Search Results (18)

Retrieval practice, or the active recall of information from memory, is a highly effective learning strategy that strengthens memory and comprehension. This effect is robust and strongly backed by research in cognitive psychology. The health professions—including medicine, nursing, and dentistry—have widely embraced retrieval practice as a learning and study tool, particularly for course exams and high-stakes licensing exams. This state-of-the-art review examines the historical development, current applications, and future directions for the use of retrieval practice in health professions education. While retrieval-based learning has long been used informally in these fields, its formal recognition as a scientifically supported study method gained momentum in the early 2000s and then saw a surge in both research interest and curricular adoption between 2010 and 2025. This historical review explores the key factors driving this growth, such as its alignment with assessment-driven education and the increasing availability of third-party study resources that rely on retrieval practice as a guiding principle. Despite its proven benefits for learning, however, barriers persist to its adoption by students, including in the health professions. This article discusses strategies for overcoming these challenges and for enhancing retrieval practice integration into health professions curricula. Full article

Psychological momentum dynamics in tennis have triggered interest for a long time, but measuring their impact presents substantial obstacles. In this paper, we present an approach to quantify momentum that combines real-time winning probabilities, leverage, and an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). We test the method on a high-profile match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, demonstrating how changes in leverage affect momentum. Furthermore, we use feature extraction methods from time series analysis to derive momentum-related characteristics, which are critical inputs for creating an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) binary classification model to predict game winners. The algorithm has an average accuracy of 84% and provides real-time predictions of each player’s chances of winning the match. Our findings indicate that momentum is a somewhat relevant element in forecasting match outcomes, highlighting its potential value in improving match prediction systems. Full article

As the core carrier of cognitive construction, the design optimization of campus learning space is crucial to the improvement of education quality, but the existing research focuses on the analysis of behavioral preferences and lacks an in-depth analysis of the psychological dynamics of users. Through multimodal questionnaires and spatiotemporal tracking, we developed an ‘expectation–perception–behavior’ framework to quantify discrepancies between users’ visual expectations and actual experiences. The results showed that blue and wood tones significantly enhanced learning efficiency; however, there was a significant difference between facility usability and sound insulation. Based on this, dynamic environment adjustment, virtual reality preview, and modular flexible space strategies are proposed to optimize spatial performance through biophilic design and intelligent regulation. This study provides interdisciplinary methodological innovation for architecture, education, and environmental psychology and promotes the transformation of campus space, injecting new momentum into the transformation of global stock space, the construction of a sustainable education ecology, and contributing to the overall improvement of social cognitive performance. Full article

Imagery, a classic technique in psychological training, is gaining momentum in competitive sports. Despite the increasing use of imagery, its effectiveness remains debated. Robust, data-driven conclusions are still lacking. This study seeks to investigate the effects of imagery practice on enhancing athletic performance and determine the ideal dosage of such practice through a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis. A comprehensive search across seven databases, including SportDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE, MEDLINE Complete, and CINAHL, yielded 23,027 studies. These were initially reviewed for title and abstract using ASReview, followed by full-text screening with Covidence. A total of 86 studies with 3593 athletes (2104 males and 1110 females) were included in this meta-analysis. Our findings indicate that imagery practice enhances athletic performance, encompassing agility, muscle strength, tennis and soccer performance, and is applicable to both tennis and soccer athletes. The efficacy of integrating imagery practice with one or two additional psychological skills trainings (PSTs) surpasses that of imagery practice in isolation. Moderation analysis revealed that engaging in imagery practice for approximately ten minutes, three times weekly over a span of one hundred days, produces the strongest performance gains. This review offers recommendations for athletes regarding the implementation of imagery practice in routine training or prior to competitions, thereby providing empirical evidence to optimize psychological training programs in competitive settings. Full article

