Neurotic Personality When Exposed to Media Violence - Research Proposal Example

Hi Low Neurotic Personality When Exposed To Media Violence Causes Aggression The prime objective of this proposed research study will be to verify whether high or low neurotic personality, when gets exposed to media hostility, causes aggression amid young adults. In order to conduct this research study, a quantitative approach will be applied. The targeted population included 500 undergraduate students from the University of Texas. In subsequence, personality tests were conducted on students having their free consent based on which, 108 undergraduate students were selected for the observation. In order to assess the data gathered, hypotheses testing will also be conducted with the implementation of 2x3 ANOVA. It is expected that the findings to be obtained from this study will be helpful in gaining better understanding of care needs for high neurotic personality, widening the scope of more efficient medical assistances. In this report, a detailed elaboration has been provided to offer a clear understanding about the research aims and objectives as well as the method to be applied to accomplish the same. Correspondingly, a brief overview has also been provided regarding the identified research issue to be emphasized in this research study. The outcomes expected from the proposed research study and the future scope of research it widens have also been addressed in the planning documented hereunder. Hi / Low Neurotic Personality When Exposed To Media Violence Causes Aggression Prior to discussing and elaborating aggression theory, defining the term ‘aggression’ will be essential to comprehend the research issue efficiently. In general, aggression is defined as any behavior, depicting violence towards others and thereby, increases the chances of harm to those present in the surrounding. It is worth mentioning that different aggression theories aim at identifying the behavioral patterns of individuals so that measures can be taken to eradicate the chances of them harming others. In context of social psychology, it is the “frustration-aggression hypothesis”, which is considered to form the foundation of aggression theory. Based on this particular hypothesis, it can be ascertained that aggression mainly emerges because of frustration and inhibitions persistent within any individual, especially when its approach towards the attainment of any particular goal becomes disillusioned (Berkowitz, 2012). However, not every kind of frustration leads toward causing aggression and not all aggression erupts from frustration due to the dissimilarities persisting in the psychological behaviors of individuals (Meir et al., 2007). In the modern era, with complexities increased in the lifestyles practiced, causes of aggression amid individuals have also taken new sources. For instance, Ferguson et al. (2011) revealed that media also affects the degree of aggression on individuals, especially the youth and the young adults. Similarly, utmost concerns have been delivered towards determining whether neurotic personality traits, on being exposed to media violence, causes aggression, at the time when the level of the same becomes high or low depending on certain specific situations. To determine the nature of this particular concern, it can be affirmed that the issue is related to the psychological conditions of the people, based on which, their respective personality traits differ at large. Specially mentioning, the significance of this concern or issue lay in observing the fact that the aggression level of the people is increasing substantially while their respective neurotic personalities are getting exposed to media, resulting in greater aggression risks (Ferguson et al., 2011). It is strongly believed that watching televisions and playing varied sorts of video games for extended hours, often raise the level of violent crimes due to aggression and other crucial factors including the feelings of being stressed, worried, confused or irritated. Notably, the rising preference for Violent Video Games (VVGs) among the young generation today has been one of the utmost concerns, as these are deemed to be associated with varied negative cognitions and behaviors. These cognitions and behaviors can be apparently noted as hostility, aggressive thoughts and aggression (Ferguson et al., 2011). Aimed at determining whether hi/low neurotic personality causes aggression at the time when the individual is exposed to media violence, researches conducted by Markey & Markey (2010) and Ferguson et al. (2011) suggested findings in favor of the assumption taken. