This document summarizes two experiments on the social impact of excessive cell phone use on adolescents. The first experiment found that adolescents restricted to only phone communication reported higher anxiety levels than those restricted to only face-to-face interaction. The second experiment tested the effect of isolation on anxiety levels by having participants experience both social isolation with only phone use and face-to-face interaction. It found a significant increase in reported anxiety after the isolation condition compared to after the face-to-face interaction condition. Both experiments suggest that excessive phone use and isolation can increase feelings of anxiety in adolescents.
This study was a test of the hypothesis that demographic variables (e.g. gender, education) would predict who would be closed minded about the idea of asexuality as a sexual orientation. The participants received the link to the survey on the researcher’s Facebook page. The survey asked the participants’ awareness of asexuality, educational background, feelings towards the topic of sex, religious background, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, and where they were raised. The survey also asked three questions regarding the participants’ beliefs about asexuality as a sexual orientation. The results did show a significant affect on attitudes of gender, and previous education about asexuality. The study also found a strong but not significant relationship between attitudes and religiosity.
• Presented at the Third Annual Conference of the International Network for Sexual Ethics and Politics in Ghent, Belgium 2013
• Presented at the Tenth Annual Conference of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in San Diego, CA 2013
The adolescent stage is a period of turmoil marked with enormous vibrancy, discovery, innovation and hope and also the time when many of them initiate sexual relationships and involvement. This can be a challenging time for young people who are becoming aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and needs, and who rely on their families, peers, schools, media and health service providers for affirmation, advice, information and the skills to navigate is sometimes a difficult transition to adulthood. The subject on sex has been surrounded by mystery and beclouded by dark silence as neither parents nor teachers are ready to discuss it with teenagers despite unplanned pregnancies, dropping out of school by students, Sexually Transmitted Infections among teenagers. The study investigated influence of teen contraceptive use) on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 3774 Form 3 students. A sample of 400 students was selected using, Miller, L.R. & Brewer, J.D. (2003) mathematical formula and stratified randomly from 52 schools and conveniently selected equally between boys and girls. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights most students were aware about contraceptive use with females slightly more than males and media was the major source of information on contraceptive use while parents/guardians had no significant contribution since teenagers rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents. More than half of the sexually active students used contraceptives though it still interfered with their academic performance. This paper points at sex education curriculum in schools, setting up reproductive health institutions for the youth and distribution of contraceptives among teenagers which has a bearing on students’ performance.
PREMARURE ENGAGEMENT IN SEXUAL ACTIVITIES BY ADOLESCENTS: AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS IMPACTS ON THEIR HEALTH, ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-WELFARE. The case of Government High School Kendem, Mbeme and Kendem Communities – Mamfe, South West Region of Cameroon.
Presented by JOHN NYAH MBOUT
Running Head THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE .docxagnesdcarey33086
Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 1
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 2
The Influence Media has on Body Image of Adolescent Girls
Michele Jackson
Argosy University
Professor Russo
December 11, 2013
1. Do the media influence adolescent girl’s body images?
2. Null Hypothesis: the media does not have an influence on adolescent girl’s body image. Alternate Hypothesis: the media does influence adolescent girl’s body image.
3. The correct sample size that will be used in the research is 385 adolescent girls. Determining the right sample size involves the calculation of the margin of error. The estimated margin of error at 95 percent confidence level that is a 5 percent chance that the results will be different is derived by 1/√N. N is the sample size. This means that a sample size of 10 will have a margin of error of 31.6 percent, but a sample size of 100 will have a 10 percent margin of error. This implies that the greater the N, the smaller the margin of error; therefore, the results of the research will useful (White & McBurney, 2013). A sample size of 385 participants is sufficiently large and is representative of the population, and limits extreme observations and the impacts of outliers. The inclusion characteristics include: they must be female, must be aged between 13 and 19 years and must be exposed to different forms of media. The exclusion characteristics are: history of any mental or personality disorder and history of drug use. The sample should be diverse. This is to make the sample representative of all adolescent girls.