While environmental consciousness has gained global momentum, the influence of climate advocacy on consumer behavior within tourism has rarely been examined. The present study investigated the impact of climate advocacy on regenerative tourism intentions while examining the moderating effects of data privacy-conscious marketing and social moral licensing. Drawing on theoretical frameworks focusing on social psychology and digital marketing ethics, the present study employed a survey-based quantitative approach to collect online data from environmentally conscious tourists in Hawaii (N = 526). The findings highlighted that the positive impact of climate advocacy on regenerative tourism intention is significantly reinforced by data privacy-conscious marketing and social moral licensing. The present study extends theoretical implications by underscoring the integration of behavior change theories in understanding consumer decision-making processes in regenerative tourism. Importantly, the practical implications of this study advocate for ethical digital marketing strategies and climate advocacy initiatives to support regenerative tourism practices. Hence, the present study offers ground-breaking evidence on the nuanced interplay between climate advocacy, privacy-conscious marketing, social moral licensing, and regenerative tourism intention. These strategic insights can aid tourism marketers and destination managers in fostering a more environmentally responsible tourism industry amidst global environmental challenges. Full article

Investment in stocks is increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence (AI), but the psychological and social factors that affect stock prices may not be fully covered by the measures currently used in AI training. Here, we search for additional measures that may improve AI predictions. We start by reviewing stock price movements that appear to be affected by social and psychological factors, drawing on stock market behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of processes that are likely to produce such stock market movements follows: the disposition effect, momentum, and the response to information. These processes are then explained by regression to the mean, negativity bias, the availability mechanism, and information diffusion. Taking account of these processes and drawing on the consumer behaviour literature, we identify three factors which may not be covered by current AI training data that could affect stock prices: publicity in relation to capitalization, stock-holding penetration in relation to capitalization, and changes in the penetration of stock holding. Full article

It has been suggested that adolescents’ mental health challenges account for half of the disease burden in the world’s adolescents and young adults. In addition to psychological and medical interventions employed to prevent and treat mental health conditions, programmes such as social prescribing which include arts-based activities like dance, are gaining momentum in countries such as the UK. Evidence shows that such activities can produce positive mental and physical well-being outcomes for individuals with the potential to build a sense of belonging and connection among adolescents. This review aims to collate and synthesise findings of studies that explored building a sense of belonging and/or its features in dance with adolescents. The review was reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria which were used to present a narrative synthesis to address the review questions. The findings show the need for more dance research that directly focuses on and explores the role of dance in building a sense of belonging with adolescents and how a sense of belonging can be facilitated through dance. Full article

Background: Specific phobias impact over 400 million people worldwide. Digitalizing mental health could alleviate the burden. Still, although the corporate-driven Metaverse is expanding rapidly, there needs to be more momentum in harnessing virtual reality exposure therapy uptake. Objective: This study aims to conceptualize, develop, and deploy a free Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) application specifically designed for treating acrophobia and claustrophobia. This pilot study, which holds the promise of a future where mental health is more accessible and effective, explores the feasibility of leveraging transdisciplinary collaboration among specialists to create a safe, accessible, and effective VRET solution. Methods: We conducted a Delphi heuristic approach involving bioethicists, neuroscientists, and tech developers. Second, we reviewed the existing psychological theories and therapeutic strategies for addressing phobias in VR. Third, we conceptualized a thematic analysis-derived framework for a safe, adaptive-gamified free exposure to virtual reality acrophobia and claustrophobia (SAFEvR ACT). Finally, we provide an overview of the iterative improvements made during 12 workshops and 76 weekly briefings on developmental implementations. Results: We developed the SAFEvR ACT into a proof-of-concept application freely deployed on the MentalVerse app platform. Our safety-focused approach can benefit from prevalidation perspectives within future randomized control trials. Conclusions: The resulting application derived from the SAFEvR ACT framework represents a blueprint to counter the current lack of iVR mental health uptake by offering a free VRET alternative. Future research should aim towards developing similar free platforms to lessen mental health burdens and gather quantitative data. We conclude with a call to action to researchers to fine-tune our current approach and take a stand for free digital mental health within MentalVeRse.app. Full article

