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Unit 14: Looking Froward on the Internet

Assignment 1: 

The idea that our Google searches can tell us more than we potentially even know about ourselves is kind of a scary thought. Research telling us about social desirability and implicit bias are sure to lead us to a decent understanding of why this is, however. 

Stephens-Davidowitz has done most of the research in this area through entirely public data. His research shows that through Google searches we can learn more about someone than they are sharing or that they even potentially know themselves. The idea that this work could potentially help us to detect health issues like pancreatic cancer by just the timing and order of searching previous symptoms, gives us light into a potential positive way to use this crazy data. 

Assignment 2: 

I thought it was kind of neat to see how well people have predicted the future in the past when it comes to technology. I have no doubt we will continue to excel in this topic over the continuing years and technology will continue to grow as we become more accepting of the current advancements. 

It is fun to consider what could exist in the future. I feel as though I am still at an age where technological advancements excite me and don’t freak me out. I am excited to see how our world can be more fully developed and the technology can be used for good in the coming future. 

Weekly Summary: 

The future can be a place for growth or fear. If we understand the progress we are making and how it can be beneficial we are more likely to look upon new technology as a positive thing. We have learned countless times that what is wrong with the Internet is not the Internet itself but our perception and fears of the Internet. 

Overall, our knowledge helps us to understand the benefits more clearly. The future of our world can be great with technological advancements, but we have to accept and embrace them. We need to learn what it means to benefit from the new advancement.  

*Image from https://www.finance-monthly.com/2017/02/what-does-the-future-hold-for-fintech/

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Unit 13: Clinical Psychology on the Internet

Assignment 1: 

In this assignment we focused on our course and the reasoning we have looked at positive and negative effects and are just now getting to the idea of addiction. It was clear from Professor Gernsbacher’s lecture and the whole course, that the Internet is not a place to fear or think it all negative. We aren’t even sure Internet addiction exists. What we do know is that the Internet may be the medium that some people use to fulfil their addiction. 

Though I don’t know what I fully expected from this course, I do know that I did hear a lot that the Internet was bad prior to this class, but had nothing to counter that argument. Now that I have had this course I feel as though I do. It even makes sense to me that we can’t just talk about the bad because that is not how everyday Internet is used. It is only a small selection. As we have learned repetitively in this course, our fear of the Internet is parallel to other fears we have had in the past such as reading novels. 

We can see that the Internet’s reputation is just not entirely accurate of what it really is. Asking if a class called “Psychological Effects of the Internet,” is full of negative ideas about the Internet and focused solely on addiction to the Internet is simply a misinterpretation of the Internet and its uses. Being informed and educated on the potential dangers is important, but there are many positives which also should be identified. 

Assignment 2: 

As I have learned in other psychology courses, Randomized Control Trials (RCT) are very effective in determining relationships between variables. They can be used for many different reasons, but I decided to read up on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBTi). This article by Hagatun et al. demonstrated RCT research through Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) and an educational online program. The study found that through this online version of CBTi, participants were seeing long term effects including reduced fatigue. 

This kind of work can hugely impact many people's lives if we can find an avenue for treatment online. Many people today have access to the Internet. If individuals seeking treatment like CBT can find that online, I think it is possible we can see improvements simply due to accessibility. The Internet can be a great avenue for people to find help more efficiently and successfully, however we just have to ensure the quality of the CBT is equivalent to that of in-person CBT.

Assignment 3: 

In this assignment, we learned more specifically about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT). We had the chance to read some abstracts which suggested that CBT online is as effective as in-person CBT is. This finding is really encouraging in that it is likely that a lot more people can be treated if this information is spread. I think this is a safe way for people to work through things in their life if they are not comfortable going to someone for help. 

A program like this can be done within the comfort of the home, can be done whenever a person has time for it, and can be completely confidential. This is a safe way for individuals to seek help as long as they are finding a reputable CBT source. 

Assignment 4: 

This assignment was a great way to hear how online programs can help groups of people other than people with insomnia that I learned about. It was encouraging to learn that for the most part, online programs are successful for participants. I think the bigger question then becomes for those who it isn’t successful, why isn’t it? 

I think motivation can be a huge reason for this difference. When we have another person who we are accountable to, it is easy for us to feel the need to continue therapy. For online programs the outlook is much different. People need to be intrinsically motivated or they need to find someone to be accountable with. They have to continue to desire to participate in the work they are doing. All of this can contribute to overall success of online programs. 

On the flip side, it is likely that these programs may reach more individuals simply due to availability and accessibility. With these two assets, it is likely that the online programs will be successful in some way. 

Assignment 5: 

Working through stress using CBT techniques is something that is common for many individuals seeking professional help. What the general public doesn’t know though is that this can actually be successful for everyone everyday. These simple techniques can improve your daily life and mood significantly. 

It was neat to have another individual talk through potential ways that I can use CBT in the final days of the semester. As many people experience the most stress in this time, it is key to use CBT techniques as a method to cope and move through the crazy time. We discovered that the most effective methods are ones which align with your needs most. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Find what works for you and continue that practice. 

Weekly Summary: 

“Clinical Psychology on the Internet” is not something I really thought of before. However, I think it is an amazing idea. It has its benefits and drawbacks, but has the potential of saving so many people. I think it gives the opportunity for so many more individuals to seek help when they don’t want to ask for it. Hearing all of the positive and effective ways CBT online is both encouraging and a huge step forward. We just need to find a way for everyone to know it is available and convince them it is a good tool to use. 

*Image from https://www.stockunlimited.com/vector-illustration/clinical-psychology-icon_2023226.html

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Unit 12: Personality on the Internet

Assignment 1: 

I have never been one to believe in personality tests. The new uprising of interest in the enneagram is concerning to me because I think that it gives people an excuse to not change or treat people better. In the opposite, people take it too literally and don’t like what they got and suddenly think poorly of themselves. In either case, it is not beneficial. 

Where I see room for benefit in a personality test would be in understanding what you got and how you can use that information to better yourself as well as treat others better. If you find out you are truly an introvert, you can take this information and apply it to your life to increase your productivity by giving yourself some alone time. You also could find out that you are an extrovert and realize that being with people isn’t just fun for you, but is a necessity. 