4. The sampling technique that will be used in the study is random sampling. Random sampling is choosing a sample from the statistical population so that every sample that could be chosen has a predetermined chance of being chosen. This is the most appropriate sampling technique since it is the least unbiased of all sampling methods (Monsen et al, 2008). Additionally, there is no subjectivity is the technique because each member of the statistical population has an equal chance of being chosen. The sample will generalize to the entire adolescent girls’ population. This is the key advantage of random sampling because it is representative of the population. The only factor that can make the sample unrepresentative of the population is sampling error.
5. There are two variables in my study: the dependent and the independent variable. The dependent variable is the body image of adolescent girls, while the independent variable is the media. The body image of adolescent girls’ is the dependent variable because it is changed by factors such as the media. This is the variable being measured in the study. The independent variable is not affected by other factors or variables. The research is attempting to establish the relationship between media and adolescent girls’ body image. That .
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSISREDUCING BEHAVIOR PROB.docxcroysierkathey
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
REDUCING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THROUGH FUNCTIONAL
COMMUNICATION TRAINING
EDWARD G. CARR AND V. MARK DURAND
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT STONY BROOK, STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK AT ALBANY, AND SUFFOLK CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
It is generally agreed that serious misbehavior in children should be replaced with socially appro-
priate behaviors, but few guidelines exist with respect to choosing replacement behaviors. We
address this issue in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we developed an assessment method for
identifying situations in which behavior problems, induding aggression, tantrums, and self-injury,
were most likely to occur. Results demonstrated that both low level of adult attention and high
level of task difficulty were discriminative for misbehavior. In Experiment 2, the assessment data
were used to select replacements for misbehavior. Specifically, children were taught to solicit atten-
tion or assistance or both verbally from adults. This treatment, which involved the differential
reinforcement of functional communication, produced replicable suppression of behavior problems
across four developmentally disabled children. The results were consistent with an hypothesis stating
that some child behavior problems may be viewed as a nonverbal means of communication.
According to this hypothesis, behavior problems and verbal communicative acts, though differing
in form, may be equivalent in function. Therefore, strengthening the latter should weaken the
former.
DESCRIPTORS: disruptive behavior, assessment, classroom behavior, communication, devel-
opmentally disabled children
A major portion of child behavior therapy is
justifiably concerned with the treatment of behav-
ior problems, given that such problems can seri-
ously disrupt the educational process (O'Leary &
O'Leary, 1977; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1977)
and in some cases may lead to institutionalization
This investigation was supported in part by U.S.P.H.S.
Biomedical Research Support Grant 2 S07 RR-07067-18
to the State University of New York at Stony Brook to the
first author and a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research to the
second author. Portions of this paper were presented at the
annual meeting of the American Psychological Association,
Washington, D.C., August 1982, and Anaheim, California,
August 1983. This research was based on a master's thesis
conducted by the second author under the direction of the
first author.
We thank Martin Hamburg, Executive Director, Suffolk
Child Development Center, for his generous support, and
Roseann D'Evanzo, JoAnn Giles, Terry Leykis, Cathy Sher-
edos, and Doug Walters for assistance with data collection.
Finally, we thank Alan 0. Ross, Susan G. O'Leary, K. Dan-
iel O'Leary, Crighton Newsom, Paul A. Dores, and Daniel
B. Crimmins for their helpful comments.
Requests for reprints or individual data should be sent to
Edward Carr, Department of Psychology, State University
of New York, Stony Brook, New ...
Running head CHILD ABUSE Child Abuse Larita SettlesLibe.docxtodd271
Running head: CHILD ABUSE
Child Abuse
Larita Settles
Liberty University
Aboul-Hagag, K., & Hamed, A. (2013). Prevalence and pattern of child sexual abuse. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2(3), 89-96. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejfs.2012.05.001
This study aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of child sexual abuse among samples selected from college students. The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey of 450 undergraduates at Sohag University, Egypt. It was found out that the overall prevalence of sexual abuse on children was at 29.8% of the sample with higher rates in females compared to males. Male children aged nine years and female children aged 10years were found to be victims of child sexual abuse. The study also found out that a big number of child sexual abuse perpetrators were male and mainly from outside families of the victims. This study sets a phase of child sexual abuse, and it’s important in my research as it improves the scope of child abuse.
