Discussion 2: Statistical Significance And Variables

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Research studies often compare variables, conditions, times, and/or groups of participants to evaluate relationships between variables or differences between groups or times. For example, if researchers are interested in knowing whether an intervention produces change in the desired direction, they will want to know whether the change is due to chance (statistical significance) or possibly due to the intervention. In this case, researchers could use a pre and post measurement of the same participants on the condition being treated, or they could compare a group of individuals who receive the intervention to a group that does not receive the intervention. Researchers could also compare two groups of individuals who receive different interventions. The rigor of the research design helps control for other factors that might account for the changes (e.g., time, conditions, group differences in other factors, etc.). To prepare for this Discussion, consider the concept of statistical significance.

By Day 5

Post your explanation of how the difference between statistical significance and the true importance (clinical significance) of the relationship between variables or the degree of difference between groups affect your practice decision making. Be sure to include an explanation of what statistical significance means. Include an example from a quantitative study that found statistically significant differences. Discuss whether the results of the study would—or should—influence your practice as a social worker. Please use the resources to support your answer.

Required Readings

Yegidis, B. L., Weinbach, R. W., & Myers, L. L.  (2018). Research methods for social workers (8th ed.). New York, NY:  Pearson.
Chapter 13, “Analyzing Data” (pp. 295–297, “The Data in Perspective”)

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Social Work Research: Measuring Group Success

Bauer, S., Lambert, M. J., & Nielsen, S. L. (2004). Clinical significance methods: A comparison of statistical techniques. Journal of Personality Assessment, 82, 60–70.
Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Gibson, F. H. (2003). Indigent client perceptions of barriers to marriage and family therapy (Dissertation, University of Louisiana at Monroe).

Cognitive Neuropsychology Short Paper

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Short Paper

Prompt: Jenny is a 17-year-old who was struck to the right side of her forehead with a softball during a game. The blow was hard enough that it rendered her unconscious for nearly an hour, and she was taken to the emergency department. A brain MRI revealed encephalomalacia (softening of tissue due to damage) in the right area of the frontal lobe. In the weeks following the injury, what types of deficits might you expect, given the location of the injury? What do you think would be the medical recommendations for the recovery process?

Guidelines for Submission: The short paper should be 2–4 pages, double-spaced, with12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins, and include citations in APA format.

Recommend a Qualitative Design

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  Recommend a Qualitative Design

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 from the Frost (2011) e-book.

For this discussion you will take on the role of a clinical psychologist treating clients for depression. You are interested in doing research on effective treatments for a chronic form of depression called dysthymia. In the DSM-5, it is referred to as persistent depressive disorder. The DSM-5 is listed in your recommended resources, and details regarding the disorder can be found in section 300.4(F34.1).

In your review of the current materials, you find that most of the previous research on this disorder has been done using quantitative methods. Identify an aspect of this topic you feel should be studied using qualitative methods. Apply the scientific method to this research issue and develop a specific research question. Compare the characteristics and appropriate uses of various qualitative research designs and choose an appropriate qualitative  design for this research question. Create a feasible research design that includes plans for the sample selection, data collection, and data analysis. Apply ethical principles to your design by explaining how this type of qualitative design may affect the participants in your study and how you will deal with sociocultural issues.

Guided Response: Review several of your colleagues’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers by 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 of the week. You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful interactive discourse in this discussion.

Comment on the suitability of your peer’s proposed research question(s) and research design. Has your colleague chosen the most appropriate qualitative design to answer the question(s) posed? Why, or why not? What other design option(s), besides the one you selected for your own post, would you recommend to study the proposed research question? Review the ethical issues your colleague raised in his or her post and suggest other issues that should be considered when conducting this research.

The impact of technology on the cognitive ability of individuals

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Running head: MEMORY AND TECHNOLOGY 1

MEMORY AND TECHNOLOGY 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory and Technology

Sandy Pennington

Southern New Hampshire University

 

Memory and Technology

The impact of technology on the cognitive ability of individuals

The cognitive ability of an individual is determined by how well organized and prepared an individual is while performing their tasks (Wilmer et al., 2017). However, technology has come to change the way we perform certain tasks especially when it comes to memorization. Search engines such as Google have made it easier for people to look for answers whenever they come across a task they feel would take more of their time if they take the longer approach of doing research. The first part of this paper shall be discussing some of the effects that technology and specifically the Internet has on the cognitive ability of an individual. The second part shall encompass three research questions that that would help in the improvement of cognition using technology.

Short memory effect

Searching for answers on the Internet has a negative effect on the memory of an individual. As much as it saves on the time spent, the long-term effect is that memorization depreciates with time. The ability to remember is based on how well one understands the topic in discussion. Depending on technology does not, however, give individuals the chance to contemplate and get into the details. Quite often, the memory is short-lived, and they have to refer again whenever the same issue arises in the future. The fact that the information collected at a glance is stored in the short-term memory is the reason remembering becomes an issue due to the limited space in the short-term memory of the individual.

 

 

Slowed development

The development of a child is dependent on the social kind of life that they lead in their early years. It is during this time that they can master the art of speaking or in other words language development. Children master the art of language between the ages of two and eight. However, this is purely dependent on how well they are trained. Parents, therefore, need to engage their children in conversations to enhance their listening and speaking skills as they grow up. Failure to doing so might lead to sluggish educational development in their children.

Poor social life

The introduction of social media platforms has led to a change in the social life of many people. With Facebook twitter and Instagram being among the leading social media platforms, they usually involve conversations that are verbally based. More often, social media users find themselves engaging in some kind of solo conversations, which drifts them away from real life situations (Loh et al., 2016). Such scenarios affect the ability of an individual to express themselves in front of people, which is a major blow to the development of cognition in an individual. Verbal conversations are important in that they help people grasp subjects better compared to just reading and trying to memorize by themselves.

Losing track of information

The Internet is full of sites providing the same information regarding a certain topic. This has led to most people making use of the Internet as their external hard drive. Getting information on the Internet is usually meant for short-term use unlike in publications where the individual has to dig deep and take time to understand the content of what they are reading. The Internet is nowadays being used as a source of quick information whether reliable or not. Such practices are detrimental to the cognitive ability of persons.

Research questions

1. How does the Internet affect cognition development in children?

2. What can be done to reshape the overdependence of the Internet for information search in a bid to improve human cognition?

3. What strategies can the tutors use to prevent overdependence on the Internet by students?

 

 

 

 

References

Loh, K. K., & Kanai, R. (2016). How has the Internet reshaped human cognition?. The Neuroscientist, 22(5), 506-520.

Wilmer, H. H., Sherman, L. E., & Chein, J. M. (2017). Smartphones and cognition: A review of research exploring the links between mobile technology habits and cognitive functioning. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 605. Retrieved from: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/technology-changes-memory_n_4414778.html