Personality tests are great, when used appropriately and covered by sound science. This is why I like the Big Five Personality Traits. According to Koreth-Baker, these tests are backed by real science and bring together information on the five big clusters or focuses of a personality. I think going this route is important because it doesn’t tell you, “you are group x and here is why.” Instead, it describes whether you are considered low or high in a trait compared to the large sample that has already taken the test. It doesn’t put you into a box and tell you who you are, but it explains to you some of your tendencies. 

I also believe there is no right answer in any one of these traits. Being high on any one of these says you are “above average” but what does that really mean? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I think to some degree that is up to you, and that is the beauty of this test. There is no right answer, but you decide what you want to be and you aren’t put into a box. 

Assignment 2: 

In assignment 2 we had the chance to learn about the proportion of variance. This helps us to understand how likely it is that one variable will help to predict the next through the difference of scores. These scores helped us to pull apart what really happened with Cambridge Analytica. 

After some realization that the possibility of determining someone's beliefs and actions based on the personality traits isn’t super common, it is hard to believe that they were able to do that to influence a political race. 

All this is to say, I think the Big Five Personality Traits are a good thing to use and determine what your personality is like in comparison to others, however, that doesn’t mean it is supposed to be great and predicting other future outcomes. That being said, it probably can't be used to change what you believe either. It is a good measure, but not for what Cambridge Analytica was claiming. 

Assignment 3: 

It is interesting to compare the personality traits results that others received compared to your own. I found it specifically interesting that most everyone agreed with their results. That got me wondering if this is a result of people responding how they think they are rather than how they really are. 

I also found it interesting that many individuals thought of it being a positive to be low on neuroticism. I think a newer identification of mental health makes us consider the positive side of low neuroticism. Overall, I think by reading other people’s results, it was clear that there are a variety of ways to form a personality and no way is the perfect way. There are benefits and drawbacks to all results. 

Assignment 4: 

Today we discovered information about selfies. Though I have always considered this to be a topic which was new to this generation, Professor Gernsbacher’s lecture video showed our class that this is not the case and selfies have been taken for as long as cameras can be held. 

These new facts about cameras, specifically selfies, were surprising to me because so often we are known as the “selfie generation” and no one talks about self portraits before this time. This to me was just another example of how we don’t really change as people. In the same way that we were fearful of writing and books we are now fearful of the Internet. Though taking pictures doesn’t change too much, it is done differently which makes older generations leary and unsure of it. 

Later in this assignment, we discuss the topic of “Who gets the copyrights to a monkey’s selfies?” This really took me by surprise because why would a monkey want the copyrights and if it is about money, who is going to get that money? Monkeys don’t understand money so how would it benefit them. All of this came down to PETA wanting the profits of the monkey’s selfies to go back to the monkey and their habitat. Though this argument seems somewhat logical to me, I think that in the end, even though the monkey took the photo which resulted in the uproar, the camera was still owned by Slater which, I think, gives him the rights. Ultimately, this was what resulted and we got the best of both worlds because Slater agreed that he would give a portion of the proceeds back to the monkey through habitat conservation. 

Assignment 5: 

Humblebragging isn’t a term that I knew all too well. However, I did know the action of humblebragging. It is definitely something I have noticed and have not been overly impressed with. This reaction seems to be pretty on point with what data suggests.

I found it interesting that it was better to just brag than to humblebrag when the goal of humblebragging was to sound better. I think this gives a good perspective on just being honest. People will respect that much more than they will any other way of interacting with individuals. 

I think this gave us good information to try to reduce humblebragging amongst those closest to us. If they know their actions will not be effective, maybe it will be helpful for them and reduce their humblebragging frequency. 

Weekly Summary: 

Understanding your personality can contribute to your understanding of your actions on the Internet. People with different personalities will interpret, interact, and believe different things from the Internet. However, personality isn’t a great indicator to predict what we will do in the future. It can be another step in understanding, but isn’t failsafe in explaining. 

*Image from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-personality-2795416

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Unit 11: Development and Aging with the Internet

Assignment 1: 

I found it interesting today to hear the effects of the Internet on development. Between the media and some different courses I have taken, it has been easy to believe that the Internet and technology isn’t great for kids. Previous courses of mine have suggested that things like kid videos, where children are just watching the video, isn’t helpful in their development. Once I listened to Professor Gernsbacher’s lecture I was able to separate those studies from ones about interactive technology to realize there is a difference. 

I have realized that a child interacting with the Internet is very different from a child passively interacting. When considering if something is bad for the child I have begun to understand that we need to take into account all parts to see the benefits it could have. In general, even now, I believe that moderation is the best way to go. I think that would provide the brain with many different ways of learning and different scenarios which to pull information from. 

We also have to realize our sources and understand if we believe something, like the Internet being bad for development, based on a strong societal and media based influence. Once we have searched for both sides it is possible to make our own decision, but until then we can’t take what everyone says as true. 

Assignment 2: 

My mom has always told me “everything in moderation” for my entire life. Of course there are some exceptions to this rule as there are some things in this world we shouldn’t get into, as an example, drugs. The moderation mentality, however, really played out again in this assignment. I think it was encouraging to hear, in a time where everyone fears the Internet, that it is actually good. Though, as with anything, you can over indulge, I think it is important to know the benefits. 

As an individual who is very interested in child development, this assignment really caught my eye. We have learned previously in this course that everything we do changes our brains. This is an important to note when wondering what the Internet does to our brains. We get increasingly concerned with children given they are in such a crucial, developmental stage of their life. As a human development and family studies major as well as psychology, I did not find it surprising that Samuel’s article suggests the best way to teach your child about the Internet is through moderating. 

Moderating is imperative for the child to learn the best ways to use the Internet and to know the etiquette of being online. If a parent is playing a role in this, it is more likely that the child will fare better than those parents who allow their child to do whatever they want when they want or the parents who limit their child to little if any Internet use. 