Al Odhayani, A., Watson, W. J., & Watson, L. (2016). Behavioral consequences of child abuse. Canadian family physician, 59(8), 831-836.
Authors of the article aimed at examining the consequences of childhood abuse on behavior development, identify behavioral indicators of child abuse and evaluate the role of family physicians in the social problem. Sources of information for the article included a systematic search of relevant research, clinical review articles, and child protection agency information. It was found out that childhood abuse results in disordered psychological development and behavioral concerns. Also, the authors found out that family physicians have an essential role in identifying indicators of child abuse. This article was important as it provided a wide range of information on behavioral indicators of abused children.
Cuadra, L., Jaffe, A., Thomas, R., & DiLillo, D. (2014). Child maltreatment and adult criminal behavior: Does criminal thinking explain the association? Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(8), 1399-1408.Doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.02.005
The research examined the correlations between child abuse and adult criminal behaviors. Information was gathered from 338 men who had been adjudicated. Results of the study showed that there were relationships between child sexual abuse and sexual offenses and a grownup. Child physical abuse was also found to endorse proactive and reactive criminal thinking behaviors. The outcomes indicate that child abuse is directly related to criminal behaviors. This article was essential as it provides information on the long-term effects of child maltreatment.
Hong, S., Rhee, T., & Piescher, K. (2018). Longitudinal association of child maltreatment and cognitive functioning: Implications for child development. Child Abuse & Neglect, 84, 64-73.Doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.026 .
This study was a test of the hypothesis that demographic variables (e.g. gender, education) would predict who would be closed minded about the idea of asexuality as a sexual orientation. The participants received the link to the survey on the researcher’s Facebook page. The survey asked the participants’ awareness of asexuality, educational background, feelings towards the topic of sex, religious background, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, and where they were raised. The survey also asked three questions regarding the participants’ beliefs about asexuality as a sexual orientation. The results did show a significant affect on attitudes of gender, and previous education about asexuality. The study also found a strong but not significant relationship between attitudes and religiosity.
• Presented at the Third Annual Conference of the International Network for Sexual Ethics and Politics in Ghent, Belgium 2013
• Presented at the Tenth Annual Conference of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in San Diego, CA 2013
The adolescent stage is a period of turmoil marked with enormous vibrancy, discovery, innovation and hope and also the time when many of them initiate sexual relationships and involvement. This can be a challenging time for young people who are becoming aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and needs, and who rely on their families, peers, schools, media and health service providers for affirmation, advice, information and the skills to navigate is sometimes a difficult transition to adulthood. The subject on sex has been surrounded by mystery and beclouded by dark silence as neither parents nor teachers are ready to discuss it with teenagers despite unplanned pregnancies, dropping out of school by students, Sexually Transmitted Infections among teenagers. The study investigated influence of teen contraceptive use) on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 3774 Form 3 students. A sample of 400 students was selected using, Miller, L.R. & Brewer, J.D. (2003) mathematical formula and stratified randomly from 52 schools and conveniently selected equally between boys and girls. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights most students were aware about contraceptive use with females slightly more than males and media was the major source of information on contraceptive use while parents/guardians had no significant contribution since teenagers rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents. More than half of the sexually active students used contraceptives though it still interfered with their academic performance. This paper points at sex education curriculum in schools, setting up reproductive health institutions for the youth and distribution of contraceptives among teenagers which has a bearing on students’ performance.
PREMARURE ENGAGEMENT IN SEXUAL ACTIVITIES BY ADOLESCENTS: AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS IMPACTS ON THEIR HEALTH, ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-WELFARE. The case of Government High School Kendem, Mbeme and Kendem Communities – Mamfe, South West Region of Cameroon.
Presented by JOHN NYAH MBOUT
Running Head THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE .docxagnesdcarey33086
Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 1
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE 2
The Influence Media has on Body Image of Adolescent Girls
Michele Jackson
Argosy University
Professor Russo
December 11, 2013
1. Do the media influence adolescent girl’s body images?
2. Null Hypothesis: the media does not have an influence on adolescent girl’s body image. Alternate Hypothesis: the media does influence adolescent girl’s body image.
