of$ parents. Dependant1variable:1attitude$ toward$relationships. Research Question: How does the effect parental divorce has on ones approach to romantic relationships present itself in UCM students? Hypothesis: Students who have experienced their parents’ divorce will be more reserved than those who haven’t when it comes to getting into relationships or will have had more unsuccessful relationships than students whose parents are happily married. Abstract: Being a child of divorce (COD) almost always implies having witnessed a failed marriage. This can have a substantial negative impact on a persons romantic relationships into their adolescence and adulthood. This research project aims to pinpoint the quantifiable effects of divorce amongst UCM students’ relationships. Earlier Research: J Fear of abandonment, issues with trusting others with strong emotions, accepting abuse and unhappiness in relationships as a normal factor all play into the unhealthy dynamics COD have in their own relationships. J Children of divorce will often go to any means possible to avoid divorce, resulting in either the inability to build relationships. Or they may prematurely jump into commitment because they assume divorce is the only way it will end. Rerefences: J Cui,$M.,&$Fincham,$F.$D.$(2010).$The$differential$effects$of$parental$divorce$and$marital$conflict$on$young$adult$romantic$relationships. Personal)Relationships, 17(3),$ 331J343. J Costello,$D.$(2003).$Effects$of$Divorce$on$Future$Relationships. ESSAI, 1(1),$13. CHILDREN) OF) DIVORCE By$Ela$J$Unal i6155596
- 173. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATIONDESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com Introduction RESEARCH QUESTION + HYPOTHESIS METHODOLOGY Population: UCM students Sample: random sample of UCM students, sample size: 60 students. Conduct: Students are divided into five groups. Group one is the control group and will therefore not chew any gum, group two will chew mint flavored gum, group three bubble gum, group four fruit flavored gum and group five gum without flavor. While chewing they will all study the same list of words for 10 minutes. Afterwards they are asked to recall as many words as possible Dependent variable: Chewing gum flavor Independent variable: number of words remembered. Data analysis: statistical analysis of quantitative data. EXPECTATIONS With the experiment the researcher seeks to establish differences in the working memory capacity influenced by chewing a different flavor of chewing gum. As previous empirical work has shown that chewing a piece of gum does have an influence it is expected to find that group 2-5 will remember more words of the wordlist compared to group 1. To establish if flavor is of any influence group 2-5 will be compared. It is expected that there is no significant difference in the number of words remembered by groups 2-5. No significant difference will indicate that the flavor of chewing gum is of no influence. References Imfeld, T. (1999). Chewing Gum - Facts and Fiction: a Review of Gum-Chewing and Oral Health. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, 10(3), 405-419. doi:10.1177/10454411990100030901 Overman, A. A., Sun, J., Golding, A. C., & Prevost, D. (2009). Chewing gum does not induce context-dependent memory when flavor is held contstant. Appetite, 53, 253-255. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2009.06.013 Scholey, A., Haskell, C., Robertson, B., Kennedy, D., Milne, A., & Wetherell, M. (2009). Chewing gum alleviates negative mood and reduces cortisol during acute laboratory psychological stress. Physiology & Behavior, 97, 304-312. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.02.028 Tucha, O., Mecklinger, L., Maier, K., Hammerl, M., & Lange, K. W. (2004). Chewing gum differentially affects aspects of attention in healthy subjects. Appetite, 42, 327-329. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2004.01.003 Wilkinson, L., Scholey, A., & Wesnes, K. (2002). Chewing gum selectively improves aspects of memory in heatlhy volunteers. Appetite, 38, 235-236. doi:10.1006/appe.2002.0473 How do different flavors of chewing gum influence the working memory of UCM students? To answer this research question, we must answer the following sub-question first. Does chewing gum enhance the working memory capacity of UCM students? For the sub-question is expected that students who chew gum will remember more than students who are not chewing gum. Expected is that there will be no difference between memory capacity between students chewing different flavors of chewing gum. The influence of chewing gum flavor on the working memory. Anne Peeters A tasty memory For a long time, eating something sweet has been seen as a treat. People love sweets such as chocolate, ice cream or caramels. One of the most popular sweets however, is chewing gum. Over 374 billion pieces of gum are sold each year (Imfeld, 1999). Especially among students, chewing a piece of gum while studying is really popular (Tucha, Mecklinger, Maier, Hammerl, & Lange, 2004). Over the course of twenty years there have been several studies that looked at the influence of chewing a piece of gum on attention and memory (Scholey et al., 2009; Tucha et al., 2004; Wilkinson, Scholey, & Wesnes, 2002). These studies suggest that the chewing gum has a positive influence on the working memory. In 2009 (Overman, Sun, Golding, & Prevost) a study was conducted to see if a flavor constant had an even bigger effect on the working memory. However, no study has been done to see if different chewing gum flavors have an effect on the working memory. Therefore, it would be interesting to see if a different flavor of gum has a different effect on the working memory of UCM students. WORDLIST EXAMPLE Metaphysics Furniture Galaxy Trampoline Restaurant Depression Washcloth Television Olive oil Molecule University Tissue box Shampoo Moonshine Matras Swimming pool Revelation Birthday
- 174. Methods And Methodology Approach:Qualitative Sample: 5 different nationalities/cultures, of which each nationality/culture ten people. Targeted group: Men Conduct: a qualitative survey to gain general data and interviews to gain more in depth data. Relevance The importance of this research is that instead of just seeing looking at men being raised differently, the research goes more in depth. By making one’s cultural upbringing the most important component in this research. The outcome will probably be different than other research. Time and planning - 2 days to make the surveys - The surveys will be distributed throughout media such as Facebook and email, towards UCM students. - In the second week interviews will be conducted with four participants. - In the second half of the second week the surveys and interviews will be analysed. - In the third week the research report will be written. Abstract It is understood in society today that men and woman receive different ways in upbringing in regards to expressing emotions. The term toxic masculinity arises from this emotionless upbringing that many men endure. By being told that one should ‘man up’ and that real men do not cry, men have a hard time detecting their emotions without resorting to anger or disinterest. The research will be conducted in regards to these different upbringings but then through the lens of different cultural upbringings. Do germans have a harder time crying than Americans? Is an Italian more inclined to say ‘I love you’ than someone who is Dutch? References - Oransky, M. and Marecek, J. (2009). “I'm Not Going to Be a Girl”. Journal of Adolescent Research, 24(2), pp.218-241. - Cohn, A., Seibert, L. and Zeichner, A. (2009). The role of restrictive emotionality, trait anger, and masculinity threat in men’s perpetration of physical aggression. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 10(3), pp.218-224. - Addis, M. E., & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American Psychologist, 58(1), 5-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.5 To what extent do different cultural upbringings affect the way men (within UCM) express emotions? Soraya Berger i6157571 Research Methods II
- 175. Muzna Hatmi I6157966 PreviousResearch: Researchers at Brown University studied how daily stress affects panic attacks in an individual. It was found that panic symptoms only gradually increase over a period of months rather than getting worse immediately. Dr. Martin Keller, the head of this research warned that the symptoms might take a minimum period of three months to occur. The research combined 418 adults who suffered from panic disorders. These individuals confirmed that stress involved with work or family kept increasing gradually for at least 12 weeks after the event, until they came on surface. Similarly, in cases where stressful events were already predicted such as divorce, Moitra and Keller, lead authors of the research noted that panic symptoms did not increase prior to the event. Research Question: Can day to day stress result in a long-term panic Methodology: 10 students and 10 employees will be chosen as the sample Individuals who already suffer from panic attacks will be interviewed and asked detailed questions about negative events in their life, such as about school work, number of hours of studying, recent job etc. The questions will be structured to fit the personal profile of the subject. The interview will be analyzed using a thematic analysis in order to identify similar patterns amongst subjects. Sources Nauert, R. (n.d.). Panic Can Build Gradually from Chronic Stress. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/news/2011/06/21/panic-can-build-gradually-from-chronic-stress/27102.html Twenge, J. M. (2014). Why So Many People Are Stressed and Depressed. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201410/why-so-many-people-are-stressed-and-depressed Villanueva, S. (2015). Teenage Stress. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-parent-teen/201512/teenage-stress
- 176. Mindfulness Meditation and Attention: Doesmindfulnessmeditationhavean improvingimpactonattentionandifyesisit possibletoseeresultsinashortperiod? Experiment: 1. 5-10participants will take an attention span test 2. They will do mindfulness meditation for 2 weeks 3. They will take the test again at the end of the 1st and the 2nd week 4. Results will be compared to see the effect of meditation Introduction: Mindfulness is the state of being aware of your presence and couscous. It is something we own naturally but yet we are mostly not aware of its importance. Mindfulness meditation is a way of bringing awareness to our mental capabilities and the environment we live in. Mindfulness meditation is associated with observation and connecting. Research suggest it helps with anxiety and has a positive impact on attention and memory formation.Therefore, mindfulness can be an effective way to increase our focus and solve attention problems. Earlier Research: • Meditation activates hypometabolic autonomic nervous system response and results in relaxation1 • Prolonged practice is found to effective on cognitive and affective neuroplasticity2 Methodology: • Quantitative and experimental • Independent variable: Practice of mindfulness meditation, the duration of the meditation • Dependent variable: Score in an attention span test • Measurement tools: Attention span test Relevance: Mindfulness meditation is a practice which can be done in anyplace at any time. If it is effective to increase focusing by releasing unclear thoughts it can become an easily accessible tool for improving attention problems. Hypothesis: • Mindfulness meditation will increase attention • Continuity will effect the improvement level Limitations: • Limited practice time • The quality • of the attention span test References: 1: Manna, A., Raffone, A., Perrucci, M., Nardo, D., Ferretti, A., Tartaro, A., Londei, A., Del Gratta, C., Belardinelli, M. and Romani, G. (2010). Neural correlates of focused attention and cognitive monitoring in meditation. Brain Research Bulletin, 82(1- 2), pp.46-56. 2: Lutz, A., Slagter, H., Dunne, J. and Davidson, R. (2008). Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12(4), pp.163-169. Guyaux, F. (2018). Mindfulness: Getting Started. [online] Mindful. Available at: https://www.mindful.or g/meditation/mindfuln ess-getting-started/ [Accessed 4 May 2018]. Ceren Cingi i6159469
- 177. Academic Performance and SeasonalAffective Disorder What is the Relationship Between Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the Academic Performance of University Students in the Netherlands? RELEVENCE & AIMS The relevance of undertaking this research is to discover if SAD does indeed have a negative affect on academic performance of university students in the Netherlands. If this is found to be the case – which earlier empirical evidence points to – then universities should do more to alleviate this damage by implementing programs to help in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. The purpose of this study is to understand the link between SAD and university academic performance. In order to better understand this, students from abroad will be studied. METHODOLOGY Ignoring factors like natural ability, a sample group of students from UCM with a criteria being that students come from abroad, will be selected. A control group of Dutch students will also be selected. The academic performance of students will then be measured. Students will receive a survey asking them to rank their academic performance throughout the year, quantitively, on a scale of 1-5. The results will then be collected and analysed in SPSS with the purpose of finding trends in general academic performance over the year. The results are expected to be confirmatory of the hypothosis. WHAT IS SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a combination of biological and mood disruptions, typically occurring during winter months. There are associated physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms: low energy, appetite and general behavioral changes, increased anxiety, difficulty concentrating and hypersomnia. With such a range of symptoms, it is clear that SAD can significantly affect the daily functioning of individuals. REFERENCES TO EARLIER EMPERICAL WORK q Coping With the Seasons: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Seasonal Affective Disorder, Therapist Guide (Treatments That Work), 2009 – Kelly J. Rohan. – facts about SAD q The prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in the Netherlands: a prospective and retrospective study of seasonal mood variation in the general population, 1999 – Peter Paul A Mersch et al. This experiment assessed the prevalence of SAD in the Netherlands. q Seasonal Affective Disorder in College Students: Prevalence and Latitude, 2010 – Kathryn G. Low & Joshua M. Feissner Sources Huibers, M., de Graaf, L., Peeters, F., & Arntz, A. (2010). Does the weather make us sad? Meteorological determinants of mood and depression in the general population. Psychiatry Research, 180(2-3), 143-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2009.09.016 Kurlanksik, S., & Ibay, A. (2012). Seasonal Affective Disorder. American Family Physician, 86(11), 1037-1041. Rosenthal, N. (1984). Seasonal Affective Disorder. Archives Of General Psychiatry, 41(1), 72 Vera, G. (1998). Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry,173(3), 270-270. doi:10.1192/bjp.173.3.270a Hypothosis: SAD has a negative impact on students grades in the Netherlands, with general performance decreasing during Winter months.