Assignment 3: 

As a young adult the Internet just has been a part of my life and I continue to use it daily as if there is no other way. However, there is an entire older generation which is not so tech savvy as they didn’t grow up knowing the Internet. It can be hard to fathom their inability to work current technology as it seems so second nature to those of us who grew up with it. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to teach them. 

This assignment taught many of the positives outcomes that can be found from using the Internet, specifically at an older age. As the newer generations, we also have the benefits, but likely aren’t even realizing it. For older adults, it can be so clear the positive outcomes once the Internet becomes part of daily life. 

The outcomes are vast and are related to various sources. Some of the ones that I found most beneficial were Schehl’s 2020 article on the Internet increasing outdoor activities in older adults. In this article, it is discussed how the Internet can be a place to discover other activities which are going on. It can also be a place where people find community and connection to reduce feelings of loneliness, according to Schloman et al. 2020 article. 

Overall, I felt it was important to learn the importance of teaching older people how to use the Internet when I got the chance. The act may seem small and ineffective to me at the time, but it can be a life changer for many older adults. 

Assignment 4: 

This assignment to teach an older individual how to use the Internet was very neat, especially after learning the importance only a day sooner. Finding ways to do this isn’t always easy, but I think it demonstrates how disconnected we can be from older populations and their need for that connection. 

Programs like CNA are doing it right as they are giving the students something to benefit from or an incentive as well as providing community and relationships to older individuals who don’t have the interactions otherwise. This shows the older people the benefit of the Internet as well. 

After reading Kazimi’s article, I really realized that we need to take teaching the elderly about the Internet into our own hands. It can be intimidating to ask questions about something so foreign to you, so not making them ask can be beneficial for them. 

I was able to teach my grandma how to initiate her own video chat call during my time. I was able to so clearly see the joy and happiness that she gained from understanding how to do something new on the Internet. Given this new tool, she will be able to more easily access the community, especially during this lonely Covid-19 time.  

Assignment 5:

For our group discussion today, the content came at a very good time. It was so interesting to discuss the homework gap when we are in a time when everyone needs the internet to be successful as we are practicing social distancing. Realizing how much this could impact the current disparity gap and how the individuals without access will only further be hurt was heartbreaking.

There are so many individuals within the US that don’t have access to the Internet in this crazy time, it must be stressful to understand how to get everything done. In a way, I hope that the obvious issues that arise during this time will spark a desire and realization for change to mitigate this gap. 

 Weekly Summary: 

“Development and Aging with the Internet” was very interesting to me because I really have loved to focus on development in my education. It was encouraging to hear that everything in moderation, as many times is stated, is the best way to go for the Internet. When we focus on using the tools we have for good, we are able to find best practices and encourage youth to responsibly use their resources. It is imperative though that we focus on finding solutions for all kids to have access to these resources so we don’t cause a larger gap simply due to access. The Internet can be a great learning tool, but either everyone needs access or we can’t rely on it. 

*Image from https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/the-eight-stages-of-human-development/1679066/

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Unit 10: Decision Making on the Internet

Assignment 1:

I started out this assignment by not reading the directions very well. I somehow missed the bolded word “one” in “choose one” and accidentally did all sections. After the initial disappointment in my extra time spent, I actually wasn’t overly upset that I did that. This was a super interesting assignment. 

I have always had an issue with believing that Wikipedia was a trustworthy source until after this section. However, I still wonder how long it will take me to get past my initial biases. Even after hearing countless accounts and studies of how Wikipedia is as good if not better than similar sources, I have struggled to take the bias, “Don’t trust Wikipedia” that was drilled into my head from all my teachers in my earlier education. To be honest, this was the first time I had ever heard something different. 

The next section of the assignment talked about Snopes and the importance of fact checking. I have grown up with my mom using Snopes so I had some previous experience. I personally appreciate the work that they put into each question. They don’t just tell you true or false, but present all of their work to provide validity in the response. 

Lastly, the assignment asked us to consider whether or not we would click on a link. This was something I had never really considered before. I didn’t realize that what I clicked on directly impacted what would be supported. It is easy to think that in the comfort of our home that our actions online are private, however this isn’t the case. What we choose to look at and what we choose to click on specifically control what will be created later. 

Assignment 2: 

In assignment two I read a study by Glover et al. (2015), “Hospital Evaluations by Social Media: A Comparative Analysis of Facebook Ratings among Performance Outliers.” I found this study to be interesting because it considered Facebook ratings as a potential way to determine satisfaction with the hospital. It was reassuring to hear that oftentimes the ratings were reflectant of the satisfaction of the raters. Though not everyone gets the option, it was exciting to me to hear this information because I will, in the next few years, have to start making healthcare decisions by myself. Ratings I am sure will play some sort of role in my decision of where I will go, if I have the option. 

Assignment 3: 

A lot of people don’t realize the magnitude of their decisions on the Internet. Being on the Internet feels like such a private and secret thing. It was clear to me that as a general consensus, most of us students admitted that we forget that the Internet is a public place. 

I wonder if this is worse for our generation as we grew up largely understanding and using the Internet. Based on this, it is just normal and we don’t fully understand the implications and results which come from our “private” use of the Internet. Do people who didn’t grow up with the Internet understand that their “private” actions on the Internet are actually public? 

Assignment 4: 

I personally loved the task of finding satirical reviews on an Amazon product. I think satire can be really funny and most of the time is very harmless. It can be an avenue to bring a lot of joy to something that isn’t very serious. 

The important part about satire is that people understand that it is not real. Deciding to post satirical information on the Internet is only good if it is clearly satirical and the views understand satire. If these things aren’t the case, some people might be very confused or think the person is absolutely crazy. 

Assignment 5: 

In talking with my chat group about decision making on the Internet, we mostly focused on reviews and rating. I think it is so easy to see a rating and move on, not taking into consideration what is going into that rating, for example, number of ratings.

If a person doesn’t understand statistics, this idea won’t occur to them. However, if you know statistics it will be clear that a product with a higher rating and more reviewers is better than one with a high rating and few viewers. 

This is another example of simply understanding what you are looking at. It is important to be informed and seek out the truth. Understanding how to best do this by not falling to different biases and heuristics is essential. 