This study explored the emotional and cognitive dimensions associated with technical fouls (TFs) in basketball coaching. Using in-depth interviews with Israeli first-division basketball coaches, we aimed to uncover the emotional and cognitive intricacies involved in TFs. Through rigorous thematic content analysis, we delved into coaches’ ability to perceive and manipulate psychological momentum on the court. We revealed that coaches intentionally use TFs as strategic tools. TFs were employed to elicit specific emotional responses and cognitive shifts in players, affecting their emotional states, arousal levels, motivation, and overall team performance. However, coaches approached TFs with caution due to the associated emotional and cognitive risks. They carefully weighed potential benefits against unforeseen consequences in their decision-making. Furthermore, our research highlighted coaches’ belief in the immediate positive impact of TFs on referee decisions, underscoring the interplay between emotional influence and strategic advantage. Nevertheless, this advantage was perceived as short-lived, emphasizing that TFs are a two-edged sword with unpredictable outcomes. Full article

Vaccination is the most cost-effective way to maintain population health. However, it can only be effective if widespread acceptance is held. The efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines depends on their favor. When countries start to vaccinate their citizens, there is a certain level of skepticism about the effectiveness of the vaccines. The hesitancy study on vaccines has gained momentum following the pandemic. However, few studies have examined the link between the psychological and sociodemographic factors influencing the fit. This paper proposes integrating the concepts of the information systems success and stimulus–organism–response into a cognitive fit theory framework to explore the integration of psychological and sociodemographic factors in the receivers’ reactions (n = 1510). This study analyses the factors that influence the hesitancy of vaccines and the public’s refusal in Asia and Europe. Receivers’ reactions were assessed to various stimuli and we explored the link between psychological and sociodemographic elements and the concept of fit. Two surveys were conducted following the scale development of Mackenzie. The first was to develop the fit scale, while the second was to validate the fit scale. The results of the second survey were analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that the scale’s fit development is valid and reliable. The quality of the vaccine information, the psychological characteristics of the vaccine system, and vaccine receivers’ satisfaction are also beneficial factors for emotional and cognitive fit. Maintaining the vaccines’ quality and efficiency can help improve the fit between sociodemographic and psychological characteristics. It can also enhance receivers’ satisfaction and encourage continued vaccine administration. This study is regarded as one of the first to examine and develop an emotional and cognitive fit scale for practitioners and researchers. Full article

Innovative projects are considered risky and challenging, and specific managerial traits (such as managerial overconfidence) are needed to gain momentum. Moreover, corporate innovations are also crucial for sustainable development through the creation of more efficient, ecofriendly, and socially responsible products, processes, and business models. Therefore, the present study adds to the existing literature by examining (a) how managerial overconfidence influences firm-level innovation, (b) whether the strength of the relationship between managerial overconfidence and corporate innovation is a moderator of institutional effectiveness, and (c) whether these relationships are evident, particularly in developing contexts. We employed firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey to test such contentions and developed unique proxies for managerial overconfidence and corporate innovation. The timeframe of the study ranged from 2014 to 2017. This study is unique, as we have used a large dataset and various novel proxy measures to quantify managerial overconfidence and corporate innovation. Utilizing probit and ordered probit regression with year-fixed effect models, our robust results reveal that a firm’s innovativeness is significantly associated with managerial overconfidence. As the mother of all psychological biases, overconfidence is the most ubiquitous, with many features influencing human judgment. The findings imply that hiring managers with confident personalities or encouraging existing managers to become bold in their decision-making may increase firm-level innovation in developing countries. Moreover, the strength of the relationship between managerial overconfidence and corporate innovation is moderated by institutional effectiveness. These findings suggest that institutions play a crucial role in escalating managerial confidence and innovation by connecting and understanding the flow of knowledge, risk taking, and investing activities. Corporations can be critical in addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development by incorporating sustainable principles into their innovation strategies. Full article

This paper presents a novel psychological model of the socio-cognitive management of uncertainty, the semiotic dimensional model (SDM). The SDM claims that uncertainty increases the momentum of affect-laden meanings in meaning-making. This is so because affective meanings provide a simplified interpretation of the world that restores the experience of being able to make sense of the reality destabilized by uncertainty. Moreover, the SDM models the affective meanings in terms of low-dimensional mental phase space (MPS). Each dimension of the MPS detects a facet of the context. The lower the MPS dimensionality, the lower the number of facets of the context processed, therefore, the more simplified the meaning-making is. We attained the first empirical validation of the SDM in a sample of 120 Italian people. First, the SDM assumption that the low-dimensional MPS is the computational descriptor of affective meaning was tested. Second, an experimental study was designed in which uncertainty was manipulated so as to assess its effects on the dimensionality of participants’ MPS. It was hypothesized that uncertainty induces a decrease in the MPS dimensionality. Results were consistent with both hypotheses. Theoretical implications of the SDM and its relationship with other theories are discussed and future research direction outlined. Full article

