Kaitlyn M. Werner

Education

Research Interests

Open Science Framework: Profile

How do we help people attain their goals? Under the supervision of Dr. Marina Milyavskaya, Kaitlyn’s research sought to answer this question by examining the process of goal pursuit from start to finish – that is, examining the contexts in which goals are set (where do our goals come from?), as well as goal striving and self-regulatory processes (why do we pursue our goals and what are the most effective strategies for success?) that ultimately lead to the attainment (or failure) of our goals.

For her primary line of research, Kaitlyn examined the factors that best predict goal attainment over time. Using a series of longitudinal studies, she attempted to refine the vast literature on goal pursuit by comparing and contrasting the most prominent personality (e.g., big five, perfectionism), self-regulation (e.g., trait self-control, regulatory focus), and goal-specific (e.g., motivation, commitment) constructs.

For her secondary line of research, Kaitlyn developed a series of studies examining how motivation influences peoples’ perceptions of momentary temptations and desires that impede our pursuit of important long-term goals. Using eye-tracking and mouse-tracking paradigms, she was interested in understanding whether motivation influences the use of better self-regulatory strategies and/or if motivation is associated with less desire for temptations in the first place.

Finally, Kaitlyn also has a strong interest in quantitative (e.g., multilevel and structural equation modeling, Bayesian methods) and research methodology (e.g., experimental and longitudinal designs, tracing methods).

Kaitlyn was co-supervised by Dr. John Zelenski in the Carleton University Happy Lab.

Publications

Werner, K. M., Milyavskaya, M., Klimo, R., & Levine, S. (2019). Examining the unique and combined effects of grit, self-control, and conscientiousness in predicting academic goal motivation: A commonality analysis. Journal of Research in Personality, 81, 168-175.

Davydenko, M., Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2019). Frozen goals: Identifying a new type of goal. Collabra: Psychology, 5(1): 17.

Edlund, J.E., Brannan, D., Cuccolo, K., Grahe, J. E., McGillivray, S., Wagge, J. S., Werner, K. M., & Zlokovich, M. (2019). Psi Chi is engaging undergraduate students in publishable research. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 24, 12-14.

Nguyen, T. T., Werner, K. M., Soenens, B. (2019). Embracing me-time: Motivation for solitude during transition to college. Motivation and Emotion, 43, 571-591.

Levine, S., Green-Demers, I., Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2019). Perfectionism in adolescents: Self-critical perfectionism as a predictor of depressive symptoms across the school year. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 38(1), 70-86.

*Werner, K. M., & *Milyavskaya, M. (2018). Motivation and self-regulation: The role of want-to motivation in the processes underlying self-regulation and self-control. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13(1): e12425. *Both authors contributed equally.

Werner, K. M., Smyth, A., & Milyavskaya, M. (2018). Do narcissists benefit from materialistic pursuits? Examining the relation between narcissistic tendencies, extrinsic values, and well-being. Collabra: Psychology, 5(1): 58. 

Titova, M., Werner, K. M., & Sheldon, K. M. (2018). Translating positive psychology. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 4, 211-214.

Milyavskaya, M., & Werner, K. M. (2018). Goal pursuit: Current state of affairs and directions for future research. Canadian Psychology/Psychology canadienne, 59(2),163-175.

Tabri, N., Werner, K. M., Milyavskaya, M., & Wohl, M. J. A. (2018). Perfectionism predicts disordered gambling via financially focused self-concept. Journal of Gambling Issues, 38, 252-267.

Leduc-Cummings, I., Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2018). Self-regulation. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. Shackleford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, Springer.

Werner, K. M. & Milyavskaya, M. (2018). We may not know what we want, but do we know what we need? Examining the ability to forecast need satisfaction in goal pursuit. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 9(6), 656-663.

Levine, S. L., Werner, K. M., & Capaldi, J. S., & Milyavskaya, M. (2017). Let’s play the blame game: The distinct effects of personal standards and self-critical perfectionism on attributions of success and failure during goal pursuit. Journal of Research in Personality, 71, 57-66.

Werner, K. M., Milyavskaya, M., Foxen-Craft, E., Koestner, R. (2016). Some goals just feel easier: Self-concordance leads to goal progress through subjective ease, not effort. Personality and Individual Differences, 96, 237-242.

Manuscripts Under Review

Chen, S-C., Szabelska, A., Chartier, C. R., Kecks, Z., Lynott, D., …Werner, K. M., … Oberzaucher, E. (in-principle acceptance). Investigating object orientation across 14 languages. Stage 1 Registered Report.

Werner, K. M., Milyavskaya, M., & Koestner, R. (under review). Examining the role of approach-avoidance and autonomous-controlled motivation in predicting goal progress over time. Working paper available on PsyArXiv.

Hall, B. F., Wagge, J. R., Brandt, M. J., Chartier, C. R., Pfuhl, G., …Werner, K. M., … Grahe, J. E. (under review). Registered Replication Report: Turri, Buckwalter, & Blouw (2015). Stage 1 Registered Report.

Select Conference Presentations

Werner, K. M., Milyavskaya, M., Inzlicht, M., & Hofmann, W. (2019, May). The motivational mechanisms of self-control. Paper to be presented at the 7^th International Self-Determination Theory Conference, Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands.

Werner, K. M., & Friese, M. (2019, March). Beyond inhibition: Current directions in self-control. To be presented at the International Convention on Psychological Science, Paris, France.

Werner, K. M., Hofmann, W., & Milyavskaya, M. (2019, March). When is self-control necessary? Examining the motivational determinants of self-control. Paper to be presented at the International Convention on Psychological Science, Paris, France

Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2019, March). Integrating theories of goal pursuit. Data blitz accepted to be presented at the Motivation Science Pre-Conference at the 18th Annual Conference of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.

Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2018, July). Examining the relation between trait self-control and the use of implementation intentions during goal pursuit. Paper to be presented at the 29^th Annual Convention of the European Conference on Personality, Zadar, Croatia.

Werner, K. M., Guilfoyle, J., & Tabri, N. (2017, June). A beginner’s guide to increasing transparency and reproducibility in psychological science. Personal development workshop at the 78th Annual Convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Toronto, ON.

Werner, K. M., & Milyavskaya, M. (2016, August). Exploring the relation between achievement aims and self-determined motivation on goal progress. Paper presented in L. Haerens (Chair), Self-Determination Theory Applications in Educational and Sports Settings. Symposium presented at the International Conference on Motivation 2016, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Notable Awards

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