Weekly Summary: 

“Decision Making on the Internet” brought in many good and important points. I think it was a great summary unit on the idea that you must know what you are working with and understand your actions. The Internet seems like such a private place, but we are quickly understanding that our “private” actions on a public Internet site can have consequences that we didn’t even expect. 

*Image from https://www.cin7.com/blog/inventory/inventory-for-the-customer-decision-making-process/

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Unit 9: Perception and Attention to the Internet

Assignment 1: 

The idea of whether or not to take photos during an experiment is one that I have wrestled with for a while. There is a part of me that always wants to save the experience by having photos to look back on later in life, but there is also a part of me that just wants to fully take in the moment. I have never really known what was best so this unit was really good for me in that way. 

First I am thankful to hear that others are wondering this same thing. I think it is so easy to just grab our cameras in our society, but what is that doing to the experience? Work from Diehl, Zauberman, and Barasch showed me a lot of insight on the true experience. I really took into consideration the style of experience and the reason for the enhanced positivity. 

I also appreciated knowing that it is more about emotion than anything. It is not that it will enhance any experience in a positive way, but that it will enhance the emotions of any experience in general. This to me is more logical and a good reason why many of us don’t try to capture unpleasant events. 

Assignment 2: 

Hearing that the Internet isn’t necessarily negative to our lives is a relieving thing to learn in a world that is surrounded by the Internet. It is easy to be concerned with all of the fear-filled articles there are, but when you start to fully understand the facts you realize the Internet is not something to be afraid of. Really, what is important is evaluating your use of the Internet and making sure that it is reasonable. 

One way to ensure that your Internet use is reasonable is to make sure it isn’t the sole source of interaction in a day. The idea of moderation is one to keep on hand for just about everything, Internet use being one of them. If you are using the Internet as a tool rather than the only source of entertainment, then you should be good. Similarly, if you are stimulating your brain outside of the Internet, then the Internet is probably a good way for you to find a break and continue to stay focused and maintain attention longer and more effectively. 

Assignment 3:

I have found that the news from Statistic Brain’s claim that goldfish have a longer attention span than humans now was very eye opening. It made me take into consideration how even some of the most reputable sources can and will pick up false stories from time to time. It emphasizes the importance of confirming, for yourself, the validity of each news story. 

In this course, we have previously discussed how we can most effectively identify factual information on the Internet. It is never a good idea to take something as true without looking into it, especially when it doesn’t seem at all logical. 

The Internet has not influenced us the way Statistic Brain claimed it did. We have to understand our sources before we accept it, regardless of where it comes from. 

Assignment 4: 

I enjoyed getting to read other student’s responses this week because there were many other articles which I was interested in reading. Learning about why the dress changes colors from blue and black to white and gold was interesting. I have heard so many other explanations and to this day, I have still not been able to see it change. 

I wonder what is controlling that perception? Is my frustration causing an inability to see the change? I can understand the science behind it and I can see those differences, however I still can’t see the dress change colors. The Internet still doesn’t control our perceptions, but what is if we can understand the science, but still can’t see the change? 

Assignment 5: 

This assignment opened my eyes to the possibilities of attention improving apps provided through the Internet. We, as a society, are generally worried about how the Internet is decreasing our attention, but in reality if that is a problem, the Internet also provides solutions. It is also true that if the Internet didn’t exist, it would be likely that other attention stealing things would take its place. Just like bullying, the Internet isn’t attention stealing, but just another medium for it to happen on. 

My group and I found that if we just try these attention assistant apps, there is a good chance we will improve our productivity greatly, especially in the world of studying. It also has the opportunity to save lives with apps that stop individuals from texting and driving. Though the Internet may be another way to be distracted, it is also providing us ways to mitigate that effect. 

Weekly Summary: 

“Perception and Attention to the Internet” was a great way to get a better handle on how the Internet influences us and our behaviors. It is imperative for us to fully understand what our habits are and not to blame them specifically on the Internet. Once we understand that we could be focusing this discussion on just about any medium, we can begin to navigate how our attention and perception can be understood and improved.

*Image from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/201908/perception-is-not-reality

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Unit 8: Motivation on the Internet

Assignment 1:

Today the discussion was based around whether or not students should be using laptops in their classes. I have always been one to just believe what my professors say and have stuck to handwriting all of my notes. To some degree this has been helpful for me so that I don’t get distracted, but I also appreciated hearing what more current data is saying. 

It was neat to hear the history of distractions and how it has just evolved over time. It makes sense that this is the case, but it didn’t occur to me that people will find current ways to be distracted regardless of the situation. 

Overall I still question what influence this has on the effectiveness of education. When considering if a person is distracted for more than a few minutes wouldn’t it actually be more detrimental? Is this more individual based than we are currently suggesting? 

Assignment 2: 

Today, we learned about the motivations behind binge-watching TV shows in today’s culture. As previously in this course, I hadn’t taken the time to consider what things in the past might resemble the way we are thinking about current technologies. It was interesting to me to hear that in the past people responded the way way to being “a bookworm” as we do today with people who binge-watch TV shows. 

I previously had listened to a podcast which suggested that watching movies and TV shows can be as stimulating as reading books would be, much like Professor Gernsbacher’s discussion post reflected on. 

The idea presented was that it is really our lack of understanding of a technology which makes us skeptical and critical of those who partake in the activity. Stimulation of the brain may vary depending on the activity, but the idea that we still find activity is what is important. 

This lesson gave me a new perspective on what new technologies are really like. It allowed me to understand that it actually is a good idea to look beyond what popular culture is saying and see where there could have been a parallel with the past. 

Assignment 3: 

I always appreciate responding to other individual’s posts. I think, especially when considering peers ideas, it is a great opportunity to expand your own ideas. I found it particularly interesting to hear other students' solutions to the laptop issue in classes. 

I personally have fallen to believe that using laptops is distracting, and to some degree I think this might be dependent on the individual. Knowing yourself is important to understanding how you can succeed. After reflecting on my experiences, I learned that it depends greatly on the type of class whether I find my computer distracting or not. 