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the individuals tend to be dispassionate, or act in an odd way as well as being uncooperative, having deficiency in showing sympathy to others and paranoid who score high in their respective neurotic personality. On the other hand, the scenario seems to be different or the opposite for those who score low in being neurotic (Markey & Markey, 2010). Emphasizing these assertions, the following hypotheses have been developed for the proposed research study with the aim of determining whether high or low neurotic personality, on being exposed to media violence, often causes aggression amid the people specifically the youths and the young adults: Hypothesis 1: Respondents who showed signs of being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused also showed signs of high aggression. [Independent Variable (IDV) → Signs of being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused; Dependent Variable (DV) → High degree of aggression] Hypothesis 2: With the changing levels of media violence shown in the video, the aggression of respondents also changed. [Independent Variable (IDV) → Changing levels of media violence; Dependent Variable (DV) → High degree of aggression] Hypothesis 3: High degree of media violence results in high degree of aggression among the viewers diagnosed with neurotic personality. [Independent Variable (IDV) → Exposure to media violence; Dependent Variable (DV) → High degree of aggression] Hypothesis 1 has been framed on the basis of the rationale that behavioral traits possessed by individuals reveal the signs of high aggression, resulting in varied adverse or harmful situations, unlike expected. The hypothesis is intended to be helpful in evaluating the particular behavioral traits of respondents considered in this study emphasizing their respective neurotic personality features of being irritated, confused along with worried, stressed and disturbed either through playing VVGs or watching televisions for a longer time. Specially mentioning, Hypothesis 2 has been developed for the proposed research study with the aim of ascertaining whether the aggression level of the people generally changes with the transforming intensities of media violence shown in videos. The hypothesis, post analysis, will certainly aid in supporting the fact that media violence shown in videos are associated with varied pessimistic cognitions as well as behaviors including aggressive ideas, hostile perceptions and violent activities. Thus, a significant relationship prevailing between media violence shown in videos and the cause of aggression due to the same can be established by accepting the above stated hypothesis. The other hypothesis framed for the proposed research study (i.e. Hypothesis 3) will mainly reflect upon the involvement of high degree of media violence, resulting in greater level of aggression, specifically amid the respondents diagnosed with neurotic personality. Considering the fact that the differences persisting in neurotic personality traits of the individuals, when exposed to media violence, often cause aggression, the acceptance of hypothesis 3 will certainly aid in determining the association prevailing between varied neurotic personality traits and media violence. Method In relation to the proposed research study, which is mainly concerned with determining whether hi/low neurotic personality traits, when exposed to media hostility, causes aggression amid the individuals, a quantitative approach of research methodology will be undertaken. Theoretically, the notion of quantitative research is regarded as the procedure of testing hypothesis based on empirical evidences, analyzed through utilizing varied mathematical procedures and statistical tools. Owing to its high capacity to suffice research needs with reliable amount of empirical evidences, this particular research approach will be used in the proposed study when generalizing the overall research findings from a given sample. It is worth mentioning in this similar concern that this research approach will support the study in reaching a final as well as a valid conclusion by identifying the appropriate action courses and most vitally, determining that the research findings are conclusive in nature. From a broader understanding, it can be affirmed that the executive of quantitative approach will prove to be quite beneficial for this specific research study by responding to the interests of the participants and measuring the frequency of the viewpoints provided by the respondents from a given sample (SAGE Publications, 2010). The participants for the discussed study will be mainly selected by considering the fact that the high/low neurotic personalities, when exposed to media violence, generally cause aggression amid young individuals. The assumption taken in this study further asserts media violence as the possible cause for such high neurotic personality. It is strongly believed that people showing the above stated signs also decipher high aggression, often conducting violent crimes and other forms of illegal activities with the intention to harm others. Thus, with this concern, the participants of the proposed research study will be mainly considered as the undergraduate male as well as female students belonging to The University of Texas, located at San Antonio. In this similar context, out of 500 undergraduate male along with female students of the university, approximately 108 individuals will be selected as the sample based on a random basis, after conducting a personality test. Theoretically, the notion of random sampling method is referred to the technique wherein every member in a specific group possesses an independent and identical probability of being chosen as a sample (Leader & Kyritsis, 1994). There are certain fundamental reasons for which, the random sampling method will be used in the proposed research study. One of such reasons can be the ease, specifically in assembling the entire sample. It