3. The correct sample size that will be used in the research is 385 adolescent girls. Determining the right sample size involves the calculation of the margin of error. The estimated margin of error at 95 percent confidence level that is a 5 percent chance that the results will be different is derived by 1/√N. N is the sample size. This means that a sample size of 10 will have a margin of error of 31.6 percent, but a sample size of 100 will have a 10 percent margin of error. This implies that the greater the N, the smaller the margin of error; therefore, the results of the research will useful (White & McBurney, 2013). A sample size of 385 participants is sufficiently large and is representative of the population, and limits extreme observations and the impacts of outliers. The inclusion characteristics include: they must be female, must be aged between 13 and 19 years and must be exposed to different forms of media. The exclusion characteristics are: history of any mental or personality disorder and history of drug use. The sample should be diverse. This is to make the sample representative of all adolescent girls.
4. The sampling technique that will be used in the study is random sampling. Random sampling is choosing a sample from the statistical population so that every sample that could be chosen has a predetermined chance of being chosen. This is the most appropriate sampling technique since it is the least unbiased of all sampling methods (Monsen et al, 2008). Additionally, there is no subjectivity is the technique because each member of the statistical population has an equal chance of being chosen. The sample will generalize to the entire adolescent girls’ population. This is the key advantage of random sampling because it is representative of the population. The only factor that can make the sample unrepresentative of the population is sampling error.
5. There are two variables in my study: the dependent and the independent variable. The dependent variable is the body image of adolescent girls, while the independent variable is the media. The body image of adolescent girls’ is the dependent variable because it is changed by factors such as the media. This is the variable being measured in the study. The independent variable is not affected by other factors or variables. The research is attempting to establish the relationship between media and adolescent girls’ body image. That .
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSISREDUCING BEHAVIOR PROB.docxcroysierkathey
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
REDUCING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THROUGH FUNCTIONAL
COMMUNICATION TRAINING
EDWARD G. CARR AND V. MARK DURAND
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT STONY BROOK, STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK AT ALBANY, AND SUFFOLK CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
It is generally agreed that serious misbehavior in children should be replaced with socially appro-
priate behaviors, but few guidelines exist with respect to choosing replacement behaviors. We
address this issue in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we developed an assessment method for
identifying situations in which behavior problems, induding aggression, tantrums, and self-injury,
were most likely to occur. Results demonstrated that both low level of adult attention and high
level of task difficulty were discriminative for misbehavior. In Experiment 2, the assessment data
were used to select replacements for misbehavior. Specifically, children were taught to solicit atten-
tion or assistance or both verbally from adults. This treatment, which involved the differential
reinforcement of functional communication, produced replicable suppression of behavior problems
across four developmentally disabled children. The results were consistent with an hypothesis stating
that some child behavior problems may be viewed as a nonverbal means of communication.
According to this hypothesis, behavior problems and verbal communicative acts, though differing
in form, may be equivalent in function. Therefore, strengthening the latter should weaken the
former.
DESCRIPTORS: disruptive behavior, assessment, classroom behavior, communication, devel-
opmentally disabled children
A major portion of child behavior therapy is
justifiably concerned with the treatment of behav-
ior problems, given that such problems can seri-
ously disrupt the educational process (O'Leary &
O'Leary, 1977; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1977)
and in some cases may lead to institutionalization
This investigation was supported in part by U.S.P.H.S.
Biomedical Research Support Grant 2 S07 RR-07067-18
to the State University of New York at Stony Brook to the
first author and a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research to the
second author. Portions of this paper were presented at the
annual meeting of the American Psychological Association,
Washington, D.C., August 1982, and Anaheim, California,
August 1983. This research was based on a master's thesis
conducted by the second author under the direction of the
first author.
We thank Martin Hamburg, Executive Director, Suffolk
Child Development Center, for his generous support, and
Roseann D'Evanzo, JoAnn Giles, Terry Leykis, Cathy Sher-
edos, and Doug Walters for assistance with data collection.
Finally, we thank Alan 0. Ross, Susan G. O'Leary, K. Dan-
iel O'Leary, Crighton Newsom, Paul A. Dores, and Daniel
B. Crimmins for their helpful comments.
Requests for reprints or individual data should be sent to
Edward Carr, Department of Psychology, State University
of New York, Stony Brook, New ...
