Research Methods In Psychology Research Articles

Studying the characteristics of mentoring university students with the main focus on supporting their professional development

Introduction. The problem of training and development of demanded, highly qualified professionals is explored. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristic features of mentoring university students aimed at enhancing their professional development. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted using theoretical, empirical and auxiliary methods of psychological and educational research. General logical methods of scientific knowledge included analysis, synthesis and generalization of information. The analysis was based on questionnaires, as well as the method of collecting social information. Mathematical and statistical methods for interpreting the results were used as auxiliary methods. When assessing the reliability of differences between the data obtained from students of different years of study, a nonparametric statistical method was used (the Pearson chi-square test). Results. The authors identified features of mentoring university students. Four types of mentors have been identified: 1) mentors for learning; 2) mentors as psychologists; 3) research mentors; 4) field-based mentors. The functions of each type of mentors have been described and clarified. Furthermore, the authors proposed a system of interaction between mentors. Conclusions. The article concludes about the characteristic features of mentoring university students in order to facilitate their professional development as future professionals. The authors proposed a system of mentoring focusing on training, support and guidance of students which includes four types of mentors. A system of interaction between mentor and student is described.

Predicting attitudes toward ambiguity using natural language processing on free descriptions for open-ended question measurements

Individual traits and reactions to ambiguity differ and are conceptualized in terms of an individual’s attitudes toward ambiguity or ambiguity tolerance. The development of natural language processing technology has made it possible to measure mental states and reactions through open-ended questions, rather than predefined numerical rating scales, which have traditionally been the dominant method in psychological research. This study presented three ambiguity-related situations and responses collected online from 591 participants in an open-ended format. After the analysis with bidirectional encoder representations from transformers, correlations were calculated using scores from the numerical evaluation by conventional questionnaire, and a significant moderate positive correlation was found. Therefore, this study found that attitudes toward ambiguity can be measured using an open-ended response method of reporting everyday life states. It is a novel methodology that can be expanded to other scales in psychology and can potentially be used in educational and clinical situations where participants can be asked to respond with minimal burden.

Comparing ChatGPT With Experts’ Responses to Scenarios that Assess Psychological Literacy

Progress in understanding students’ development of psychological literacy is critical. However, generative AI represents an emerging threat to higher education which may dramatically impact on student learning and how this learning transfers to their practice. This research investigated whether ChatGPT responded in ways that demonstrated psychological literacy and whether it matched the responses of subject matter experts (SMEs) on a measure of psychological literacy. We tasked ChatGPT with providing responses to 13 psychology research methods scenarios as well as to rate each of the five response options that were already developed for each scenario by the research team. ChatGPT responded in ways that would typically be regarded as displaying a high level of psychological literacy. The response options which were previously rated by two groups of SMEs were then compared with ratings provided by ChatGPT. The Pearson's correlations were very high ( r's = .73 and .80, respectively), as were the Spearman's rhos (rho's = .81 and .82, respectively). Kendall's tau were also quite high (tau's = .67 and .68, respectively). We conclude that ChatGPT may generate responses that match SME psychological literacy in research methods, which could also generalise across multiple domains of psychological literacy.

Методы сетевого моделирования структуры семантической памяти: теоретический обзор

The article is aimed at considering the network modeling methods for human semantic memory structure. The work provides an analytical review of existing approaches to modeling the structure of human semantic memory, as a result of which the most methodologically optimal way of modeling semantic memory is estab-lished – based on the construction and analysis of semantic networks. The authors study various methods of network modeling of semantic memory structure: verbal fluency problem, snowball problem, semantic connec-tivity problem. In addition, examples of using these methods in psychological research are given, and their methodological advantages and disadvantages are highlighted. The results of the present work can be useful in the formation of new methods for network modeling of the structure of human semantic memory, as well as in the creation of intelligent systems that process graph data.

Most Psychological Researchers Assume Their Samples Are Ergodic: Evidence From a Year of Articles in Three Major Journals

Conventional statistics methods in most psychological research, such as null-hypothesis significance tests (NHSTs), use aggregated values (i.e., the sample means) of group behaviours to make inferences about individuals. Such inferences are possibly erroneous because groups of humans rarely, if ever, constitute an ergodic system. To assume ergodicity without checking is to commit the ‘ergodic fallacy’. The aim of the current study was to examine the prevalence of this error in contemporary psychological research. We analysed three highly cited ‘Q1’ journals in the fields of clinical, educational and cognitive psychology for statements that indicated this error. As hypothesized, the ergodic fallacy was found in the vast majority of the papers investigated here. We also hypothesised that the prevalence of this error would be highest in cognitive psychology papers because this field typically assesses theoretical claims about universal cognitive mechanisms, whereas clinical and educational psychology are more concerned with empirically supported interventions. This hypothesis was also supported by our results. Nonetheless, the prevalence of the ergodic fallacy was still high in all fields. Implications are discussed with respect to the reporting of research findings and the validity of theories in psychology.

