Meaning

Meaning and purpose are central to occupational therapy theory and practice. Occupational adaptation incorporates these concepts and recognizes them as essential for motivation and engagement. Occupational histories garnered from clients often reveal what is either meaningful or purposeful and are the underlying motivational factors for occupational engagement across the lifespan.  Indeed, it is the goal of many occupational therapists to discern what motivates their clients in order to create an efficacious treatment plan. This line of research investigates the influences of meaning and purpose upon the motor control outcomes of human/object interactions.

Investigators at TWU

• Martin S Rice, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Outside Collaborators 

• Nelson, D. L
• Alaimo, A. 
• Cook, J. M.
• Gasser-Wieland, T. L.
• Holubar, M. N.
• Renock, L. A.
• Hoppe, K. A
• Kopp Miller, B.
• Davies, D. M.
• Sackaloo, K. 
• Strouse, E. E.
• Thomas, J. J.
• Fergusonm, M. C.
• Maitra, K. K.
• Grossi, J. A.
• Ault, K. E.
• Lough, C. L.
• Lough, L. G.
• Hobbs, A.
• Kehoe, R. R.
• Masri, A.
• Foster, R. N.

Publications 

• Ferguson, M. C., & Rice, M. S. (2001). The effect of contextual relevance on learning and transfer of a motor skill. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 558-565.
• Fuller, H. M., Thomas, J. J., & Rice, M. S. (2006). The Effects of Perceived Risk on Performance during an Upper Extremity Transporting and Placing Task in Persons with Cerebral Vascular Accident. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60, 379-387.
• Gasser-Wieland, T. L., & Rice, M. S. (2002).  Contextual relevance of the occupational form during a reaching and placing task with cerebral vascular accident survivors.  OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. 22, 153-160.
• Grossi, J.A., Maitra, K.K., & Rice, M.S. (2007). Semantic priming of motor task performance in young adults: Implications for therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 311–320.
• Hobbs, A., & Rice, M.S. (2015). Occupationally Embeddedness and the Quality of Reach Motion in Females Aged 7 to 9 Years. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 29(3), 272-282.
• Holubar, M. N., & Rice, M. S. (2006). Contextual relevance and ownership on a reaching and placing task. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 53(1), 35-42. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2006.00538.x
• Hoppe, K. A., Kopp Miller, B., & Rice, M. S. (2008). Occupationally Embedded Exercise Versus Rote Exercise and Psychosocial Response in College-Aged Females. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 24, 176-191.
• Keaton, L., Pierce, L., Steiner, V., Lance, K., Masterson, M., Rice, M., & Smith, J. (2004). An e-rehabilitation team helps caregivers deal with stroke. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 2(4), http://ijahsp.nova.edu/articles/vol2num4/toc.htm
• Kehoe, R.R., & Rice, M.S. (2016). Reality, Virtual Reality, and Imagery:  Quality of Movement in Novice Dart Players. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 
• Lough, C.L., Rice, M.S., & Lough, L.G. (2013). Choice as a Strategy to Enhance Engagement in a Coloring Task in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Occupational Therapy International, 19, 204-211. doi: 10.1002/oti.1337
• Maitra, K., Talage, K. M., & Rice, M. S. (2006). Self-speech induced facilitation of occupational performance in persons with stroke. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 60(2), 146-154.
• Maitra, K.K., Ault, K.E., & Rice, M.S. (2010). Grasping Naturally vs. Grasping with a Reacher in Persons without Disability: Motor Control and Muscle Activation Differences. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64(1), 95-104.
• Masri, A, Rice, M.S., Kopp Miller, B., & Foster, R. N. (2019). Influence of Altruism upon Engagement with Craft Activity for Females Living in Long Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities, Annals of International Occupational Therapy.
• Maxim, A. J. M., & Rice, M. S. (2018). Men in occupational therapy: Issues, factors, and perceptions. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.025593 
• Rice, M. S., & Renock , L.A. (2006). Personal Preference and Quality of Reach in Healthy Adult Women. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60, 577-586.
• Rice, M. S., & Thomas, J. J. (2000).  Perceived risk as a constraint on occupational performance during hot and cold water pouring.  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54, 525-532.
• Rice, M. S., Alaimo, A., & Cook, J. M. (1999).  Movement dynamics and occupationally embeddedness in a grasping and placing task.  Occupational Therapy International, 6, 298-310.
• Rice, M., & Nelson, D. L. (1988).  Choice making in an activity of daily living with mentally retarded adult and adolescent males. The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 8, 176 - 185.
• Rice, M.S., Davies, D.M., & Maitra, K. (2009). Immediate versus Prolonged Visual Exposure and Object Relevancy in a Reaching and Placing Task. Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences, 2(1), 22-35.
• Sackaloo, K., Strouse, E.E., & Rice, M.S. (2015). Degree of Preference and its Influence upon Motor Control when Reaching for Most Preferred, Neutrally Preferred, and Least Preferred Candy. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 35(2), 81-88. doi: 10.1177/1539449214561763
• Thomas, J. J., & Rice, M. S. (2002). Perceived risk and its effects on occupational performance of well-elderly individuals. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. 22, 104-110.

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