Running head CHILD ABUSE Child Abuse Larita SettlesLibe.docxtodd271
Running head: CHILD ABUSE
Child Abuse
Larita Settles
Liberty University
Aboul-Hagag, K., & Hamed, A. (2013). Prevalence and pattern of child sexual abuse. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2(3), 89-96. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejfs.2012.05.001
This study aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of child sexual abuse among samples selected from college students. The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey of 450 undergraduates at Sohag University, Egypt. It was found out that the overall prevalence of sexual abuse on children was at 29.8% of the sample with higher rates in females compared to males. Male children aged nine years and female children aged 10years were found to be victims of child sexual abuse. The study also found out that a big number of child sexual abuse perpetrators were male and mainly from outside families of the victims. This study sets a phase of child sexual abuse, and it’s important in my research as it improves the scope of child abuse.
Al Odhayani, A., Watson, W. J., & Watson, L. (2016). Behavioral consequences of child abuse. Canadian family physician, 59(8), 831-836.
Authors of the article aimed at examining the consequences of childhood abuse on behavior development, identify behavioral indicators of child abuse and evaluate the role of family physicians in the social problem. Sources of information for the article included a systematic search of relevant research, clinical review articles, and child protection agency information. It was found out that childhood abuse results in disordered psychological development and behavioral concerns. Also, the authors found out that family physicians have an essential role in identifying indicators of child abuse. This article was important as it provided a wide range of information on behavioral indicators of abused children.
Cuadra, L., Jaffe, A., Thomas, R., & DiLillo, D. (2014). Child maltreatment and adult criminal behavior: Does criminal thinking explain the association? Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(8), 1399-1408.Doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.02.005
The research examined the correlations between child abuse and adult criminal behaviors. Information was gathered from 338 men who had been adjudicated. Results of the study showed that there were relationships between child sexual abuse and sexual offenses and a grownup. Child physical abuse was also found to endorse proactive and reactive criminal thinking behaviors. The outcomes indicate that child abuse is directly related to criminal behaviors. This article was essential as it provides information on the long-term effects of child maltreatment.
Hong, S., Rhee, T., & Piescher, K. (2018). Longitudinal association of child maltreatment and cognitive functioning: Implications for child development. Child Abuse & Neglect, 84, 64-73.Doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.026 .
CHAPTER IIIRESEARCH METHODOLOGYIntroductionThe study has bee.docxchristinemaritza
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
The study has been interested with children and separation/divorce. The impacts of divorce on children became apparent when the exploration contemplates the undertaking. This chapter seeks to analyses the various methods that will be use in doing the study and the data collection process.
IMDCAP
The examination venture titled “The Impact of Divorce on Children and Parents" will be produced by Dr. James Smith. It is a collaborative exertion between New Haven County, Connecticut Circuit Court and the Southern Connecticut State University National Criminal Justice Educational Development Project. It has been supported by Criminal Justice team assets controlled by Southern Connecticut State University Division of Urban Affairs. The gift is a piece of the Criminal Justice Educational Development Project.
The real point of this study is to analyze the effect of divorce on the individual and common alteration of minor children, or different hobby is the degree to which children display improper behavior before, amid, and after the divorce of their parents. The example population comprised of separating couples who had not beforehand marriage, who had minor children, and who live in New Haven, Connecticut. The venture accumulated information from separated parents, their children, lawyers of record, school and New Haven County Juvenile.
court staff, and additionally court and school records. It will be assembled at three time periods: at the season of recording, six and eighteen months after the documenting. The IMDCAP undertaking will be coordinated by Dr. James Smith, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Southern Connecticut State University and Murice Freemans, Research Assistant.
The undertaking destinations as noted in the proposition seem to be:
a) thorough, transparent investigation of the demographic and attitudinal qualities of an arbitrary sample of initially married separating couples with minor, children.
b) An enlightening study of the elements considered by courts in deciding care in no challenged cases.
c) A precise examination of those social and individual elements working with a family that incite intercession by courts in determining children guardianship.
d) An six month longitudinal study to the degree to which child rearing styles created by couples preceding, amid, and after divorce, influence the psycho-social advancement of their children.