might be quite difficult for managing or handling the 108 respondents, due to which, the random sampling method will be used in the study. Besides, the other reasons for using such method in the study will mainly include appropriately monitoring the representativeness of the entire sample, drawing valid as well as effective conclusions from the overall research findings and making precise generalizations from the responses acquired (Leader & Kyritsis, 1994). After acquiring a brief idea about the nature of the participants to be taken into concern for the research study, it can be affirmed that the participants will be mainly selected by conducting five personality tests. Specially mentioning, after conducting the tests, the participants who will be measured as having a neurotic personality will be then provided a questionnaire for deriving appropriate results. This will be mainly assumed by considering the fact that the individuals, in the form of the participants with a neurotic personality, will surely possess an increased aggressive/hostile emotion from being exposed to media violence for 30, 60 and 120 minutes. Certain materials will be definitely used in order to conduct the psychological research experiment with the 108 participants in relation to the above discussed research study. In this similar context, such materials that will be used mainly comprise a computer lab, wherein the participants will be provided a printed consent form, computers, classrooms having 36 desks, a DVD player, a surveillance camera and pencils among others. Considering the research design to be followed in this study, the experiment will be mainly conducted by using the statistical tool for 2x3 ANOVA. From the perspective of procedure, the study will be mainly conducted by posting fliers as well as sending emails to the undergraduate students about the psychology experiment and handing over a typed informed consent, displaying all the details required for conducting the experiment. In addition, data collection will also be carried out by observing their reactions when watching media violence based videos and then urging to fill out a questionnaire after watching the same. As the experiment will be conducted in different classrooms, it is projected that the results will be measured from low as well as moderate and highly hostile emotions, which would be useful to identify the differences in the reactions deciphered by the respondents. Results It has been mentioned earlier that a questionnaire will be served to the selected sample, i.e. 108 undergraduate students, based on which, the required results in relation to the research study will be derived. In this similar context, the sample can be described as the randomly assigned undergraduate students comprising equal number of males and females, participating in the study belonging to the University of Texas. Correspondingly, the prime aim of the proposed research study is to determine whether high/low neurotic personality causes aggression at the time when the individuals are exposed to media. Accordingly, three hypotheses testing will be conducted in this study. Based on these hypotheses testing, conclusions will be drawn with regard to the dependency of aggression amid young individuals, possessing high neurotic personality, on media violence. Besides, the other hypothesis will be framed emphasizing the changing levels of media violence shown in the video in response to the aggression of respondents (randomly assigned 108 undergraduate students) also changed. In relation to this particular hypothesis, the high aggression level and changing levels of media violence will be duly considered as dependent and independent variables. In addition, the other hypothesis will be developed as identifying the fact that high degree of media violence results in high degree of aggression among the viewers diagnosed with neurotic personality. With regard to this particular hypothesis, the dependent variable will be regarded as high aggression level and most vitally, exposure to media violence to be the independent variable. It will be vital to mention that in order to test the above-discussed hypotheses, major focus will be laid on elaborating the responses obtained from the participants in the form of questionnaire and conducting an inferential test of 2x3 ANOVA. Moreover, it can also be affirmed that the data derived from such methods will be mainly analyzed through 2x3 ANOVA without proposing F-values. Conceptually, the statistical hypothesis testing tool, i.e. 2x3 ANOVA, is regarded as the method of contrasting the multiple levels of two particular independent variables that are duly considered in a specific research study. It is worth mentioning that the above stated tool is grounded based on the fact that there generally exist two variables, which are referred as factors responsible for affecting the result of the dependent variables at large. Certain assumptions are generally made in order to make the statistical tool, i.e. 2x3 ANOVA, more effective in the procedure of hypothesis testing in any research study. In this similar context, such assumptions can be ascertained as normal distribution of the population samples, possessing equal value of variances and containing the sample groups of similar sizes. In precise, it can be affirmed