Communication and Social Interactions in Children

Education: Impact of Screen Time on Self-Regulation, Communication/ Social Interactions in Children

Part A: Table to Create Introduction to Research Instrument

Purpose of the research

To study/ understand why parents are using screen time at home with their children

Overarching research question

What is the impact of screen time on self-regulation and communication/ social interaction in children?

Research sub-question 1

What are parents’ perspectives on using screen time with their children at home?

Research sub-question 2

How are parents using screen time with their children at home?

Part B: Designing Data Collection Instrument

Sample questionnaire protocol

The number of questions in the interview would be 20. The questions are as follows:

i. Does your child use any technological devices like smartphones or tablets at home?

· Yes

· No

ii. How much screen time does he use the device daily?

· 1 hour

· 2 hours

· 3 hours

· More than 3 hours

iii. Do you think the screen time affects his time limitations with other kids? Like in parks or at home with siblings?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

iv. Do you think screen time is affecting their ability to self-regulate? It could include finishing the food on the dinner table and outing dishes back into the kitchen, keeping the clothes back in the cupboard, or packing the bag after finishing homework.

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

v. Do you think screen time is affecting your child’s emotions? It could mean being aggressive most of the day, having low self-control when an issue arises and becoming irritated easily, or stress/depression.

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

vi. Do you think your child shows frequent signs of fights or annoying behavior with parents at home?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

vii. Does this behavior suddenly pacify if he is given a smartphone or tablet to play games?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

viii. Do you give your child a phone/ tablet to calm him down and keep his emotions under control?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

ix. Do you feel when you try to take his phone or tablet away, saying that the screen time is over, he reacts aggressively?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

x. Does the teacher at school also involve the use of screens in their curriculum or class activities?

Definitely not

No

Don’t know

Yes

Definitely yes

xi. Has the teacher ever told you your child creates a fuss when the screens are taken away from children, and the child wants to play “5 more minutes”?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xii. Does this habit frequently occur? Asking the teacher to let him five more minutes? It could be more than two to three times.

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xiii. Has the teacher complained about your child’s behavior regarding communicating or socializing with his classmates?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xiv. Does the teacher indicate that he finds problems completing his tasks in the classroom?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xv. Does the teacher mention he finds difficulty in conducting group activities? Or would he ask his group members to complete the rest of the activity and avoid completing his own?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xvi. Does the teacher think he has focus problems? Such as completing a worksheet given to him in class? Does he keep looking outside the window? Or the fan or walls etc.?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Don’t know

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xvii. Do you find the same behavior at home with siblings? Such as not trying to compromise in fights and wanting a toy to himself only? Being aggressive or adamant about it?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xviii. Do you feel he has problems sleeping?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xix. Has your child ever wanted a smartphone or tablet before going to sleep? Saying he wants to play a game or watch a video for 10 minutes before going to sleep?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

xx. Does he react at bedtime when you say ‘no’ to his request?

Definitely not

Maybe no

Neutral

Maybe yes

Definitely yes

Also attached below is the informed consent form that would help the participants to answer the questions truthfully and be open in their responses so that valid and authentic findings are compiled in the data analysis section.

Interview Protocol (Qualitative)

ONLINE CONSENT FORM FOR SURVEY MONKEY FALL 2021

Title of your project: ____________________

State the purpose of your survey: _______________

Please note that participation in this survey is completely voluntary, and respondents are free to skip any questions that they do not wish to answer. After entering the survey, you may withdraw from it at any time. To withdraw, click the “Exit this Survey” button on the survey’s top right-hand corner or close the browser window. Any questions you have answered at that point will be collected if you decide to withdraw. Due to the anonymous nature of the survey, you cannot withdraw after you have completed and submitted the survey.

The Survey may take approximately XX minutes (put your time here) to complete. The information you provide will help the researcher understand more about (research topic).

There are no known or anticipated risks to you by participating in this research. The survey findings will potentially increase awareness about (fill in as it pertains to your research). Declining to complete this survey will not affect you personally in any way.

The results of this study will be shared with others through a conference presentation.

You may contact the researcher or their supervisor if you have any questions about the study.

Researcher: Name(s)[email protected]

Research Supervisor: Dhanna Mistri, M.Ed. [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding this study’s ethical conduct, please get in touch with this study’s research supervisor, Dhanna Mistri, M.Ed. [email protected].

