ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL IMPACT REPORT

Transcription

1 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL IMPACT REPORT For awards ending on or after 1 November 2009 This Impact Reportshould be completed and submitted using thegrant referenceas the subjectto reportsofficer@esrc.ac.ukon or before the due date. Completion of thisimpact Reportis mandatory. It will not be possible to edit this Impact Reportat a later date, as it is designed to provide a statement of the impacts of your project to date 12 months after your grant ends. Please note that the Impact Report will only be accepted if all sections have been completed in full. If a section does not apply to you, please enter n/a. Grant holders will not be eligible for further ESRC funding until the Report is accepted. (Please see Section 5 of the ESRC Research Funding Guide for details.) Please refer to the Guidance notes when completing this Impact Report. In particular, the notes explain what the ESRC means by impact. Grant Reference RES Grant Title A Prototype Analysis of the Construct of Nostalgia Grant Start Date 01 October 2008 Total Amount 108, Grant End Date 31 March 2010 Expended: Grantholding Institution University of Southampton Grant Holder Prof Constantine Sedikides Grant Holder s Contact Details Address School of Psychology Uni of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ Co-Investigators(as per project application): Dr Timothy Ritchie Dr R. Tim Wildschut cs2@soton.ac.uk Telephone (023) Institution University of Limerick University of Southampton. 1

2 1. SCIENTIFIC IMPACT A Please summarise below the scientific impact(s) your project has had. [Max 250 words] The conceptualization of nostalgia, through its long history, has been (a) tainted by ideas of neurological disease, psychiatric disorder, or clinical symptomatology, and (b) viewed as negative, ambivalent, or positive. Scholars have been unable to reach a consensus on how nostalgia should be defined, with concomitant obstructions in theory development. Our project addresses these issues. First, we described lay views of nostalgia in a way that balances the demands of scientific validation and comprehensive coverage. We have identified a set of prototypical features (across many cultures) that are empirically validated and readily operationalized, while reflecting the richness and diversity of laypersons experiences. Second, the view of nostalgia as a prototype clarifies its experience and functions. A prototype is activated even when a person encounters only some of its features. This process explains how particular events become construed as nostalgic over time and why they are brought to mind in times of loneliness. Third, our project sheds light on the way nostalgia is assessed and manipulated. Our project assures researchers that past manipulations or assessments on nostalgia were valid, as participants indeed know what nostalgia means (their view of centrally prototypical features was consensual). Also, our project identifies a novel and indirect way to assess or induce the state of nostalgia using only prototypical features. Finally, our project further links nostalgia with the metaphor of warmth, and documents that nostalgia is associate with, and engenders, not only psychological but also physical warmth in response to cold ambient temperatures. B Please outline the findings and outputs from your project which have had the scientific impact(s) outlined in 1A.[Max 250 words] The first set of findings (seven studies) has revealed the content and prototypical structure of nostalgia as experienced by the people who draw on it. The relevant empirical output is a manuscript under review in Emotion, and it has received an invited resubmission. The second set of findings establishes the prototypical structure of nostalgia across a range of cultures. In particular, we have examined the generalizability of the nostalgia prototype by collecting ratings of the 35 features from 16 cultures (e.g., Cameroon, Chile, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Poland). The relevant empirical output is a manuscript in preparation to be submitted also to Emotion. Note that this line of research was not included in the original proposal but was inspired by the main findings, which called for cross-cultural generalizability. The third set of findings (five studies) proposes and documentsa broad homeostatic function for nostalgia encompassing the maintenance of both psychological and physiological comfort. Nostalgia (a) is associated with, or is triggered by, cold weather or cold room temperatures, (b) is associated with, or produces, a feeling of physical warmth, and (c) leads to higher tolerances of physical coldness (i.e., hand-immersion in cold water). The relevant empirical output is a manuscript in preparation to be submitted in May to Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. This line of research was not included in the original proposal but was inspired by the main findings (i.e., participants description of nostalgia in terms of warm memories). For more information, please see section C below. 2