Проблемы и перспективы социальной адаптации инвалидов в малых городах России: по результатам авторского исследования

The article presents the results of the author's research on the problems and prospects of social adaptation for young people with disabilities living in small towns in Russia. A comprehensive study was conducted in 2023 using sociological (observation, formalized survey) and psychological (projective techniques, art therapy) research methods. The aim of the study was to identify the factors of successful social adaptation among the people with disabilities (people with disabilities since childhood and people with acquired disabilities) living in the city of Murom, Vladimir region. Sociological data were obtained during the implementation of the project "Limitless Meetings," supported by a grant from the Federal Agency Rosmolodezh. The sample of the study was targeted (n = 36); the sample included people with disabilities of the musculoskeletal system and members of the Murom City public organization of support workers who are also people with disabilities, "Phoenix." During the implementation of the project, the participants were involved in proactive creative, cultural, leisure, and educational activities, which allowed the participants to focus their attention on the research goals. The scientific novelty and theoretical significance of the work lie in the development and testing of tools for a comprehensive study of the social adaptation of people with disabilities and the inclusion in the analysis of social adaptation of indicators of the impact of educational and creative activities on the satisfaction of project participants. As a result, the authors have identified the factors contributing to the successful adaptation of people with disabilities and also presented a promising model of their interaction in order to increase the effectiveness of social adaptation, which was tested during the implementation of the project. The analysis of the problems and prospects of social adaptation, as well as the assessment of the interaction model of the participants of the project "Limitless Meetings," were carried out based on the results of observation, a sociological survey, and the interpretation of data obtained as a result of the use of art therapy and projective techniques. It was revealed that the level of social adaptation of the project participants increased. This was influenced by: the intensive social interaction of project participants with volunteers; their acquisition of practical skills in social networking and resume writing; and the use of technologies for the active expression of creative abilities during art therapy sessions. The practical significance of the work is the data obtained during the successful implementation of the project and the involvement of people with disabilities with diseases of the musculoskeletal system in cultural, creative, educational, and artistic activities, which can be used by specialists in correctional and rehabilitation work in rehabilitation centers for the people with disabilities, social and educational institutions, and centers of additional education in order to increase the effectiveness of social adaptation.

Distinctive Characteristics of Destructive Conflicts Among Students

The paper considers the concept of "destructive conflict" and its significant characteristics; the causes and consequences of the emergence of destructive conflicts in student age are studied; the interrelation of personal features of students with behavioral reactions in a destructive conflict is analyzed.Conflicts are constantly present in relationships between people and play a key role in the life of a person, family, team, state, society and the person as a whole. The student society also cannot do without conflicts, as many different problems arise in it. Student problems are very diverse and large-scale, and most of all they are associated with the educational process and the individual and personal characteristics of a person. During the educational process, students need to adequately assess both their level of stress resistance and the degree of severity of personality conflict. Students need to learn how to effectively use various ways to overcome conflict behavior, to be able to detect and understand conflictogens that can lead to conflict escalation.The purpose of the psychological research presented in the work was a multidimensional study of the features of the course of destructive conflicts in the student environment.The scientific article presents the results of a study of such characteristics as character accentuations; aggressiveness; tactics of behavior in the conflict. Thanks to the conducted psychological experiment, interconnected sets were identified, including both personal characteristics and styles of behavior in conflict. These parameters were calculated using the computer program STATISTICA 13.5.0.17.The work used such methodological approaches as axiological, humanistically oriented, systemic. Scientific methods of psychological research were: organizational methods; theoretical analysis of literary sources on the research problem; empirical methods: observation, psychodiagnostic methods.

The Impact of Social Media on Consumer Sentiment

With the wide use of network media, consumers’ information acquisition and communication methods have undergone significant changes. Network media not only provides them with a fast and efficient way to obtain information, but also provides them with a broader social space and communication platform. Therefore, the popularity of social media has brought some negative effects, such as low mood and depression among consumers. This paper will first study the impact of social media operation strategies on consumer sentiment. Secondly, the author will examine how social media self-control affects mood, which includes how users control their emotions and behaviors on social media, and the impact of this self-control on consumer mood. This paper will discuss and study through the research methods of psychology and sociology. Finally, this study aims to analyze the problem of information overload between social media and consumer sentiment by focusing on the comments made by consumers on social media. At the end of the study, the research results need to be summarized and analyzed in order to provide useful references for social media platforms to manage consumer emotions, so as to provide useful references for lawmakers, academics and practitioners.