from a broader understanding that the above discussed statistical hypothesis testing tool is mainly taken into concern for comparing in excess of sample means in a particular study, which engages a single independent variable (Cohen, 2008). Observably, 2x3 ANOVA is also represented as a two-way ANOVA testing method, which emphasizes determining as well as realizing group means. In addition, this tool is also regarded as an inferential technique, which tends to identify the range of variances held by the selected or identified dependent as well as independent variables. By taking into concern the nature of 2x3 ANOVA, it can be asserted that this particular inferential tool is deemed to be quite effective at the particular situation, contrasting the multiple effects of two significant factors or variables. Moreover, the incorporation of two-way ANOVA or 2x3 ANOVA also seems to be quite useful at the time when multiple observations are conducted at each particular level. It will be vital to mention in this particular setting that the arithmetical hypothesis testing tool, i.e. ANOVA or 2x3 ANOVA, tends to satisfy three particular principles that entail local control, replication and randomization. It is also anticipated that the satisfaction level of the above-discussed three principles will certainly aid in eradicating any sort of probable experimental error, which might hamper the proposed research study from promoting its generalization of findings to the expected level (Vaughan, 2001). It is expected that the hypotheses testing tool adopted will assist in understanding the behavior of dependent as well as the independent variables considered for this particular research study. It is also expected to help in developing a better investigation of the interactions taking place between the above-discussed variables and appropriately determining the effects as well as the relationships prevailing amid the variables among others. Based on the above discussion, 2x3 ANOVA method can be deemed fit for the proposed research study, as an effective statistical hypothesis testing tool. In this regard, one of such assumptions can be duly measured as comprising sample size of similar groups. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the proposed research study will take into concern 108 randomly assigned undergraduate students as the form of respondents, out of which, the male as well as the female respondents will be duly considered as equal. Specially mentioning, the inferential tool of 2x3 ANOVA will be mainly conducted in the proposed study by considering the three hypotheses developed. In relation to this particular tool, for all the three hypotheses developed, the factors including high aggression and no aggression will be regarded as the most valued ones. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the factor of high aggression will be duly considered as 1 and the factor of no aggression as 0. It is herewith projected that this coding as well as decoding factors will significantly aid in establishing the relationship prevailing between the independent as well as dependent variables. These independent variables, keeping the dependent variable i.e. high aggression degree in relation to the proposed research study can be ascertained as exposure to media violence, changing levels of media violence and the signs of being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused. Apart from taking into concern the statistical hypothesis testing tool of 2x3 ANOVA or two-way ANOVA, a brief understanding regarding the above discussed dependent as well as independent variables can also be ascertained by elaborating the responses obtained from the participants. The questions to be included in the questionnaire will mainly depict the nature and most importantly, the experience of the participants, comprising the randomly assigned 108 undergraduate students in watching or viewing movies and videos that eventually denote their respective neurotic personality. After analyzing and contrasting the responses acquired from the selected participants based on the personality tests, the relationship persisting between high/low neurotic personality, when exposed to media violence and the reason of causing high aggression to the people, especially the youth and young individuals can be determined. Moreover, with the inclusion of 2x3 ANOVA, the impacts of the dependent as well as the independent variables in relation to the proposed research study will also be ascertained by a certain degree. Discussion The proposed study assumes that the probability of deciphering aggression by high/low neurotic personality, at the time when the individuals are exposed to media hostility, is crucial. With this assumption, the proposed study will discuss upon the fact that the roles played by neuroticism and other associated personality traits including lessened extraversion, often acts as predictors of depression. The discussion will also attempt to elaborate whether an association prevails between depression and media violence. Based on the findings to be obtained, the discussion will further aim at concluding if greater disclosure towards media hostility is correlated with that of the increased level of violent behavior. Such conclusion may thereafter decipher that such media violence exposure