Research Methodologies in Cyberpsychology: Cyber-Activism

Within the requirements of this assessment, this learner has selected to research cyber-activism in relation to cyberpsychology. During the course of this research paper, we will discuss a couple of various sources for cyber-activism. We will discuss strengths and weaknesses to the ever-evolving cyber-activism, as well as current unresolved issues facing this topic and a few others.

Data Collection, Participants and Recruitment Methods

Through the two articles selected for review within this research paper, participants varied depending on type of activist cause. The first source selected focused on the effect of social media and cyber-activism for use in a political campaign. The data collection method used in the course of this study was based solely on who signed up for membership with a program called MoveOn.org (Coombs, n.d.). In comparison to the other source that focused on individual youth groups that have helped drive mental health awareness on teen and young adult suicide into the 21st Century (McKinnon, 2020).

The political campaigns participants were millions of American citizens, which eventually spread throughout the world to Australia where the movement of MoveOn.org changed to Get Up! internationally. The participants that were originally recruited to this data collection method was by political frustration through the Bill Clinton impeachment and Barack Obama’s presidential campaign (Coombs, n.d.). While the second source focused a group of four young individuals ranging in age from 14 years of age to 21 years of age that wanted to bring mental health awareness and activated for cause of spreading suicide awareness (McKinnon, 2020).

Apparatus Used for Research and Procedures Performed

Through the political campaign one method used to collect data and members was through a self-serving website that individuals voluntarily opted to join and sign up for (Coombs, n.d.). There were no ethical implications associated with this since the individuals themselves had to determine whether they wanted to be associated with that source or not. This learner would recommend that any company or activist group that has electronic means for donations protects and ensures the integrity of their members privacy as well as protection against fraud. The second source is strictly activism for mental health amongst the younger generation, and individuals that participate in this group would voluntarily download the apps to their phones, participate in discussions or other voluntary contributions to the group (McKinnon, 2020). No ethical implications are imposed, and the only recommendation for strategy for this group would be to utilize social media more to spread awareness.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The first source uses political frustration to gain attention from the masses (Coombs, n.d.). This could be much improved if instead of focusing on the negative in a society, they focus on the positive they want to see and work toward that positive. It is easy to be mad and upset at a group of people for the unfairness or wrong doings they perceive having happened to them, but it can be harder to focus on what they want the end goal to look like. As a supervisor, or an activist by this learner, the best unkept secret is to bring not only the problem to the table, but also a proposed solution.

The second source uses youth to tug at individuals heartstrings and get them to want to help and donate because each and every person remembers the struggles from their teen years (McKinnon, 2020). It is easy to get involved with an organized such as this, however it is also easy to lose yourself in it and not get the care and mental health services that you need while advocating for others to receive the same. Another method for gathering data on this topic is proposing solutions, not just the problem.

Investigation of Unresolved Issues

Investigates the range of current unresolved issues in cyberpsychology and suggests essential future research projects.

Issues surrounding cyberpsychology today could impact cyber-activism are issues involving (1) Trust; (2) Machine Intelligence; (3) Cybersecurity; and (4) the lack of Relationships or Friendship performances (Wallace et al, 2015). The issues of the lack of inter-personal relationships, trust and security is of huge concern for activist groups. Activist groups thrive and survive off of creating relationships and trust with individuals that can relate and be sympathetic. As activist groups grow a terrific way to ensure inter-personal relationships and trust are maintained would be suggested to hold in-person gatherings as well. Future research could do well to cover the mental health aspects of being in a cyberactivism group.

Conclusion

In closing, it appears as though cyberactivism is growing as the years go on. It is only expected to increase, and thus the need to create trust and security throughout these platforms is only ever more important. Cyberactivism is a worthwhile cause, and it is easy for anyone to gain allegiance to their campaign, now more than ever.

References

• Coombs, A. (n.d.) How Cyber-Activism Changed the World. Griffith Review. https://www.griffithreview.com/articles/how-cyber-activism-changed-the-world/

• McKinnon, L. (2020). Cyberactivism and Wellbeing – Looking After Yourself When Fighting for Change. Voxel Hub. https://voxelhub.org/identity/cyberactivism-and-wellbeing/

• Wallace, P., Suler, J., Norman, K., and Cohen-Almagor, R. (2015) The Single Most Important Issue in Cyber Psychology. Cambridge University Press. http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2015/12/the-single-most-important-issue-in-cyber-psychology/