Testimonials

Previous education

Bachelor of Psychology (Radboud University)

Nationality

Italian

Programme

Behaviour Change

Country of previous education

Netherlands

Study end date

07 July 2023

Sara Gastaldo was a Master's student in the Psychology specialisation Behaviour Change.

What knowledge and skills did you learn during your Master’s that are really useful to you now?

The Behaviour Change Master's programme offered me specialised knowledge on social psychology and influence techniques, and it also provided valuable skills for my future career. Managing the demanding coursework, reading required literature, and submitting assignments while juggling personal commitments taught me essential time management and organisational skills. I realised early on in the programme that strict scheduling was necessary to keep up with the workload. This differed greatly from my experience during the Bachelor's, where I felt my schedule could be a bit more lenient and subject to improvisations. 
Moreover, given the relatively small size of the programme and the weekly group assignments, I was in constant contact with other students. Collaborating on group projects helped me develop strong teamwork skills, and being close to other students helped me whenever I felt discouraged or overwhelmed by an incoming deadline.
Lastly, because of the nature of the assignments and exams, the master emphasized the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving, encouraging me to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and come up with psychological interventions built upon well-reasoned and substantiated arguments. This emphasis on analytical thinking has refined my approach to tackling challenges, both inside and outside the academic realm.

What did you find most challenging in your Master’s programme? Did you encounter any obstacles?

The fast pace of the programme and the numerous deadlines were the most prominent challenges during my master. The intensity of the coursework and the need to balance academic responsibilities with personal commitments demanded a high level of dedication and time management skills. To keep up, I had to adapt to a study routine and remain focused on the learning objectives.
Additionally, the frequent deadlines for assignments required me to be highly disciplined. Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously was at times overwhelming, and it forced me to prioritise tasks and allocate time efficiently.

Do you have any tips/suggestions for prospective students?

As a former student, my biggest suggestion for prospective students would be to organise study sessions with peers. This approach proved incredibly beneficial during my academic journey, and I believe it could enhance anyone's learning experience. Studying in a group setting provided me with the opportunity to exchange ideas and gain fresh perspectives on course materials and complex concepts, deepening my understanding of the course material.
Secondly, it helped me maintain focus and discipline, making it easier to stay on track with coursework and assignments. 
Lastly, in addition to academic benefits, study groups were a great source of motivation and support for me. When facing academic challenges or feeling discouraged, being close to my study group encouraged me and helped me overcome obstacles.

Programme

Behaviour Change

Daniela Becker is an Assistant Professor at Radboud University.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Daniela Becker and I am originally from Germany. I followed the Bachelor's degree in Psychology in Wales, Cardiff to be exact. After a one-month internship in Amsterdam, I didn't want to leave there: I took a Research Master's at the UvA, focusing on social psychology. I also did my PhD there, on self-control in eating behaviour. 

During my PhD, I hardly ever taught, but now I have gotten the hang of it. For seven years I have been setting up and developing education and, of course, teaching. Within the Master's specialisation Behaviour Change, students know me from the courses Models of Behaviour Change and Psychology of Behaviour Change: Theories and Interventions. I am also involved in supervising internships and theses.

Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?

I always found it interesting to explain behaviour. Why do people do certain things? Why don't do people certain things exactly? As a social psychologist, you look at how people influence each other, but my interest also lies in individual regulation.

What are you currently doing your own research on?

My research focuses on self-regulation, motivation and decision-making. Whereas before the focus was mainly on optimisation (how can you make 'the right' choice? For example eat healthy or exercise?), I am now looking specifically at feelings: what makes a choice fun? I find the pleasure aspect of decisions incredibly interesting. 

Within the Master's, there are also so-called peer groups. Here students support each other on a personal and professional level. Do they have tips on study-life balance? How can they help each other with their resume? My research shows that fun is super important. So in my study groups, students also set goals that focus on that. Studying comes with a lot of challenges, but it's definitely good to focus on fun things. The most successful students make good plans for their studies, but also find a good balance with their leisure activities. This is what I try to show and teach them as well: have fun!

What advice do you have for students choosing a Master's programme?

Only when there is friction is there learning and progress. Not everything has to be right the first time, for both student and teacher. 

What is the best part of being a lecturer?

As an Assistant Professor you have a teaching appointment as well as a research appointment. I enjoy both talking about research and doing research myself, so it's a good combination! In the Master's I teach a course in which I have loads of contact with the students. My experience is that students in the Behaviour Change Master's programme get the feeling that they can cope with the challenges. Another advantage of this Master's is the connection to the work field. During the internship, you learn a lot about the content, about yourself and about the field. Secretly, I am sometimes a little jealous of students for being allowed to do internships. It's very cool to learn from students and see what they all go through in practice. I am proud to see the students putting their knowledge into practice as an intern and thrilled to see where they end up in their careers!