- 178. RQ : towhat extent are you aware of the consequences that bullying has ? Methods ? - Qualitative - Quantitative - Interview in case of personal experience Suicide ? Anxiety ? Depression ? Want to run away ? - Alone against everyone - Depression - Suicidal thoughts - Destroyed References : - https://www.google.it/search?biw=2133&bih=1070&tbm=i sch&sa=1&ei=XGbsWragA8rbwAKlo4LABQ&q=bullying+&o q=bullying+&gs_l=psy- ab.3..0l10.57902.182001.0.182215.21.9.11.1.3.0.542.2633.2 -5j1j1j1.8.0....0...1c.1.64.psy- ab..3.18.4300...0i6keK0PdGKAvj3rM:7k1.0.UI2pw6NBCP8#i mgr -https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-05-shadow- childhood-bullying.html - Control and experimental group - Interview not more than 5- 10 minutes - Bullying affects general capacities, and personal traits of each of us such as self esteem. - Increases the amount of suicidal thoughts that one can have between 11 and 17 years old. - Increases the difficulty to make friends. - Trust issues are way more important. - And You, what do you know about it ? - ( previous research in this poster is not needed due to personal knowledge )
- 179. Stigma at UCM;The Perception of Mental Health Abstract Mental health stigma has been associated with several impediments for people with mental health troubles (Corrigan, 2004). These include amongst others not seeking or fully participating in mental health services and lower self-esteem and self- efficacy, the latter of which is especially related to pursuing opportunities. Because of the range of negative results a stigma can bring on people with mental health problems, it is important to decrease such a stigma if necessary. For this, it is first relevant to discover whether or not the stigma is prevalent in an environment. This study aims to clarify what stigma towards mental illnesses are present at UCM. To this end, the research question is as follows: What is the mental health stigma amongst UCM students towards six specific mental illnesses? Research Overview Approach: Qualitative Method: Open question list that concerns the participant’s views and opinions on the six mental illnesses, either digital or in person Sample: UCM students, 25-30 people Data analysis: Determining what type the majority of the responses is for each question and summarising this response Schedule Week 1 – creating a coherent questionnaire Week 2 – carrying out practical research Week 3 – practical research and start of writing Week 4 – writing the paper Notes The question list must include a question about whether or not the participant has completed the course Clinical Psychology, because this may have influenced their views to diverge more from the “standard” UCM opinion. The research has been limited to six mental illnesses (schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depressive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder) because it is assumed that these are the most well-known, and to limit the amount of data to allow for a clear analysis. References Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614-625. Doi:10.1037/0003- 066X.59.7.614 King, M., Dinos, S., Shaw, J., Watson, R., Stevens, S., Passetti, F., Weich, S., Serfaty, M. (2007). The Stigma Scale: development of a standardised measure of the stigma of mental illness. Br J Psychiatry, 190, 248- 254. Doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.024638 Background Stigma has a number of negative influences on people with mental health difficulties (Corrigan, 2004), which gives reason to discover and decrease this stigma. A scale of stigma measurement by King et al (2007) will be used as a guideline to create a questionnaire for the purposes of this research, as the scale developed in that research is mainly concerned with the experiences of patients themselves. Inge Rijk, i6161190
- 180. Research Question: In what ways is yoga a different stress reliever from doing sports within UCM students? Y O G A Instant Zen? References Aan, R., Ar, S., Aj, K. R. C., & Mi, Z. (2009). Stress and coping strategies among management and science university students: A qualitative study. International Medical Journal, 8(2), 11-15. Fox, K. R. (1999). The influence of physical activity on mental well-being.Public Health Nutrition,2(3a). doi:10.1017/s1368980099000567 Ganpat, T., Nagendra, H., & Selvi, V. (2013). Efficacy of yoga for mental performance in university students. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,55(4), 349. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.120550 Milligan, C. K. (2006). Yoga for Stress Management Program as a Complementary Alternative Counseling Resource in a University Counseling Center. Journal of College Counseling,9(2), 181-187. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2006.tb00105.x Scully, D., Kremer, J., Meade, M. M., Graham, R., & Dudgeon, K. (1998). Physical exercise and psychological well being: A critical review. British Journal of Sports Medicine,32(2), 111-120. doi:10.1136/bjsm.32.2.111 Yoga Lotus Position [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-yoga-lotus-position-silhouette- vector-shape-image95686299 The pressure of being a university student brings along feelings of stress due to various factors. Nevertheless, each individual student has his/her own strategies aimed to serve as stress-coping mechanisms. Throughout my educational experience, I have found yoga to be a useful stress-reliever, and I have realized that these views are shared with some of my peers in University College Maastricht. However, other students favor sports as a better way of dealing with stress. Empirical Methodological Approach & Concrete Steps The relevance of this research proposal is further justified by the findings of various previous empirical research. Departing from the of recommending exercise and sports as prevention and treatment for several health diseases, the studies Scully et al. (1998) and Fox (1999) provide sufficient empirical evidence that correlates physical exercise to treatment of mental health conditions, namely depression and anxiety disorders. In other words, these studies have shown a significant link between performing sports and an improved psychological well-being. Nevertheless, these studies have not been recently replicated among undergraduate university students. A study by Aan et al. (2009) demonstrated that students listed financial concerns, lack of sleep, and family problems as main causes of stress, and identified wide array of coping mechanisms including but not limited to meditating, spending time with friends and seeking counseling advice from a professional. Over the past years, the positive effects of performing yoga has been the focus point of psycho-physiological health studies. As anxiety disorder are conditions that are usually comorbid with feelings of stress, researchers have addressed the effects of yoga as a behavior and lifestyle modifier contributing to physical, psychological and emotional well-being. This claim can be supported by study analyzing brain wave coherence which found empirical evidence that correlates yoga practice with healthier physical and psychological conditions as well as improved mental performance within university students (Ganpat et al., 2013). Similarly, yoga has been concluded to be a successfully implemented stress management program alternative to counseling for undergraduate university students (Milligan, 2006). By: Dorothy Puga i6162248 Previous Empirical Research Epistemologically, the research will entail a constructivist approach with an interpretivist theoretical perspective. This arises from the idea that truth emerges from an interaction between the individual self and the world; thus, human beings are considered meaningful actors in the process of discovering knowledge. The individual experiences of UCM students will be taken into account in order to evaluate yoga and sports as stress coping mechanisms. The research approach of this study will be inductive by following a bottom-up procedure from the specific context of the UCM student community. Henceforth, this will be an exploratory research as it does not depart from a previously existing theory, and seeks to compare and comprehend two different stress coping mechanism that UCM students practice: yoga and sports. Following this line of thought, the study will be an idiographic research centered upon understanding and analyzing a particular case within the specific context of UCM, and does not seek to generalize the results into universally applicable laws. The research will employ a qualitative approach assessed through the methodology of a detailed survey research. Subsequently, the data collection method this study will employ is a survey questionnaire consisting on both multiple choice and open answer questions. Relevant questions to be addressed include a definition of stress, possible causes, and the preferred stress-coping mechanism (yoga or sports) of each individual. Then, follow-up questions will assess the effects of these mechanisms through questions relating to personal feelings before and after performing the favored stress relieving method. Lastly, the time frame of the study will be cross-sectional, and carried out in a time span of approximately three weeks. As there is empirical research that correlates psychological well-being to the continuous practice of both yoga and sports, this study aims to compare both mechanisms in order to examine their effectiveness, as well as to consider why students might prefer one strategy over the other. The relevance of this study also lies within evaluating yoga and sports as stress-relievers, and their role in the importance of psychological well-being for maintaining an overall healthy body. Introduction Relevance
- 182. INTRODUCTION Humour had alwaysbeen a common and effective coping mechanism in times of crisis (Rintel, 2013). With the development of Internet culture a new medium for expression was created. A common form of expression are so called memes. They underlie fundamental prerequisites of humour, which have to be understood by the consumer. Memes and their ironic messages offer insight into sociocultural trends and the mental state of consuming individuals because of an individual‘s understanding of the reproduced content. Further it is assumed that humour serves as a coping mechanism, thus a perceived crisis is required. Since memes reproduce cultural beliefs they indicate common topics within the population. Over the years dark-humour-memes increased in viral popularity which goes alongside with increasing mental health issues in the youth. This relationship will be further inspected. RESEARCH QUESTION To what extent is there a relation between enjoyment of memes and mood disorders; and is the degree of commitment a key indicator? HYPOTHESIS The hypothesis is that there indeed is a positive relation between enjoying memes and the experience of negative mood disturbances. The additional hypothesis is that the degree of commitment is an indicator for someone‘s mental well-being. RELEVANCE The aim of this study is to find out if there is a positive relation between enjoying memes and negative mood disorders. The objective is to measure the degrees of enjoyment by using interviews to find out about self-reported reasons for enjoying memes and experiences of mood disturbances. The relevance is to find out whether enjoying memes can be considered as an indicator for mental health issues. If so, it would identitfy a potential risk-group and provide new information in order to establish innovative prevention as well as early intervention programs. SAMPLE The sample consists of social media users, who will be randomly selected within this framework. In total 10 participants will be assessed, from which 5 will be administrators of social media meme-sites. This is to have a comparison between very commited meme consumers to less committed consumers and their mental state. METHODOLOGY It is a qualitative research approach, in which offline as well as online interviews will be conducted. Let‘s talk about mental health! DO YOU HIDE YOUR PAIN LIKE HAROLD? Work out questions for the offline and online interviews Conduct interviews and analyse data Write report
- 183. 7-May-18 Salvatore Garofaloi6164208 To what extent does alimentation affect students’ results in university? Introduction Among the challenges and responsibility that students face when they leave family house and start living independently is to take care of their own diet. This has two implications: first, they are required to manage their monthly budget in such a way that prevents them from starving, as well as from spending too much on food. At the same time, they to make sure they intake the right amount of calories and nutritional elements. Of course, students react in different ways: some may easily adjust their habits in a healthy way; some may prefer to enjoy the freedom of eating junk food without being judged. However, a question arises: does diet have an effect only on health, or is there some correlation with results in university? Arguments for a healthy diet Healthy food is associated with more nutritious elements, which are expected to have an influence on both body integrity and brain performances. Furthermore, it might be difficult to study while being completely stuffed with hyper-caloric food. Arguments for junk food On the other hand, in order to keep a healthy diet, one needs to go often grocery shopping and some preparations might take quite long times. Instead, eating often outside, especially in fast foods, may have a great impact on time saving. Assessing impacts of nutritious elements • Effects of a list of foods on the biological and chemical functioning of brain. Which parts of the brain are stimulated? Do they play any role in learning process? • How does reiterated junk food assumption affect our brain? And again, which parts of the brain are stimulated? Do they play any role in learning process? Assessing impact on time management • What is the average waiting time in Maastricht’s fast foods? • How much time is spent to prepare healthy meal? Methodology Interviewees will be asked to prepare an approximation of their average week diet, counting how many times they junk food, specifying where they usually go, and how many times they have healthy meal, specifying what exactly these meals consist of. Afterwards, such approximation will be analysed in the light of two variables: effects on time management and nutritious intake. Finally, students will be asked to anonymously disclose their GPA or last grades, in order to compare their academic results with those of students with similar and different diet habits.
