Practical Design for Psychometrics - Coursework Example

Practical assignment for psychometrics Research Design in psychometrics Understanding the means though whicha researcher goes by to obtain data is one of the most vital elements when presenting research results and this is especially referring to the British Psychological Society (BPS). It is important to understand that this sets a block for the person going through the information from which they can gain a deeper understanding of the results. In this research, the design taken up for the information involved the distribution of research tools to different places in an attempt to diversify the information acquired and to rule out monotony. Different towns were visited from which I gained an understanding of the information from an even deeper perspective (Tolmie, 2011). It is important to understand the psychology of the people surveyed and get deeper into it while still paying attention to the concept in focus There are many ethics and standards when dealing with BPS and some of them involve the various principles that determine the manner in which psychology operates. One of the aims or rather principles of BPS are ensuring that the discipline of psychology advances. There is also the accessibility of Psychology to as many people who can. There is also the practical side of this psychology that is the subject of focus and assurance that high standards are maintained in the field of psychology. It is imperative to go through a particular physical psychometric case in order to show the various principles present in the field of psychometrics. Research Approach in psychometrics The research approach incorporated in the tabulating of information was a mixture of all the four major types of research. The initial research carried out was the advocacy research where it was arrived to the conclusion that the existing modes of research and the information acquired was not sufficient for the analysis and conclusion of the topic under review. This is from the fact that numerous people and scientists have indulged in this research method with the hope of coming to a conclusion but with the rise in technology, the information is never satisfactory. There was also the incorporation of the pragmatic approach of research. This is where there is the study of what professionals in the stated field have to say regarding the issue. This is important to take into account before incorporating the more popular approaches to research. This is from the fact that they offer a basis for the research and one is able to understand the way to go buy the research and offers one an in depth understanding of the topic under review. It was after these two approaches that there was the incorporation of the more popular qualitative research that was later on concluded by quantitative research all that are later discussed extensively (Kinnear, 1994, 56). In addition to these, it is important to recognize there are two different methods through which a researcher can gain data and this is by either secondary research or primary research. Secondary Research in psychometrics Secondary research involves analyzing already existing information on the stated subject. In this case, secondary research involved a couple of approaches. The first approach involved going online and looking at several sites. This was in an attempt to understand the different approaches that various professionals and writers had to say regarding the issue of sex appeal advertising. This method was resourceful from the fact that different opinions lead to some form of loggerheading and creates a basis for more research by individual professionals (Howell 2002). With increase in research, it is clear that more information is arrived at and consequently more knowledge is articulated. Another mode of secondary research incorporated was by visiting live libraries. Libraries harbor many books with different topics and the fact that the library was visited gives more credit to the information presented seeing as many books were visited. There was also the watching of many videos and documentaries that assisted understand the manner through which cultures in the prior years used to take the issue. This is compared to the manner through which contemporary cultures perceive and act on the matter. Primary Research in psychometrics Primary research is the research through which a research gets information first hand without referring to any other research carried out prior to the date of research. One of the methods that I used in an effort to accumulate data through primary research was by observation. I was able to stand across a street directly opposite to a lotion-advertising billboard that had a semi-naked woman photographed in it. I was able to observe the reactions that different woman across all ages as they passed through the location (Okafor, 2009, 108). From this method, I got to understand that different women of different ages had different reactions to the billboard. Women of a slightly older age were greatly offended by the billboard and could be seen frowning as they passed through the location. However, other women of a younger age group did not seem disturbed by the billboard. I also had the ability to visit several homes in different locations and get information directly from the women in an effort to gain more understanding of the issue. Qualitative versus Quantitative Research in psychometrics Qualitative Qualitative research was greatly incorporated in the data collection regarding the topic. One of the factors that I deduced was that different homes had different perceptions of my research and thus determining the nature of their welcoming. When I visited homes of younger women, the welcoming was not so great from the