Concerning these targets, the significant free variables are whether the children will be prepared for their parents’ divorce and the sort of child rearing styles created by the separating couple. The important mediating variables are social class and social traits (pay, word related status, race/ethnicity, and religious introduction).
IMDCAP's speculations as noted in the undertaking review seem to be:
1. Children whose parents have set them up for divorce and have built up a helpful parental style will display the be ...
Perception of Child Abuse 2COLLEGE STUDENTS’ AND PROFESSIO.docxherbertwilson5999
Perception of Child Abuse 2
COLLEGE STUDENTS’ AND PROFESSIONALS’ PERCEPTION OF CHILD ABUSE IN CORRELATION TO STRESS
Introduction
Throughout the growth and development of society, child abuse and maltreatment has expanded into many different aspects; it occurs within socioeconomic levels, ethnic and cultural lines, all religions and all levels of education. Within the United States children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving nearly 6 million children (a report can include multiple children). The United States has the worst record in the industrialized nation – losing five children every day due to abuse-related deaths (U.S. Department of HHS, 2011). The estimated cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion (Fang, 2012). The Department of Children and Families (DCF) defines child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent, guardian, or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child (Leeb, Paulozzi, Melanson, Simon, & Arias, 2008). There are four major categories of childhood abuse and maltreatment: physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect (Goldman, Salus, Wolcott, & Kennedy, 2003).
According to Brian H. Bornstein, Debra L. Kaplan, and Andrea R. Perry (2007), people have stereotypes about the circumstances and consequences of child abuse, and these expectancies can influence their judgments about individuals involved in abuse cases. Heim (2000) reported that participants with a history of abuse experience greater levels of perceived stress than participants without a history of abuse. They often perceive daily stressors more severely and longer in duration than their counterparts. It is also suggested that their history of abuse compromises these participants’ abilities to cope with stress, but the researchers noted that the data from their study is inconclusive, making it difficult for them to either support or refute this claim.
The perception of child abuse is very influential to students and upcoming professionals. Society’s definition and perception will guide current social work students into practice, which is a very important factor within the professional realm of social work.
Research Question
The purpose of this study is to examine college students and professionals’ perception of child abuse and how it relates to stress. The independent variable is the college students and professionals’ perception of child abuse and the dependent variable is how it relates to stress. The operational definition of perception remains closely allied to the continually developing behavioral theory of discrimination (Schoenfeld, 1962). The operational definition of child abuse is as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent, guardian, or other caregiver that results.
Study of the Social Impact of Excessive Cell Phone use on Adolescents
1. Running Head: SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE 1
The Social Impact of Excessive Cell Phone use on Adolescents
Jessica C S Madisetti
Kennesaw State University
Author note
Correspondence concerting this article should be addressed to, Department of Psychology,
Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Email:
jmadiset@students.kennesaw.edu
3. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 3
The Social Impact of Excessive Cell Phone Use on Adolescents
Through the observation of modern society, it is evident that there is a positive
correlation between the development of technology and the access that adolescents have to
communicative devices enabling them to send information across wireless networks. The most
popular of these devices among young adults is the handheld cell phone. A previous study by the
Pew Research Center at Berkman University demonstrates that teenagers’ access to cellphones
has been increasing at a steady rate since 2003 and 95% of teenagers in America are now
connected online (Madden, Lenhart, Duggan, Cortesi, & Gasser, 2013). The relationship
between different methods of communication and the level of loneliness or social anxiety have
been explored in the past; Jin and Park measured a wide array of demographics using survey
techniques. Through critical analysis, it was concluded that those who reported very frequent
voice calling felt lonelier. The same study also reflects a negative correlation between social
skills and the use of cell phones; as usage increases, social skills apparently decline. This was
noted to be a predecessor for the development of conditions such as social anxiety and loneliness
(Jin & Park, 2013). An observation made of those with social anxiety or chronic shyness reflects
the idea that texting is preferred by those pre-diagnosed with the condition because it is a less
stressful interaction that speaking in person (Reid & Reid, 2007). This study ties in to Jin and
Park (2013) as the reoccurring theme of cell phone usage becoming an enabler is prevalent.
