The Graduate School has selected Mofe Oduntan as its December 2024 GradBird Scholar recipient. GradBird Scholar is an initiative to recognize graduate students for their scholarly endeavors at Illinois State University.
Originally from Nigeria, Oduntan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Ibadan, where he majored in Library and Information Science. Oduntan graduated with his M.S. in Creative Technologies on December 14, and is in the process of developing a mobile app that increases student motivation. He will join the Web and Interactive Communications team as a full-time staff member in January 2025.
Outside of his academics, he is an avid traveler and has visited 15 countries with plans to visit more in the future. Oduntan also has an entrepreneurial nature, so he is always seeking new opportunities to innovate and create. In his spare time, he enjoys to relax by playing the saxophone.
What is your favorite part of your program?
Creative Technologies is a unique program that blends diverse creative disciplines, enabling me to explore different fields and discover where my true interests lie, while also equipping me with skills that can be applied across various industries. One of my favorite parts of the program is the grad portfolio reviews every semester, where we get to see the amazing work everyone is doing. It’s a great opportunity to receive feedback, share ideas, and gain inspiration from peers and faculty alike.
Do you work with a specific faculty/staff member to help with your research? What has your experience been like working with them?
I am deeply grateful for the incredible support I have received from the faculty in the Creative Technologies program throughout my academic journey. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Kristin Carlson. She’s been an incredible resource throughout my journey. In fact, the idea for my current research project was sparked during one of her research classes. Carlson is approachable, insightful, and genuinely invested in her students’ success. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping my project, and she consistently provides constructive feedback that pushes my work to the next level. She’s amazing!
Can you explain your research and the importance of it within your field?
My research focuses on the development of a mobile application titled Commit App: Leveraging Accountability and Negative Reinforcement for Self-Motivation. It stems from a curiosity about why students often struggle with personal task completion yet remain consistently driven to finish academic tasks. Through a mixed-methods approach, I discovered that 82.5% of students are motivated to complete academic tasks in order to avoid bad grades, while 67.5% benefit from peer support. Insights gained during the research centered on the presence of accountability and the fear of losing grades, not graduating, and other negative outcomes.
The Commit App addresses these challenges by integrating two primary techniques:
- Accountability partners: Users select someone to help keep them in check and offer encouragement.
- Financial stakes: Users stake money on task completion, which is forfeited to their partner if they fail.
This approach blends social and financial incentives to combat procrastination. The app contributes to the broader UX (user experience) field by highlighting the role of behavioral design in promoting productivity and self-discipline, offering real-world solutions to a pervasive problem.
Why do you enjoy researching this topic and what more do you hope to learn about it?
I am passionate about intentionality in personal development, an area that many people may not fully recognize or prioritize in their daily lives. I believe cultivating intentional habits is key to achieving long-term goals, but procrastination often stands in the way of this progress. Through my research, I aimed to explore the psychological and behavioral drivers behind procrastination, specifically how accountability and negative reinforcement can motivate individuals to overcome it. I hope to learn more about behavioral psychology and how these insights can be applied to design solutions.
What do you hope further research about this topic will do to benefit the greater of society?
I foresee further research contributing to a deeper understanding of how behavioral psychology can be used to address procrastination and enhance motivation. By applying insights into accountability, negative reinforcement, and habit-building, I can design tools that can help individuals overcome barriers to personal growth and productivity. This research has the potential to benefit society by promoting better self-regulation, improving mental well-being, and fostering resilience. In a world where time management and personal accountability are crucial for success, developing effective solutions to help individuals achieve their personal goals will empower people to lead more fulfilling, productive lives, both academically and in their professional endeavors.
Would you like to highlight anything else about your research or promote anything specific you are involved in?
I’m excited to advance my Commit App research from prototype to development in the near future. Alongside the development process, I’m also keen on exploring the business side. Additionally, I am deeply passionate about promoting accessibility in design and development, ensuring that technology is inclusive and usable for everyone, regardless of ability, and I plan to continue advocating for accessibility in the tech industry.
