Matt N Williams
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 3863264 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Matt N Williams |
| NOMBRES | Matt N |
| APELLIDO | Williams |
| FIRMA | WILLIAMS M N |
| AFILIACIONES | Massey University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0571-215X |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 20 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 38 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 20 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 1999 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2025 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
Communicating natural hazards science advice
How individuals perceive scientific processes impacts their interpretation of, trust in, and use of, science advice particularly when managing uncertain natural hazard risk. We explored a) how diverse stakeholders understand how science of natural hazards is produced, and b) how this relates to their ontological, epistemological, and philosophical views of science. Using inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with 31 participants involv…
Quantifying Opponent Process Dynamics in Pornography Use and Masturbation
The causal relationships between pornography use, masturbation, moral incongruence, and mental health are poorly understood. While the link between problematic pornography use (PPU) and depression is well documented, the temporal dynamics associated with pornography use and masturbation have not yet been quantified. Utilizing an exploratory ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design, we measured the temporal dynamics of cognitive and affective …
Extremism at the center
The midpoint of the left‐right self‐placement item is hiding important political diversity, and may be conflating moderate responders with populists and other political sub‐groups. Survey researchers should consider this problem when examining relationships between political orientation and political attitudes. We suggest testing for non‐linearity in these relationships, and measuring anti‐establishment and populist beliefs separately. Researcher…
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
A cross‐cultural test of competing hypotheses about system justification using data from 42 nations
System justification theory (SJT) is a thriving field of research, wherein the primary questions revolve around why individuals and groups are motivated to see the systems they depend on as just, fair, and legitimate. This article seeks to answer how accurate the postulates of SJT are when compared to competing self‐interest claims of social identity and social dominance theory. We addressed the ongoing debates among proponents of each theory by …
Differences in perceived sources of uncertainty in natural hazards science advice
Introduction We conducted mental model interviews in Aotearoa NZ to understand perspectives of uncertainty associated with natural hazards science. Such science contains many layers of interacting uncertainties, and varied understandings about what these are and where they come from creates communication challenges, impacting the trust in, and use of, science. To improve effective communication, it is thus crucial to understand the many diverse p…
Antecedents of bullying victimisation in adolescents
Research has consistently demonstrated that the prevalence of school bullying in Aotearoa New Zealand exceeds those observed in other developed countries. Despite the need to understand the risk and protective factors for bullying victimisation, there remains a paucity of research in the New Zealand context. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors for bullying victimisation by conducting a secondary data analysis on a large and re…
Where does scientific uncertainty come from, and from whom? Mapping perspectives of natural hazards science advice
The science associated with assessing natural hazard phenomena and the risk they pose contains many layers of complex and interacting elements, resulting in diverse sources of uncertainty. This creates a challenge for effective communication, which must consider how people perceive that uncertainty. Thus, we conducted twenty-five mental model interviews in Aotearoa New Zealand with participants ranging from scientists to policy writers and emerge…
The potential relationship between loot box spending, problem gambling, and obsessive-compulsive gamers
Testing the status‐legitimacy hypothesis
The status‐legitimacy hypothesis proposes that those who are most disadvantaged by unequal social systems are even more likely than members of more advantaged groups to provide ideological support for the very social system that is responsible for their disadvantages. Li, Yang, Wu, and Kou (2020, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ) sought to expand the generalizability of this hypothesis by testing it in China, addressing inconsistencies…
Eliciting mental models of science and risk for disaster communication
We present a scoping review of methods used to elicit individuals' mental models of science or risk. Developing a shared understanding of the science related to risk is crucial for diverse individuals to collaboratively manage disaster consequences. Mental models, or people's psychological representation of how the ‘world works’, present a valuable tool to achieve this. Potential applications range from developing effective risk communication for…
The moderating effects of psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Associations between conspiracism and the rejection of scientific innovations
