Personal characteristics of the focus group participants as a factor of the data quality

The article presents the results of the search for methodological ways to improve the quality of sociological information obtained in the focus group discussion. Today the scientific sphere is changing, and, in addition to the development of new methods, the existing interdisciplinary ones are being adapted to the specific research goals. An important way for improving sociological methods is the study of psychological aspects of respondents behavior during focus groups, since unconscious reactions can indicate the potential information bias and affect the quality of the project results. In the RUDN University, a three-stage methodological experiment was conducted based on the psychological technique 7 radicals, the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and the personal differential method. At the first stage, the experiment aimed at examining the ability of respondents without special knowledge in the field of psycho-typing to identify the dominant radicals. At the second stage, representatives of different psycho-types assessed each other so that the researchers would develop recommendations for the seating of focus group participants. At the third stage, the quality of the data obtained in focus groups was assessed depending on the moderators special skills (knowledge of psycho-types, FACS and SPAFF). Thus, the recommendations for moderators were developed - to increase the efficiency of work with focus group participants and to improve the quality of sociological data. The moderator needs knowledge in three areas: respondents psycho-types, affects in SPAFF, and the proxemic component (seating of respondents). The authors assess the prospects for introducing psychological techniques into the training system for focus group moderators and provide recommendations for moderators based on the results of the multi-stage experiment. Its results partially solve the problem of the quality of the focus group data by explaining the need to teach moderators interdisciplinary techniques (SPAFF and psycho-typing of the focus-group participants).

RESEARCH OF FAMILIES RAISING EARLY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Purpose – research of parent-child at the level of two subsystems of marriage and parental in order to determine the psychological characteristics of families raising children with special educational needs.Methods. The following psychological techniques were used to study families raising young children with special educational needs, namely: E. Eidemiller’s and W. Justitskis’s Analysis of Family Relationships Freiburg Personality Inventory, FPI); Study of character accentuations (A. Egides in the modification of I. Slobodyanyuk, O. Kholodova, O. Oleksenko and Study of parental attitude) (A. Varga, V. Stolin)In addition, the following statistical methods were implemented: the method of comparing averages (Compare Means) in order to compare the averages of personality factors in adults of different groups.Results. In the course of the research the following results were obtained: the initial empirical facts to determine the characteristics of child-parent relationship, became variables that were determined using standardized psychodiagnostic tools and built a factor model of parent-child relationship, which included 10 factors, namely: “authoritarian educational disposition”, “natural educational disposition”, “constructive educational protection”, “psychasthenic personal disposition”, “ambivalent personal disposition”, “indulgently indifferent personal disposition”, “dominant-aggressive disposition” extroverted personal disposition”, “introverted-pedantic personal disposition”, “passive-protective personal disposition”.It should be emphasized that when comparing the averages of the personal factors of the respondents, the factor assessment determined the quantitative measure of the manifestation of the personal factor.The data of statistically significant differences in the severity of the factors studied according to gender are summarized. It is determined that women are more prone to show a constructive attitude towards their own child. A study of the factors studied by the level of family functioning. It is determined that members of a dysfunctional and pseudo-functional family tend to establish and promote the cult of the child; strive to meet the various needs of the child.Conclusions. Thus, the content of the outlined factors of parents is the core of successful organization and implementation of psychological support.Key words: marriage and parental subsystem, model, upbringing style, parent-child relations, indicator, psychological variables. Мета – дослідження батьківсько-дитячих відносин на рівні двох підсистем – шлюбної та батьківської – з метою визначення психологічних особливостей родин, які виховують дітей з особливими освітніми потребами.Методи. Для дослідження родин, які виховують дітей раннього віку з особливими освітніми потребами, були використані такі психологічні методики: «Аналіз сімейних взаємин» (АСВ) Е. Ейдеміл-лера та В. Юстицкіса, «Фрайбурзький особистісний опитувальник» (Freiburg Personality Inventory, FPI), методи «Вивчення акцентуацій характеру» А. Егідеса (у модифікації І. Слободянюка, О. Холодової, О. Олексенко) та «Вивчення батьківського ставлення» А. Варга, В. Століна.Крім того, реалізовано такі статистичні методи: метод порівняння середніх значень (Compare Means) з метою порівняння середніх показників особистісних чинників у дорослих різних груп.Результати. У процесі проведеного наукового дослідження були отримані такі результати: вихідним емпіричним фактажем для визначення характеристик дитячо-батьківських стосунків стали змінні, які були визначені за допомогою стандартизованих психодіагностичних засобів. Побудовано факторну модель батьківсько-дитячих взаємовідносин, до яких було включено 10 чинників, а саме: «авторитарна виховна диспозиція», «потуральна виховна диспозиція», «конструктивна виховна протекція», «психастенічна осо-бистісна диспозиція», «амбівалентна особистісна диспозиція», «поблажливо-байдужа особистісна диспозиція», «домінантно-агресивна особистісна диспозиція», «екстравертована особистісна диспозиція», «інтровертовано-педантична особистісна диспозиція», «пасивно-захисна особистісна диспозиція».Необхідно підкреслити, що під час порівняння середніх показників особистісних чинників респондентів факторна оцінка визначила кількісну міру прояву особистісного чинника.Узагальнено дані статистично значимих відмінностей щодо вираженості чинників досліджуваних відповідно до статі. Визначено, що жінки більш схильні до прояву конструктивного відношення до власної дитини. Проведено дослідження чинників у досліджуваних за рівнем сімейного функціонування. Визначено, що члени дисфункційної та пвсевдофункційної родини схильні до утвердження та пропагування культу дитини, вони прагнуть до максимального задоволення різноманітних потреб дитини.Висновки. Таким чином, змістовне наповнення окреслених чинників батьків є ядром успішної організації та реалізації психологічного супроводу.Ключові слова: шлюбна та батьківська підсистема, модель, стиль виховання, батьківсько-дитячі відносини, показник, психологічні змінні.