The previous studies were made on fully developed adults with very established
relationships and social lives. The current study will explore youth between the ages of 14 and
19 as these years serve as peak times for development socially and cognitively. This will allow a
first-hand demonstration on the effect that cellphone usage has on the forming psyche by
observing the participants method of coping with the way of communication they are given. The
4. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 4
study will explore the relationship between excessive texting and calling and a more anxious
face-to-face experience.
Method
Participants
Fifty male and 50 female high school students (Mean age: 16.04, SD= 1.61 years)
voluntarily participated in a survey about the impact of cell phone use on relationships via
computer after being told about it at school. After having read and having signed a consent form
that was sent home to their parents about the use of their information, the participants were asked
a series of questions about their average cell phone usage. Parents willing to let their child
participate were asked to provide a phone number so that if their child was chosen for the
experiment, contact could be established. The sample consisted of 62 Caucasian American
participants, 20 African American participants, 10 Hispanic participants, 4 Asian participants,
and 4 who classified as “other”. There was a total of 72 females and 27 males. The data collected
was then observed to find suitable subjects for the experiment. Of the participants, 12 were
chosen; 6 male and 6 female. The sample consisted of 5 Caucasian participants, 4 African
American participants, and 3 Hispanic participants. All of these reported using their cell phones
either excessively or very little. A call was made home to the parents of these participants
revealing the fact that their child’s phone usage would need to be altered for 12 days in order for
the experiment to work. They were given the opportunity to end the experiment at any time if
they felt uncomfortable.
Stimuli
The premise of the experiment is to take those who use their cellphones excessively and
only allow them to communicate with those around them using face to face interaction. The
5. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 5
opposite will be done to those who use the cellphone very little or not at all. After the initial
survey, they will be screened individually to see how they react to a potentially anxious situation,
then predictions will be made about them for the remainder of the experiment. After
experiencing 12 days going the with or without a phone to communicate, they will complete one
more written questionnaire about their levels of anxiety in different social situations using a
Generalized Anxiety Disorder test developed by the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America (Madden et. Al., 2013).
Procedure
Once chosen, the participants were put into an interview situation that could potentially
evoke a slight feeling of anxiety. The interview was done exactly the same for each subject. They
were put alone in well-light room at the end of a long table. The walls were covered in posters of
small cute animals to serve as a contrast to the interviewer, being a tall, pale man with dark eyes
and a stern grimace sitting at the other end of the table in a business suit. The interview lasted a
total of 15 minutes, and each participant was asked a set list of questions about their relationships
along with a few random questions to catch them off guard. For every third relationship question,
there was a random question. There was a total of 30 questions. After each question, the
interviewer would note the subjects’ physical reactions, more notably the amount they fidget in
accordance GAD-7 scale. This information was then used to form predictions about each
participant’s level of general anxiety going into the experiment.
The participants who used their phones for a total of more than 5 hours a day then had
them confiscated and those who used them very little were given new phones. For the next 12
days, the participants lived at the facility with adequate accommodations. Those with phones
6. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 6
were unable to see or speak to anyone else in the facility, and had to text to receive food and
anything else they required. They were allowed to contact a grand total of 12 people using their
phones. This could be family, friends or both. The participants without phones were given the
same accommodations but were allowed to intermingle freely, to leave their room, and to have
one visit from family per 6 days, however, they were not informed of when their families would
come. Those on the outside in contact were given guidelines on what they could and could not
speak out. They were encouraged to keep conversation light and as happy as possible, and not to
talk about anything stressful. After the twelve days, the participants were given an anxiety test to
see what their levels of anxiety were. These were measured against their reactions from the
initial interview to form the results.
Result
A t-test made of the results demonstrate a rejection of the null hypothesis with an F score
of .379. The mean anxiety score of those participants with phones is 7.1167 with a standard
deviation of approximately 1.75 while those without phones had a mean of 21.5 and a standard
deviation of 1.45.
Experiment Two: The effect of Isolation on Anxiety
In order to further these results, another experiment was made to test the effect of this
social isolation on anxiety levels. The experiment allows the sample to experience both the social
isolation and the face-to-face interaction. Tests were taken after they experienced each condition
to measure how much of an effect this type of isolation has on their general anxiety.