It is important for everyone to know how technology is impacting them so they can make the best decisions for their success. A combination of solutions will provide everyone’s perspectives to be heard and to some degree executed. When we bring multiple ideas together we can find the best solution for everyone. 

Assignment 4: 

I really enjoyed seeing where I spent my time on the Internet and fully seeing where my motivations for using it were. I found that, in large part, I was motivated by those around me or the things I was involved in. Almost all of my Internet usage was due to school related activities. When it was school related, it was specifically related to social desires. 

From here, I continued to wonder how that would change when I was at a different part of my week or even a different part of the year, namely summer. In large part, I think that my data was biased because I found it easiest to track my work when I was frequently on my computer. I tried at one point to record my Internet usage, but it was unsuccessful because I didn’t have easy access to my document and frequently forgot why I was doing certain things or that I even used the Internet. 

My data was very relevant for a subset of my life, but did not encompass all of my time. I also think it would be interesting to compare my motives to others. To understand what is similar and different we can better understand our own usage. Learning from others is a great skill to have and can be very beneficial to usage strategies.  

Assignment 5: 

I appreciated this assignment because it allowed me the time to go back and check in with my previously set goals. It gave me time to re-evaluate and decide if I had accomplished or worked hard on any of my goals. This is such an important step to setting goals and I appreciate that we were asked to go back and consider them. 

Weekly Summary:

“Motivation and the Internet” is a great topic to focus on in many ways. It was important to hear the statistics about the Internet and motivation. To discuss the effects of using your laptop in a course showed the need for education on this topic. Understanding your reasoning or motivation behind using the Internet can help you better understand what is best for you. The Internet isn’t bad when you understand yourself and your Internet needs. 

*Image from https://saxoncrossfit.com/isolation-motivation/

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Unit 7: Emotion on the Internet

Assignment 1: 

I think that understanding the power and facts about emotional contagion is essential to dealing with it and functioning in a world where it is so prevalent. It is seen a lot through social media and the people we choose to surround ourselves with. 

With the understanding of the influence people have on your emotions, what does the goal of having your life look perfect online do to other individuals? Does this constant positive outlook help to make others feel positive? Or is it more based simply on emotions and the way an individual is feeling at the time? 

Overall, I think that being aware is a great first step to maintaining positivity in your emotions. 

Assignment 2: 

This assignment was neat because it showed the support that could potentially come from the Internet. These forums can be places where people can find the support they need to get by. Sometimes just knowing that you aren’t alone is what will help the most. 

Many individuals opt to not seek help given the stigma which surrounds it. The forums can be a great place for people to find the help they need when they don’t want to ask for it. It may not work for everyone, but for those that it does help, it can be very beneficial. 

Assignment 3: 

In this assignment we saw how there can be various hypotheses for things like why the cats are so popular on the Internet. Though nothing has been proved, it can be quite comical, in my opinion, what people come up with for why certain things happen. 

I am not sure that I agree with any of the potential solutions, however it is neat to see what people come up with. Some people definitely get passionate about what they are feeling. 

Assignment 4: 

Seeing so many ways the Internet can be a tool for success is so exciting. We don’t always have control and access to the information to feel supported. I think the forums are such a great way to get people with variable questions and stressful situations easy answers without the fear of judgement. 

The one thing I am worried about would be people receiving the wrong answers. What if the information is incorrect and it makes the situation worse for the individual? Though this is entirely possible, I think there is a good chance most people are able to differentiate between unhelpful information and good supportive information. 

Assignment 5: 

I have always been one to enjoy and appreciate focusing on the positive things. I think it makes for a much better outlook on life and creates better environments for productivity. It was a neat experience to get to share with group mates what I am grateful for in this course as well as what I appreciate about my everyday life. 

I think this can be summed up with the idea that we don’t need to succeed to be happy, we can appreciate the road, including failures, that will eventually lead to some sort of success. The path is a lot more pleasant and you learn so much more when you embrace all of the parts rather than just the successes. 

Weekly Summary: 

Emotion is hard to understand in general let alone on the Internet. “Emotion on the Internet” provided me with a lot of insights into understanding how emotions from others as well as myself could be influenced on the Internet. Knowledge is specifically important in this setting to find the help you need as well as combat the negative emotions of others. 

*Image from https://www.paulekman.com/blog/scientists-study-emotion-agree/

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Unit 6: Socializing on the Internet

Assignment 1: 

Online dating has become increasingly more popular in the more recent years. In some cases, I would argue that it is almost normal at this point. Many people look at this as an effective way to connect with others and find relationships that couldn’t have come together without the Internet. 

Given online dating is still somewhat new, there are many opinions and misconceptions which surround the idea. I know that going into this course I had some and probably still to this day do too. I think some of these stereotypes are based upon factual information, but there are also some that generally aren't. 

I have found it most surprising that through online dating, marriages happen faster and are highly likely to last through the first year. I think that when considering these two findings together, it begs the question, is it common for these individuals to be more in the “honeymoon phase” or infatuated with each other more than other types of relationships? If this is the case people are less likely to get divorced early because they are so convinced the other person could do no wrong. Data is informative, however we also have to be careful to understand what is causing the data. 

I think this section was good to give new insight into a style of relationship I have never gotten into. It was good to hear positive traits and good that come out of it amongst the negative views our society generally has. 

Assignment 2: 

I truly didn’t realize how many niche dating sites existed until I began exploring options to talk about. I think that this can be pretty useful if you have a strong passion for one specific topic or have a big hobby. It can be hard to find people who will accept your odd behavior or weird schedule unless they understand it themselves. It was neat to see that there is an avenue for so many individuals to connect through their unique interests. 

These commonalities could be beneficial in a successful relationship. For example, I learned about a site which aims to help people who fly a lot find others who do as well. I think this is unique because it can be extremely hard to meet someone when you are constantly on the move and in different places. 

Assignment 3: 

After looking at what surprised others about online dating, it was clear that there are varying opinions and beliefs. There was a lack of understanding in the use and effectiveness of online dating. Many individuals believe different things whether that was from experience or stereotype. 