Public opinion regarding scientific developments such as genetically modified food can be mixed. We suggest such science-based technological innovations are rejected by some because they are perceived to be advanced as part of a conspiracy. In nationally representative samples (Australia n = 1011; New Zealand n = 754), we report the associations between five conspiracism facets and anti-science attitudes. Results indicate broad public opposition …
The Experiences of Mothers in a Neonatal Unit and Their Use of the Babble App
To better understand the experiences of mothers with an infant admitted to a neonatal unit and ascertain their perspectives on an available information support app, Babble, eight mothers with an infant admitted to a Level II+ neonatal unit were interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized and responses indicated that mothers of neonates experienced challenges around adapting to the maternal role and managing their expectations of motherhood. Relat…
Perceptions of Powerlessness Are Negatively Associated with Taking Action on Climate Change
Despite segments of skepticism, the majority of the general public in most countries believe that climate change is occurring and caused by human activities. Behavior changes by individuals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least some extent, but a range of psychological and economic barriers can prevent individuals from taking action. A survey of New Zealanders by Aitken, Chapman, and McClure (2011) reported that belief in human influenc…
Justify your alpha
Associations Between Self-Presentation and Competitive a-Trait
Leary (1992) suggests that sports anxiety stems from the Self-Presentation (SP) implications of competition. Some research supports this (e.g., Wilson & Eklund, 1998) and the aim of this study was to expand this research base. Fifty-nine competitive middle distance runners completed the Sport Anxiety Scale [Smith, Smoll & Schultz, 1990, assessing worry (W), concentration disruption (CD) and somatic anxiety (SA)]. Only 2 of the 4 SP concerns asses…
Self-Presentation in Sport
Self-Presentation theory explains some of the underpinnings of anxiety/stress in competitive sport (Leary, 1992). James and Collins (1997) revealed that Competitive Self-Presentation Concerns (CSPC) are implicated in some competitive anxiety/stress experienced by athletes. Measures are therefore needed to assess athletes' CSPC. This study's aim was to develop such a tool. Four subscales were proposed and were supported by a confirmatory factor an…
Justify your alpha
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
A cross‐cultural test of competing hypotheses about system justification using data from 42 nations
System justification theory (SJT) is a thriving field of research, wherein the primary questions revolve around why individuals and groups are motivated to see the systems they depend on as just, fair, and legitimate. This article seeks to answer how accurate the postulates of SJT are when compared to competing self‐interest claims of social identity and social dominance theory. We addressed the ongoing debates among proponents of each theory by …
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
The Experiences of Mothers in a Neonatal Unit and Their Use of the Babble App
To better understand the experiences of mothers with an infant admitted to a neonatal unit and ascertain their perspectives on an available information support app, Babble, eight mothers with an infant admitted to a Level II+ neonatal unit were interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized and responses indicated that mothers of neonates experienced challenges around adapting to the maternal role and managing their expectations of motherhood. Relat…
Self-Presentation in Sport
Self-Presentation theory explains some of the underpinnings of anxiety/stress in competitive sport (Leary, 1992). James and Collins (1997) revealed that Competitive Self-Presentation Concerns (CSPC) are implicated in some competitive anxiety/stress experienced by athletes. Measures are therefore needed to assess athletes' CSPC. This study's aim was to develop such a tool. Four subscales were proposed and were supported by a confirmatory factor an…
Associations Between Self-Presentation and Competitive a-Trait
Leary (1992) suggests that sports anxiety stems from the Self-Presentation (SP) implications of competition. Some research supports this (e.g., Wilson & Eklund, 1998) and the aim of this study was to expand this research base. Fifty-nine competitive middle distance runners completed the Sport Anxiety Scale [Smith, Smoll & Schultz, 1990, assessing worry (W), concentration disruption (CD) and somatic anxiety (SA)]. Only 2 of the 4 SP concerns asses…
Justify your alpha
Perceptions of Powerlessness Are Negatively Associated with Taking Action on Climate Change
Despite segments of skepticism, the majority of the general public in most countries believe that climate change is occurring and caused by human activities. Behavior changes by individuals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least some extent, but a range of psychological and economic barriers can prevent individuals from taking action. A survey of New Zealanders by Aitken, Chapman, and McClure (2011) reported that belief in human influenc…
Associations between conspiracism and the rejection of scientific innovations
Public opinion regarding scientific developments such as genetically modified food can be mixed. We suggest such science-based technological innovations are rejected by some because they are perceived to be advanced as part of a conspiracy. In nationally representative samples (Australia n = 1011; New Zealand n = 754), we report the associations between five conspiracism facets and anti-science attitudes. Results indicate broad public opposition …
