Master's Theses

Department

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The current study utilized 114 subjects and was divided into two sections: The first dealt with the development of a scale assessing boredom (the Subjective Boredom Rating Scale; SBRS). The factor analysis of the results of the scale indicated that three factors were assessed. The factors were named “Repetitive Boredom,” “Affective Boredom,” and “Interactive Boredom.” This scale was used in the collection of the data for the second part of this study. The second part of the study dealt with Frankl’s view of humanity’s purpose in life and how this construct is related to seeking of noetic goals, sensation seeking, and boredom. The first hypothesis found that there is a moderate inverse relationship between boredom and purpose in life; the hypothesis was supported. The second hypothesis found an inverse relationship between the PIL and SSS; the hypothesis was supported. The third hypothesis found that SBRS and SONG were positively related, this hypothesis, too, was supported. The fourth hypothesis found that the relationship between SSS and SONG was almost nonexistent; this hypothesis was not supported. The fifth hypothesis found that a multiple regression equation was supported, that is, the PIL, SSS, and SONG were used as predictor variables, and the SBRS was the criterion variable. Two secondary hypotheses were also evaluated. The first secondary hypothesis found that an inverse relationship exists between the PIL and SONG; the hypothesis was supported. The second secondary hypothesis found that the SBRS and SSS have very little in common; the hypothesis found that the SBRS and SSS have very little in common; the hypothesis was not supported. Two post hoc analyses were also computed. The first dealt with Pearson product moment correlations among the various scales and subscales employed in this study. The most significant finding was that the PIL was inversely related to the total score of the SBRS and the various boredom subscales. This finding supports Frankl’s theory. The second post hoc analysis evaluated a multiple regression equation in which the RB, AB, and IB were the predictor variables and the PIL was the criterion variable. The results suggest that the subscales of the SBRS account for approximately 34.5% of the variance of the PIL. Finally, the study noted various weaknesses involved in this study. Also, specific recommendations for future research were discussed.

Keywords

Psychology

Advisor

Kenneth Olson

Date of Award

Summer 1984

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

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