Name
Capella University
PSYC FPX 3210
Prof. Name
December, 2024
Research Designs and Methods
Research design and method are how phenomena are analyzed systematically. It means a general guide covering the whole study that identifies how data will be gathered, processed, and assessed (Klocek et al., 2024). Among them are experimental, correlational, descriptive, and longitudinal. This involves the control of some of the factors to establish the extent of the impact of other factors. The correlational method creates the strength and direction between two variables without an act of manipulation. Descriptive research focuses more on reporting an occurrence and the longitudinal design assesses changes that occur over time. By contrast, research methods refer to how and what has been done to collect information, such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, or experimentation. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and depends on the research question, the nature of the data, and the wanted result. In conclusion, the choice of the research design and the methods would, therefore, primarily be informed by the validity; reliability, and ethical soundness of the study.
Psychological behavior, cognition, and emotion investigation are fundamentally determined by the correct selection of the research design and method in the investigation of human behavior, cognition, and emotion (Kanukula et al., 2022). Research design defines how the study will be conducted on how the data shall be accumulated, analyzed,d and interpreted to provide solutions to certain psychological questions. The types of research approaches with common design include experimental, correlation, and observational. As in the experiment, the independent variables are controlled in such a way that the best effects on the dependent variables are observed. This can therefore imply conclusions on cause and effect relationships. Correlational designs try to establish the relationship between variables that have not been controlled and show that there is a relationship between the two rather than a cause-and-effect one. The techniques used in psychological research are also different and include; questionnaires, interviews, and behavioral tests, here data collection is normally conventional. The choice of the method and its design depends on the research questions and purposes whether, for example, the hypothesis is to be verified, the phenomenon is to be investigated, or the psychological processes are to be described.
Shyness in Toddlers
Introduction I found out that shyness in toddlers is a very common behavior that usually emerges between one and three years as children begin to interact with people in their society. By this age, children can be very shy and fearful of new persons, places, or things. While some children grow out of this shy behavior it can become more permanent for others. (Lee et al., 2022) have shown that early shyness in toddlers can be linked to a set of temperamental features including increased emotional apprehensiveness and fearfulness of the new stimuli. Such children get more annoyed when taken to new places tend to stay close to their main caregiver and refuse to interact with other people or strangers children. The authors agree with other researchers that shyness is not rare, but they make an effort to retain a clear distinction between average caution and such clinical symptoms of social withdrawal as may signal the onset of anxiety-related difficulties in the later years of childhood.
Toddler shyness is a development that is influenced by genetics, parent and child interaction, and other children’s interactions around the young toddler. From Homberg et al., (2024) perspective, children with some genotypes have high inhibitory response and sensitivity to new environments, and they therefore exhibit shy behaviors. However, genetics is not the total end product because what befalls a child is also a product of parenting as well. Authoritative or obsessive parenting is where the parents are very protective of their children from new experiences or meeting people. It can give a reinforcement to pain, fear, and insecurity feelings. On the other hand, the parent who takes their child and obliges him to come out and play or go out and explore can also decrease the severity of shyness (Lee et al., 2022). Furthermore, cultural factors are also relevant to the definition and handling of shyness. For example, while shyness might be looked at as an acceptable behavioral response in collectivistic societies because absolute conformity and suppression of emotions are considered important, in countries that encourage individuality and assertiveness, shy children are forced to deteriorate their fears.
Although shyness is a common behavior observed at this stage of development, extreme or still persistent, can interfere with a child’s development of social skills and interpersonal relationships. (Natalucci et al.,2023) reviewed parent-child interaction therapy as an intervention for combating shyness in toddlers. It was observed that such intervention facilitated that while parents were trained to positively reinforce their children for play and progressively expose the child to new stimuli, this betrays observable gains in social self-assurance on the child’s side. This intervention is progressive to enable children to gradually accept social interaction hence reducing their withdrawal behaviors. It implies that toddlers need conducive surroundings in which they should be established to practice social relations without compromising their comfort. In some cases where such shyness progresses to an even greater level of animosity or when the child’s shyness becomes a barrier to normal functioning then specialized help from a child development specialist or therapist may be sought for the child as further counseling in emotional health.
Positive Technology
Positive Technology can be defined as the utilization of technological inventions and applications that can foster constructive changes in an individual’s mental health as well as interpersonal relationships (Lee et al., 2022). However, in the recent past, there has been a turning point concerning the use of technology that improves people’s lives emotionally as well as psychologically. An example is the current launch of mental health smartphone applications like Headspace, or Calm, which include guided meditation, and stress-busting procedures. These apps therefore provide the users with instruments to deal with anxiety, get better night rest, and increase their ability to cope with stress. Mental health resources have become more readily available and much more convenient (Klocek et al., 2024). Technology which also bridged one-way connections played one of the most crucial impacts on social connection, especially during such an extremely testing period of COVID-19. Services such as Zoom and Skype enable people to maintain relationships, work together on a project, or even attend virtual support groups to decrease loneliness. Positive technology also includes those uses educative and training courses, educational games, bestowing knowledge, creativity, skill development, and self-limbering.
Last but not least, it is possible to speak about positive technology regarding wearable technology helping individuals to control their physical health and make proper choices for a healthier life (Hennink & Kaiser, 2022). The use of a fitness tracker like Fitbit or Apple watch and the user gets real-time information on the amount of physical activity, heart rate, and the quality of sleep she or he is getting thus encouraging the client to change his /her behavior patterns. The devices monitor the achievement of fitness objectives and daily call-to-actions to encourage the user to be active which creates accountability and personal health. One of these is the use of technology in therapeutic practice or individual development as augmented by technology, such as video therapy artificial intelligence, or virtual coaches. These will help the individual achieve professional assistance at their pace hence modifying the social perspectives of mental health. Altogether, positive technology places greater pressure on employing new instrumental technologies not solely for leisure or work but also for building personal health, well-being, and rich social relations.
PSYC FPX 3210 assessment 1 Conclusion
All in all, positive technology alters ways that one can increase Mental health, human development, and social well-being through the use of digital tools to uphold emotional strength, relationships, and development (Homberg et al., 2024). From apps for behavior and everyday wearing trackers to virtual therapies; technology has the potential of bringing a lot of positives to our lives and making the wellness resources out there affordable and personalized. But whilst much technology is usually said to cause addictions or create a generation of people who are unable to have close human contact the positive side and some great applications that focus on positive usage of the technologies being developed are for example; to adapt proactive innovations for a healthy, positive living mindfully.
PSYC FPX 3210 assessment 1 References
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Lee, S. D., Iott, B., Banaszak-Holl, J., Shih, S. F., Raj, M., Johnson, K. E., Kiessling, K., & Moore-Petinak, N. (2022). Application of mixed methods in health services management research: A systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review: MCRR, 79(3), 331–344. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587211030393
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Klocek, A., Premus, J., & Řiháček, T. (2024). Applying dynamic systems theory and complexity theory methods in psychotherapy research: A systematic literature review. Psychotherapy Research: Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 34(6), 828–844. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2252169
Natalucci, V., Marmondi, F., Biraghi, M., & Bonato, M. (2023). The effectiveness of wearable devices in non-communicable diseases to manage physical activity and nutrition: where we are? Nutrients, 15(4), 913. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040913