3 C Please outline how these impacts were achieved.[max 250 words] Prototype. Participants generated 35 nostalgia features (Study 1). The features were rated on centrality to nostalgia, allowing us to define operationally a set of central versus peripheral features (Study 2). Central features were processed differently than peripheral ones. Specifically, central features were more often freely recalled and falsely recognized (Study 3), and were classified as nostalgia-relevant more often and more quickly (Study 4). Central features conveyed more effectively a sense of nostalgia when used to describe a hypothetical character s autobiographical experience (Study 5) and better characterized participants own nostalgic events (Study 6). Finally, nostalgia and its benefits can be triggered using only the prototype features (Study 7). Participants who reflected on an event defined by centrally prototypical features felt equally nostalgic and experienced the same psychological benefits as participants who reflected on a nostalgic event. The findings have been validated cross-culturally. Nostalgia prototypically focuses on memories that are fond, meaningful, imbued with a rosy glow, and involve childhood/relationships. The relevance of nostalgic memories to positive experiences of self and close others explains its ability to boost/repair self-worth and social connectedness. Physiological warmth. Nostalgia is triggered by coldness. Participants reported stronger nostalgia on colder (vs. warmer) days and in a cold (vs. neutral or warm) room. Nostalgia, in turn, modulates the feeling of temperature. Higher levels of music-evoked nostalgia predicted increased physical warmth, and participants who recalled a nostalgic (vs. autobiographical) event perceived ambient temperature as higher. Finally, participants who recalled a nostalgic (vs. autobiographical) were more tolerant to noxious cold. D Please outline who the findings and outputs outlined above had an impact upon. This can include specific academics/researchers through to broader academic groups.[max 250 words] The findings have had an impact upon the scientific community both in terms of outputs and in terms of presentations. OUTPUTS We have submitted for publication the following manuscripts: Hepper, E. G., Ritchie, T. D., Sedikides, C., & Wildschut, T. (2011, under review received invited resubmission). Odyssey s end: Lay conceptions of nostalgia reflect its original meaning. Emotion. Zhou, X., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Fen, C.,& Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (to be submitted, May 2011). Heartwarming memories: Nostalgia maintains physiological comfort. Target journal: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. We plan to submit for publication the following manuscript: Hepper, E. G., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Abakoumkin, G., Abdollahi, A., Arikan, G., Cisek, S., Didier, D. B., Gebauer, J., Gerber, J., Gonzales, R., Kusumi, T., Misra, G., Ritchie, T. D., Rusu, M., Stephan, E., Vingerhoets, A., & Zhou, X. (to be submitted following acceptance of the Emotion manuscript). Lay conceptions of nostalgia across cultures. Target journal: Emotion. PRESENTATIONS 3

4 Conference Presentations None following the End of Award report. Invited Seminars Sedikides (2011, March). University of Queensland, Australia Sedikides (2010, December). University of Manchester, UK Sedikides (2010, November). University of Essex, Colchester, UK Wildschut (2010, November). University of Groningen, The Netherlands Sedikides (2010, October). University of Reading, UK 2. ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT A Please summarise below the economic and societal impact(s) your project has had.[max 250 words] Our project has had a societal impact. Specifically, since the End-of-Award report, our project extended its societal impact in five ways. First, we publicised our research to several hundred undergraduate students across 16 countries. Second, we gave several invited seminars and conference presentations, which were attended by undergraduate students, post-graduate students, and academic staff. Third, we engaged the media, and in particular: 1. The leading German newspaper SüddeutscheZeitung(journalist: Kurt Kister) ( ) 2. The German magazine Bild der Wissenschaft (journalist: Simone Einzmann) 3. The Dutch lifestyle magazine Flow (journalist: Otje van der Lelij) 4. The Belgian lifestyle magazine Weekend Knack (journalist: Katrien Steyaert) 5. The Canadian lifestyle magazine Maisonneuve Magazine (journalist: Brennan Neill). 6. The Dutch scientific magazine Psychologie Magazine (journalist: Heleen Peverelli) 7. The Dutch scientific magazine Quest (journalist: Tonie Mudde) 8. The Dutch radio station Radio 5 Nostalgia (broadcast manager: Kees Toering) Fourth, we have carried out an intervention study (in collaboration with Dr Nathan DeWall, University of Kentucky, USA) among first-year undergraduate students, with encouraging results. We are now in the process of extending the intervention in a group of elderly persons. We will acknowledge the grant in the relevant publication. Fifth, we have established a nostalgia website, pending final administrative approval. We have told that approval will be granted in early April, and, if so, the website can be accessed through either the School website ( or the Centre for Research on Self and Identity website ( ity.page) 4