Online dating is unique and specifically up and coming which, as with all other aspects of the Internet, requires a learning curve and acceptance. It is almost guaranteed that in a few years it will be fully accepted and there will be a new way of dating that many individuals will not understand nor will they like it. 

Assignment 4: 

Cyberbullying is no doubt an issue which needs to be taken care of, much like any other type of bullying. However, it is important to understand what that means in terms of statistics. Considering the fear of the Internet, it is not uncommon to hear that cyberbullying is more prevalent than any other form of bullying. However this is just our perspective given what we are informed of, or the availability heuristic.

What is important to know about the Internet is that it doesn’t seem to be a huge increase for bullying, but just a new location for bullying that is already happening. Though this is just as bad, it can help to guide our efforts in mitigating bullying. If we falsely believe that so many more people are being bullied on the Internet, we will create programs which will not aim to reach the right target. When we understand what we are dealing with, we can most effectively find a solution. 

Assignment 5: 

As a group, we came together to help create a plan which will mitigate cyberbullying. Something big we talked about was recognizing the victim and trying to identify their needs. We realized that with the Internet there really was just an added location for those already being targeted to continue to be targeted. 

We also noticed in what ways we feel accountable on the Internet. Oftentimes we don’t realize that the person on the other end of the maltreatment also has feelings and they come directly from the words that are spoken online, regardless of if it feels that way. 

With these two things in mind, we identified a large need for educating individuals as well as confirming the wellbeing of those affected. We felt this was the most impactful way to make a change. 

I personally loved the idea of an algorithm that popped up on mean sounding posts to say something like “this sounds a little angry and mean, do you mean it this way?” This is just a buffer to stop some unintentional pain from ever even occurring.

Weekly Summary:

“Socializing on the Internet” is one of the greatest tools the Internet is known for. When we think of the Internet, oftentimes we consider the ability to talk to someone across the street as easily as someone across the world. Socializing on the Internet can be an amazing tool to build relationships and stay connected when it seems so hard. However, we have to be aware of the implications it can have when we don’t use the tool properly. Knowing that when you are online you are in public space as well as that your words and actions have feelings and consequences are essential to the proper use of socializing on the Internet.  

*image from https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/group-of-different-young-using-mobile-phones-socializing-on-internet-gm852613794-140251597 

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Unit 5: Broadcasting via the Internet

Assignment 1: 

Going “viral” is not something that has ever fully made sense to me. I have wondered how it happens, what makes a video worthy of going viral and is it ever intentional? After doing this assignment I think some of this is more clear to me. 

Going viral can be intentional, but it also can be just luck. The biggest thing is knowing the difference. We learned that things like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was definitely intentional and it most definitely did catch on, however videos like “Charlie Bit My Finger” were not intended for mass media to pick up on, yet they still did. 

In large part I think it comes down to coincidence and just luck, but also who you are. If your video is favored by someone who has a lot of followers or is famous, well there is a good chance it is or will be viral. Going viral is still a bit of a mystery to me, but that is okay, it’s part of the fun. 

Assignment 2: 

Interestingly enough, even though I have incorrectly believed that the Internet was making our country more politically polarized, it is actually the exact opposite. Though I had never thought of it this way, the Internet might actually be slowing that spread through giving access to opposite information whereas without the Internet people will only hear the ideas of those who are similar to them (Gentzkow and Shapiro). 

Still the most compelling argument to me is that the older generations, ones who don’t use the Internet at all or even as much, are the group that is becoming the most polarized. This I think gives us better insight into what is happening and why the polarization is happening. 

Overall, there can be many different reasons why polarization of politics may occur. One thing we seemingly can see, however, is that it doesn’t appear to be completely the Internet if it is even the Internet at all. 

Assignment 3: 

This assignment was interesting to me because I personally have kept my Facebook and other social media sites very clean as I have always been warned of the negative outcome which could come from posting bad and unprofessional things. That being said, I took time to clean up my Facebook in terms of truly representing who I am. I think that could be equally as important as just having a clean profile. 

I find it interesting how frequently many people base jobs on how applicant’s Facebooks and other media appear. Though I think it can tell a lot in some senses, I also think that if it is outdated you know nothing about a person. Though I don’t think it was exactly what we were aiming to do or even what employers might be looking for, I appreciate and am glad to know that my profiles now more closely represent me in the present than they ever have before. 

Assignment 4: 

The five day news story was a very interesting assignment. I recorded at a time where I was using the Internet a lot as a study day so my results were not shocking. However, I originally started recording once as I was going about my daily business. I think the time frame would have been much more interesting because it would have told me more that I didn't already realize.  

I have a better handle of how I use the Internet and why when I am studying as it is a consistent routine and I know mostly what comes up and what distractions I will have. When moving around in my day-to-day life, I find it harder to keep track of when I pick up my phone and why. The problem was, I didn’t have a good means for keeping track of this accurately when my document wasn’t available to me. 

I felt the findings were good data nonetheless and were very informative to  how I spend my study time and why. I always think journal style data tells us a lot, if the person is honest. 

Assignment 5: 

I feel like through my time in high school and college it has been stressed to me how important it is to verify your sources and make sure they are reliable and accurate. Being reminded of the many important ways we can do this is always helpful. 

One thing I have struggled with, however, is that nothing seems failproof. Even your favorite sites and news sources can post incorrect information. It also can be hard in our day-to-day lives to take the time to thoroughly check every article we see. I think knowing and thinking of the big tips can be useful in weeding out any clearly bad articles right away. 

Overall, understanding what you are reading and where you are getting your information can provide you with much better information overall than not being digitally literate. 

Weekly Summary: 

“Broadcasting via the Internet” was a spectrum of information. It was extremely useful to realize the importance of understanding the Internet to be able to get out of it what you want. The Internet is a tool and understanding it is key. Broadcasting seems like something I wouldn’t entirely be interested in doing personally, but I have to know that if it comes to it, something I post could go viral regardless of my intentions. Once we understand what we are seeing and how we can understand it, we are more likely to have successful Internet usage. 