Keep on Keepin’ On: Investigating ACES and Positivity among Bereaved Black Middle Aged and Older Adults

Many of the most damaging life events are more prevalent among Black older adults. Black people have been found to have higher amounts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are linked to detrimental life impacts. Additionally, bereavement occurs at a higher rate among Black people and older adults. Despite these challenges, Black older adults have been repeatedly cited overcoming these challenges. Accordingly, the present study sought to investigate whether Black middle to older aged adults who encountered two of life’s most difficult challenges (i.e. bereavement and ACEs) would still maintain positivity. 103 middle to older Black adults (M=44.72, SD=5.48, 67% male) from a larger online grief study were probed about factors including time since loss, positive outlook, and ACES. A linear regression and mediation analysis were used to analyze the data. ACES were found to significantly predict positive outlook among bereaved middle to older Black adults (F=11.46, p=.001), such that as the number of ACES increased, so did positivity in spite of bereavement. Notably, this association was not mediated by time since loss. Results from this study provide evidence that even when faced with some of life’s most difficult events, Black middle to older adults were still able to reframe their situation with a positive focus. The ability for Black middle to older aged adults to reframe their tragedies into positivity could provide a basis for the use of Positive Psychological techniques specifically within this population. Additionally, this study provides further evidence that Black people exhibit exceeding resilience.

EnviRobots: How Human–Robot Interaction Can Facilitate Sustainable Behavior

Environmental psychology aims to study human behavior with regard to the environment and how psychological techniques can be used to motivate behavior change. We argue that these concepts can be applied to interactive robots designed for other tasks, which then enables them to encourage sustainability behaviors in humans. We first present a literature review on the current state of social robots that are used to encourage sustainable behaviors. We next present eight hypothetical scenarios which are informed by the progress that has already been made in social robots in sustainability, as well as notable gaps where further environmental psychological concepts could be utilized. These scenarios encompass possible robots that range from limited sensing and no manipulation capabilities, to more sophisticated sensing and no manipulation, to sophisticated sensing and manipulation capabilities. We present these scenarios in which human–robot interaction could potentially result in pro-environmental behavioral changes in humans as recommendations for robot designers interested in helping design social robots for sustainability.