Does the Number of Response Categories Impact Validity Evidence in Self-Report Measures? A Scoping Review

The optimal number of responses categories (NRC) is among the most discussed, yet least decided, topic in self-report measures. In addition, there is a dearth of scoping reviews that summarize its impact on validity evidence (e.g., evidence-based on internal structure). To that end, we conducted a scoping review of methodological literature to provide self-report measures developers and applied researchers with evidence-based recommendations when selecting the optimal NRC. Given the inconsistent results reported in previous research, a key recommendation, when conducting cognitive interviews, is to investigate the interpretation of response options by a sample of potential participants who have varying perspectives. This procedure is paramount to ascertain that response options are accurately interpreted and function as intended. The present scoping review is expected to become a valuable resource for applied researchers and practitioners to make informed decisions about the optimal NRC, taking into account validity evidence, and therefore contributes to the literature of educational and psychological measurement and research methods.

Ethnography vs. zombie methodologies

AbstractBeginning in 2011, public scandals and high‐visibility critiques of research methods in psychology fed a broader “replication crisis”: foundational experiments could not be replicated, and statistical methods in social psychology demonstrated vulnerability to fraud and manipulation. Even well‐intended researchers following accepted psychological protocols—zombie methodologies—could unintentionally produce false positives. In response, social psychologists have called for greater sensitivity to cultural diversity, a deeper consideration of social context, and more methodological reflection. The contrast with anthropology is dramatic, highlighting some of the strengths of our field: methodological versatility, appreciation of human variability, theoretical creativity, and a solid foundation for synthetic, interdisciplinary collaboration grounded in our tradition of holism. The human sciences are an important audience for anthropologists, as the example of cognitive science shows.

Relationship Between Types of Family Education and Emotional-volitional Sphere in Student Age

Intra-family relations are the main component of the educational potential of the family. In our society, they are conditioned by state and domestic relations. Their significance in the formation and development of the individual is due to the fact that they are the central link in social relations in which the individual enters into the process of his personal growth.The family is the main phenomenon that accompanies a person throughout his life. Its influence on the personality, its complexity and versatility give rise to many approaches to the study of the family and definitions that can be found in the scientific literature. The object of study is the family as a social institution, a small group or a system of relationships.The purpose of the presented pilot psychological study was to study the influence of types of family education on the formation and development of the emotional-volitional component in student age.The paper studies such characteristics as student age, emotional-volitional sphere, types of family education, family, emotions and will.In the work, a bibliometric analysis of the research problem was carried out, an experiment was carried out. Thanks to the psychological experiment, the types of family education and their influence on the development of the emotional-volitional sphere of such a category as students were determined.The results of the study are based on a systemic, axiological, humanistically oriented methodological component. The methods of pilot psychological research were experiment, observation, survey, method of statistical processing of results.

Pedagogical Strategy Based on the Application of Design Thinking Techniques for the Teaching-Learning Process of Research Methodologies in Psychology Students of the Technical Corporation for Human, Social and Cultural Development of Colombia- CORPODESC, 2023

This master's thesis was born as a commitment to improve the training processes of university students around the teaching of research methodologies; thus creating a new way of bringing knowledge of the scientific method to students in a dynamic, creative, practical and innovative way. This exercise was carried out at the Technical Corporation for Human, Social and Cultural Development of Colombia (Corpodesc), specifically in its psychology program that is implemented through virtual education; The main objective of this work was to develop a pedagogical strategy based on the application of design thinking techniques for the teaching- learning process of research methodologies in psychology students at Corpodesc. To carry out this process, different theoretical components were taken into account, such as the conceptualization of design thinking and the design thinking model for educators, as well as those related to the competency-based educational model for professional training. To operationalize this research project, it was framed under the interpretative paradigm with a qualitative approach; using the practical design type of participatory action research. The sample consisted of 18 seventh-semester psychology students in virtual mode who were taking the subject of 'research methods in psychology'; all of whom participated in the strategy designed. For data collection, the 'Scale to Measure Attitudes towards Research (EACIN)2 was selected in the diagnosis, and a structured interview was applied for the evaluation. Among the main results of the study with respect to the diagnosis was that a significant percentage of the students had a level of favorability around research, although their main deficiencies were around procrastinating as much as possible the activities related to research or having little culture of reading research papers. Regarding the evaluation of the strategy, what can be highlighted is that the students stated that the teaching of research methodologies under the conception of design thinking made it much more practical, dynamic, innovative, interesting and much easier for them to integrate the theoretical with the pragmatic aspects of the research. It is concluded from this whole process that the design thinking methodology does have the capacity to be adapted to the teaching-learning processes of research methodologies at the undergraduate level, however, it is important to carry out more studies that allow a differentiation of effectiveness between this way of teaching and the traditional way.

