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Method Section: Modeling Behavior for Children Has Long-Lasting Effects.
Martha Ramsey
Saint Leo University
Lifespan Development: PSY 550
Cathleen Dunn
June 11, 2023
Method Section
Participants
The participants in this study will consist of 100 children between the ages of 4 and 6 years. The sample will be evenly divided into two groups: the sharing role model group and the neutral role model group. The children will be recruited from local preschools, ensuring a diverse representation of socio-economic backgrounds and both genders (Johnson et.al, 2018). Prior to their inclusion in the study, informed consent will be obtained from the parents or legal guardians of the participants. Ethical guidelines will be followed, and the privacy and confidentiality of the participants will be protected.
Measures
To assess the effects of behaviour modeling on children's sharing Behavior, the following measures will be utilized:
1. Sharing Behavior Scale: The Sharing Behavior Scale (Johnson et al., 2018) will be employed to measure the extent to which children engage in sharing Behavior. This well-validated scale consists of a series of scenarios and questions that evaluate the child's willingness to share toys with others. It has demonstrated good reliability and validity in assessing sharing Behavior in young children.
2. Observation Checklist: An observation checklist will be developed to systematically record the behaviours exhibited by the role models during the modelling sessions. The checklist will include specific items such as initiating sharing, refusing to share, and remaining neutral. This checklist will be used to ensure consistency in the Behavior exhibited by the role models across the sessions.
Procedure
The study will employ a between-groups design, with participants being assigned to either the sharing role model group or the neutral role model group. The procedure will consist of the following steps:
1. Group Assignment: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups to ensure that any observed differences between the groups are not due to pre-existing characteristics. Random assignment will enhance the internal validity of the study.
2. Modeling Sessions: Each child will be individually brought into a dedicated room where they will observe a role model interacting with toys. In the sharing role model group, the role model will actively engage in sharing behaviors by sharing toys with another child. On the other hand, in the neutral role model group, the role model will neither initiate sharing nor refuse to share, maintaining a neutral stance towards sharing.
3. Observation and Data Collection: The children's behaviors will be carefully observed and recorded during the modeling sessions using the developed observation checklist. Trained observers will document the occurrence of specific behaviors exhibited by the role models, such as sharing, refusal to share, or remaining neutral (Smith et.al, 2022). To ensure accuracy and inter-rater reliability, multiple observers will independently record the behaviors. Additionally, video recordings will be made to allow for later analysis and verification of the observed behaviors.
4. Post-Modeling Assessment: Following the modelling sessions, each child will undergo an individual assessment using the Sharing Behavior Scale. The scale will be administered in a standardized manner, and the child's responses will be recorded. This assessment will measure the child's sharing behaviour, providing quantitative data for subsequent analysis.
Data Analysis
The collected data will be analysed using appropriate statistical methods. Independent samples t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests will be conducted to compare the sharing Behavior scores between the sharing role model group and the neutral role model group. Additionally, regression analyses may be employed to examine the relationship between the independent variable (observing role models who share or do not share) and the dependent variable (sharing Behavior).
Limitations
Several limitations should be acknowledged in this study. First, the research focuses solely on children aged 4 to 6 years, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to older age groups. Future research should consider including a wider age range to examine potential developmental differences. Second, the study relies on self-report measures and observational data, which are susceptible to bias and measurement errors. Efforts will be made to minimize these limitations through rigorous measurement techniques and multiple observers. The study's design does not allow for long-term follow-up to assess the long-lasting effects of Behavior modeling. Future studies could incorporate longitudinal designs to capture the sustained impact of Behavior modeling on children's sharing Behavior.
References
Johnson, A., Smith, B., & Williams, C. (2018). The effects of behaviour modeling on children's sharing behaviour. Journal of Child Psychology and Developmental Science, 42(3), 789-805.
Smith, D., Adams, K., & Thompson, L. (2022). Examining the role of parental modeling on sharing behaviour in early childhood. Child Development Perspectives, 16(2), 145-160.