- 184. RQ: How docurrent UCM students, with either an authoritarian or very lenient upbringing, evaluate the impacts their parents or other caregivers had on their emotional intelligence? Dharaha Thanapalasingham (i6164562) Introduction (including Prior Research) Parents (other caregivers) influence children from the day they were born. Nevertheless, one day children grow up to be independent adults. But is this really true? Or do childhood experiences influence adults far more than they realise or want to realise? Robin Grille (2005) explained how crucial the healthy development of emotional intelligence is for social relationships. Emotional intelligence encompasses skills which are essential in dealing with own and other people´s feelings. These skills develop especially during childhood when children´s brains are rapidly growing. Consequently, this means that parenting substantially contributes to the unfolding of abilities dealing with emotions and social relationships. Moreover, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study examined the relation between child abuse and the prevalence of health risk behaviour and disease in adulthood. The researchers found out that growing up in a dysfunctional household significantly increased the occurrence of diseases and being mentally unhealthy which is influential for social relationships (Felitti et al., 1998). Furthermore, it is important to note that 70% of the participants were Caucasian and college-educated (Harris, 2014). A societal group which would be associated with being wealthy and well-integrated into society. Attributes which are also often associated with a positive childhood. Nevertheless, the study could not confirm this assumption which is why choosing UCM students as a focus group might lead to illuminating results, even though it is a rather privileged and wealthy environment. Relevance How others relate to us will influence how we will relate to ourselves and others in return. Especially, closely related people will have a strong influence on the emotional development of individuals (Grille, 2005). However, how far do earlier childhood experiences shape later social relationships? How much have parents (other caregivers) already determined future relationships of their children? These are important questions since it is crucial to understand how much childhood impacts individuals and what kind of upbringing probably leads to what outcomes in the future. This research aims at bringing new insights into what child rearing style is more likely to have positive influence on children which is crucial for their personal development but also for future parenting techniques. Sample The sample size is going to be composed of 10 students from UCM. It is going to be a maximum variation sample since there should be equally as many students with authoritarian parents (other caregivers) as well as students with lenient ones. Due to the small sample size and the methodological approach this research will be very subjective and inductive. The aim is to understand the perspectives of the participants and to examine whether common patterns can be found between these opposing cases. Methodology This research is going to use a qualitative methodology. UCM students will be interviewed with the help of semi-structured interviews. This interview approach enables the combination of standardised questions to ask all participants but also allows new viewpoints to emerge during the interview process. Subsequently, the research is open to different developments while engaging with the topic. The exact definitions of the two kinds of upbringings and the interview questions will be constructed within the final group. The interviews themselves should be at least 1.5 hours without an upper limit since it probably will take some time to establish a bound between the interviewee and interviewer to exchange personal information. After conducting the interviews, they will be analysed and evaluated with a focus on similar patterns between students who were raised by an authoritarian upbringing and between students who had a lenient upbringing. However, it will also be examined if these two opposing groups show similarities. Task Week Designing Interviews Conducting Interviews Analysing & Evaluating Data Writing Research Paper Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 References • Grille, R. (2008). What is emotional intelligence? Parenting for a Peaceful World (pp.242-255). Richmond, UK: The Children´s Project • Waking Times (February, 2018). Adverse-Childhood-Experiences-Pyramid. Retrieved from http://www.wakingtimes.com/2018/02/20/shamanic-medicine-iboga-can- resolve-heal-childhood-trauma/adverse-childhood-experiences-pyramid/ • Harris, N. B. (2014, September). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video File]. Retrieved from http://acestoohigh.com/2015/02/17/nadine-burke- harris-how-childhood-trauma-affects-health-across-a-lifetime • Felitti, V., Anda, R., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D., Spitz, A., Edwards, V., . . . Marks, J. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults:The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. doi:10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8 • Harris, N. B. (2014, September). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video File]. Retrieved from http://acestoohigh.com/2015/02/17/nadine-burke-harris-how-childhood-trauma-affects-health-across-a-lifetime
- 185. University College Maastricht// SKI 1004 // Research Methods II Phineas Shapiro // i6164780 Rationalizing Irrationality RQ: How do people explain their choice of strategy in a Prisoner’s Dilemma? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Defect Cooperate Defect b,b c,d Cooperate d,c a,a Where: c > a > b > d The equilibrium of this game results in payoff (b,b) even though result (a,a) is more Pareto efficient, this result is not a stable equilibrium. - Understand subjective explanations of mathematically irrational choices - Explore qualitative explanations of rationality - Differentiate mathematical rationality from “real world” human rationality - Supplement quantitative studies which exist in academic literature - Explore implications for Philosophy and the Social Sciences The Game Setup Previous Work Objectives - Shows that approximately 49% of previous study participant cooperate even though defecting would be the “rational choice” - Evaluated the personality traits which are most likely to predict cooperation; namely the withdraw element of neuroticism, and those who scored highly on the enthusiasm aspect of extraversion. - Many previous studies provide a solid methodological foundation which can be used to perform our own research. - Previous studies acknowledge that they focus on statistical significance and cannot begin to answer the question posed in this study. Week 1: Prepare open ended questions for participants, set up prisoner’s dilemma games, and recruit 10-15 participants. Write Methodology part of the report. Week 2: Perform the study, have participants play a series of one-shot games, and interview each separately after the fact. Weeks 3 and 4: Data analysis and paper writing Cooper, R., DeJong, D. V., Forsythe, R., & Ross, T. W. (1996). Cooperation without Reputation: Experimental Evidence from Prisoner's Dilemma Games. Games and Economic Behavior, 12(2), 187-218. doi:https://doi.org/10.1006/game.1996.0013 Hirsh, J. B., & Peterson, J. B. (2009). Extraversion, neuroticism, and the prisoner’s dilemma. Personality and Individual Differences, 46(2), 254-256. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.10.006 Kagel, J., & McGee, P. (2014). Personality and cooperation in finitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma games. Economics Letters, 124(2), 274-277. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2014.05.034 Pothos, E. M., Perry, G., Corr, P. J., Matthew, M. R., & Busemeyer, J. R. (2011). Understanding cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma game. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(3), 210-215. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.002
- 186. ?The higher perceivedstress and pressure – the better the academic performance and the higher the GPA? Jakob Bechtolsheim I6165449 University College Maastricht Introduction: Maastricht is popular for having a university where students have to learn and to work a lot in order to pass exams and to perform well. Consequently, stress and pressure, generated from both one-self and university, is well known by Maastricht students. However, it seems to be that there are students that are more prone to perceive large stress and high pressure which often makes them working and learning harder than others. Logically, these students, because they invest more time and effort in university, should perform better, or not? This research project is intended to check whether there is a positive correlation between students perceiving large stress and pressure and their performance at university. Aims & Objectives: As can be seen in the Research Question, the aim is to find out whether students that perceive high pressure and stress perform better at university. Furthermore, the paper will discuss to what extent stress and pressure can be bad or beneficial for the individual’s well-being and come up with strategies which can be used to lower stress and pressure while still performing good at university. Also, the paper will show whether there are general differences in students perceiving stress between the faculties of UCM, SBE, and FASoS and compare their students strategies. Research Question: How does perceived pressure and stress influence academic performance (GPA) of UCM-, FASoS-, and SBE students? Previous Research: 1. Stress, Active Coping and Academic Performance Among Persisting and Nonpersisting College Students. (2001). Collumbia, MD: Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research 2. Zajacova, A., Lynch, S. M., & Espenshade, T. J. (2005). Self-Efficacy, Stress, and Academic Success in College. Research in Higher Education, 46(6), 677-706. doi:10.1007/s11162-004- 4139-zEum, K., & Rice, K. G. (2011). 3. Test anxiety, perfectionism, goal orientation, and academic performance. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 24(2), 167-178. doi:10.1080/10615806.2010.488723 Time Plan: 1. Work out questions and answers for the questionnaires (online survey and paper sheets) and conduct more research – (1 week) 2. Distribution of questionnaires and collection of data (½ week) 3. Evaluation and data analysis (1 week) 4. Writing final research report (1 ½ weeks) Methodology: The study will use a quantitative approach. A random sample of 30 UCM students, 30 SBE students and 30 European Studies students will be investigated. Among these 90 (1st year Bachelor) students, a questionnaire will be distributed, as well as being shared online. The questions will investigate whether students perceive stress and pressure at university, how these impact their academic performance (GPA), and if they have strategies and tools to lower perceived stress and pressure. ? ? ?