Regarding your Privacy and confidentiality:

Please note that this survey is hosted by Survey Monkey, a web survey company located in the USA. All responses to the survey will be stored and accessed in the USA. This company is subject to US laws, particularly the US Patriot Act, that allows authorities access to the records of Internet Service Providers. If you choose to participate in the survey, you understand that your responses to the questions will be stored and accessed in the USA. The security and privacy Policy for Survey Monkey can be viewed at http://surveymonkey.com

1) By clicking “I agree,” you acknowledge that you are 18 years of age or older, have read and understood the information above, and freely consent to participate in the survey.

I agree

I disagree

Part C: Testing Data Collection Method/ Instrument with Classmates

The above-designed questionnaire sample was tested with one of the classmates to test the research instrument. The classmate was treated as an actual participant in the study and was sent a questionnaire email to him, keeping the same mindset to avoid bias. A participant feedback form was filled out afterward by the same classmate to assess the reliability and validity of the research instrument (see appendix).

Part D: Reflection upon Data Collection Method/Instrument

My initial thoughts about the pilot testing process were that it would only involve checking whether the questions were meant to measure the variables set around the research question and whether they would be able to provide results with transparency. By transparency, I mean my perception of the honesty of the questionnaire and how open they would be in disclosing information about their children. It does associate with the notion that they should be assured of the privacy and confidentiality of their data, for which informed consent holds a significant place in the research and validity of the results.

I did gather as much data as I hoped since the questions were formulated keeping in mind the simplicity of language and aiming to target the right measures and variables involved in the research. The questionnaire also involves examples to clarify to the participants what the question is about. It was also done to explain to them the terms like ‘self-regulate’ and give an exemplary scenario within the question. Ambiguity and beating around the bush technique were avoided so that words and questions remained simple to understand and easy to analyze afterward.

The opportunity I would gain from the questionnaire is that an online survey would help the participants fill out the form quickly, despite many questionnaires. They can fill them from any device and anywhere (either at work or home). It would encourage a higher response rate and more reliability/validity for the research. Also, one challenge would be to motivate participants to ‘complete’ the questionnaire till the end and ensure they do not leave any questions. Although the informed consent letter does allow them to do so, it would affect research effectiveness.

I have learned that while developing a data collection instrument and piloting it, it is necessary to have an informed consent letter and an appropriate scale to weigh the responses quantitatively. It would help remove bias, subjectivity, accurate responses, and probing.

Part E: Revising Data Collection Instrument

I aim to change the questionnaire from a 5-point Likert scale to a 7-point Likert scale. It could be done as follow:

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neutral

Somewhat agree

agree

Strongly agree

Also, to make it more engaging and induce a higher response rate, it could include facial emotions images as below:

Source: Google images

(The image here includes five faces, which could later be transformed into seven in the questionnaire).

The revised data collection instrument is given in the appendix section.

Part F: Validity, Reliability, and Credibility

Validity and reliability were added in the current research by re-confirming that the sample extracted would represent the entire population. For example, the parents of school-going children would be selected only, specifying that the feasibility of the study with inclusion and exclusion criteria would make the study authentic (In, 2016). Moreover, the consent form would help ensure participation from the research respondents, and gaining their consent would remove any ethical risks of the research. A greater understanding of the research and the modes through which research would be conducted, i.e., an online questionnaire, would support obtaining genuine responses, adding to the reliability and validity of data analysis and final findings (Kass et al., 2014).

References

Finstad, K. (2010). Response interpolation and scale sensitivity: Evidence against 5-point scales. Journal of Usability Studies, 5(3), 104-110.

In J. (2017). Introduction of a pilot study. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 70(6), 601–605. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2017.70.6.601

Kass, N.E., Taylor, H.A., Ali, J., Hallez, K. & Chaisson, L. (2014). A pilot study of simple interventions to improve informed consent in clinical research: Feasibility, approach, and results. Clinical Trials, 12(1), 54-66. https://doi.org/10.1177/17407745145608

Appendix

Participant Feedback Form

STUDENT’S NAME WHO PILOT-TESTED MY INSTRUMENT:

In your opinion, how effective were the questions in the interview/survey/questionnaire in gaining your perspectives?

I think the questions are valid since they aim to question the parents about communication, self-regulation, emotional control, and social involvement with parents or siblings at home. These are the specific measures to be assessed in the current research.

Were there any challenges you encountered in being a participant in this study?

I don’t think this was the case since the questions had simple language and were clear to understand; hence, answering them was also straightforward.

Can you offer any insights which would enable the student to improve their data collection method/instrument?

The student can improve the data collection method by making it a 7-point Likert scale since having more scales would make the participant answer better and data analysis stronger (Finstad, 2010).

Based on your experiences as a participant, what overall advice would you offer?