Method
7. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 7
Participants
Fifty male and 50 female high school students (Mean age: 16.04, SD= 1.61 years)
voluntarily participated in a survey about the impact of cell phone use on relationships via
computer after being told about it at school. After having read and having signed a consent form
that was sent home to their parents about the use of their information, the participants were asked
a series of questions about their average cell phone usage. Parents willing to let their child
participate were asked to provide a phone number so that if their child was chosen for the
experiment, contact could be established. The sample consisted of 62 Caucasian American
participants, 20 African American participants, 10 Hispanic participants, 4 Asian participants, and
4 who classified as “other”. There was a total of 72 females and 27 males. The data collected was
then observed to find suitable subjects for the experiment. Of the participants, 12 were chosen; 6
male and 6 female. The sample consisted of 5 Caucasian participants, 4 African American
participants, and 3 Hispanic participants. All of these reported using their cell phones either
excessively or very little.
Stimuli
The premise of this experiment remains the same as the previous; to test anxiety after
experiencing either only face-to-face interaction or cell phone communication only. Once the
initial survey is completed, the group will be put into their first condition- without. They will go
12 days without a phone to communicate and be able to talk to only each other. They will
complete one more written questionnaire about their levels of anxiety in different social
situations using a Generalized Anxiety Disorder test developed by the Anxiety and Depression
Association of America. After a rest period of weekend, they will be put into isolation where
8. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 8
they can only communicate using their phones. These conditions are the same as the previous
experiment.
Procedure
Once chosen, the participants were put into an interview situation that could potentially
evoke a slight feeling of anxiety. The interview was done exactly the same for each subject. They
were put alone in well-light room at the end of a long table. The walls were covered in posters of
small cute animals to serve as a contrast to the interviewer, being a tall, pale man with dark eyes
and a stern grimace sitting at the other end of the table in a business suit. The interview lasted a
total of 15 minutes, and each participant was asked a set list of questions about their relationships
along with a few random questions to catch them off guard. For every third relationship question,
there was a random question. There was a total of 30 questions. After each question, the
interviewer would note the subjects’ physical reactions, more notably the amount they fidget in
accordance GAD-7 scale.
For the next 12 days, the participants lived at the facility with adequate accommodations.
The group was allowed to intermingle freely, to leave their room, and to have one visit from
family per 6 days, however, were not informed of when their families would come. They were
monitored using a detached approach to ensure that everything was going well. After the 12
days, they were given a self-reported questionnaire about their anxieties. After two days rest in
their own environments (at home, or wherever they live), the same group was then confined to
cell-phone use. They were unable to see or speak to anyone else in the facility, and had to text to
receive food and anything else they required. They were allowed to contact a grand total of 12
people using their phones. This could be family, friends or both. Those on the outside in contact
9. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 9
were given guidelines on what they could and could not speak of. They were encouraged to keep
conversation light and as happy as possible, and not to talk about anything stressful. After the
twelve days, the participants were given an anxiety test to see what their levels of anxiety were.
These were measured against their reactions from the initial interview to form the results.
Result
A paired t-test made of the results demonstrate that there was a fairly significant increase
in anxiety over the course of the experiment. The mean anxiety rating after the first trial was
12.3958 with a deviation of 8.12 while after the second 14.3083 with a deviation of 7.67. The
test statistic score was 5.833 and the p<.05, making the results more extreme than the cut off
value and rejecting the null-hypothesis.
10. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 10
References
Donna J. Reid and Fraser J.M. Reid. (2007). Text or Talk? Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and
Divergent Preferences for Cell Phone Use. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 10(3): 424-
435. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9936.
Jin, B. and Park, N. (2013). Mobile voice communication and loneliness: Cell phone use and the
social skills deficit hypothesis. New Media & Society, 15(7), 1094-1111.
doi:10.1177/146144481266715.
Madden, Mary, Lenhart, A, Duggan, M., Cortesi, S., & Gasser, Urs. (2013). Teens and
Technology 2013. Pew Research Center.http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-
media/Files/Reports/2013/PIP_TeensandTechnology2013.pdf
Zilberstein, Karen. (2013). Technology, Relationship and Culture: Clinical and Theoretical
Implications. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41(3). doi:10.1007/s10615-013-0461-2.