- 188. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATIONDESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com In the past, numerous studies have shown the influence smell may exert on taste perception. In fact, multiple experiments acknowledged that to our brain “taste” can be understood as the fusion of the nutrients aroma, smell and touch into a single sensation. The brain combines the information gathered by our taste buds (mouth) and olfactory buds (nose) to create the perception of flavour. Hence, smell not only influences flavour, but is an integral part of taste perception. Can the same be said about sight? Can visual cues influence one’s taste perception? INTRODUCTION AIM & OBJECTIVES LITTERATURE REVIEW As previously mentioned the existing research which has investigated the relationship between sight and sense perception have been inconclusive. Notably: RESEARCH QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS This research will qualify as confirmatory, and nomothetic as it aims to verify the theory which suggest that sight influences the human brain’s interpretation of taste. The epistemological stance of this paper is post- positivist. This research will hence assume that reality is objective, while acknowledging it is also ‘imperfectly knowable’. Furthermore, as the experiment will yield quantitative data, it will be presumed that, if a relationship between sight and taste is uncovered that it is one governed by probabilistic laws. A degree of uncertainty will equally be taken into consideration. Finally considering this research requires the participants to interpret their own senses, it will be assumed that while there is an objective reality our, knowledge is conditioned and hence subject to change . WORK SCHEDUAL - Difficulty controlling extraneous variables - Small sample The aim of this research is to shed a light on the above mentioned ambiguity. To achieve this, the objective of this study is to determine whether the colour intensity of a nutrient can influence or not the perceived flavour intensity of that specific nutrient. Caroline Mairlot Can you truly trust your taste buds? A TASTY ILLUSION JUSTIFICATION & RELEVANCE While the influence smell exert on taste perception, has been highly documented it cannot be said the same for sight and taste perception. Furthermore, the limited research which has been dedicated to investigating this relationship, has yet to yield an unequivocal answer. Indeed, while some studies affirm to have observed an undeniable effect of changing a nutrients colour intensity on a person’s perception of flavour intensity, others have failed to sustain such results. Hence in addition to intellectual curiosity this research holds academic purpose in its quest to fill a gap in knowledge regarding sense perception. Lavin and Lawless’s (1998) “The literature on the effects of colour on taste and flavour judgments is consistent in its inconsistency” Johnson and Clydesdale (1982) Demonstrated the effect of food coloring on taste perception in sweetened solutions Hyman (1983); Johnson et al. (1982,1983); Kostyla (1978) Romeu and De Vicente (1968) All demonstrated a “significant effect of increasing the level of food coloring on people’s ratings of taste or flavor intensity across a range of different drinks” Alley and Alley (1998); Chan and Kane-Martinelli (1997); Frank et al. (1989) All failed to demonstrate a cross- modal effect between visual cues and taste perception Koch and Koch (2003) “It may be that colour has nothing to do with the taste of food or drink.” à RESULTS ARE INCONSISTENT Does the variation of a nutrients colour intensity, reliably influence the perceived flavour intensity of that particular nutrient? H0: there is no relationship between the colour intensity of a nutrient and the perceived flavour intensity of that particular nutrient. H1: There is a relationship between colour intensity of a nutrient and the perceived flavour intensity of that particular nutrient. METHODOLOGY Approach: Quantitative study Population: World population Sample: Maastricht pedestrians Sampling strategy: Probability sampling (random) Data collection approach: scientific experiment à Four different solutions will be prepared prior to the experiment; à Each participant will be asked to taste 10mL of each solution. Following the tasting the participants will be asked to fill in a questionnaire which requires them to rate the different solutions in terms of their perceived flavour intensity. (1: being most intense in flavour and 4: being the least) Instruments: Questionnaire Data analysis procedure: Statistical analysis Strawberry essence (drops) Food coloring (drops) Solution A 1 4 Solution B 2 3 Solution C 3 2 Solution D 4 1 11-Jun 13-Jun 15-Jun 18-Jun 20-Jun 22-Jun 25-Jun 27-Jun 29-Jun STAGE 1: Research Design Onset & brain storm Forumation of final Research Proposal STAGE 2: Gathering data Conduction of experiment and collection of data Analysis of data STAGE 3: Writing final report Writing Editining and layout Presenting results PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION ACCESS & ETHICS All individuals participating in this research are voluntarily doing so and will be informed prior to the tasting of the experiment’s nature. RESOURCES This investigation requires a limited number of resources: flood colouring, strawberry flavour essence, water and plastic cups . LIMITATIONS REFERENCES Alley RL, Alley TR (1998) The influence of physical state and color on perceived sweetness. J Psychology: Interdisciplinary Applied 132:561–568 Johnson J, Clydesdale FM (1982) Perceived sweetness and redness in colored sucrose solutions. J Food Sci 47:747–752 Koch C, Koch EC (2003) Preconceptions of taste based on color. J Psychol: Interdisciplinary Applied 137:233–242 Lavin J, Lawless H (1998) Effects of color and odor on judgments of sweetness among children and adults. Food Qual Prefer 9:283– 289 Spence, C., Levitan, C. A., Shankar, M. U., & Zampini, M. (2009, September 03). Does Food Color Influence Taste and Flavor Perceptionin Humans? DOI: 10.1007/s12078-010-9067-z
- 189. Research question Which typeof sleep pattern is better to improve students’ performance and therefore can result in a positive enhancement of their academic outcome? Research question Which type of sleep pattern is better to improve students’ performance and therefore can result in a positive enhancement of their academic outcome? Methodological approach A qualitative and inductive approach Sampling • One group of university students who are going to be chose by random sampling among a specific program at UM for a relatively homogenous sample. Focus group • Full time students from one specific program at University Maastricht (approx. 10) • Same amount of male and female participant • Between the age of 18 and 25 Semi-structured interview • Each participant will be ask to answer specific questions during mandatory interviews, but they are encouraged to expand their answers and give their subjective assessment Keeping a diary • Each of them will be keeping a diary of their sleep schedule to maintain a proper record of it and write any change regarding their feelings and behaviors during their entire journey. Aim In this research, I intend to show which type of sleeping pattern between monophasic and polyphasic is best suited to maximize productivity efficiency (memory consolidation, logical reasoning, reaction time, etc.) among university students for better academic results. Introduction We can all agree that the majority of students have demanding schedule trying to balance school, work and social and personal life. The monophasic sleep pattern is the most common type of sleep among humans. However, a number of studies shows that taking short nap helps you achieve more benefits. Also, taking naps helps you reduce the amount of sleep needed during the night. The polyphasic sleep pattern have been shown to be popular among mammals, babies/toddlers and older adults. References • Milner, C. E., & Cote, K. A. (2009). Benefits of napping in healthy adults: impact of nap length, time of day, age, and experience with napping. Journal of sleep research, 18(2), 272-281 • Leder, R. S. (2001). Measuring neurobehavioral performance during sleep reduction on monophasic, biphasic, and polyphasic schedules. Monophasic vs polyphasic sleeping pattern Monophasic • Approx. 8 hours of sleep per night, none during the day Polyphasic (the everyman pattern) • Approx. 3 hours of sleep per night, three 20-min nap during the day i6178663
- 190. Tolerance Research Question Hypothesis Method Prior Empirical Research Introduction Towhat extent are students in Maastricht tolerant when it comes to Muslim head and body coverings in public spaces, and how do students of Muslim religion feel in such an environment? Over the past years there has been a lot of news concerning countries such as France, which banned “burkinis” from its beaches and the wearing of burqas in public spaces. Similarly the Dutch parliament approved a partial burqa ban in public places in 2016 (Agerholm, 2016). Firstly there ought to be made a distinction amongst societies in countries (secular societies, whereas others are theoretically shaped ones) and their traditions in order to place the research into context and execute an in depth and accurate analysis of the current feeling of both the non Muslim population (students) and the Muslim one (still students) in Maastricht. Furthermore nowadays most societies are pluralist and multiculturalist, thus the question arises, whether here in Maastricht, thanks to our international student community, the tolerance and acceptance of religious coverings in public spaces is socially and without discrimination accepted. What additionally ought to be considered in this research is that there are many arguments to be analysed and kept at mind when placing it into context i.e feminism, Dutch laws, personal liberty and state security, in order to explain the reasons behind why people might be pro or contra such religious coverings. Our hypothesis is that due to the very international student community that we have here in Maastricht, students are open minded and understanding towards religious body coverings in public spaces and that those wearing them feel comfortable and not discriminated in doing so. This research is Interpretivist. The population observed are students in Maastricht. The research that will be conducted is qualitative, as it is not concerned with quantitative data, but more with in depth understanding of reasons and opinions on the topic. The way we will approach the research is with in depth interviews with 20 students of different social classes, political orientation and religion regarding their thoughts on Muslim head and body coverings in public spaces. Then 20 students of Muslim religion who use these covering will be interviewed to find out how they feel in the Maastricht environment. An option is also to make open question questionnaires to gather more data. The results will then be analyzed, the interviews from both sides compared and contrasted. We will try to understand if students are influenced by their backgrounds into discriminating. On the other hand we will find out to what extent students wearing these head and body coverings feel judged and treated and see if the results match to the other interviews (non muslim). The research is inductive as it will start from gathered data to create a theory, by doing so it also attempts to explain the reasons behind the results, and thus is also explanatory. 1- Bigger (2006) investigates women's attitudes towards religious dress code and argues for informing and educating the next generation to be more tolerant. We can use this research to compare some data that we collect ie. self image of Muslim interviews. 2- Bouattia (2018) writes about racist and religious discrimination at universities after going undercover 3- Pieterson (2017) more religious discrimination in the Netherlands than in any other EU country. Base on interview results Afonso Solms i6149592 Agerholm, H. (2016, November 29). Dutch parliament approves partial burqa ban in public places. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/dutch-burqa-veil-ban-holland-votes-for-partial-restrictions-some-public-places-a7445656.html Bigger, S. (2006). Muslim women's views on dress code and the hijab : Some issues for education. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 27(2), 215-226. doi:10.1080/13617670600849978 Bouattia, M. (2018, March 11). Racist incidents at universities show they aren't as tolerant as we think Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/11/racist-universities-not-tolerant-rugaro-chisango-nottingham-trent Pieterson (2017). Dutch Muslims experience more discrimination than elsewhere in EU. (2017, September 21). Retrieved from https://nltimes.nl/2017/09/21/dutch-muslims-experience-discrimination-elsewhere-eu
- 191. Introduction Third Culture Kids(TCK) are part of a growing population of individuals that grow up in cultures other than their parents. TCKs often build unique relationships to the various cultures they have lived in without taking full ownership of any (Sellers, 2011). Are these individuals more open to cultural differences than those that grew up in a single culture? Intercultural sensitivity is becoming an increasingly important concept in programs to prepare people to live and work in foreign cultures, as well as in societies that welcome incoming foreigners and refugees. Whether or not TCKs have a different intercultural sensitivity, and how their identities are influenced by their trans-cultural upbringing are questions that arise. Lo#e Kunze 1 Research Questions Quantitative component: To what extent does the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) of Dutch female Maastricht University students that grew up as TCKs abroad differ from the IDI of Dutch female Maastricht University students that completed primary and secondary education in the Netherlands? Qualitative component: How do Dutch passport holding young adults that grew up as TCKs experience a sense of belonging, relationships, culture and identity? • How does the concept of being “neither here nor there” affect identity formation? • How has their sense of belonging and identity changed as they got older? Hypothesis Dutch Maastricht University students that grew up as TCK score significantly higher on the IDI than those that were born and raised in the Netherlands. Dependent Variable: Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Independent Variable: Cultural Background (Dutch third culture compared to Dutch monoculture kids) Control Variables: • Age (18-25 years) • Gender (female) • Passport country (Netherlands) Methodological Approach Quantitative Component: - A 60 question online survey will be used to calculate and consequently compare (using SPSS) the IDI scores of Dutch TCKs and culturally Dutch students. Qualitative Component - The research will make use of non-probability sampling based on choosing five Maastricht University students that identify with growing up as TCKs - Semi-structured interview swill be organised to investigate the experiences of TCKs in terms of their sense of belonging, relationships and cultural as well as personal identities - A thematic analysis of the interviews will be used to identify recurring themes and patterns InterpretivistMixed Methods A phenomenological study on Dutch passport holding Third Culture Kids References: Fail, H., Thompson, J., & Walker, G. (2004). Belonging, idenEty and Third Culture Kids. Journal Of Research In Interna2onal Educa2on, 3(3), 319-338. hNp://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1475240904047358 Gray, D. E. (2014). Doing Research in the Real World (Third ed.). London: SAGE PublicaEons. Sellers, E. (2011). ExploraEon of themes evolving from the experiences of third culture kids (Doctor). Ball State University 2 3 Earlier empirical research Pollock and Van Reken’s (2001) describe the benefits and challenges faced by TCKs by outlining their experiences from moving abroad to returning to the “passport” culture. This publication is frequently referenced as a major contribution in the TCK literature, and highlights the following issues faced by TCKs: - reentry - mobility - identity - rootlessness - belonging and loneliness - adjustment - restlessness - loss and grief 4 5
