5PS517 Research proposal and ethics<\/p>\n
For Coursework 1, you will design a psychological study investigating an area of individual differences. Please access CW1 Resources in Blackboard > Assessment. In the file variables list you will find a list of variables and their definitions. From these variables, you need to choose the design to your study. You are expected to seek out background literature on research area and formulate a research question and testable hypotheses that are grounded in the literature. You will need to discuss your study design with your module tutor and submit the rationale and ethical considerations in Turnitin for approval. Please check the assessment brief for deadlines.<\/p>\n
Your name:<\/p>\n
Jessica Simpson<\/p>\n
Student ID:<\/p>\n
100561494<\/p>\n
Unimail address:<\/p>\n
j.simpson23@unimail.derby.ac.uk<\/p>\n
Provisional title of proposed study<\/p>\n
A correlational study: Does time spent online social media and need for cognition predict belief in conspiracy theories.<\/p>\n
1. What is the aim of your study? <\/p>\n
The aim of this study is to determine whether time spent online social media and one\u2019s need for cognition predict belief in conspiracy theories.<\/p>\n
2. Explain the rationale for the study (refer to relevant research literature in your response).<\/p>\n
Conspiracy theory beliefs can be defined as a collection of false beliefs in which the ultimate cause of an occurrence is due to a strategy by several actors working together with a specific purpose in mind, frequently lawfully and in secret (Georgiou, Delfabbro, & Balzan, 2020). These theories can come in a number of different forms. Although further evidence might sometimes support conspiracy ideas, the majority of them rely on people’s overestimation of “official actors’ competency\u201d (Craft et al., 2017). <\/p>\n
Conspiracy theories and misinformation are also widely spread on social media (Enders et al., 2021). Dubious beliefs regarding electoral fraud, COVID-19 vaccine safety, and Satanic pedophiles in charge of the government, for example, quickly transit social media platforms, often bypassing censorship while feeding algorithms that push them even more (Marwick & Lewis, 2017). As a result of the widespread adoption of such views, severe concerns have been raised concerning the impact of social media on people’s beliefs in conspiracy theories (Lazer et al., 2018). <\/p>\n
Need for cognition (NFC) can be defined as an individual who needs to engage in cognitively demanding tasks and thought processes (Su et al., 2021). When ingesting media material, NFC-oriented people are more likely to employ rational and critical thinking as well as resist coercion. Individuals with higher NFC are predicted to assess media content critically and comprehensively and are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories (Austin et al., 2016). <\/p>\n
Vraga and Tulley (2019) found that people with a higher NFC were found to be more sceptical of material posted on social media. Secondly, previous research suggested that having a greater NFC lowers the likelihood of believing in conspiracy theories. The current study thus extends on this existing research, the findings may be able to give insight on the relationships between time spent on social media and an individuals need for cognition and how these effect one\u2019s conspiracy theory endorsement.<\/p>\n
3. Provide an outline of study design.<\/p>\n
This is a correlational study.<\/p>\n
IV 1: Time Spent Online \u2013 A 10-point Interval Scale will be used (1 hour \u2013 10 hours).<\/p>\n
IV 2: Need for Cognition (NFC-6, Coelho et al., 2020 – U521) \u2013 A 5-point Interval Scale will be used (1 =\u00a0extremely uncharacteristic of me; 5 =\u00a0extremely characteristic of me).<\/p>\n
DV: Conspiracy Theory Beliefs (GCB, Botherton, French, & Pickering, 2013 – U738) – Items are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale, with a qualitative label associated with each point (1:\u00a0definitely not true; 2:\u00a0probably not true; 3:\u00a0not sure\/cannot decide; 4:\u00a0probably true; 5:\u00a0definitely true).<\/p>\n
This study will be conducted using a multiple regression statistical test. <\/p>\n
4. Please provide a detailed description of your strategy for data collection.<\/p>\n
This is an online study that will be conducted as part of the assignment of the module Quantitative Methods and Individual Differences (5PS517) using a Qualtrics survey. I will collect data from 15-20 participants by advertising on my social media once or twice a week and approaching my personal contacts. I will not approach any potential participants in person nor via email and WhatsApp, to avoid \u2018cold-calling\u2019. Participants will provide consent electronically after reading the study information and before proceeding to the questionnaire. Scales will be randomized to prevent order bias. At the end of the survey, participants will be debriefed in writing, reiterated about their right to withdraw and provided contact details for the researchers<\/p>\n
5. Please provide references for any sources cited in sections 2 & 3 above. <\/p>\n
Austin, E. W., Muldrow, A., & Austin, B. W. (2016). Examining how media literacy and personality factors predict skepticism toward alcohol advertising. Journal of Health Communication, 21(5), 600\u2013609. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10810730.2016.1153761 <\/p>\n
Craft, S., Ashley, S., & Maksl, A. (2017). News media literacy and conspiracy theory endorsement. Communication and the Public, 2(4), 388\u2013401. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/2057047317725539 <\/p>\n
Enders, A. M., Uscinski, J. E., Seelig, M. I., Klofstad, C. A., Wuchty, S., Funchion, J. R., Murthi, M. N., Premaratne, K., & Stoler, J. (2021). The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation.\u00a0POLITICAL BEHAVIOR. https:\/\/doi-org.ezproxy.derby.ac.uk\/10.1007\/s11109-021-09734-6<\/p>\n
Georgiou, N., Delfabbro, P., & Balzan, R. (2020). Covid-19-related conspiracy beliefs and their relationship with perceived stress and pre-existing conspiracy beliefs. Personality and Individual Differences, 166, 110201. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2020.110201 <\/p>\n
Lazer, D. M., Baum, M. A., Benkler, Y., Berinsky, A. J., Greenhill, K. M., Menczer, F., Metzger, M. J., Nyhan, B., Pennycook, G., Rothschild, D., Schudson, M., Sloman, S. A., Sunstein, C. R., Thorson, E. A., Watts, D. J., & Zittrain, J. L. (2018). The Science of Fake News. Science, 359(6380), 1094\u20131096. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aao2998 <\/p>\n
