Abstract
Psychology is a highly scientific discipline that aims to understand human doings and mental processes. Psychology aims to explain why people carry the way they do and predict and control their doings. Psychologists use various methods to contemplate human behavior, including observational, correlational, and experimental (Burton & Radford, 2022). Observational methods involve watching people in their natural surroundings and recording their behavior. Correlational methods involve studying the relationship between two or more variables, such as the relationship between accent and physical health. Experimental methods affect manipulating one or more variables to see their gist on behavior. Psychologists have conducted numerous studies over the years and have obtained many results that shed light on human behavior. For instance, they found that people are more likely to conform to group norms when they sense uncertain or unsafe. They have also found that people are more likely to assist others when they are in a promising modality. The conclusions that psychologists quarter from their research depend on the methods they use and the results they obtain. For example, suppose a psychologist conducts an observational study and finds that people who eat more fruits and vegetables incline to be healthier. In that case, they might resolve that eating a healthy diet is essential for physical health. Suppose a psychologist conducts an experimental study and finds that people praised for their effort are likelier to persist on a difficult task. In that case, they might close that praising effort is a more effective motivator than praising ability (Borsboom et al., 2021). In ending, psychology is a scientific discipline that uses various methods to study human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists have conducted legion studies over the years and have obtained many results that have helped to illustrate and call human behavior. The conclusions that psychologists get from their search depending on the methods they use and the results they obtain.
Introduction
Psychology is a vast theatre encompassing various aspects of human behavior, including cognitive, emotional, and social processes. The field has long been interested in understanding the factors contributing to human wellbeing, with exploration focusing on individual and societal levels. One region that has received increasing attention in recent years is the role of technology in defining human behavior and psychological processes. As technology continues to caper a more substantial role in people’s daily lives, it is indispensable to understand how it affects psychological outcomes (Atari & Henrich, 2022). The research problem or question that this study aims to accost is the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing. Specifically, the work will examine how technology use, including social media, online gaming, and sieve time, affects individuals’ mental health and wellbeing. This research question is timely and relevant, granted the increasing use of technology in society and the potential impact on mental health.
The existing literature has suggested that excessive technology use can have adverse psychological outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and stress (Pera, 2020). Additionally, studies have shown that social media use can direct to increased social comparison and feelings of solitariness and societal isolation (Morgan et al., 2022). However, some researchers have yet to discover a solid connection between technology usage and results in terms of mental health. (Przybylski & Orben, 2019). Additionally, recent research has examined how technology use affects various age groups. For illustration, a study by Hamilton, Nesi, & Choukas-Bradley, (2022) found that excessive screen clip among adolescents was associated with lower wellbeing, spell another study by Wacks & Weinstein, (2022) found that parents’ excessive technology use was associated with lower emotional and relational wellbeing among their children.
This study will contribute to the existing literature by filling a gap in the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing. Specifically, the take will examine the impact of technology use on mental wellness outcomes among different age groups, including adolescents, offspring adults, and older adults. Additionally, the study will explore the role of different types of technology use, such as social media, online gaming, and screen time, in defining mental wellness outcomes (Morgan et al., 2022). This study offers a more thorough knowledge of the connection between technology usage and psychological wellbeing by analyzing the effects of technology use on mental health outcomes crosswise various age groups and forms of technology use. The findings from this process can inform interventions aimed at promoting levelheaded technology use and improving mental wellness outcomes among individuals of very different ages.
Methodology
The study will be conducted using a quantitative explore design, and the data analysis program will include statistical tests, such as regress analysis and ANOVA. Participants in the research must be above the age of 14, come from various backgrounds, including students, working professionals, and retirees, and be unrecorded in urban and rural locations. Participants testament be recruited using convenience sampling techniques, such as advertisements on social media platforms, flyers in rattling public places, and word-of-mouth referrals. To participate in the study, individuals must be smooth in English and have access to the internet and electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers, for technology use. Individuals who utilize technology, including social networking, online gaming, and screen time, and those who speak English fluently must be at least 14 years old. Anyone with a history of severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is excluded, as is anyone with physical or mental impairments that forestall them from gift-informed permission or participating in the program. This study’s primary variable is technology use, including social media, online gaming, and concealing time, which will be measured using a self-report questionnaire. The primary dependent variable is psychological wellness, which can be measured using validated scales for social isolation, stress, anxiety, and depression.
The study testament considers demographic factors affecting technology use and psychological wellbeing, including age, gender, instruction level, income, and work position. The study testament also calculates the usage of additional coping strategies that may impact mental health outcomes, such as very physical activity and social support. The data accumulation procedures will involve combining online surveys and in-person interviews. Participants will be given a permission form, demographic questions, and several validated self-report measures of technology use and psychological wellbeing. The survey will take some 20-30 transactions to complete. For participants who need help to nail the online survey, in-person interviews will be conducted by trained research assistants. The interview testament follows a semi-structured format and will be conducted in a private and confidential setting.
Data analysis plan
The data analysis design will involve descriptive statistics, correlativity analysis, retrogression analysis, and ANOVA. We will utilize descriptive statistics to provide an overview of the sample’s characteristics, including its technological usage and demographic makeup. Correlation analysis will be heavily utilized to evaluate the bivariate correlations between technology usage and psychological wellbeing indicators. Regression analysis will assess the prognosticative power of technology use on mental health outcomes, controlling for demographic and other confounding variables (Liu et al., 2019). Finally, ANOVA will be used to examine the differences in technology use and mental wellness outcomes crossways different age groups.
