Web service specifications can be quite complex, including various operations and message exchange patterns. In this work, we give a rule-based declarative representation of services, and in particular of WSDL operations, that enables the application of techniques for reasoning about actions and change, that are typical of agent systems. This makes it possible to reason on a rule-based specific...

Recent studies have indicated that the generalizability of traditional theory of achievement motivation across cultures is considerably limited. Empirical evidence from various cultures points out that there are cross-cultural differences in the meaning of achievement that play a crucial role in determining the achievement efforts of the people in respective cultures. The present study is a ste...

A rational agent derives its choice of action from its beliefs and goals. Goals can be distinguished into achievement goals and maintenance goals. The aim of this paper is to define a mechanism which ensures the satisfaction of maintenance goals. We argue that such a mechanism requires the agent to look ahead, in order to make sure that the execution of actions does not lead to a violation of a...

The aim of this study was to prepare a model for computer anxiety through investigating the relationship of achievement goals and epistemological beliefs with computer anxiety. In order to fulfill this, 375 undergraduate students (218 female and 157 male) from the University of Tehran were chosen through relative class sampling. They completed a questionnaire composed of an achievement goals sc...

The achievement of instrumental goals (do-goals) in automated systems is essential in forming users’ trust. However, the use of personalized applications is additionally linked to non-instrumental goals (be-goals). Be-goals include the satisfaction of needs like stimulation, relatedness or competence that makes the use of personalized applications so popular. In an experimental study (N = 34) w...

People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether the specific type of achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to engage in superstitious behavior a...