Themen für Bachelorarbeiten

Beschreibung: Prosocial behavior has been explored by diverse theoretical frameworks and underlying mechanisms that may emphasize either intentions, costs and benefits or societal context. The absence of a unified consensus on the definition of prosociality persists, leaving the existence of a common ground open to interpretation. Yet, it is imperative to appreciate the benefits inherent in the multitude of conceptualizations and definitions of prosociality, each tailored to the unique demands of different fields. This bachelor's thesis aims to overview various conceptualizations of prosociality from literature and experimentally investigate the (dis)advantages associated with multiple definitions versus a shared conceptual ground for prosociality.

Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y. A., & Thielmann, I. (2022). Prosocial behavior and altruism: A review of concepts and definitions. Current opinion in psychology, 44, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021
Kontakt: Dr. Sae In Lee, E-Mail

Beschreibung: Ob das Ergebnis einer Entscheidung als Gewinn oder Verlust wahrgenommen wird, hängt von unseren Zielen oder Referenzpunkten ab. Motivationale Veränderungen im höheren Erwachsenenalter beeinflussen somit auch Entscheidungs- und Urteilsprozesse. Diese Arbeit soll einen Überblick über die Forschung zu altersbezogenen Unterschieden in Erwartungen und Referenzpunkten (und damit der Beurteilung von Gewinnen und Verlusten) bei Entscheidungsprozessen geben und die empirische Forschung zu diesem Thema berücksichtigen.

Heath, C., Larrick, R. P., & Wu, G. (1999). Goals as reference points. Cognitive Psychology, 38(1), 79-109.
Kontakt: Dr. Sebastian Horn, E-Mail

Beschreibung: Episodic memory is not just a passive store but comprises multiple processes and stages. As we age, memory performance changes. But the distinct contributions of different memory stages (such as encoding vs. retrieval) are less well understood. Both memory stages likely share overlapping neurophysiological structures which tend to be affected early by age-related cognitive decline. Yet, the distinct effects of cognitive aging on encoding versus retrieval are less well understood. Fergus Craik (1986) developed a framework, according to which age-related decline on a given memory task depends on the available environmental support: Age effects should thus be larger in free recall tasks and relatively smaller in associative, or recognition tasks.
Based on Craik?s framework, this bachelor thesis should review the empirical literature on age effects on different retrieval conditions. Additionally, the thesis should explore an additional moderating factor, such as the personal relevance of information, to understand how it might influence the effects of environmental support on the decline of retrieval capabilities associated with aging.

Cadar, D., Usher. M., & Davelaar, E.J. (2018). Age-Related Deficits in Memory Encoding and Retrieval in Word List Free Recall. Brain Sci, 8(12):211. doi: 10.3390/brainsci8120211

Craik, F.I.M. (1986). A functional account of age differences in memory. Human memory and cognitive capabilities. In: Memory, Attention, and Aging. Routledge.
Kontakt: Jasmin Brummer, MSc, E-Mail

Beschreibung: Motivation, whether intrinsic or extrinsic, significantly influences the amount of effort exerted, which is a key determinant of success. This review aims to explore the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation when success is not achievable. Normally, when success is attainable, high motivation intensity can enhance performance and drive goal attainment. Intrinsic motivation, fueled by internal goals and viewing the action as a reward in itself, leads to persistent effort. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation, driven by external rewards, can boost performance towards achieving success. However, when success is not achievable, how the synergy or conflict between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation affects the consistency of action and performance? This review offers valuable insights for educators, employers and individuals on fostering and maintaining motivation to enhance overall well-being and success in extreme contexts.

Fishbach, A., & Woolley, K. (2022). The Structure of Intrinsic Motivation. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 9(1), 339?363. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-091122
Richter, M., Gendolla, G. H. E., & Wright, R. A. (2016). Three Decades of Research on Motivational Intensity Theory. In Advances in Motivation Science (Vol. 3, pp. 149?186). Elsevier. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2215091916300013
Kontakt: Ziqi Zhang, MEd, E-Mail

Beschreibung: People commonly experience exhaustion in everyday activities. In addition, individuals engage in various leisure activities to recover from a demanding workday and recharge themselves the following day. However, limited research focused on exhaustion and recovery processes while looking at various causes of variance in day-to-day experiences. The purpose of this bachelor's thesis is to to do a systematic evaluation of the body of research on exhaustion studies using Ecological Momentary Assessment and the Experience Sampling Method (ESM). One of the main goals is to give an extensive summary of different approaches and outcomes.

Chawla, N., MacGowan, R. L., Gabriel, A. S., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2020). Unplugging or staying connected? Examining the nature, antecedents, and consequences of profiles of daily recovery experiences. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(1), 19.
Kontakt: Beatrice Tarapoanca, MSc, E-Mail