Write 3-5 pages in which you critically review reliable media sources for inform

Write 3-5 pages in which you critically review reliable media sources for information related to the implications of membership in a chosen group or community. Examine both scholarly literature and reliable media sources in order to identify the problems, conflicts, and issues where additional research is needed. Use a minimum of three scholarly resources and three other reliable sources.
Introduction
Today, the focus of scientific inquiry is on group dynamics, the appeal of groups, the benefits and consequences of group membership, and how groups recruit members.
This assessment will delve into the characteristics and appeal of online groups and virtual communities. According to McKenna (2009) in Psychological Aspects of Cyberspace, “groups within the electronic realm share many characteristics in common with groups that meet and function in shared physical spaces” (p. 228). However, Brandon and Hollingshead (2009) say that “our collective notions of what constitutes a group have changed radically in the past 15 years” (p. 105).
The Assessment 5 Context document contains important information related to the following topics:
Online groups.
Cyberhate groups.
Online gaming.
References
McKenna, K. Y. A. (2009). Influences on the nature and functioning of online groups. In A. Barak (Ed.), Psychological aspects of cyberspace: Theory, research, applications (pp. 228–242). Cambridge University Press.
Brandon, D. P., & Hollingshead, A. B. (2009). Characterizing online groups. In A. Joinson, K. Y. A. McKenna, & U. Reips (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Internet psychology (pp. 105–119). Oxford University Press.
Preparation
For this assessment, study the psychosocial effects of a specific online community or group. For example, perhaps you are interested in researching an online sobriety community for teens—or an online group of people who love zombie films. The possibilities seem endless.
Choose a specific group or community to research. Note: Research judiciously. Do not choose a group or community that advocates hate, violence, or anything that might detract from the higher-education learning experience. Use caution as you research and do not reveal personal information.
Note the following:
References should be mostly scholarly in nature. In other words, you should direct your research to professional psychology journals and texts, as well as current articles from the media (for example, articles from PewResearch, professional journals, and respected media).
The library guide for this course will help you locate appropriate sources.
Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information for this purpose. Do not use Wikipedia.
Instructions
Finish each section of the APA Paper Template [DOCX] as you complete the following:
Examine scholarly literature for the psychosocial impact of membership in a virtual group or community.
Critically review reliable media sources for information related to the implications of membership in the group or community.
Explain the methods or procedures used in the studies.
Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology used for the studies.
Examine the problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues that require additional research and choose one issue to propose for further research.
Provide a rationale for the proposed research.
Additional Requirements
Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: Format resources and citations according to current APA style and formatting guidelines. Use Microsoft Word.
Length of paper: 3–5 double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and references.
Number of resources: Use a minimum of three scholarly resources and three other reliable sources.
Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 3: Evaluate the physical and psychosocial impacts of cyberpsychology.
Examine scholarly literature for information about the psychosocial implications of participation in online groups and communities.
Examine reliable media sources for information related to the implications of membership in a group or community.
Competency 4: Evaluate the methods, procedures, and techniques useful in the conduct of empirical research within cyberpsychology.
Explain the methods or procedures described in scholarly sources.
Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology used for the study.
Competency 5: Evaluate problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues in the study of cyberpsychology through critical thinking.
Evaluate areas of concern regarding participation in virtual groups or communities.
Recommend a specific issue requiring more research and provide a rationale.
Resources
Because this is a psychology course, you need to format this assessment according to APA guidelines.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
APA Paper Template [DOCX].
The resources provided here are optional. You may choose other resources to prepare for this assessment; however, you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The Psychology Library Research Guide can help direct your research.
Read the following from the Library:
Whitty, M. T. (2016). The Study of individuals, society and digital technologies. Wiley.
Chapter 8 addresses online education.
Chapter 15 addresses online support and health care.
Lazar, J., Feng, J. H., & Hochheiser, H. (2017). Research methods in human-computer interaction. Elsevier Science & Technology.
Chapter 1 provides an introduction and overview to human-computer interaction (HCI) research, discussing some history and changes in topics and research methods over time.
Chapter 14 addresses online and ubiquitous HCI research issues.
Chapter 15 addresses working with human subjects in HCI research.
Resources: Online Communities
Hartig, J., & Viola, J. (2016). Online grief support communities: Therapeutic benefits of membership. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying, 73(1), 29–41.
This article states that individuals report less psychological distress as a result of joining online groups, and benefits increased over time.
Barlow, J. B., & Dennis, A. R. (2016). Not as smart as we think: A study of collective intelligence in virtual groups. Journal of Management Information Systems, 33(3), 684–712.
As per this article, a collective intelligence factor did not emerge among groups using computer-mediated communication in contrast to previous findings from other research. Implications addressed.
Kretovics, M. (2015). Commuter students, online services, and online communities. New Directions for Student Services, 150, 69–78.
The article states that commuting college students may benefit from the connection provided by school-sponsored online communities that extend connections made in the classroom.
Tamjidyamcholo, A., Kumar, S., Sulaiman, A., & Gholipour, R. (2016). Willingness of members to participate in professional virtual communities. Quality and Quantity, 50, 25150–2534.
This article mentions that perceived ease of use has a positive effect on attitude and perceived usefulness of users of professional virtual communities (PVCs). Security and Internet self-efficacy are important drivers of perceived ease of use.
Xu, B., Xu, Z., & Li, D. (2016). Internet aggression in online communities : A contemporary deterrence perspective. Information Systems Journal, 26, 641–667.
As per this article, online aggression can be inhibited by internal deterrents of face saving and moral beliefs and can be enhanced through consequences from an effective community policy and peer pressure from members.
Identifying a Research Topic
Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2016). A nurse’s guide to the hierarchy of research designs and evidence. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(3), 38–43.
This article discusses a concise and easy to understand overview of research designs and types of evidence used in clinical research.