*image used from https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/gr/solutions/broadcast-and-media/content-distribution/terrestrial-transmission/5g-broadcast/5g-broadcast_250909.html

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Unit 4: Communicating via the Internet

Assignment 1: 

The idea of intransient, asynchronous communication was not something I truly considered until I listened to Professor Gernsbacher’s article. Though both concepts were not new to me, I didn’t consciously realize that as a society we have such a preference for one. This idea, however, is not new as many people may think. It has recently been contributed to the Internet, however it has been happening for a long time. 

This has been something that is specifically prevalent in the lives of college students. Almost all of our communication is done online and usually asynchronous. The way that our courses are run encourages this kind of behavior. 

While going through this assignment, it was easy to realize that we are often encouraged to talk asynchronously and don’t find the need for synchronous communication. Technology is just making this kind of communication look different. 

Assignment 2: 

Writing an email to a professor is likely one of many daily tasks you perform as a college student. This seems like such a simple and normal task, however as we learned in this assignment, there are many best practices that can go into the creation of these emails. 

I personally think about writing to professors as a very formal and professional style of email. With that in mind, some of Professor Gernsbacher’s suggestions didn’t come as a surprise. However, there were also some that I didn’t not think of until I heard about them in this course. I think the bigger thing is not to follow some specific routine, but to be aware of proper etiquette when sending an email to someone higher up, not even just a professor. These guidelines were a great reminder and even some new content, but they are simply best practices to make sure you are being respectful and professional. 

Assignment 3: 

Assignments which require us to interact with other students generally teach one of two things. These are either to take a new perspective on something or that we aren’t alone in our situation or way of thinking. Surprisingly, you generally can find both every single time. However, this time there was one general underlying issue everyone had with college, financial hardship, stress, or burden. 

This commonality between so many individuals got me really thinking. What is causing this? Does society tell us we are bearing financial hardship when in fact maybe not everyone is? Is it true that we all are? If it is, is college just too expensive and unreasonable, but simultaneously completely essential? The question of college debt and financial hardship is one that is known to many, but that clearly can’t look the same for everyone. With such a common problem, I feel like there has to be a better solution, something more reasonable than what is currently happening. 

Assignment 4: 

Regardless of the uproar about the many issues with texting in our society, in this assignment we discussed how texting can be a great opportunity for surveys. Things like straightlining, social desirability, and satisficing are common among in-person surveys, but are mitigated among text surveys.  

When participants of a study are given time to answer and disconnect from the researcher, it could be much more likely that they can avoid these three issues. With higher quality data more results can be drawn from the research giving us a better understanding of the actions of participants and potentially others who the research can be generalized to. 

Participants may even be able to be contacted more frequently to get better accuracy of daily journal type surveys and research. Texting, I learned, can be a great tool for more research and even better research. We just have to understand how our tools can be useful rather than how they will hurt us. 

Assignment 5: 

A huge fear it seems many parents are having comes down to whether or not texting and textisms are bad for kids. After a group discussion about some research by Plester et al., Woods et al., and Kemp, we discovered that moderate use of texting does not negatively or positively influence the academic success of children. 

 Moderation seems to be the solution to many things. We panic as if these new technologies are taking over the world, but just like in Unit 1, we are worrying about something that in a few years no one will blink an eye because we are worried about the new technology. 

Week Summary: 

 “Communicating via the Internet” has been an interesting unit to go through as it is quickly becoming or even has become the main mode of communication for so many individuals. We often keep up and interact over the Internet more often than we do in person. However, we still are fearing it  as if it was taking over the world. The real issue is the focus on what could go bad versus what is good about it. Communication over the Internet is an amazing tool to use for various situations, but in moderation seems to be the key. 

*Image used from https://www.pmgservices.com/communicating-at-work/

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Unit 3: Educating via the Internet

Assignment 1:

I have always known that college was expensive, but what I didn’t realize is how much that has increased over the past 20 some years. It has really skyrocketed and that is a direct relationship with why so many individuals have a hard time paying. I wonder if it has more to do with demand, benefits while attaining a college degree, or just an increase because individuals will pay for it. Either way, graphs showed that it was not a natural increase due to inflation. 

I identified with the cost of education being one of the largest barriers for me. If it wasn’t for school loans I would not be in my final semester of my undergraduate degree. Though I have been planning and doing what I can to pay off college debt as fast as possible, I still will be affected by it for many years to come. There are many barriers and hardships to college, however I think one of the biggest ones is money. 

Assignment 2: 

The meta-analysis by the US Department of Education allowed me to get a better understanding of the quality of education that can be found in an online setting. Through this study, I was pleasantly surprised by the finding that generally there are comparable student learning outcomes from online learners to in-person learners. 

It is often a misconception that online learning isn’t as beneficial to students. Something that I wonder, however, is what quality of online education are they considering. I know I have taken some online courses which are not beneficial to me at all given the unorganized course layout. I have also now taken two online courses that have been very successful and beneficial. The same could be argued about in-person classes, but I do think that they generally are more accepted. 

Assignment 3: 

This assignment helped me confirm that most students are struggling with money most. Both of the other girls in my group have encountered the same issues and stressful situations. As I continued to look around at other peoples posts it was the same thing as well. This was concerning to me because at that point, there are no new perspectives to learn from. Everyone is going through the same thing. 

The benefit of many people struggling with similar issues, is that you can work together to find solutions more easily. It also can help to understand that there other people going through the same thing you are, you are not alone. 

There still are many struggles throughout college and many of which were identified, but the overwhelming majority identify money as a barrier and this is an issue. 

Assignment 4:

Today’s assignment was neat because it forced me to verbalize why my online course is just as educational as every other course I have taken. It gave me time to compose my thoughts and ideas so that if I have to describe to people why it is okay, I can. 

I haven’t gotten any direct questions thus far, but I have gotten some odd looks. I find it interesting that so many individual’s perceptions of online learning is that it is inferior to in-person learning. I wonder if it comes from an early model of Internet learning which was inferior, or if it stems from many peoples fear of the Internet. 

Regardless of why, taking the time to spell out to an individual how the material is still effective should be helpful to their acceptance, if done right. I personally have learned to love mixed style courses to keep my education interesting and unique. 

