Closing the loop of products and materials in Product Service Systems (PSS) can be approached by designers in several ways. One promising strategy is to invoke a greater sense of ownership of the products and materials that are used within a PSS. To develop and evaluate a design tool in the context of PSS, our case study focused on a bicycle sharing service. The central question was whether and how designers can be supported with a design tool, based on psychological ownership, to involve users in closing the loop activities. We developed a PSS design tool based on psychological ownership literature and implemented it in a range of design iterations. This resulted in ten design proposals and two implemented design interventions. To evaluate the design tool, 42 project members were interviewed about their design process. The design interventions were evaluated through site visits, an interview with the bicycle repairer responsible, and nine users of the bicycle service. We conclude that a psychological ownership-based design tool shows potential to contribute to closing the resource loop by allowing end users and service provider of PSS to collaborate on repair and maintenance activities. Our evaluation resulted in suggestions for revising the psychological ownership design tool, including adding ‘Giving Feedback’ to the list of affordances, prioritizing ‘Enabling’ and ‘Simplification’ over others and recognize a reciprocal relationship between service provider and service user when closing the loop activities.
Although near-peer role modeling (NPRM) has been suggested as an effective pedagogical intervention for boosting confidence, motivation, and self-efficacy, few studies have examined its connection with learner needs and well-being utilizing an established psychological framework. The present study investigates the pedagogical role of NPRM within English classes in Japanese higher education from the perspective of basic psychological need (BPN) satisfaction and frustration. In this two-phase explanatory mixed methods study, two quantitative scales were utilized to assess the significance of the connections between NPRM and six subcategories of BPN satisfaction or frustration. Subsequently, a qualitative investigation with a more limited sample size was conducted to elucidate and expand upon these associations. The quantitative findings revealed NPRM to be a significant predictor of students’ autonomy and relatedness satisfaction and exhibited a negative correlation with students' autonomy and relatedness frustration. However, no discernible association was observed between NPRM and competence satisfaction or frustration. The qualitative data revealed that the students’ mixed feelings of competence may have stemmed from low confidence and L2 self-concept with some students comparing themselves unfavorably to near-peer role models. The study highlights the need for NPRM interventions to be accompanied by instruction related to learner beliefs or growth mindsets.
ObjectivesThe existing studies among workers with a past cancer diagnosis have rarely focused on workers confronted with cancer recurrence or metastases specifically, so knowledge is lacking. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the work functioning (work ability, burnout complaints, and work engagement) of workers with recurrent or metastasized cancer. Furthermore, the association of psychological capital (hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy) with work functioning was studied.MethodsData from a survey study among workers 2–10 years past cancer diagnosis were used (N = 750); 73% reported a diagnosis of breast cancer and 27% a diagnosis of cancer other than breast cancer. Analysis of variance was used to compare participants with and without cancer recurrence or metastases regarding work functioning (work ability, burnout complaints, and work engagement) and psychological capital (hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy). Multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the association of type of cancer and psychological capital with work functioning among workers with cancer recurrence or metastatic cancer (n = 54), controlling for age.ResultsWork ability is significantly lower among workers with cancer recurrence or metastases (controlling for age); however, burnout complaints and work engagement are at comparable levels. Among workers with cancer recurrence or metastases, a higher level of hope is positively associated with work ability and work engagement, and a higher level of hope or resilience is negatively associated with burnout complaints.Significance of resultsAmong workers with cancer recurrence or metastases, work ability needs attention. Furthermore, especially the element hope of psychological capital is important to focus on because of the association with more favorable work functioning in general. The clinical psycho-oncological practice may benefit from these insights in guiding this vulnerable group of workers who are living with active cancer and many uncertainties.