5 B Please outline the findings and outputs from your projectwhich have had the economic and societal impact(s) outlined in 2A.[Max 250 words] Please see section A. Outputs would include seminars/presentations, media coverage, the interventions among undergraduate students and the elderly, and the nostalgia website. C Please outline how these impacts were achieved.[max 250 words] Please see section A. The societal impact was achieved through seminars or presentations, media coverage, the interventions, and the website. D Please outline who the findings and outputs outlined above had an impact upon. This can be at a broad societal level through to specific individuals or groups. [Max 250 words] The findings and outputs had an impact upon students (both at the undergraduate and PhD level), academics, and the public. The public was reached via our interventions, media interviews/articles, and our website. 3. UNEXPECTED AND POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACTS A Unexpected Impacts Please note which, if any, of the impacts that your research has had were unexpected at the outset of the research, explaining where possible why you think this was the case.[max 250 words] Our project has had two unexpected scientific impacts. First, our project investigated and established the prototypical nature of the construct of nostalgia across 16 cultures. Second, our project investigated and established that nostalgia serves a broad homeostatic function that encompasses the maintenance of both psychological and physiological comfort. These two lines of research were inspired by the generative findings of the original and proposed set of studies. B Potential Future Impacts If you have a clear idea of the impact your research is likely to have in the future please detail these below.[max 250 words] We would highlight the interventions (among undergraduate students and the elderly) as a promising future scientific impact of our project. 5

6 4. IMPACT LIMITATIONS A Limited scientific impact Please state below any major scientific difficulties that have limited the scientific impact of your research. The statement should refer to an effect on impact rather than simply detail research difficulties.[max 250 words] B Limited economic and societal impact ESRC recognises that some of the research it funds will not have an economic or societalimpact in the short term. Please explain briefly below if this is the case for your project, and refer to your grant application where relevant.[max 250 words] C No impact to date This project has had no impact to date Please note that ESRC projects are evaluated on the basis of their scientific and/or economic and societal impact. Grant holders are expected to report any future impacts as they occur using the Impact Record, downloadable from the ESRC website. If you have no impacts at this stage, please give reasons below.[max 250 words] 6

7 5. DECLARATIONS Please read the statements below. Submitting this Impact Report to your agreement. i) This Impact Report is an accurate statement of the impacts of the research project to date. All co-investigators named in the proposal to ESRC or appointed subsequently have seen and approved the Report. ii) Details of any subsequent impacts will be submitted via an Impact Record as they occur. Thank you for completing this Impact Report. Your Impact Report will be considered along with your End of Award Report in the evaluation of your research. You are now invited to complete the confidential Nominations form, which will assist with the evaluation of your project. 7

8 NOMINATED OUTPUTS Please nominate a maximum of two outputs from your research which you would like to be considered as part of the evaluation. Output type (eg journal article, book, newspaper article, conference proceedings) Journal article Journal article Publication details (eg author name, date, title, publisher details) Hepper, E. G., Ritchie, T. D., Sedikides, C., & Wildschut, T. (2011; revise-and-resubmit). Odyssey s end: Lay conceptions of nostalgia reflect its original meaning. Emotion. Zhou, X., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Fen, C., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (in preparation; to be submitted in May 2011). Heartwarming memories: Nostalgia maintains physiological. comfort. Target journal: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Uploaded to ESRC website?(yes/no) Yes Yes Please your completed Impact Report with electronic copies of your nominated outputs to reportsofficer@esrc.ac.uk, using your grant reference number as the subject. 8