is linked with the gaining momentum of depression amid young individuals. Hence, it shall then be concluded that the young individuals, who show the signs of being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused also, reveal the symbols of high aggression (Ferguson et al., 2011). These expected findings to be obtained, through discussion in the proposed study, can further be justified with reference to studies already conducted by different authors. According to Ferguson et al. (2011), the tendency of young individuals to spend maximum hours in playing online video games based on violent contents, eventually results in varied mental health disorders like depression among them. Thus, it was concluded by Ferguson et al. (2011) in this similar concern that playing of video games based on violent contents ultimately increases the degree of being disturbed, irritated, confused as well as stressed and also worried among the young individuals, which in turn, raises high degree of aggression in them (Ferguson et al., 2011). It has often been argued that the aggression level of the people, particularly the young individuals have been changed with the transforming intensities of media violence (Carnagey & et al., 2007). This can be justified with reference to the fact that in earlier years, the video games were designed for the young individuals in order to provide them with maximum entertainment. However, with the gaining momentum of modernization and wider introduction along with application of varied innovative technology tools, the design of the video games is observed to have radical changes (Gentile et al., 2004). One of such changes can be apparently observed as the video games designed with maximum violent contents that are eventually resulting in causing varied mental health disorders amid the youths and also the young adults at large. Notably, in this regard, the video games incorporating violent contents are associated with several school killings and other related violent crime sprees that were not observed in previous years (Carnagey & et al., 2007). Thus, based on the above notion, it can be inferred that the changing levels of media violence shown in respective videos are causing greater changes in the aggression level among young individuals today. It is also arguable that greater level of media violence often results in causing high extent of aggression amid the viewers who are diagnosed with neurotic personality (Ferguson et al., 2011). This can be justified with reference to the fact that numerous neuroticism personality related facets are identified to be positively associated with viewing violent media for longer hours, including television shows as well as cop dramas that depict real crimes (Carnagey & et al., 2007). It will be vital to mention in this similar concern that the above stated neuroticism personality linked features can be determined as their sensory delights by watching the scenes of explosives along with shooting and unconscious discourses that entail “Aha”, “Wow” and “Cool” among others (Xie & Lee, 2008). It is projected that the viewers diagnosed with neurotic personality often experience high extent of aggression due to greater exposure to media violence, as these viewers desire distinct levels of stimulation while watching violent videos. Thus, from a wider understanding, it can be affirmed that the viewers diagnosed with neurotic personality often experience high level of aggression at the time of maximum exposure towards media violence. These reasons may comprise having high projections about the presence of violent acts in the respective videos and arousal of deep interests towards visualizing the violent acts at several times among others. In this similar context, it is strongly believed that maximum level of aggression has been faced by the viewers diagnosed with neurotic personality when exposed to media hostility since the explosion of televisions and the VVGs at large in this modern day context as compared to the previous years (Xie & Lee, 2008). Similarly, in relation to the proposed study, the varied neurotic personalities of the respondents will be evaluated based on which, their aggression level can be traced and accordingly, the prime aim of the research study will be attained. Accordingly, in order to determine and analyze the neurotic personalities of the respondents, a close observation will be made while they watch the video, wherein their feelings of being irritated, stressed, worried or confused after watching such videos will be traced. By taking into concern the independent as well as dependent variables considered for the proposed research study that entail changing levels of media violence, exposure to media violence and high degree of aggression, the changes or the variations in the neurotic personalities of the people on being exposed to media violence cause aggression can be ascertained. Thus, with this concern, it can be affirmed that the above stated prime objective of the research study will be attained by due consideration of the framed dependent as well as independent variables. The potential significance of the results derived from developed hypotheses in relation to the proposed research study can be mainly evaluated by identifying as well as assessing the effects of VVG habits, particularly