Enhancing research on the undergraduate psychology curriculum through student-teacher partnership. Reflections from an undergraduate student co-researcher and academic lecturer co-researcher

This article draws on the perspectives of an undergraduate student co-researcher and a psychology lecturer who worked in partnership on a small qualitative research project. The project explored the experiences of undergraduate students on a second-year psychology research methods module at a university in the United Kingdom. Reflecting on our experience of working in partnership on this research we explore the meaning of student-teacher partnership, drawing on theory and literature around student-teacher partnerships in learning and teaching to contextualise our reflections. We reflect on the ethical and practical implications of staff-student partnership in the process and product of the research and explain how the student-teacher partnership enhanced the study design, interpretation of research findings and dissemination of the research. We explore what we perceived the benefits and challenges of the student-teacher dyad to be through reflective accounts of our own experiences during the project. We will explain how working in collaboration helped generate a more rounded perspective of student experience and provided concrete, meaningful practical implications for the curriculum and a reflective aid for future student co-researchers within the school of Psychology. The article will conclude with consideration of the broader implications of our experiences and how what we learned through this process can be applied in other contexts where educators are considering how to involve students in research which is for and about their learning.

Psychophysiological components of the activities of operators of nuclear power plants as a factor of accidents in the conditions of the threat of social catastrophe

The purpose of the study is to establish the peculiarities of operator’s work and the leading factors of the formation of its psychophysiological tension at nuclear power plants in the conditions of the threat of social catastrophe in connection with military operations. The study was conducted at the Zaporizhzhya and Khmelnytsky nuclear power plants for the period of 2020-2021. To study the dynamics of the psychophysiological state of operators of nuclear power plants, a verbal-communicative diagnostic method was used to collect information about the operators investigated using Google Form and traditional physiological, psychological and psychophysiological methods. The socio-demographic features of the investigated operators of the block control panel were analyzed. It was established that men only (100%) aged 24-49 and with work experience from 4 to 20 years were among the examined. All surveyed operators (41 people) are residents of the city, with completed higher education and are family members. The methods of psychological (reactive anxiety, mood, activity, mood, attention), physiological (cardiography, blood pressure) and psychophysiological (simple sensorimotor and psychophysical) research methods were used to empirically assess the intensity of activity of the operators of the block control panel of nuclear power plants. There were examined operators, while on duty when control errors and pre-accident situations were recorded. It was established that the psychological, physiological and psychophysiological characteristics of these operators are followed by increased reactive anxiety, decreased indicators of well-being, activity, mood, reduction in functional reserves of the cardiorespiratory system, mental and physical capacity. These indicators are considered as criteria for the development of regulatory measures. It is proposed to take into account not only technological factors, but also the psychophysiological features of operators in the dynamics of their manifestation when developing measures for the optimal selection and personnel placement. The complex of methods for researching the functional state of operators can be used to optimize their professional selection and retraining, which can lead to reducing accidents and costs for professional training. The expected effect is an increase in the efficiency and quality of operator’s activity, the productivity and reliability of the performance of production tasks, an increase in professional longevity, a decrease in rate and occupationally-related morbidity of these specialists.

A Feminist Companion to Research Methods in Psychology

A Feminist Companion to Research Methods in Psychology

Age-Related Differences in the Qualities and Properties of Personality in Relation to the Readiness of Ukrainian Winterers for Life in the Antarctic