Marwick, A., & Lewis, R. (2017). Media manipulation and disinformation online.\u00a0New York: Data & Society Research Institute, 7-19.<\/p>\n
Su, Y., Lee, D. K., Xiao, X., Li, W., & Shu, W. (2021). Who endorses conspiracy theories? A moderated mediation model of Chinese and international social media use, media skepticism, need for cognition, and covid-19 conspiracy theory endorsement in China. Computers in Human Behavior, 120, 106760. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.chb.2021.106760 <\/p>\n
Vraga, E. K., & Tully, M. (2019). News literacy, social media behaviors, and skepticism toward information on social media. Information, Communication & Society, 24(2), 150\u2013166. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/1369118x.2019.1637445 <\/p>\n
6. Please provide a detailed description of the study sample, covering selection, sample profile,
recruitment and if appropriate, inclusion and exclusion criteria.<\/p>\n
Participants will be over the age of 18 years and fluent in English. The final sample size will depend on the number of students enrolled in the module Quantitative Methods and Individual Differences. Nevertheless, each student will collect data from 15 to 20 participants. At the moment of this application, there are 70 students enrolled in the module (subject to change). Thus, it is expected that the final sample will have between 1,000 and 1,400 participants. Based on an small effect size (f2= .02), power of .80 and five predictors, the estimated sample size needed is 647 participants. No incentives will be offered.<\/p>\n
9. Can you confirm the following? Please delete as appropriate<\/p>\n
I will at no time be alone in a room with a participant: Yes, I can confirm this.<\/p>\n
10. Please indicate how you intend to address each of the following ethical considerations in your study. If you consider that they do not relate to your study please state \u201cN\/A\u201d. <\/p>\n
Consent: Consent will be obtained from participants before participation in the study. Participants will not be able to access the survey without giving consent. This page will be set as a mandatory page which participants must read and tick a box at the bottom of the page before continuing to the survey. Participants will be informed of the nature of the study, what is required, and the approximate length of time it is likely to take. Inclusion\/exclusion criteria will also be highlighted at this point. Consent will also include current and up-to-date GDPR-related information. <\/p>\n
Debriefing: Participants will be fully debriefed, which will elaborate on the rationale for the study and reiterate the right of participants to withdraw from the study within two weeks of participation by contacting the researcher with their unique identifying code. It will be reiterated that data from all participants will be pooled and it will be explained that the data will add to emerging knowledge of belief in fake news. At this stage, it will be reiterated to participants that the statements in one part of the study were fake news, with links with additional information. Participants consent will be asked to reiterate their consent.<\/p>\n
Confidentiality and anonymity: Participants will be asked to provide their unique identifying code at the point of consent by which the researchers would be able to identify them should they wish to withdraw their data at a later stage (up to two weeks after participation). This way participant data will remain confidential. Only those with registered access to the study data (those researchers named on this form) will be able to see the raw data. Students will receive partial raw data containing only the scales that they will use for their coursework, therefore, will only have access to anonymised data. Averaged or group-level data may be presented (e.g., as part of publication, or open-access) however this will not be identifiable to the participant in any way. <\/p>\n
Giving advice: Neither the researchers or the students will give advice to participants. However, if participation in the study raises concerns, participants will be signposted to online mental health resources (mind.org.uk) and resources on challenging misrepresentation of evidence (https:\/\/senseaboutscience.org\/)<\/p>\n
Signposting will be included in the information sheet and in the debrief for all participants. Participants will also be provided with contact details for the research team (and advised to note this down) within the information sheet should they opt not to complete the questionnaire and so not encounter the debrief form (i.e., if participants close the internet browser). <\/p>\n
Research undertaken in public places: N\/A<\/p>\n
Data protection: Data will be securely stored on a password protected computer, only researchers named on this ethics form will have access to the complete dataset. Students will have access to anonymised partial data. Data will be destroyed when no longer required, however in line with emerging trends in replicable and open science, we envisage the need to upload calculated (and anonymous) data to an open server (e.g., the open science framework). At all stages, participant\u2019s data will remain anonymous. In line with current General Data Protection Regulations, data will be stored in an anonymous format (without Unique Identification code) for as long as required (e.g., in the case of publication of these findings, some publishers require archives of datasets). Unique Identification codes will be kept to up to 7 years.<\/p>\n
Basis for collecting data <\/p>\n
Consent<\/p>\n
Data retention<\/p>\n
Data will be destroyed when no longer required, however in line with emerging trends in replicable and open science, we envisage the need to upload calculated (and anonymous) data to an open server (e.g., the open science framework). At all stages, participant\u2019s data will remain anonymous. <\/p>\n
Rights of data subject<\/p>\n
In compliance with BPS guidelines, participants have the right to provide informed consent, to withdraw from the study without providing any reason, and for their data to be kept confidentially. Participants will be provided with the researcher contact details and points of contact in case of distress.<\/p>\n
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