Research on digital technology

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Studies on the interaction between digital technology and cognitive processes often look at relationships between the influence of digital technology on human cognitive activities such as memory and attention. With this aim of studying human cognitive abilities to process and retrieve information, correlational studies are valuable research method because the strength of relationships between variables related to the use of digital technology and cognition can be measured. While benefits of a correlational method can be seen in Cain’s research on multitasking and academic performance in adolescents and Rosser’s research on videogame and surgery performance, this method may have limitations because correlational results do not establish causation .

Question 2

1st (how and why use the method in the field)

Answer 2

In a correlational study, data are collected to show a relationship between two variables through correlation. This means if one variable changes, so does the other. The measurement of strength of the relationship between the two variables is calculated as a correlational coefficient and 1.0 is a strong positive correlation, -1.0 a strong negative and 0.0 is no correlation. Studies on digital technology uses the correlational method by measuring gathering data on variables that they might think are related. In this context, it is often one or more variables that are hypothesized (hours spend on digital technology )to affect the cognitive abilities of adolescents and surgeons.

Question 3

2nd: (strength and main reason)

Answer 3

One reason why the correlational method is valuable in the study of digital technology is that it can be used to measure possible relationships between the variable of using digital technology in real life and cognitive processes. They are very difficult to manipulate in a laboratory environment and so studying correlations between these variables can allow researchers

Question 4

Limitation of correlational studies

Answer 4

However, one major limitation of using correlational studies is that correlation does not mean causation. As we’ve seen, these studies can be used to generate hypotheses and perhaps inspire further research that might study causal relationships between variables, but these studies do not provide us with an understanding of what might cause the change in cognitive processes of memory and attention. For example, it might not be that hours using digital technology is the variable that is causing the decrease or increase in cognitive abilities. It might be that there’s another related variable that is influential. Furthermore, there are also bidirectional ambiguities as it is not clear whether digital technology influences cognitive behaviour or our cognitive mental representations lead to the excessive use of digital technology and reduce our working memory capacity. Because a correlational study doesn’t isolate the IV and can’t control extraneous variables, it means that we only understand relationships between variables, but not causal ones.