Interest in how the school built environment impacts bullying behaviour has gained momentum in recent years. While numerous studies have identified locations within schools where bullying frequently occurs, few studies have investigated the potential conceptual pathways linking school locations to bullying behaviour. This study aimed to (i) identify school built environment factors that may prevent or facilitate bullying behaviour in primary and secondary schools; and (ii) develop a conceptual model of potential pathways between the school built environment and bullying behaviour for future anti-bullying intervention research. Seventy individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and December 2020, with policymakers (n = 22), school staff (n = 12), parents (n = 18), and students (n = 18). School staff, parents and students, were recruited from six metropolitan primary and secondary schools in Perth, Western Australia. Interviews were conducted online and face-to-face using semi-structured interview guides. A thematic analysis was undertaken. Participants identified school bullying locations (e.g., locker areas, bathrooms, corridors) and built environment factors linked to bullying behaviour via (i) visibility and supervision; (ii) physical and psychological comfort and safety; and (iii) social-emotional competencies. The findings have policy and practice implications regarding the design of school built environments to prevent bullying behaviour. Full article

The benefits of ecosystem services to cities are well documented; for example, water-sensitive urban design to mitigate stormwater flows and purify run-off, the cooling benefits provided by tree shade, and psychological benefits of urban greening. Cities tend to displace nature, and in urban environments where nature exists it tends to be as highly altered ecosystems. This paper sets out how it is possible to regenerate nature in cities. We outline the principles of how to do this through a study on a new regenerative urban development in Perth, Australia, where urban planning is intended to support the regeneration of a bioregional habitat within the city. The authors, drawn from sustainability, property development and ecological backgrounds, describe how urban regeneration can potentially facilitate the regeneration of endemic habitat within the city. This builds on the original ecosystem functionality to provide an urban ecosystem that enables biodiversity to regenerate. Perth lies on the Swan Coastal Plain, a biodiversity hotspot; it is home to 2.1 million people and numerous endemic species such as the endangered Black Cockatoo. Low reproduction rates and habitat loss through agricultural clearing, fire and urban expansion have greatly reduced the Black Cockatoo’s range and this continuing trend threatens extinction. However, the charismatic Black Cockatoos enjoy passionate support from Perth’s citizens. This paper describes a range of strategies whereby new urban development could potentially harness the popularity of the iconic Black Cockatoo to build momentum for urban habitat regeneration (for the cockatoos and other species) on the Swan Coastal Plain. The strategies, if systematically operationalised through urban planning, could allow city-scale ecological gain. The authors suggest a framework for nature-positive design and development that offers multiple benefits for human and non-human urban dwellers across scales, from individual gardens, to city/regional scale habitat corridors. Collectively, these strategies can increase the capacity of the city to support endemic species, simultaneously enhancing a bioregional “sense of place”, and numerous associated ecosystem services to increase urban resilience in the face of climate change. Full article

Learning vocabulary through mobile applications has gained momentum in recent years. However, little is known about what elements motivate or demotivate learners to use the applications. This research thus aims at finding out factors that may influence users’ intention to use certain gamified English vocabulary apps and their actual use of the applications based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). This study complements the missing link through structural equation modeling based on the data collected from a large-scale online questionnaire survey. The results show that performance expectancy (PE), facilitating conditions (FC), and attitudes towards behavior (ATB) are positively correlated with behavioral intention (BI) while effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and openness (OP) are negatively correlated with BI. However, no significant correlation was found between emotional stability (ES), positive competition (PC), and perseverance of effort (POE) and BI as predicted. In addition, behavioral intention (BI) and actual use (AU) are strongly correlated. However, unlike some of the previous studies, the result of this study does not present a significant relationship between FC and actual use (AU). Future research may include participants with diversified cultural backgrounds and extend the constructs further to psychology. Full article