- 192. Which Factors EncouragedStudents in Maastricht to Vote in the 2018 Municipal Elections? Introduction The turn-out in the recent municipal elections of 2018 in Maastricht was 48.1% (Gemeente Maastricht, 2018). The turn-out of people between 18 and 24 years old was on a national level below the average (NOS, 2018). Whereas young people are the ones to experience most of the future, they are the ones that influence it the least regarding politics. What are the reasons that some of these people do vote and can these factors be applied to a larger group in order to get more young people to vote? Relevance If only people between 18 and 24 would vote, the city council would look completely different. By voting, young people can thus have a big influence on the political spectrum. Taking that a considerable part of the Maastricht citizens is student, it is therefore of relevance to establish the voting motives of young people to reproduce these factors during coming elections. This hopefully addressing the problem of a low turn-out under young people. Hypothesis Students are encouraged to vote by negative factors more than by positive factors. Gemeente Maastricht. (2018). Verkiezingen & Formatie 2018. Retrieved from https://www.gemeentemaastricht.nl/bestuur-en-beleid/verkiezingen-en-formatie-2018/ Lau, R. R. (1985). Two Explanations for Negativity Effects in Political Behavior. American Journal of Political Science, 29(1), 119-138. NOS. (2018, March 22). Als alleen jonge mensen mochten stemmen... Retrieved from https://nos.nl/op3/artikel/2223863-als-alleen-jonge-mensen-mochten-stemmen.html Research Literature suggests that negative information has a larger effect on person perception and decision making in politics than positive information (Lau, 1985). Can this be applied to the 2018 municipal elections? Figure 2: Negative and Positive Information Influencing Political Preference Methodology The influence of different factors of voting on students in Maastricht will be investigated mostly quantitatively by conducting a survey. After establishing if a student did vote, there will be a multiple choice question where students can choose between various factors, that are suggested by earlier research, that had an influence on their voting behaviour. Hereafter, there will be the possibility for the subjects to add other factors of influence themselves. The sample size will be 100 students from different faculties. Aiming to find the motives of students regarding voting in municipal elections this research is attempting to produce a solution to tackle the problem of a low voting turn-out under young people. Figure 1: What Municipal Councils Would Nationally Look Like if Only People Between 18-24 Voted. To Vote or Not to Vote? Lotte Meerhoff | l.meerhoff@student.maastrichtuniversity.nl | i6151320
- 193. Della Porta D.& Keating M. (2008), Approaching Methodologies in the Social Sciences, p. 23-32, Cambridge University Press. 2008. Gray, D. E. (2014). Doing Research in the Real World (Third ed.). London: SAGE Publications. A Qualitative analysis will be used for this project. Interviews are the most appropriate way to conduct this type inductive and interpretivist research. Information from interviews conducted in previous empirical research will be gathered. In addition, the interview of one or two faculty members with advanced knowledge on the US will be conducted. More specific and detailed questions on the effects of 9/11 will be asked. Collect and analyze previous research and interviews The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon of September 11th 2001 represented the first yet deadliest strikes perpetrated by a foreign terrorist group on US soil, killing over 2,753 people. In order to gain legitimacy, religious fanatic groups like Al-Qaeda aim to spread fear and hate throughout a nation by perpetrating acts of terror. These upshots are partly geared towards one specific minority group.. This essay will therefore determine the ways in which September 11th, 2001 has hurt and strengthened the reputation of Muslim Americans. “How did the 9/11 attacks impact the relations in between the American Muslim community and citizens?” 1) Al-Qaeda prevailed in increasing the stigmatization and xenophobia towards Muslims in post 9/11 America. 2) The devastating attacks encouraged non Muslim and Muslim Americans to unite and resist against the harmful and dividing effects of Islamic terrorism. Introduction Research Question Acquire biased perspective(s ) through faculty interview(s) Combine both in a final detailed and explanatory analysis Peek L. (2011) Behind the Backlash: Muslim Americans after 9/11, Philadelphia. Temple University Press Rottier A. (2016) The Branding of Arab Muslims in the US after 9/11. Master Thesis. Utrecht University Past research Elliot Greenman i6152514 Methods
- 195. Social suport o Socialsupport - includes social relationships and measures that provide assistance in difficult life events. Both a buffer and a preventive devise (Chambon, Schröer, & Schweppe, 2013). o International students experience emotional challenges and stress (Yeh & Inose, 2003). o Social support from students’ family members is key in well-being (Kenny & Rice, 1995). o Parents are a significant source of support for international students (Ng, Wang, & Chan, 2017). Transnational perspective o International students a unique case - maintain close ties with family and friends in their home country and simultaneously construct a new life abroad (Gargano, 2009) à transnational migrants. o Transnational lens - a valuable tool to explore the cross-border relationships and their impact o Transnational social support - social bonds which defy national borders and can be a source of assistance. May encompass relations with friends, family members or significant others (Chambon, Schröer, & Schweppe, 2012) o Exploratory, inductive study o Qualitative methodology o Methodological approach: ethnography o 15 participants recruited, each interview 30 -40minutes o Selective sampling according to the criteria: i. First year students currently enrolled at the University College Maastricht ii. Country of origin: outside Europe iii. Parents or closest family members: country of residence outside Europe References Chambon, A., Schröer, W., & Schweppe, C. (Eds.). (2012). Transnational social support. New York, NY: Routledge. Gargano, T. (2009). (Re) conceptualizing international student mobility: The potential of transnational social fields. Journal of Studies in International Education, 13(3), 331-346. Kenny, M. E., & Rice, K. G. (1995). Attachment to parents and adjustment in late adolescent college students: Current status, applications, and future considerations. Counseling Psychologist, 23(3), 433–456. Molina, J. L., Petermann, S., & Herz, A. (2015). Defining and measuring transnational social structures. Field Methods, 27(3), 223-243. THE, (2017), Retrieved from: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-universityrankings/maastricht-university. , 3.05.2018. Yeh, C. J., & Inose, M. (2003). International students' reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16(1), 15-28. UNESCO. (2005). OECD Indicators. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Defying borders International students and transnational support INTRODUCTION International students Ø a significant migrant group of around 2 million (UNESCO, 2005) globally Ø largely invisible in the research on transnational migration (Gargano, 2009) Ø Maastricht University - 50% international students (THE, 2017). Problem-centered interviews 1) open questions to provoke participants to share their migration experience and reflect on their well-being. 2) set of questions designed to elicit a response linked to the aspect of transnational support Assessing transnational social support à The existence, form and level of perceived social support and if/how it is derived from transnational relationships. à Example areas of inquiry: o Importance of cross-border relationships: Personal Network Analysis (Molina, Petermann, & Herz, 2015). Example question: “Who would you talk to when feeling overwhelmed?” o Functional support (e.g. “Who would you ask for small financial help?”) and/or emotional support (E.g. “Who would you share your personal worries with?”) o Time spent on cross-border communication – phone calls, emails with family members and friends in home country etc. o Frequency of travels home/family visits in Maastricht METHODS AND METHODOLOGY AIMS à To understand the lived experience of social support of international students through the transnational perspective o Limited time span of the research project. o Restricted external validity due to small scale. Research question: How do first year international students at the University College Maastricht experience transnational social support? LIMITATIONS
- 196. Perception of Refugeesin the Netherlands Nikki Laarakker - i6155467 Topic The topic of this research will be on the different perceptions of refugees from the 2015 refugee crisis in the Netherlands, specifically Maastricht, by different age groups. Why this topic? In quite some European countries refugees are perceived as a threat to the country. This is due to nationalistic views of the European identity, but as well as the country specific identity. Often, different age groups and people with a different socio-economic status and background Research question To what extent do the age and socio- economic status of a person affect their perception of a refugee? Hypothesis The expected outcome for this research is that in general, very old people will be less fond of refugees, due to traditions ideas, and younger adults will be more open Methodology This research project will follow a qualitative method approach with an ideographic approach . v Questionnaires/surveys v Interviews v Research from the asylum seekers center in Maastricht Empirical Research v 22% (1/5) of Dutch people consider refugees as a threat to security v 27% of Dutch people consider refugees as a threat to Dutch norms and values v 77% of Dutch adults think the government should continue to accept refugees v Economic migrants are less accepted than refugees Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Literature review and make survey X Data collection X X Structure and analyze data X X Write and revise X X Sources Netherlands, S. (2018, March 27). Most Dutch people in favour of receiving refugees. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2018/13/most-dutch-people-in-favour-of-receiving-refugees Nardelli, A. (2015, October 30). Europeans feel a duty to help refugees – but not in their own countries. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/oct/30/european-attitudes- towards-refugees-poll-eu
- 197. The influence ofWestern values on East-Asian students Introduction In the past 50 years there has been a tremendous shift in mind in the global north from a rather collectivistic thinking towards a stronger concentration on one‘s own interest and personal development. The individualization, taking place in modern societies, especially emphasizes the importance of of being authentic and developing unique personal characteristics. Many believe that individualistic systems increase happiness because it enables humans to embrace their true self. However, a study in Japan found that the trough globalization imported Western values of individualism and authenticity and the resulting decrease of Japan‘s long tradition of collectivism lead to an increased feeling of loneliness and social withdrawal amongst the population. For me studying at an international university this has led to the following questions: • How must Asian students feel who decide to study in a Western country? • Do they feel as a part of the mainly European student body? • Does their mental well-being suffer under the new circumstances? Research Question Does the emphasis on embracing individuality at the University Maastricht influences the mental well-being of East-Asian students in a negative way? Justification • The University Maastricht claims to be international. However, the majority of students stem from European countries and grew up with predominantely Western values. Students from entirely different cultural backgrounds, especially from Asia are very rare. If the University wants to attract more non-European and non-Western students it should facilitate the integration of those students who are not familiar with Europe . • However, to have sufficient prove that there is a need to work towards better integration of those students research should be conducted. • And this is what this researcg project aims to do Felicia Rimbach i6156215 Methodologies • The conducted research will be exploratory and qualitative. The research project will be interested in the personal experiences of individuals and aims to examine why they feel in a specific way. • A theory will be build inductively • Method: Online Questionnaires and personal interviews • Participants: East-Asian Students which grew up in Asia and came for their studies to the University Maastricht • Students will be asked about their personal experience of studying in Europe References: Goldman, B., & Kernis, M. (2002). The role of authenticity in healthy psychological functioning and subjective well-being. Annals Of The American Psychotherapy Association, 5(6). Honneth, A. (2004). Organized Self-Realization. European Journal Of Social Theory, 7(4), 463-478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1368431004046703 Ogihara, Y., & Uchida, Y. (2014). Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal relationships and happiness. Frontiers In Psychology, 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00135 Scott, G., Ciarrochi, J., & Deane, F. (2004). Disadvantages of being an individualist in an individualistic culture: Idiocentrism, emotional competence, stress, and mental health. Australian Psychologist, 39(2), 143-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00050060410001701861
- 198. How does amulticultural environment affect personality? - Do you think that some features of your personality have changed since the beginning of your experience at UCM? - How did your upbringing influence your ability to engage with people from a different culture? - Which role does your cultural background play in your daily life? Ottavia Longhini i6156871 University College Maastricht In our daily- life we continuously experience different cultures within our university. We share ideas, thoughts, beliefs with people that come from a completely different cultural background. This research aims to discover the influence that this fascinating environment has on our personalities. Hypothesis Students with a multicultural background easily engage with people from different cultures. However, students that were born and raised in a monocultural environment are strongly affected by UCM s multicultural atmosphere. The interactions among them have a strong impact on their approach to this cultural diversity. Incoming home students are not tabulae rasae, but rather have a range of personality, experiential and attitudinal influences that combine to shape their comfort with cultural diversity […]. For those […] who have grown up in monocultural areas, their predisposition will tend to be against a positive engagement with international students, because they have a strong preference for their own cultural group and/or because they feel anxious or unskilled. (Harrison, N., 2012, p. 235) Methodology This research will be phenomenological and exploratory. The sample size will comprehend currently enrolled UCM students. It will follow a qualitative approach. Data will be collected through semi- structured interviews. References Harrison, N. (2012). Investigating the impact of personality and early life experiences on intercultural interaction in internationalised universities. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(2), 224-237.