Assignment 5: 

I really enjoyed working together in a small group to create a new college system. Though we all have a common major of psychology, we all have experiences in how different schools run their courses. It was great to hear the things people liked and didn’t like among their previous courses. 

I have always learned that the ideas coming from people with various backgrounds are better than those coming from people with all the same experiences. I found this to be particularly true because we all knew what psychology looked like, but where we really made progress was from people’s unique experiences. 

I believe that we came up with some really great ideas, however I am not sure how we could get them put in place. Given the efforts to move from the traditional lecture to something more interactive, we were suggesting big structural changes both to teaching and the physical classrooms. My thought was, we can make the suggestions, but how does it actually get put into action? 

Weekly Summary: 

This week’s “Education via the Internet” really took us through why an education online is just as effective as in-person. We also were able to discuss the complex issues there are with education in general. There is ample research out now that shows the positive educational experiences which can come from Internet learning. I believe this section gave me the information to backup my online education if need be as well as think of new ways to make education more beneficial for everyone. 

*image taken from https://soffront.com/blog/educating-customers-is-just-as-important-as-gaining-customers/

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Unit 2: Learning via the Internet

Assignment 1:

I found that a fundamental principle of Internet based learning was “Internet-based higher education can lead to better mastery.” This was slightly surprising to me because I figured going to class and then working with the material later would be a bigger influence than doing all of the work online. However, I learned that when a course is set up right, it is entirely possible that you can actually better master the material online. You are forced to continue to consider the work that you are doing and have to frequently come back to it leading to a practice makes perfect mentality. 

Overall, it was neat to be exposed to the various ways that the Internet can actually aid in a better education for you. I think so often we hear how it is making our education worse and our brains don’t have to work as hard, which may be true in certain cases, but definitely not the majority. 

Assignment 2:

The learning by doing aspect of this learning on the Internet assignment was a neat way to engage with Internet hacks. I think it is so easy to watch a video online and think to yourself how easy it is to do that task because that’s how the video made it seem. On the flip side, if you haven’t ever been interactive with the tutorial and worked on it step by step with the video, you likely haven’t learned anything.

When doing this assignment, I learned how to fold a fitted sheet and nicely roll a t-shirt to be packed in a suitcase. Both of these activities are ones that I didn’t think would be too hard after watching the video initially. However, for the fitted sheet specifically, I found it to be a very slow process to actually get to the finished product. 

Learning on the Internet is a very interesting process. It seems that all you have to do is passively watch or interact with the material and you will know it, but that is not the case. Learning on the Internet is much like learning in person. You have to engage with the material and practice and then you probably have started to learn. The more simple the material, the quicker you likely can pick up, but practice is still key. 

Assignment 3: 

As always, reading other student’s responses gives you a new perspective to view the material from. I found the mastery of material in an online format to be most interesting, but many other individuals pointed out great ideas which I hadn’t even begun to come up with. 

One other idea that I found to be specifically true for me was that Internet higher education helps to enhance writing skills. When I first heard this at the beginning of the week I found it to be interesting but didn’t personally resonate with the idea. After hearing a classmate talk about it I realized just how true it was. I had not understood how long I was spending ensuring that I proofread and understood my materials until someone else said they were. It was encouraging to see how these objectives could apply to me without me even consciously knowing it. 

Assignment 4: 

This assignment put a new perspective on Internet courses for me. Previously, I knew that there were some courses available, but didn’t realize how common they were. The Shirky article helped to put a perspective on just how often people are making available and using online courses. I think in a lot of ways, this has shown me that you don’t know what is available until you become aware and start seeing. 

Allowing online courses can be a great way for individuals to be able to take courses they didn’t think they would be able to due to health concerns or other barriers. It also could just allow for a different type of learning to give variation to a person’s schedule. Understanding that online courses are becoming common and that they are also useful is beneficial to a transition to acceptance of online education. 

Weekly Summary: 

“Learning via the Internet” has been a unique informative time for me. I knew that the Internet could be helpful to education and had allowed many advancements in the possibilities of education, but didn’t fully understand the vast use it already had. The Internet can be an avenue for a better quality education when run correctly. Internet learning is successful, you just have to learn how. 

*image taken from https://www.choiceeducationaz.com/steps-to-make-learning-simpler.html

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Unit 1: Welcome to the Internet

Assignment 3: 

It was interesting to hear how people are freaking out over technology like they have in the past. It seems as though it is a recurring pattern which will never stop as long as our world keeps developing and changing. This wasn’t the first time I had ever heard this idea. I had previously listened to a podcast which had suggested the same thing. 

This idea was interesting to me given that we always hear how bad the Internet is, but I also think it is refreshing to hear of the positive ways the Internet influences us. Understanding history can help us to move forward with current technologies and embrace them rather than fearing them and running away. 

Assignment 4: 

I loved getting the chance to hear from other students what they like to use the Internet for. I found it surprising the array of material that I didn’t even know existed. This was a great exercise to show just how vast the Internet can be. 

Though there are some responses that I wasn’t interested in, I still appreciated the realization of what you can do with it. I also appreciated all the new sites and videos which I personally found interest in as they are new ways to enjoy the Internet for me. 

Assignment 5: 

I have always found assignments pertaining to goals to be particularly productive for me. I am definitely one to appreciate and use goals, but I could be better about writing them down rather than just keeping them in my head. 

This assignment was different though because I had never thought about goals pertaining to learning new information on the Internet. I grew up in a generation that though the Internet was mostly new as a young kid, I still was exposed to it for my entire life. The Internet seems to be something that should just be natural for me, though it truly isn’t. 

I appreciated making goals for myself, to expand my knowledge and skills, on the Internet and seek out new experiences rather than just being content with the previous ones. I am definitely a creature of habit and I hope that these goals start to break me of that. 

Week Summary: 

This was a great week to get exposed to the Internet. I feel as though this week really set the precedent of what this semester will look like. It is clear that we will expand our understanding and knowledge of how the Internet works and what is on it. The title of the week being “Welcome to the Internet” really summed up and I am guessing is a foresight into our new knowledge of the Internet moving forward. 

*Image taken from https://unsplash.com/s/photos/welcome