fact that these women were shy and that they felt guilty of what the female gender has come to become of the contemporary times. However, older women’s’ households that had been used to a different culture prior to civilization were particularly welcoming. I was able to understand that the reason behind this is the fact that they were confident in themselves and willing to provide as much information as they could as long as it would help steer the contemporary generation in the right direction. I was able to deduce the fact that many advertisements made were on billboards and that a particular street these set up at a distant of fifty meters from each other which is also negative as it may make drivers lose attention. It is also important to note that when carrying out research on the internet, pop up ads came up frequently in an ironic twist and these ads had semi-naked women being promoted in pornographic websites (Gathercole, 2009, 98). I was also able to deduce that many of the children in the families visited were of the female gender and were aware of the contemporary issues going on regarding their gender. Moreover, in general, the people that I visited in an effort to get the information and the websites that I went through were mostly of civic-minded people. Quantitative There was also the quantitative review of the study. From this, I was able to deduce information regarding the numeric view of the information. I carried out sheets including questionnaires through which I would tabulate both my observations and the information accorded to me by the people interviewed. Questionnaires were given to women across all ages ad I was able to identify the fact that young girls and ladies did not pay much attention to the issue at hand. However, older women who seemed to be of the prior generation where they had very strict and distinct culture were widely against it (Chambres, 2008, 45). Being that the contemporary environment is made up of mainly the youth, 70% of people interviewed did not have much issue regarding the subject matter. The number of people in the varying locations was also another factor to conceder . In order to make the research fair, the study was both done in an urban setting, where mostly the youth dwell, and a semi- rural setting mostly inhabited by the elderly generation. The percentage of people interviewed brought the result to 49% in the urban setting and 51% in the rural setting. I also made it fair to visit websites written by people of varying cultures that assisted me in understanding the major differences. After reviewing the websites, I found 87% of them credible in that they gave me precise information and did not diverge from the topic. Rationale for Choice of Research Methods In an effort to gain quality work and information, it is important to show some diversification in the research methods used. In some situations, one is confined to only one research methods, however, of independent and open studies such as this one, it is important to use different styles and consequently the information got is of the best quality (Schultz, 2010 75). This is because each method touches on different areas of the study and this leads to a wider field of study touched. Measuring and scaling was made by simply calculating the percentages of data received from the different cultures and then tabulating it to understand how much each culture was affected by sex appeal advertising. The questionnaires also came in rather resourceful from the manner in which they got people thinking before they answered it. The initial physical impression made by the person before answering the question revealed the answer that the person had in mind and even though they cheated, I was able to know their thoughts. In understanding the sampling process, it is important to put into mind that this is a rather very important aspect of the methodology. In an effort to determine the population, I put into consideration that the contemporary environment that is civilized acts in a complete different manner from the older generation that had its culture completely different from the way of life today. Having this in mind, I was able to separate the two and put them as two distinct cultures and therefore defining the population. Determining the sample frame was arrived at by calculating the percentage of people per culture interviewed and adding it to the percentage number of websites visited that had information regarding each culture. After this, percentages of each culture would be added and the average got consequently determining the general percentage (Kaplan, 2009, 32). Determining this sample technique was arrived at after reviewing and finding out that the major sources of information were less than five and thus the averaging method was the most appropriate and as stated earlier, the sample size was arrived out by mean of manual counting. The data analysis was carried out through a series of steps, the first step involved identification of the quality of data to comprehend whether it was worthy that according to this study was. There was also understanding of the quality of measurements taken which was done through confirmatory factor analysis that showed the accuracy of the measuring tools incorporated. The tools in this study were very helpful from the fact they incorporated questionnaires that have high positive acclamation in the field of research. Another step is self-analysis where one is required to state whether the data was resourceful which in this study was very resourceful and insightful to me. It is imperative to go various cases and the results after carrying out tests using psychometrics. There was data also taken from the contemporary issue of sex and surgery and it is imperative to go through what