- 199. Ben Clarke i6157032 Whydo(n’t) Maastricht students vote? Full Research Question: What factors contribute to the decision of students in Maastricht to vote or not in elections, most notably the general elections of their countries and the Maastricht municipal elections? Why? Voting trends across the Western World show that the younger you are, by and large the less likely you are to vote. As an example of this, in the 2017 UK General Election, just 57% of 18-19 year olds voted, compared to 84% of those aged 70 or above (Curtis, 2017). There is a general lowering of turnout in elections across the West, leading to a potential legitimacy crisis in Western governments, but at least part of the issue is clearly generational, as shown by the above statistics. Arguably, this is a highly troubling trend as decisions taken now will affect the young more than any other generation in the long run. There is no better example of this than the UK referendum on the EU, in which 75% of 18-24 year olds who turned out voted to re- main, but only 64% of them actually voted, compared to 90% among those aged 65 and older. (Guarda, 2016 and Helm, 2016). If policy makers and democracy advocates want to get the young out to vote, they must first understand the reasons behind their decision to not cast their ballot. In understanding this issue, there is perhaps no better place to start than Maastricht, with students of dozens of nationalities providing a truly international melting- pot to analyse, as well as their own local student cul- ture that may also affect their decisions. References C. Curtis (2017, June 13). How Britain voted at the 2017 election. Retrieved from yougov.co.uk. A. B. Guarda (2016, June 25). How Brexit vote broke down. Retrieved from politico.eu. T. Helm (2016, July 10). EU referendum: youth turnout almost twice as high as first thought. Retrieved from theguardian.com. V. Dahl, E. Amna, S. Banaji; et al (2018). Apathy or alienation? Political passivity among youths of across eight European countries. European Journal of Development Psychology, 15:3 pp. 284-301. Methodology: This research will have a distinctly qualitative ap- proach The actual research will consist of a series of semi- structured interviews with Maastricht students, each between 30-60 minutes in length. Sampling will attempt to create a diverse group of interview- ees, from various national and social backgrounds. Various possible factors will be addressed in these interviews, such as the roles of political apathy, the use of alternative methods of participation, per- ceived lack of choice and lack of understanding. Previous Research This research builds on earlier empirical research with a more quantitative focus. This researched identified both external and internal factors, the alien model and apathy model, as important in various European states (V. Dahal et al, 2018). This understanding will form the basis of our research, but not be the entirety of it.
- 200. THE ''MAY 68'' REVOLTSAND THE 2018 DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRANCE: BETWEEN MYTH AND REALITY Abstract On the 50th anniversary of the May 1968 revolts, France seems to be paralyzed by demonstrations again. On this occasion, journalists have paid tribute to the revolts on many articles. They compared 1968 to the 2018 demonstrations May 68 is essential to French politics. It epitomizes the French revolutionary spirit. It is not rare to see the May-68 slogans appear in the demonstrations, especially the students’ blockade. The ‘’68 spring’’ embraces questions on political and social change. It is a major part of the French historical and popular culture. Journalists are in the middle of the dynamic process of social for meaning construction. For this reason, the way tributes are paid are comparisons are made with May 68 are very significant. Not only is it relevant to analyze the media-constructed vision of May 68, it is also necessary to understand the dynamics of the 2018 protests. Methodology The underlying paradigm is constructionism: the idea that the media has actively created social and political reality. In an inductive logic, media analysis will enable us to identify the biased perception of the cultural frame of the May 68. In order to avoid impressionism, we will follow a method explicated by the journalist Baldwin Van Gorp. The inductive method can be divided in three main steps: 1) Collecting the data: mainly French articles establishing a relationship between the 1968 events and the 2018 protests , but also tracts distributed in the university blockades and strikes. 2) Open coding of the texts: focusing on how the text is told, not on the content. 3) Arranging the codes around ‘axes’ of meaning. A second part of the media analysis will consist in the analysis of international articles about both May 68 and the 2018 protests. It will permit to maintain some distance from the personal thinking patterns. Working with international students is hence particularly relevant since it enables to collect more sources from more countries. Research Question How do the journalists build a myth of the May 68 revolts and how is it used in the context of the 2018 demonstrations? Hypotheses - There is a correlation between how may 68 is depicted and how the 2018 revolts are perceived. - Newspapers display a romanticized vision of the May 68 revolts though a subjective construction of the figures and a biased perception of history. Expectations and limitations According to Van Gorps evaluation of a conclusive media analysis, the research must achieve an extensive list of the devices and reasoning used by the media. From the previous research we have made, we hope that further analysis will confirm the creation of archetypes such as the ‘’revolutionary artist’’ or the ‘’oppressed student’’. In general, biased narrative tools must be found. In the comparative part, the finding should be different. Indeed, ‘’May 68’’ should be depicted in a more neutral manner. This would confirm the French subjective attachment to the 1968 events and its relation to current protests. The problem statement is not specific regarding the political line of the newspaper. This of course, enables further research, where a statistical (quantitative) approach would be more appropriate. P r e v i o u s R e s e a r c h C e n t e r , C . M . ( 2 0 0 4 , O c t o b e r ) . W r i t i n g a M e d i a A n a l y s i s . W a s h i n t o n , U S A . P e t r e q u i , S . ( 2 0 1 8 , M a y 2 ) . A r t i s t s , s t u d e n t s m a r k F r a n c e ’ s M a y ‘ 6 8 r e v o l t — n o t M a c r o n . T h e h u f f i n g t o n p o s t . R e u t e r s , R . ( 2 0 1 8 , M a y 1 ) . S p i r i t o f M a y 1 9 6 8 s l i p s f u r t h e r a w a y a s F r a n c e m a r k s 5 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y . T R T W o r l d . V a n G o r p , B . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . S t r a t e g i e s t o t a k e s u b j e c t i v i t y o u t o f f r a m i n g . W o r k a n d S t r e s s , 8 4 - 1 0 9 . W o r m s , F . ( 2 0 1 8 , M a r c h 1 2 ) . M a i 6 8 e s t i l p o s s i b l e ? F r a n c e c u l t u r e .
