Parental Reports on Touch Screen Use in Early Childhood Review
Summary
This article is a report that is aimed at informing developmental psychology experts and learners on the impacts of touch screens. The authors note the fact that there has recently been a rise in the number of touch screens in the societies based on analysis of most anecdotal reports.This report is important for developmental psychology in that the touch screen devices have some effects on cognitive development (Cristia & Seidl, 2015).
Secondly, the report is also founded on the fact that media content must be evaluated based on messages that have psychologically unfit messages for children in their developmental stages (Cristia & Seidl, 2015). The report goes on to question the legibility of touch screens in education of developing children as they require contingency and physical interaction. It is also important for other third parties that are concerned with the evolution and creation of the touch screens for children basedinteractions in formulating testing methods for their products(Cristia & Seidl, 2015).
The report is based on three questions that it seeks to address and thus its gist. First off, the prevalence of touch screen use among infants as well as toddlers(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). Secondly, the report sought to unveil the activities that the two groups do using the touch screens. The third concern of the report was to look at the kind of gestures that the two groups display when using these touch screen devices(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). The report is based on an online questionnaire whose major respondents were parents. The major conclusions of the report from the statistical analysis is that most children like viewing photos on the touch screens in similar was as watching videos on these devices(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). However, passive watching may be detrimental to the cognitive development (Cristia & Seidl, 2015). Most children also like image and sound concurrence, which would be beneficial to the app developers(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). Lastly, most children have an inclination towards tapping the touch screens as compared to sliding and pressing that is also beneficial to the hardware engineers in this case(Cristia & Seidl, 2015).
Research Methodology Critique
The report is based on online questionnaires that were directed to the parents whose selection criteria has been clearly outlined(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). However, the researchers have failed to identify with the challenges posed by the method as well as their rationale for using it. Having a closed ended questionnaire type on my opinion is not enough to get the best clarification as the parents (respondents) are only limited to one answer while there could be a range present(Cristia & Seidl, 2015). The sample size from which the report draws its conclusion is also small considering the duration of the whole data collection process. However, to some extent the small population was representative of both genders. The data collection process met all the ethical standards required.
The analysis was done using a professional software that further makes the paper acceptable. However, what lacks is the rationale and the manner in which it was used. The statistical explanation is stunning and further backs up the results that are in tandem with the research questions identified. I agree with the conclusions of the researchers being that the data gathered and from my own point of view rhyme. What needs to be done is to clearly separate the discussion from the findings so as to make it quick to spot the findings.
Conclusion
The article is well written and covers the facts in accordance to its heading. However, the structural organization of the article is not orderly despite being sequential. The conclusion, research questions and the findings, all back up each other. In my view the matter discussed and concluded here is true and paves way for future research following the limitations identified in the report.
References
Cristia, A., & Seidl, A. (2015). Parental Reports on Touch Screen Use in Early Childhood.” (2015). (Academic OneFile). PLoS ONE 10.6.