among adolescent’s hostility along with aggressive behaviors and most crucially, school performance. It has been evidently noted that playing video games that consist violent contents are increasingly becoming one of the preferred activities, especially within the young adults throughout the globe. It will be vital to mention that the results, which will be derived from the hypotheses developed for the proposed research study, will certainly provide an in-depth idea about whether the respondents who show signs of being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused also reveal the marks of high aggression. The discussion based on hypotheses findings will also focus on examining the notion that with the altering levels of media violence shown in the videos, the aggression of respondents also changes at large. Above all, the determination of whether high/low neurotic personality, when exposed to media violence, causes aggression, will also be better understood from the results intended to be derived from the given hypotheses in relation to the proposed research study. Specially mentioning, the results will significantly aid in identifying the association prevailing between varied variables including changing levels of media violence, greater revelation towards media violence and the signs being irritated, disturbed, stressed, worried and confused that eventually causes high extent of aggression amid the above stated populaces. Thus, the results will significantly aid in determining whether the variances in the level of neurotic personality, on being exposed to media violence, causes aggression amid the young people. Nevertheless, certain limitations of the research study may restrict in promoting its generalization of overall research findings to a certain degree. One of such limitations can be ascertained as obtaining irrelevant data with regards to the specific subject matter of the research study. This might occur due to the reason that the participants (randomly assigned 108 undergraduate students) may face difficulties in recalling their behavioral attitudes in the context of watching any video, which comprised varied violent contents or acts (Slotsve et al., 2008). Apart from this, the limitation of the study could be traced as obtaining limited amount of data, as the study will be conducted to only 108 undergraduate students belonging to the University of Texas rather considering other populaces, inhibiting the generalizability prospects. It will be vital to mention that the above stated limitations, confounds and flaws that might be faced in the proposed research study can be mitigated by adopting as well as implementing certain effective measures. One of such measures can be ascertained as not considering causal attributions, if any, in relation to the responses obtained from the questionnaire survey. Besides, the other important measure will be considering the significance of control variables as well as multivariate analyses that are associated with neurotic personality of the participants while undertaking research about media effects and violence. Thus, with this concern, one of the future research areas pertaining to the proposed study will be precisely examining the multivariate analyses after the hypothesis testing procedure gets completed. Besides, the other future research area will be determining the control variables while identifying the liaison persisting between varied dependent and independent variables developed for the proposed research study (Slotsve et al., 2008). References Berkowitz, L. (2012). Frustration-aggression hypothesis: examination and reformulation. Psychological Bulletin, 106(1), 59-73. Cohen, B. H. (2008). Explaining psychological statistics. US: John Wiley & Sons. Carnagey, N. L. (2007). Media violence and social neuroscience. Association for Psychological Science, 16(4), 178-182. Ferguson, C. J., Colwell, J., Mlacic, B., Milas, G., & Miklousic, I. (2011). Personality and media influences on violence and depression in a cross-national sample of young adults: data from Mexican–Americans, English and Croatians. Computers in Human Behavior, 27, 1195-1200. Gentile, D. A., Lynch, P. L., Linder, J. R., & Walsh, D. A. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 5-22. Leader, W. G., & Kyritsis, N., 1994. Fundamentals of marketing. US: Nelson Thornes. Meier, B. P., Hinsz, V. B., & Heimerdinger, S. R. (2007). A framework for explaining aggression involving groups. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1, 1-15. Markey, P. M., & Markey, C. N. (2010). Vulnerability to violent video games: a review and integration of personality research. Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 82-91. SAGE Publications. (2010). What is quantitative research? Introduction to Quantitative Research, 1-10. Slotsve, T., Carmen, A. D., Sarver, M., & Watkins, R. J. V. (2008). Television violence and aggression: a retrospective study. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, 5(1), 22-49. Vaughan, L. (2001). Statistical methods for the information professional: a practical, painless approach to understanding, using, and interpreting statistics, volume 367. US: Information Today, Inc. Xie, G. X., & Lee, M. J. (2008). Violence in media promotion. The Journal of Social Psychology, 148(3), 277-292. Read More