- 201. Introduction When EU leadersgathered in Italy in March 2017 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, they faced one of the most challenging political situations since the Union’s very founding. Weakened by multiple crises, both external and internal, the EU is at an existential crossroads. It has now been more than a year since the beginning of a wide debate on the future of Europe, a debate that has spread across all strata of European society, including young generations. Several Eurobarometer surveys have tried to describe the views of public opinion on the issue, but what about students at UCM? Do they share these views, or do they have different ideas? The aim of this research is thus to understand what are the main perceptions of UCM students when it comes to both the current and future situation in Europe, and to see if these perceptions are in line with the general trend of the European population as recently observed by Eurobarometer surveys and other academic reports. References 1.European Commission. (2017). Special Eurobarometer 467, Future of Europe. 2.European Commission. (2018). Special Eurobarometer 455, European Youth. 3.International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. (2016). Young People’s Perceptions of Europe in a Time of Change. IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study. 4.Widegren, A. (2017, September 12). Future of Europe: 10 tips for the old continent from its youth. Euractiv. 5.Chatham House. (2017). The Future of Europe: Comparing Public and Elite Attitudes. Methodology Approach: • Quantitative • Descriptive survey Sampling: • 75 UCM students (60 EU citizens coming from at least 15 different Member States + 15 non-EU citizens) • Stratified random sampling Data collection: • Collection questionnaire • The questionnaire is partly based on the Eurobarometer survey and partly specifically designed for UCM students Variables: • Independent variables: country of origin; age; perceived social class; involvement in politics • Dependent variables: opinions about priority areas for the EU; ideas for the future of Europe; degree of European identity Data analysis: • The data are analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics • Use of SPSS and Excel Relevance Young people are a crucial part of European society, and their participation in the democratic life of the continent is one of the key pillars in the building of tomorrow’s Europe. The European project depends on their ambition and determination, and their ideas are therefore highly valuable for the creation and implementation of policies that better reflect youth needs and desires. They should have their say in this debate because, after all, they are those who will take this continent over from the old generation. QUO VADIS, EUROPE? Research Question What are the main thoughts of UCM students about the future of Europe, in comparison to the general findings of the latest Eurobarometer surveys? Gabriele Melindo – i6158260 Practical steps Week 1: • Questionnaire making • Data collection phase Week 2: • Data analysis phase Week 3: • Final report writing Week 4: • Final report revising
- 202. Political Socialization in UCM UCM:Agent of Political Socialization Introduction Political socialization takes place in several social settings such as the family, peer groups, community as well as educational institutions.. This research aims to explore the concept and the effect of political socialization in the context of a social group like UCM students. Political Socialization is defined by Hyman (1959) as an individual’s “learning of social patterns corresponding to his societal position as mediated through various agencies of society”. Earlier Research Hyman (1959); Research on Political Socialization - analysing attitudes and behaviour of youth towards political issues by focusing on variables such as “education of parents, peer group, acceptance or rejection of party affiliation of parents, class differences, and sex differences” -> Proves that there is a correlation between political attitudes of youth and certain variables.However, it does not focus on variables such as educational systems. What factors in the political socialization process within UCM contribute to students being more politically engaged? Relevance In the era of fake news and populist leaders, the effects of socialization on the political views of students are colossal. By conducting this research in a small setting, specific inferences about the process in the larger scale can be made. These findings can then be coupled with the existing knowledge regarding political socialization to help to promote a more politically engaged environment in educational institutions. Methodology This research will adopt a qualitative approach since it analyses the effect political socialization in UCM has on students political attitudes/engagement. It will be conducted through semi-structured interviews, which will address four possible political socialization outcomes (forms of political engagement): 1)High level of political knowledge; 2) Political attitudes and values towards society and politics; 3) Attitude concerning political participation; 4) Participation in political or semi-political affairs at UCM. Furthermore, other questions will address whether participants recognize a correlation between 1) Attitude towards politics (four outcomes) and 2) Specific factors within the UCM environment (diversity, curriculum, norms etc.) that may have influenced this attitude. Evaluation: Transcribing interviews and analysing outcomes in accordance to potential factors that influenced students political engagement. Sample (Stratified Random) Strata: UCM students Hypothesis (1) The high level of political socialization in UCM greatly enhances political engagement among its students. Sources Hyman, H. (1959). Political Socialization. Kristina Bange I6159849
- 203. Introduction In 2008,there were more than 3,3 million tertiary international students worldwide (OECD, 2010). Grasping a new culture, get its bearings in a foreign country, find the right balance between adaptation to a new environment and conservation of its original identity… Achieving a successful integration within the host country constitute one of the main challenges of studying abroad. Therefore, this research aims at observing whether or not international students from Maastricht university make efforts in order to blend in with the local Dutch culture. To what extent do international students from Maastricht University try to integrate into the local Dutch culture? Notions Acculturation :“the dual process of cultural and psychological change that takes place as a result of contact between two or more cultural groups and their individual members” (Berry, 1992, 1997). Academic integration in higher education: the extent to which students adapt to the academic way-of-life (Tinto, 1975) Social integration: the extent to which students adapt to the social life at university (Berry, 1992,1997). Earlier Empirical Work In 2016, a research led by Maastricht University in 2016 stated that 51% of their students were foreign students. The interaction student attrition model of Tinto (1975,1998) argues that students have a variety of educational experiences, competences and skills, values as well as family and community backgrounds before they enter into higher education. According to research from the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, Nuffic, the number of international students studying a full-time degree course at Dutch universities or universities of applied sciences has doubled in the last 10 years from 40.000 to 80.000 enrolments in 2016-17. A research on Asian international students in the USA demonstrated that through 682 qualitative informal interviews, participants confessed the difficulty to adapt to the teaching style and critical thinking approach to learning, even though they felt that it was beneficial for their learning. (Liberman 1994) their sample Zhang and Brunton, (2007) led a research on Chinese international students in New Zealand and found that 55% of them were unhappy with their opportunities to make friendships with locals, 71% reported that they would like to have more local friends. Methodology Quantitative analysis is the most appropriate method for this research. Online questionnaire with multiple choice questions will be distributed and printed. Hard copies will be provided if the amount of online participants is too low. The research will be focusing on the nationality of the students so only international students will be interviewed. The research will fall back on 8 factors turned into questions: 1. Where are you from? (open question) 2. Have you, or are you planning on travelling around the Netherlands? (Yes/No) 3. Have you ever try Dutch typical dishes? (Yes/No) 4. Are you taking a Dutch course? (Yes/No) 5. As a citizen of the Netherlands, have you participated to the local municipal elections? (Yes/No) 6. Would you consider yourself aware of the Dutch news and policy? (On a scale of one to ten, 1= not aware at all, 5= moderately aware, 10= very aware) 7. How many Dutch friends do you have? (None, A few (3 at least), More). 8. Finally, in general, on a scale of one to ten, how would you evaluate yourself integrated into Dutch culture? (1= not integrated at all, 5= mildly integrated, 10= very integrated) References Van Der Wende M. (June 1st, 1997), Internationalising the Curriculum in Dutch Higher Education: An International Comparative Perspective: an International Comparative Perspective. Journal of Sudies in International Education. Rienties B. (July, 24th, 2011), Understanding academic performance of international students: the role of ethnicity, academic and social integration. Higher Education. Smith R., Kawhaja NG. (Novermber, 6th, 2011), A review of the acculturation experiences of international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. Preparation •First, the methodology to lead the research will be determined. Thereafter, the questionnaire and the questions will be formulated ensuring an efficient capture of all the relevant information. Distribution of the questionnaire •The questionnaire will be distributed across the faculties and sent by mail to the students. It will be clarified that it is dedicated to international students thanks to a mention in the headings. Analysis and interpretation of the data •After collecting all the questionnaires, the information will be interpreted and analysed thanks to SPSS. Writing of the report •After the interpretations, the results will be organized on a report, comparing conclusions with the earlier empirical works Steps Agathe Blanche i6161105
- 204. Research question: Towhat extent do UCM students think that individuals should be granted a right to die? Methodology - Population: UCM students - Approach: qualitative data collected with a survey posted on the Facebook group “UCM students” and semi-structured interviews - Sample: at least 50 students for the survey and 3 interviews (1 person against right to die, 1 pro and 1 in-between) Empirical research Assisted suicide and euthanasia are controversial subjects in nowadays’ society. Nevertheless, the Netherlands were the first country to legalize euthanasia and a poll showed that 63% of the Dutch population were in favour to the elderly’s right to die and 74% for the distribution of suicide pills, (Dutch research bureau Intomart GfK). The right to die has two aspects; assisted suicide (the doctor supplies the fatal drug but the patient administers it) and euthanasia (the doctor supplies and administers the drug), (Government of the Netherlands). -Assisted suicide and euthanasia legal -Assisted suicide legal -Assisted suicide not legal but not criminalized -Assisted suicide illegal -No data Elisa Prijot i6161364 Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Preparation of the survey and interviews, literature review x Data collection x x Data analysis x x Writing and revising x x References • Government of the Netherlands. (n.d). Euthanasia, assisted suicide and non-resuscitation on request. Retrieved https://www.government.nl/topics/euthanasia/euthanasia-assisted- suicide-and-non-resuscitation-on-request • RNW Media. (n.d.). FAQ – Euthanasia in the Netherlands. Retrieved from:https://www.rnw.org/archive/faq-euthanasia-netherlands • Ethicslab.georgetown.edu. (n.d.). Euthanasia Regulations Around the World. Retrieved from: https://ethicslab.georgetown.edu/euthanasia- map/. Aims Since UCM students spend the most of their time in the Netherlands, what do they think about this right to die? Has their opinion changed since they moved here? Are they concerned with some ethical problems linked to this right? This research is made to answer all those questions.
- 205. RQ: To Whatextend did Russian Media influence British pro-Brexit Medias ? Hypothesis: Russian medias did influence Brexit supporters and British anti-European medias. Aims and objectives: going through the Russian, British Medias and the reasons of the Brexit voters. In fact, it is a very pertinent point of view when it comes to IR and the new types of conflict toward the world. It is also the best way to have a clearer idea on the subject since each newspaper or country got its own opinion. Justification: Fake news, Russia Today, Sputnik, British medias are all into a confusing debate about who, how and to what extend did the Russians newspapers did or did not influence the British medias in their communication on the Brexit. Since Russia is becoming more and more clear about its fear of a United Europe it is interesting to deep into the war of information between two great powers. Expectations: Having a (more) clear idea on what extend Russian medias did influence the British ones, implying here that they have probably actively contribute to it
- 206. Access, limits andEthics It is complicated to verify if the facts denounced by both British and Russian medias are issued from who, meaning here that the statement may e inversed: the Russian may just have been influenced by the British ones. Ethically speaking it is complicated to criticise the pro Brexit medias of being only under Russian influence without implying that the arguments they used are only liars or fake news. The trap is taking a side and being political. Sources D'Ancona, M. (2017). Post truth : The new war on truth and how to fight back. London: Ebury Press. Davis, E. (2017). Post-truth : Why we have reached peak bullshit and what we can do about it. London: Little, Brown. Leruth, B., Startin, N., & Usherwood, S. (Eds.). (2018). The routledge handbook of euroscepticism (Routledge handbooks). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Seaton, J. (2016). Brexit and the media. The Political Quarterly, 87(3), 333-337. doi:10.1111/1467-923X.12296 Payne, R. (2018). Brexit and the british media. The Round Table, 107(1), 109-110. doi:10.1080/00358533.2018.1424083 Methodology Comparing different pro Brexit medias (The Telegraph, the Daily Express) to RT and Sputnik on the European topic, as well as a foreign European media on the topic (France24) and one pro- European British Media (the Time). Searching for pools on how Brexit voters informed themselves. Reading different academic papers on the topic to take out main ideas and concept to accord with the anise of the Newspapers Quantitative Research: searching for key word, concepts and ideas among the different articles which will be before voting articles.
- 207. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATIONDESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com At the end of our lives, we all die, that is and has been a constant throughout time. However, the thing that has changed through the centuries and varies per culture are the ways with which we dispose of the deceased. In a lot of countries a traditional burial with a casket and a cemetery are the standard. Contrary to this, in some countries such as Japan and the Netherlands cremation is preferred by most of the population. Why is this though? What has caused this shift from tradition to incineration? And more importantly are we aware of the effects our choices concerning the dead have? This research aims to find the reasons as to why people still stick with their harmful traditions. INTRODUCTION Research Question: To what extent does the belief in tradition fluence the way people bury their deceased? Helping questions 1. How many funerals do people generally attend in their lives? 2. What types of funerals are most prominent in various countries? 3. How aware are people of alternatives to Burials and Cremation? RESEARCH QUESTIONS Sample: UCM students and staff, ranging from all ages and countries of origin. Conduct: First of all quantitative data concerning percentages on types of burials per country will be collected. From this the countries with the highest traditional burials and the lowest traditional burial will be compared to the sample of UCM students and staff. After this, extensive interviews with the people from these corresponding countries will be conducted. Before this we ask the participants to fill in a short questionnaire. Analysis: In the end we compile the data from the quantitative and qualitative results for statistical analysis and from this extract the extent of the influence of tradition. EXAMPLE OF INTERVIEW HYPOTHESIS From this research we hope to prove that tradition plays a big part in the way we bury the dead. Even though this method is devastatingly hurtfull to the environment. From this we hope find a way to influence people in to choosing a much better method in the future: a natural burial without any caskets or gravestones. Just giving your body back to the earth. REFERENCES Keijzer, E. (2016). The environmental impact of activities after life: Life cycle assessment of funerals. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,22(5), 715-730. doi:10.1007/s11367- 016-1183-9 Bury The Dead METHODOLOGY 1) How many funerals have you attended in your life? 2) Where the deceased tradionally buried, cremetad or buried in a non traditional manner? 3) How do you feel about these type of burials? 4) Which would you prefer?
