Motivation, Construal, and the Temporal Span of the Present
Date
2016
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Dark Archive until 2036-01-01, afterwards Haverford users only.
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of present extension on academic motivation, as mediated by psychological distance and construal of goal-oriented strategies. Present extension was manipulated by instructing participants to consider their present to span either one week or one semester. Afterwards, participants were asked to imagine an upcoming exam, which was primed to fall into the present for some and into the future for others. Participants then completed a questionnaire that assessed psychological distance to the exam, construal of the target self and of study plans, and motivation. The results showed that the temporal prime was ineffective at manipulating extension, and consequently, conditions did not differ in psychological distance or motivation. Differences in construal were found, although not in the way that was predicted. The inefficacy of the prime is discussed, addressing weaknesses of this particular prime as well as the potential inflexibility of extension more generally.