This study investigates the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing across different age groups. The study will recruit participants aged 14 years and above from various backgrounds, including students, workings professionals, and retirees from urban and rural areas. The data collection procedures will involve a combination of online surveys and in-person interviews. The information analysis plan will include descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and ANOVA. The findings from this work can inform interventions aimed at promoting too intelligent technology use and up mental health outcomes among individuals of different ages.
Literature review
The study of many facets of human behavior, such as cognitive, emotional, and social processes, has long been a psychological focus. In recent years, the role of technology in defining human behavior and psychological processes has suited a progressively crucial area of study. A growing body of research has examined the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing, focusing on individual and societal levels. Numerous research has looked into how technology use affects psychological health. According to several research, excessive technology usage may result in adverse psychological effects, including sadness, anxiety, and tension. For instance, Pera (2020) discovered that college students’ excessive use of technology, particularly social media, was linked to signs of sadness, anxiety, and poor focus. Similar findings were made by Sharma (2020), who discovered a significant connection between teenage mental health issues and technology use. However, other research has revealed no conclusive link between technology use and outcomes related to mental wellbeing.
To explain the connection between technology usage and psychological wellbeing, several theoretical frameworks and models have been thoroughly established. One such framework is the uses and gratifications theory, which suggests that individuals use technology to gratify specific needs, such as societal interaction, information-seeking, and entertainment (Przybylski & Orben, 2019). The theory also proposes that different types of media use can affect wellbeing differently, depending on the needs they fulfill. Another relevant modeling is the social comparison theory, which posits that individuals liken themselves to others to judge their social and personal worth (Vannucci & McCauley, 2019). Social media platforms, in particular, facilitate social comparisons, leading to increased feelings of societal comparison and self-esteem. The concept of social comparison is also relevant to the study of the impact of technology use on mental health among adolescents, given the heightened grandness of peer relationships during this developmental leg. Despite the growing body of research on the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing, several controversies and inconsistencies still need to be addressed (Liu et al., 2019). One issue is the need for more consensus on delineating and amount of technology used.
Different studies hold used different measures of technology use, such as self-reported screen time or device usage logs. Additionally, there is no standardized definition of overweening technology use or what types are most detrimental to mental wellness. Another area of contestation is the potential impact of technology use on different age groups. While some studies have found a significant relationship between excessive technology use and mental health outcomes among adolescents and quite youth adults (Orben & Przybylski, 2019), others’ experience suggested that technology use may feature a more substantial impact on the wellbeing of older adults, granted their potential social isolation and loneliness. Furthermore, the impact of technology use on mental wellness outcomes may depend on single characteristics, such as personality traits or pre-existing mental health conditions. For example, some studies suggest that individuals with pre-existing depression or anxiety may be more vulnerable to disconfirming psychological outcomes associated with excessive technology use.
Design
The study design for this research will be correlational, aiming to examine the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing. This study uses correlational search because it enables the analysis of the nature and direction of the association between two variables without changing them. The study will apply a cross-sectional plan, which means that at one moment in time, data from participants in really different age groups will be equal (Liu et al., 2019). The idea behind this design is to cater to a full grasp of the topic by enabling a snapshot of the linkup between technology use and psychological wellbeing in various age groups. Additionally, a cross-sectional figure allows for highly efficient data collection and analysis. Using convenience sampling, participants will be chosen for the study from various locations, including universities, companies, and community centers. The inclusion criteria for the study will be individuals very elderly, 12 years and older, with access to technology devices, and who can complete the questionnaire. The exclusion criteria will be individuals with a history of mental health disorders or who cannot ply informed consent.
The independent variables for the study will be technology use, including social media, online gaming, and test time. The dependent variable testament be psychological wellbeing, which will be assessed using standardized measures of depression, anxiousness, stress, loneliness, and social isolation. Control variables for the study will include demographic variables such as age, gender, and education level, as these factors can strike technology use and psychological wellbeing (Burton & Radford, 2022). The contemplate will also control for confounding variables, such as physical activity, sleep quality, and socioeconomic status. Data will be gathered using a self-administered questionnaire that includes standardized technology use and psychological wellbeing measures. The questionnaire will be available online and on paper, and participants will be asked to complete it voluntarily and anonymously. Participants will also be asked to provide demographic information, including age, gender, and education raze.
Data analysis will involve descriptive statistics to see the frequency and distribution of variables, including means, standard deviations, and ranges. Inferential statistics, such as correlation and regression analysis, will be used to see the relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing, controlling for demographic and confounding variables. The significance unwavering will be set at p<0.05. One limitation of the study design is that it is cross-sectional, meaning causality cannot be inferred (Atari & Henrich). Additionally, the work relies on self-reported information, which may be a case of biases, such as social desirability or recall bias. To accost these limitations, future research could use a longitudinal plan to examine the causal relationship Between technology use and psychological wellbeing, and accusative measures of technology use, such as screen time monitoring apps, could complement self-reported data.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this work aims to investigate the link between the use of technology and psychological wellbeing across a range of age groups, including teenagers, young adults, and older individuals. By examining the impact of different types of technology use, such as societal media, online gaming, and screen clip, on mental health outcomes, this meditate testament provides a comprehensive apprehension of the complex relationship between technology use and psychological wellbeing. The findings from this study can inform interventions aimed at promoting sound technology use and up mental wellness outcomes among individuals of different ages. Despite some limitations, this study’s plan, methodology, and analysis plan have been carefully considered to ensure the validity and reliability of the results. Overall, this contemplation can contribute to the existing literature on technology use and psychological wellbeing and provide practical implications for individuals and society.
References
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Borsboom, D., van der Maas, H. L., Dalege, J., Kievit, R. A., & Haig, B. D. (2021). Theory construction methodology: A practical framework for building theories in psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(4), 756-766.
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