some expert psychologists have gone through in the attainment of understanding the issues regarding society. Petrides, in the comparison of the issue with the matter concerning sex and sex surgery, states that the reason why many of these people go for the surgery is for the buildup of self-esteem. This is what was important for them and they thought that after the surgery, people would view them in a different manner (Petrides, 2004, 69). This was not the case as given in her analogy. Like the manner in which her eyelashes just made her feel comfortable, the real fact being that she was recognizable was the same way surgery made sex individuals. Those people that knew the individuals in a personal manner were rather not astonished by the changes made after surgery despite their being the target of the patient. Judith then states that it is important for individuals born with the various sex conditions to grow up in a conventional manner where they build their confidence personally with family assistance rather than going for surgery. Sex reassignment is another contemporary issue focused on when dealing with the issue(Valentine 47). The term “sex reassignment” is used to refer to the manner in which a human being may come to a decision of altering their sexual features to turn to those of the opposite sex. Many scientists and medical practitioners have focused on this issue, and one of the acclaimed people to dwell on the issue is Judith Butler. On the issue, she offers a lot concerning sex reassignment where she gives insight into the issue by stating that the notion of sex reassignment is one that has faced many people in the contemporary environment with the end result not being appealing. Judith offers an example where doctors had made David Reimer a female at an early age, after this, he went about an ordinary life where he even had to marry and by other means conceived children. This John/Joan case is used in the creation of different analogies explaining the anomalies experienced in life. A point in his life reached where he got psychologically traumatized by the entire sex story and ended up committing suicide. This story offers the meaningless and unethical behavior of carrying out this surgery according to Judith. Butler states that human beings do not have the decision making power on the best way in which they should be born. This is completely God’s decision, and hence the importance of reserving oneself in the manner in which God created. Changing the way one was created is a detrimental issue in the contemporary society. Another issue that Judith discusses is regarding transexualism. Transexualism is an issue that many people in society have had to deal with over the years (Kellogg, 2007, 53). This is from the manner in which people have the psychological nature of a sex that is completely different from the one that their physical characteristics portray them actually. Judith speaks about this issue with a lot of concern by stating that it is not unethical for the people to acquire manners because it is not their will to be actually born that way. She, however, states that this should not come as an excuse for unethical behavior from the people. She argues that they should try their best to adapt to the challenging environment that does not offer them complete freedom. Just as other feminist psychologist, Judith discusses this issue further by stating that the victims should not take up the unconventional task of undergoing surgery (Tolmie, 2011, 43). This is from the manner in which many of the people that get to carrying out sex surgeries later get complications. These complications go as far as the patient has to make monthly visits to the surgical clinic for check-ups and related procedures. Moreover, she states that people who face the nightmare of having transexualism have various issues that affect them psychologically. However, with therapeutic help, they can get well. Nonetheless, surgery should come as a last resort. There are very many concepts in the contemporary environment that revolve around the issue of psychometrics. It is imperative to go through some of these approaches used to carry out tests and observations for further scrutiny. Moreover, it is imperative for people to understand that psychometrics is important in the field of psychology. References Howell, D.C. (2002). Statistical methods for psychology. Belmont, CA: Duxbury. Kinnear, P. R. & Gray, C. D. (2008). SPSS 16 Made Simple. Hove: Psychology Press. Shows you how to carry out factor analyses in SPSS. Kline, P. (1994). An easy guide to factor analysis. London: Routledge. Use for details on factor analytic theory. Okafor, L. (2009). Barriers to learning: adults returning to UK institutions of HE. Unpublished MA dissertation, Institute of Education, University of London. Petrides, K. V., Furnham, A., & Martin, G. N. (2004). Estimates of emotional and psychometric intelligence: Evidence for gender-based stereotypes. Journal of Social Psychology, 144, 149-162. Tolmie, A., Muijs, D. & McAteer, E. (2011). Quantitative methods in educational and social research using SPSS. Open University Press. (Chapters 8 and 9). Background on measurement issues and discussion of factor analysis. Kaplan, R. and Sacuzzo, D. (2009). Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications and Issues (7th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Publishers Schultz, P. (2010). Foundations of Psychological Testing. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Chambres, P. (2008). Metacognition: Process, Function and Use. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Kellogg, R. (2007). Cognitive Psychology. London: Oxford University Press Gathercole, S. (2009). Models of Short-term Memory. New York: Cengage Learning. Read More