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Item "Baby brain" : examining the link between sleep, information processing speed and executive functioning during late stage pregnancy : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Psychology) at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2018) Connolly, Kathryn Marie‘Baby brain’ is a term given to the phenomenon experienced by many pregnant women who feel that they have some pregnancy induced cognitive disadvantage. Traditionally the investigation of cognitive deficits during pregnancy has focussed on various subtypes of memory, but researchers have broadened their scope in recent years to include a wide range of cognitive functions. This thesis considers and expands on the conclusions of recent meta-analyses which suggest that deficits occur in the domains of information processing speed and executive functioning. The current study analyses reported findings in respect of these two cognitive domains, which have been inconsistent across individual studies. Further, the thesis seeks to explore the possible inter-relationship between information processing speed and the planning facet of executive functioning. This additional analysis is based on research with other populations indicating that perceived impairments in executive functioning can be more accurately understood as secondary consequences of impairments in processing speed. Participants were 133 women from within the Wellington region who were either in the late stages of pregnancy with their first child, or who were not pregnant and had not previously had a child. Scores on the reaction time measure of processing speed showed an impairment in simple reaction times for pregnant women when compared to non-pregnant controls. The more complex ‘choice reaction time measure’ also showed a trend indicative of impairment during pregnancy, but this did not meet the threshold for statistical significance. There was no measurable difference between pregnant and non-pregnant women on the planning measure of executive functioning. Deficits in sleep quality and altered mood during pregnancy were considered as potential moderating variables when reviewing scores on cognitive tasks. It was found that while pregnant women had significantly poorer self-reported sleep quality than controls, this did not correlate with cognitive scores. However, anxiety was shown to impact on planning time during the executive functioning task, and on performance during that task. The results of this research will help to clarify the current inconsistencies in results published in extant literature. It also provides recommendations for further exploration of these cognitive domains during pregnancy.Item Mapping cognitive architectures : an information processing approach : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD at Massey University(Massey University, 1998) Pech, Richard JThis research attempts to answer the following question. How can the critical knowledge and mental processes used by people as they respond to their work demands and interact with their work environment, be identified and portrayed? This study uses an information processing model to focus on cognitively-based management competencies. The MAPA model, describes four crucial and interrelated stages in the recognition of what is thought to occur in human information processing. The resulting cognitive architectures reveal specific organisationally-valued knowledge, providing the basis for work-specific curriculum design. Organisational discrepancies of a cognitively-based nature are also identifiable. A sample of New Zealand Army officers (N=103), comprising lieutenants, captains, and majors, completed questionnaires about their work-related cognitive processes. The MAPA model has facilitated greater understanding of respondents' combined work-related knowledge and knowledge structures. The cognitive architectures identified by this research reveal that New Zealand Army officers have wide patterns of connectivity. This suggests that many theories are too simplistic in their descriptions of managerial and/or leadership behaviour. Prototype architectures devolved from the data illustrate a variety of cognitive activities appearing initially as people-oriented, such as listening, coaching, caring, and guiding, but which are instigated for the purpose of achieving the set task. This suggests that respondents perceive supportive Abilities to provide the most important method for achieving some tasks. This finding creates a theoretical paradox. Using commonly-held views on work orientations, it could be argued that some people have a task orientation while applying supportive behaviours in order to achieve that task. The stereotypical view of the task orientation is also disputed however, as the cognitive architectures resulting from this study indicate that concern with task completion is achieved predominantly through the use of what has been categorised as thinking functions, in that they represent problem solving and assessing Abilities. The findings suggest that army officers predominantly employ a deliberate information processing strategy of supportive behaviour in order to complete their goals. In summary, this study explores a scientific approach for the recognition of cognitively-based competencies of managerial-level personnel. The results suggest that twelve Accomplishments describe the cognitively-based managerial-level competencies most valued by the New Zealand Army. In the process of identifying these value-added attributes, some organisational idiosyncrasies have been detected that, it is argued, may ultimately jeopardise the New Zealand Army's attempts to successfully implement its stated war-fighting and command operating doctrines