The article reveals the age-related differences in the qualities and properties of the personality in the manifestations of indicators of psychological readiness of winterers to extreme living conditions at the Ukrainian Antarctic “Akademik Vernadsky” Station. The wintering of Ukrainian polar explorers conducting scientific research on the coast of Antarctica is associated with a long stay in a limited area in difficult climatic conditions, which can lead to strong emotional and physical stress. It has been proved that stress resistance, adaptability, and psychological readiness for life activities, which are determined by the presence of relevant qualities and personality traits, are important factors in such extreme working conditions. The aim of the article is to present the theoretical foundations and practical results of research on age-related differences in qualities and personality traits regarding the psychological readiness of Ukrainian winterers for life in Antarctic conditions using the example of 10 expeditions to the Ukrainian Antarctic “Akademik Vernadskyi” Station. Methods. A set of methods of psychological research on the qualities and personality traits of winterers of different age groups was used. 71 winterers took part in the experiment, they are participants of Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions during the year from 2011 to 2021. The results of the research. There were 3 age groups of winterers – mature, middle and young. The components of the professional profile of a winter worker are clarified. As the result of the questionnaire, the qualities and attributes of the personality that contribute to or hinder the performance of professional activities of winter workers are determined. The results of empirical research on the presence of personality qualities and attributes in winterers of different age groups, which are defined as those that ensure the effectiveness of professional activities during wintering, are presented. Conclusion. It is proved that the greatest number of positive qualities and personality traits, according to the defined professional profile of a winter worker, are demonstrated by representatives of mature age – winter workers aged 46-64 years. It is recommended to include winterers of a certain age in the Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions in a sufficient number (not less than 30% of the total composition of the expedition members), which will ensure the appropriate level of psychological stability of the teams of winterers.

An Innovative Exploration of Psychological Research Methods Driven by Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study Using Facial Expression Technique to Improve Teenagers’ Self Awareness

Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into psychological research can significantly advance AI methodologies and concurrently address inherent biases and inaccuracies in traditional psychological research reliant on manual data collection and analysis. This study introduces an innovative fusion of traditional facial expression recognition, a method aimed at alleviating the self-awareness of teenager students, with contemporary AI facial recognition technology. Through the integrated facial expression recognition system, the project aims to motivate students to identify their emotion, subsequently enhancing their psychological well-being and alleviating self-care.

Integrating Critical Content into an Undergraduate Research Methods Course to Support Student Learning Outcomes

Background Undergraduate students have reported low utility for research. Drawing from the literature about motivation and culturally relevant and responsive education, we framed psychological research methods as a social justice tool to enhance learners’ understanding of racial inequality and valuing of course content. Objective Two instructors infused critical methods content throughout their undergraduate psychological research methods courses to increase students’ perceptions of systemic racism in research, multicultural perspective taking, and motivation toward the course. Method Undergraduate students’ attitudes were measured at the beginning and end of the semester using an anonymous online survey. The critical research methods content was integrated throughout the semester. Results Effect sizes provided marginal support for increased awareness of systemic racism in research and multicultural perspective-taking. Results also indicated that students who more strongly perceived research as a social justice strategy reported greater valuing of research, and those who perceived higher value reported greater intentions to pursue research in the future. Conclusion Results provide proof of concept for critical methods content in facilitating undergraduate students’ critical awareness and engagement with psychological research methods. Teaching Implications Teachers can utilize critical content to support students’ critical engagement and goal setting within their learning contexts.

Improving the Walktrap Algorithm Using K-Means Clustering

The walktrap algorithm is one of the most popular community-detection methods in psychological research. Several simulation studies have shown that it is often effective at determining the correct number of communities and assigning items to their proper community. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that the walktrap algorithm relies on hierarchical clustering because it was originally developed for networks much larger than those encountered in psychological research. In this paper, we present and demonstrate a computational alternative to the hierarchical algorithm that is conceptually easier to understand. More importantly, we show that better solutions to the sum-of-squares optimization problem that is heuristically tackled by hierarchical clustering in the walktrap algorithm can often be obtained using exact or approximate methods for K-means clustering. Three simulation studies and analyses of empirical networks were completed to assess the impact of better sum-of-squares solutions.

Statistics anxiety and predictions of exam performance in UK psychology students.

Statistics anxiety is common among social science students. Despite much evidence examining statistics anxiety and test performance, little research has explored the role of student self-prediction on test performance in a higher education setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between statistics anxiety and both students' self-prediction of their future exam performance and actual test performance on a formal statistics assessment at undergraduate level in psychology students in the UK. Using a cross-sectional design, two hundred and two students were required to complete Statistics Anxiety Rating Scales, the Mathematical Prerequisites for Psychometrics Scale, and provided self-predicted test performance scores. Test performance data was obtained from a formal statistics assessment. As predicted, we demonstrated statistics test anxiety to be negatively associated with self-predicted performance. Additionally, we found statistics anxiety was positively associated with test performance. The findings highlight the complex relationship between statistics anxiety and test performance, suggesting there may be an optimal level of anxiety for performance in statistics assessments. The results we report have implications for psychology research methods and statistics instructors who may wish to incorporate the findings into statistics instruction modules in order to assuage high levels of statistics anxiety and foster student well-being.