- 208. Refugees and discriminationRQ: Towhat extent do refugees in Maastricht experience discrimination? References - van Doorn, M., Scheepers, P., & Dagevos, J. (2013). Explaining the integration paradox among small immigrant groups in the Netherlands. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 14(2), 381-400. - Van Oudenhoven, J. P., Prins, K. S., & Buunk, B. P. (1998). Attitudes of minority and majority members towards adaptation of immigrants. European journal of social psychology, 28(6), 995-1013. Empirical research - Fear of the unknown: Xenophobia - People discriminate out of fear - Most Europeans think the recent surge of refugees could lead to more terrorism - Higher-educated immigrants perceive more personal discrimination - Integration can reduce discrimination - Maastricht has taken up +/- 600 refugees in 2014 Topic Asylum seekers in the Netherlands can get refugee status if they are not safe in their country of origin for a number of reasons (such as persecution for political or religious reasons). As the refugee crisis form 2015 and 2016 is declining in severity, how do the refugees that are already in the Netherlands feel? Compared to the rest of Europe, the Netherlands does not even get that many refugees in relation to their capacity. So why are Dutch people still so resilient towards these refugees? Once they receive this refugee status, they are relatively safe; as they are allowed to stay in the Netherlands for some amount of time. But do they also feel safe once they got this status? Because safety can also be jeopardized by discrimination or acts of violence against refugees. The question that will be tried to answer in this research is: To what extent do refugees in Maastricht experience discrimination? Methodology The research will be qualitative & follow an ideographic approach - Interview refugees in Maastricht through structured questions - Interview people from Maastricht about refugees in their city through semi-structured questions - Spread a survey in the neighborhood of where refugees live together about how they perceive refugees Source: CBS Isabel Sturm i6165644 Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Literature review X Collecting data X X Structure & analyzing X X Write & Revise X X
- 209. Why is thespirit of the European Union fading and what do its citizens want to happen that it re-emerges? Why is the spirit of the European Union fading and what do its citizens want to happen that it re-emerges? Methodological approach: → Qualitative research among UCM students to make use the internationality and compare results. Use of in-depth interviews and/or surveys → Inductive research design as it aims to look out for patterns in order to deduce laws. Will lead to finding the reasons but also the solutions. → Because UCM combines so many different nationalities, it makes sense to make use of many different viewpoints of different citizens. Especially the young generation is confronted with current challenges the EU faces right now. Therefore, in-depth interviews should provide deep and qualitative insights than should answer the research question. Earlier research and literature - The european citizens and the future of Europe (2006). Qualitative study, European Commission. - The European Union: Current Challenges and Future Prospects, Archick, K. (2017). - The Fading Dream of Europe, Pamuk, Orhan (2010). The New York Review of Books. Finn Thüllen, i6165841 Conducting the research Setting up appropriate in-depth surveys and interviews. Make sure that the questions are highly qualitative and aim to answer the research question. Collecting data by doing in-depth interviews and surveys. Make sure to collect opinions from various different citizens, nationalities, age groups, etc. Interpreting data. Start to write the paper. Give an outline of the collected results, then start to look out for certain patterns among the subjects, compare them to each other. Find reasons and solutions that answer the research question. Also refer back to earlier research and opinions. What changed, what is different? Background: Since the last years, Europe witnessed and is still witnessing several big challenges. Right-wing parties and populists that receive more and more support, the refugee crisis, the Brexit, partially financial insecurity, just to name a few. Although there seems to be growing unconfidence, not much is known about why the spirit of Europe seems to fade slowly. Of course, there can be made correlations between these events and growing unconfidence, but is that truly the only reason for so many citizens to lose their trust? Therefore, this paper should aim to give a deeper and better understanding of why the European Union is losing its initial support.
- 210. For this research,a qualitative approach will be adopted, as it deals with the student‘s internal states and motivations towards their active participation in extracurricular activites at UCM. The reserach methodology will take form of semi-structured interviews of 30-45 minutes each, which try to address the factors identified in Figure 2 while at the same time being open-ended leaving space for the students to express what has not been included in the research set- up. As the interviews are designed to allow for in-depth evaluation of the student's motivation, the size of the convenience sample (N) will be limited to 10 students. The sampling will be selective, as the interviews are conducted with UCM students who are already part of UCM‘s active student body, i.e. in commitees or student representation. Students and Active Citizenship: Which factors motivate UCM students to take an active part in UCM‘s extracurricular student life? Introduction and Background University College Maastricht (UCM) is known for its active student community. Nonetheless, only a certain group students actively takes part in commitees and student representation on a regular basis. Previous research in the field of student engagement has focused on factors that generally motivate people to voluntarily take an active part in society. One example is efficacy, which describes the feeling of having an impact to effectively change things within the system on the grounds that one understands the workings behind political processes (Schulz, 2005). Another example is the effect of peer pressure on student engagement (Wendel, 2012). Moreover, this research will enlarge upon previous research that investigated the correlation between active engagement and a self-ascribed democratic value system of individuals (Marinetto, 2003). Figure 1 visualizes the assumed factors, as outlined in the hypothesis, that play a role for student engagement. This research aims to apply those factors to UCM‘s active student body. Methodology Maxine Fowé (i6165887) Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, University College Maastricht Relevance This research will allow for a qualitative understanding into what motivates UCM students to take an active part in UCM‘s extracurricular student life. The aim of this research is identifiy a set of key factors which motivate UCM students to be engaged in order to motivate even more students to make use of UCM‘s extracurricular student life. The findings of this research could potentially influence administrative and student-led policy decisions with regards to making UCM a more active and engaged university.Objectives, Research Question and Hypotheses The objectives are (a) to identify which factors play a role in the decision of UCM students to be engaged in extracurricular activities and (b) to investigate whether a self-ascribed democratic value system is a factor which motivates UCM students to be active citizens. Research Question: Which factors motivate UCM students to take an active part in UCM‘s extracurricular student life? Hypotheses: (1) Engaged UCM Students are motivated by internal(i.e. political knowledge, democratic value system) and external factors (peer pressure) (2) (2) UCM students who state to have a democratic value system are more likely to take part in UCM‘s extracurricular life as active citizens than students who do not self- identifiy with the importance of participatory democracy. Process and Expectations Following the process of interview conduction and transcription, they will be codified in open coding. Thereby, the pre- assumed factors will be complemented with an inductive approach. Following this, the method of thematic analysis will be employed to further deconstruct and define the meaning and possible patterns of the information retrieved from these interviews. Furthermore, it will be evaluated to what extent the research result match with the factors in Figure 1. After the report has been finished, the results may be passed on to UCM‘s management board for future policy recommendations regarding motivating UCM student‘s to participate in UCM‘s extracurricular student life. Marinetto, M. (2003). Who wants to be an active citizen? The politics and practice of community involvement. Sociology, 37(1), 103-120. Schulz, W. (2005). Political Efficacy and Expected Political Participation among lower and upper secondary students. ECPR General Conference: Budapest. Wendel, S. (2012). Dynamics of Political Participation: An Analysis of the Dynamic Interaction between Individuals and their Microenvironments. Doctoral Dissertation. Participation Keywords: Active participation, student engagement, democratic education, participatory democracy References Figure 1 Factors of Evaluation: Efficacy Peer Pressure Democratic Value System Correspondence: Maxine Fowé, m.fowe@student.maastrichtuniversity.nl, Research Methods II, UCM
- 211. Almost 57.000 refugeesregistered themselves in the Netherlands in 2015, even more than in 1994, during the Yugoslav Wars. A third of the refugees in 2015 were children (CBS, 2016). 20-50% of immigrants in Europe leave within 5 years of arrival and many keep on wishing to return to their home country after these 5 years, even when they know it is unsafe. Why do they not want to stay? Do they not feel welcome? Can we improve our integration processes? (Di Saint Pierre, F., Martinovic, B. & De Vroome, T., 2015) 1. Introduction The aim of this research is to discover whether the refugees in Limburg feel welcome in this region, or not. Although quantitative research on this topic has been done, qualitative research on the stories of the refugees can contribute to the overall knowledge about the integration process in Limburg. Furthermore, it can gain some insight in how to improve their future prospects. 3. Relevance Research question: How welcome do refugees in Limburg feel and do they feel they can prosper in the Netherlands? Hypothesis: Refugees staying in Limburg do not feel very welcome in the region and do not see a great future in the Netherlands. 4. RQ & hypothesis Previous research mentioned three aspects of integration which are indicative of return intentions: employment & education, language proficiency, and contact with natives. Newer research found that employment was not related to return wishes. Higher educated refugees perceived more discrimination and had therefore a higher desire to return. However, both language proficiency and contact with natives were found to be related to a wish to stay. (Di Saint Pierre, F., Martinovic, B. & De Vroome, T., 2015) 2. Previous research Di Saint Pierre, F., Martinovic, B. & De Vroome, T. (2015) Return Wishes of Refugees in the Netherlands: The Role of Integration, Host National Identification and Perceived Discrimination, Journal of E thnic and Migration Studies, 41 (11), 1836-1857. doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2015.1023184 Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (2016, January 27). In 2015 twee keer zoveel asielzoekers en nareizigers als in 2014. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/04/in-2015-twee- keer-zo-veel-asielzoekers-en- nareizigers-als-in-2014 References • Qualitative study • Semi-structured, open-ended and in-depth interviews • Focus group: refugees in asylum center Baexem (Limburg). 10-15 refugees as interview participants • Interviewing will take place in the first two weeks of the research period 5. Methodology Bas van de Mortel - i6165905 - May 4th, 2018
- 212. Europe, The Youth& Political decisions Introduction & Background European Economies are constantly becoming more enmeshed with each other. European laws are increasing the jurisdiction over the member states and simultaneously the various institutions of Europe increase their presence it is interesting to see how exactly European culture is conceived as. Europeans supposedly adopt a certain cultural identity, but has still not been perfectly defined. Additionally the youth of Europe comes from very different backgrounds especially today, where immigration has taken place in the past years. Such people i.e. new members of this “European identity” may have a very different conception of what it actually is. Research Question What are the conceptions of European UM students regarding European culture and how does it affect their political choices? Hypothesis The stronger the feeling of a European identity and the more concrete the definition of it given by a student is , the less likely it is for the student to have right wing or populist views in politics. Relevance Recently Europe has experienced its first decrease in size after “Brexit”. Similarly other European states have adopted populist leaders. How does this affect this so called identity? Maastricht is a very international environment with students from 112 nationalities. In addition students consist of the youth and hence the future of Europe. Thus it is important to establish how the youth conceives of their European identity today as they are part of it as well as beneficiaries of Europe. Within Maastricht there are students from numerous different backgrounds and different relations to Europe. Hence it is interesting to see what different identities imply regarding politics and hence establish a rich sample which may give us an idea about the future of Europe. Epistemology & Methodology Mixed methods i.e. both Quantitative and Qualitative data Idiographic research Measuring the conception of European identity: European students from within the various faculties of UM will be interviewed in order to derive what individuals conceive as being European. (qualitative) Measuring political orientation: A questionnaire will be emailed to the students that were interviewed which depending on the answers given will determine the position of the individual on the political spectrum, ranging from far left to far right. (quantitative) References: Martin, B. G. (2017) “European culture” is an invented tradition. https:// qz.com/895131/european-culture-is-an-invented-tradition/ Shore, C. (1993). Inventing the 'People's Europe': Critical Approaches to European Community 'Cultural Policy'. Man, 28(4), new series, 779-800. doi: 10.2307/2803997 Measuring European identity - Horizon 2020 - European Commission. (2018). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/news/ measuring-european-identity