131 research outputs found
The role of ethnicity and socioeconomic status in Southeast Asian mothers’ parenting sensitivity
No full textPast research indicates that socioeconomic status (SES) accounts for differences in sensitivity across ethnic groups. However, comparatively little work has been conducted in Asia, with none examining whether ethnicity moderates the relation between SES and sensitivity. We assessed parenting behavior in 293 Singaporean citizen mothers of 6-month olds (153 Chinese, 108 Malay, 32 Indian) via the Maternal Behavioral Q-Sort for video interactions. When entered into the same model, SES (F(1,288) = 17.777, p <.001), but not ethnicity, predicted maternal sensitivity (F(2,288) =.542, p =.582). However, this positive relation between SES and sensitivity was marginally moderated by ethnicity. SES significantly positively predicted sensitivity in Chinese, but not Malay dyads. Within Indian dyads, SES marginally positively predicted sensitivity only when permanent residents were included in analyses. We discuss the importance of culture on perceived SES-associated stress. However, because few university-educated Malays participated, we also consider whether university education, specifically, positively influences sensitivity.</p
Assessing children's preferences for caregivers
No full textThis project aims to describe children's preferences for their caregivers
Evaluations of ingroup and outgroup as a function of threat moderated by procedural just world beliefs.
No full textIngroup and outgroup evaluations were investigated as a function of prototypicality threat and distinctiveness threat manipulations, with Procedural Just World beliefs as a moderator. Ninety university undergraduates were randomly assigned to 4 groups: high prototypicality-high distinctiveness, high prototypicality-low distinctiveness, low prototypicality-high distinctiveness, and low prototypicality-low distinctiveness. Participants were given bogus feedback on a bogus personality test. Levels of favouritism and derogation on both ingroup and outgroup were measured. Results supported that predictions of Brewer (1991, 2007)‟s optimal distinctiveness theory may only be reflective of public but not private manifestations of individuals‟ behaviours. In the present study, Procedural Just World beliefs failed to moderate the effects of social identity threats.Bachelor of Art
When threatened by own-group and others, to please or disengage?
No full textThreats from both distinctiveness with the outgroup and prototypicality as an ingroup members were introduced, and the interacting effect of both threats along with ingroup identification on inter- and intra-group evaluations were investigated. Based on various social identity theories, it is predicted that under the above mentioned two threats, high identifiers are likely to show accentuated ingroup bias, whereas low identifiers have the highest tendency to leave the group through and is expressed through the lowered exertion of ingroup bias. The results, though weak, revealed support for the predicted hypothesis.Bachelor of Art
Evaluations of ingroup and outgroup as a function of threat moderated by procedural just world beliefs.
No full textIngroup and outgroup evaluations were investigated as a function of prototypicality threat and distinctiveness threat manipulations, with Procedural Just World beliefs as a moderator. Ninety university undergraduates were randomly assigned to 4 groups: high prototypicality-high distinctiveness, high prototypicality-low distinctiveness, low prototypicality-high distinctiveness, and low prototypicality-low distinctiveness. Participants were given bogus feedback on a bogus personality test. Levels of favouritism and derogation on both ingroup and outgroup were measured. Results supported that predictions of Brewer (1991, 2007)‟s optimal distinctiveness theory may only be reflective of public but not private manifestations of individuals‟ behaviours. In the present study, Procedural Just World beliefs failed to moderate the effects of social identity threats.Bachelor of Art
Describing caregiving arrangements as time spent
No full textThis project aims to describe caregiving arrangements in Singapore in terms of time spent with the caregiver, time spent engaged in different activities, and more
Variation in maternal sensitivity and the development of memory biases in preschoolers.
No full textIntroduction: Links between maternal sensitivity, hippocampal development, and memory abilities suggests early life insensitive care may shape structures and schemas influencing future decisions and stress management, biasing children to negative information. While it is possible that this pattern of neurodevelopment may have adaptive consequences, for example, preventing children from encountering untoward experience with future adversity, it may also leave some children at risk for the development of internalizing problems.
Methods: Here, in a Two Wave Study, we examine whether insensitive care predicts sub sequentially assessed memory biases for threatening (but not happy) stimuli in preschoolers (n = 49), and if such relations cut across different forms of relational memory, i.e., memory for relations between two “items,” between an “item” and its spatial location, and an “item” and its temporal sequence. In a subset (n = 18) we also examine links between caregiving, memory, and hippocampal subregion volume.
Results: Results indicate no main or interactive influence of gender on relational memory. However, insensitive caregiving predicted the difference between Angry and Happy memory during the Item-Space condition (B = 2.451, se = 0.969, p = 0.014, 95% CI (0.572, 4.340)], as well as memory for Angry (but not Happy) items [B = −2.203, se = 0.551, p p = 0.004). No relations were observed with internalizing problems.
Discussion: Results are discussed with reference to developmental stage and in consideration of whether negative biases may serve as an intermediate factor linking early life insensitive care and later socioemotional problems including an increased incidence of internalizing disorders.Published versionNRF2016-SOL001-00
South African travel writing and bias
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 92-96).This thesis spotlights the travel and leisure magazine industry within South Africa. It contends that the travel writing genre is susceptible to a number of biases, both past and present, which ultimately affect the way its overall content is produced and presented to the public. This work was substantiated through a set of qualitative interviews with key professionals within the South African travel and leisure magazine industry, as well as through a theme- based content analysis of a number of local travel writing publications. This study adds to a rather extensive line of research written on the topic of travel writing regarding a number of older criticisms of bias including 'othering', escapism, and gendering. However, it also focuses on a number of more modem biases such as direct advertising, advertorial usage, as well as the acceptance of 'freebies' and barter agreements, none of which has been given much attention in previous research. The sheer existence of these and other biases within the modem South African travel and leisure magazine industry exhibits an absolute necessity of examination into such a topic, especially given the importance and overall influence that the travel writing industry has on a country's economic standing and overall image
Domain specificity of mastery-motivation-related behaviours in relation to Singaporean preschoolers’ mathematical performance
No full textMastery motivation predicts achievement, but intricacies amongst pre-schoolers are unclear. In keeping with the Specificity Principle, school-age, and adolescent research demonstrates the importance of considering the setting conditions in which mastery motivation is observed. Here, Singaporean 4-year-olds’ (N = 63) mastery-motivation-related behaviour (MMRB) (e.g. signs of persistence, focus, and pleasure) in mathematical and non-mathematical activities were observed. Relations between numeracy and MMRB during a mathematical game (outcome relevant setting) were determined, controlling for MMRB in other activities (outcome irrelevant settings). Association between MMRB during the mathematical game and receptive language (outcome irrelevant setting) was also examined. Consistent with the Specificity Principle, MMRB during the mathematical game was (i) associated with numeracy, after controlling for MMRB in other activities and (ii) did not predict language. Enhancing preschoolers’ experiences, especially when implemented in contexts related to areas targeted for improvement, may benefit outcomes. These skills acquired in early life can become important predictors of future ability
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