The Experiences of Mothers in a Neonatal Unit and Their Use of the Babble App
To better understand the experiences of mothers with an infant admitted to a neonatal unit and ascertain their perspectives on an available information support app, Babble, eight mothers with an infant admitted to a Level II+ neonatal unit were interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized and responses indicated that mothers of neonates experienced challenges around adapting to the maternal role and managing their expectations of motherhood. Relat…
Eliciting mental models of science and risk for disaster communication
We present a scoping review of methods used to elicit individuals' mental models of science or risk. Developing a shared understanding of the science related to risk is crucial for diverse individuals to collaboratively manage disaster consequences. Mental models, or people's psychological representation of how the ‘world works’, present a valuable tool to achieve this. Potential applications range from developing effective risk communication for…
The moderating effects of psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Where does scientific uncertainty come from, and from whom? Mapping perspectives of natural hazards science advice
The science associated with assessing natural hazard phenomena and the risk they pose contains many layers of complex and interacting elements, resulting in diverse sources of uncertainty. This creates a challenge for effective communication, which must consider how people perceive that uncertainty. Thus, we conducted twenty-five mental model interviews in Aotearoa New Zealand with participants ranging from scientists to policy writers and emerge…
The potential relationship between loot box spending, problem gambling, and obsessive-compulsive gamers
Testing the status‐legitimacy hypothesis
The status‐legitimacy hypothesis proposes that those who are most disadvantaged by unequal social systems are even more likely than members of more advantaged groups to provide ideological support for the very social system that is responsible for their disadvantages. Li, Yang, Wu, and Kou (2020, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ) sought to expand the generalizability of this hypothesis by testing it in China, addressing inconsistencies…
Differences in perceived sources of uncertainty in natural hazards science advice
Introduction We conducted mental model interviews in Aotearoa NZ to understand perspectives of uncertainty associated with natural hazards science. Such science contains many layers of interacting uncertainties, and varied understandings about what these are and where they come from creates communication challenges, impacting the trust in, and use of, science. To improve effective communication, it is thus crucial to understand the many diverse p…
Antecedents of bullying victimisation in adolescents
Research has consistently demonstrated that the prevalence of school bullying in Aotearoa New Zealand exceeds those observed in other developed countries. Despite the need to understand the risk and protective factors for bullying victimisation, there remains a paucity of research in the New Zealand context. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors for bullying victimisation by conducting a secondary data analysis on a large and re…
Communicating natural hazards science advice
How individuals perceive scientific processes impacts their interpretation of, trust in, and use of, science advice particularly when managing uncertain natural hazard risk. We explored a) how diverse stakeholders understand how science of natural hazards is produced, and b) how this relates to their ontological, epistemological, and philosophical views of science. Using inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with 31 participants involv…
Quantifying Opponent Process Dynamics in Pornography Use and Masturbation
The causal relationships between pornography use, masturbation, moral incongruence, and mental health are poorly understood. While the link between problematic pornography use (PPU) and depression is well documented, the temporal dynamics associated with pornography use and masturbation have not yet been quantified. Utilizing an exploratory ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design, we measured the temporal dynamics of cognitive and affective …
Extremism at the center
The midpoint of the left‐right self‐placement item is hiding important political diversity, and may be conflating moderate responders with populists and other political sub‐groups. Survey researchers should consider this problem when examining relationships between political orientation and political attitudes. We suggest testing for non‐linearity in these relationships, and measuring anti‐establishment and populist beliefs separately. Researcher…
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
A cross‐cultural test of competing hypotheses about system justification using data from 42 nations
System justification theory (SJT) is a thriving field of research, wherein the primary questions revolve around why individuals and groups are motivated to see the systems they depend on as just, fair, and legitimate. This article seeks to answer how accurate the postulates of SJT are when compared to competing self‐interest claims of social identity and social dominance theory. We addressed the ongoing debates among proponents of each theory by …
Psychology (17 obras) · Social Psychology (9 obras) · Political science (6 obras) · Clinical Psychology (5 obras) · Computer Science (5 obras) · Psychiatry (5 obras) · Social Psychology (5 obras) · Sociology (5 obras) · Ecology (4 obras) · Epistemology (4 obras)