Development and validation of a new questionnaire to measure existential hope among Dutch students.
Type of research Quantitative empirical
Description:
Current positive psychological theories view hope primarily as a cognitive-motivational process, in which beliefs about one’s own ability to find paths to desired goals and the perceived ability to pursue them play a role. Such models implicitly assume a perception of time characterized by predictability and control. However, this assumption does not apply in a context of radical uncertainty, where the future cannot be meaningfully predicted or is perceived as threatening. And this is precisely what is relevant today. Based on a new theory of existential hope, a questionnaire has been developed: the Existential Hope Scale. Existential hope is defined as a fundamental psychological attitude toward life and the future, grounded in existential trust, supported by a sense of meaning, and expressed through agency—the commitment to act in ways that improve life—even under conditions of uncertainty and perceived threat. In this project, you will investigate the new questionnaire among Dutch students.
Who are we looking for?
The current study is being conducted among Dutch students. You are enthusiastic and capable of organizing a recruitment drive among students. You are interested in the topic of existential hope, questionnaire-based research, and the associated statistical analyses. Being able to speak Dutch would be nice, but it's not required.
What do we offer?
In this innovative project, you will contribute to a new perspective on and a questionnaire about existential hope. You will learn how to perform and interpret factor analyses.