
Ancestry DNA and 5 Ways Tech Has Affected Psychological Research
Five Ways That Technology Has Affected Psychological Research
Information technology has played a large role in enhancing research efforts in science of the mind and behavior. Technology has influenced the discipline not only in how research studies are carried out and analyzed, but also in the actual phenomena that psychologists can investigate. Here are five ways that technology has affected psychological research.
DNA Tests Make Everyone a Geneticist
While the jury’s out on the efficacy of these DNA tests, the popularity of them means we have a lot more data about people than we used to. Once we figure out how to organize that data to understand people’s behavior better, we may start including DNA tests as part of counselling sessions. Right now, these tests have become very affordable. Coupled with coupon codes that you can find by clicking here, a test can be as cheap as $50.
The people studied
Psychological research has historically been strongly biased towards the study of psychology students, because they are convenient for research to find and you can basically force them to do it as a compulsory course requirement. Although this bias towards students still exists, it is assuaged somewhat by the ability to use the internet and mobile apps to reach broader samples of people.
Lower Costs
The primary research method in psychology is the self-report questionnaire, which typically involves asking participants to rate certain statements on a numerical scale. Although this method has its critics, one advantage is that is can easily be conducted and analyzed online. Where pen and paper surveys once ruled, computers have taken over. This has reduced the cost of surveying dramatically.
Easier and more complex analysis
There was a time when psychologists conducted statistical analyses essentially by hand, with the help of whatever rudimentary …
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