Peculiarities of introducing self-regulation techniques into the training of Ukrainian Antarctic expedition members

Introduction. Extreme work and life conditions and a long stay in a small group working in a confined space critically affect the Ukrainian Antarctic expedition members' physical and psychological state, as well as the effectiveness of the entire expedition. To respond to these challenges, Antarctic expedition members need to be trained using special group and individual psychological techniques. Aim: to analyze the peculiarities of using self-regulation techniques during the Ukrainian Antarctic expedition members' psychological training. Methods: physical and psychological self-regulation techniques for Ukrainian Antarctic expedition members' psychological training. Results. The author has analyzed the content and features of physical and psychological self-regulation techniques, which are part of the complex training program «Psychological support for Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition members»and are included in the first training session «Individual psychological characteristics and physical and psychological conditions of candidates for long-term work in extreme environmental conditions and social isolation». Conclusions. The use of certain physical and psychological self-regulation techniques makes it possible to effectively prepare Antarctic station staff for long-term activities in the Antarctic conditions and maintain their physical and psychological health.

ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL: ATTACHMENT STYLES AND COPING STRATEGIES

Aim. The aim of this paper is to theoretically substantiate individual’s attachment as a need for ontological security, to outline the educational aspects of supporting the ontological security, and to empirically investigate the attachment styles and coping strategies of individuals in early and middle adulthood. Methods. The article is based on an extensive review of the literature, which involves the use of such methods as interpretation (of previously unexplained psychological aspects of ontological security) and comparative analysis (of the views of Ronald Laing and family psychotherapists). An empirical study was conducted. The study group consisted of 90 persons: 45 male and 45 female, at the age of early and middle adulthood. The research used a number of psychological methods to study different types of attachments, relationships, personality traits and coping strategies that help overcome ontological insecurity. The method of statistical and mathematical analysis of results was also applied. Results. Ontological security is a marker of positive types of attachment. Our empirical research has shown that people with anxious attachment more often overcome ontological insecurity by positively rethinking the problem, which can lead to an underestimation of the possibilities of its effective solution. People with a reliable attachment are ontologically secure due to mutual trust, responsibility, problem analysis and planning, which eliminate escape strategies and problem avoidance. Conclusions. Ontological security-insecurity manifests itself in different types of attachments and corresponding coping strategies. The results showed the importance of developing and adapting the methodology of ontological protection for Ukrainian socio-cultural realities. This technique is being prepared to be operationalized with the scales of psychological techniques used in this study.

The Correlation Between the Types of Family Education and Aggressiveness in Adolescence

This article analyzes the correlation between the type of family education and the manifestation of aggressive behavior in adolescence. The relevance of this study is determined by the influence of family education on the development of aggressive behavior of a teenager, as a result of which this is one of the most acute problems today. The aim of the study is to identify and study aggression in adolescents, as well as to establish the relationship between family education and aggression in adolescents. It is hypothesized that there is a connection between the aggression of adolescents and the type of family education. Materials and methods of research. The study involved students of 9 «B» in the number of 30 teenagers aged 14–15 years, including 15 boys and 15 girls. The stages and a set of psychological techniques are described. The results of the study showed that 66.7% (20 parents) have violations in family education. This number includes parents who have destructive and mixed types of family interaction, adolescents have a high and average level of aggression, of which 30% (9 adolescents) are boys and 36.7% (11 adolescents) are girls. Moreover, the level of aggressiveness is more pronounced in young men. Based on this, we can say that young men are more affected by the inharmonious style of family education. We found that the assumption that there is a link between the aggressiveness of adolescents and the type of family upbringing was confirmed. It is necessary to understand that what is laid down in the family is the determining reason for the development of a system of values and a culture of human relationships.

Creativity and uncertainty tolerance as a resource for the psychological well-being of an individual

The objective of the work was to establish the features of creativity and uncertainty tolerance in people with different levels of psychological well-being. An empirical study of the level of manifestation of psychological well-being of the studied group and the relationship between the components of creativity and tolerance for uncertainty was conducted. The study was conducted using a set of psychological techniques aimed at determining the level of psychological well-being, uncertainty tolerance, creativity and their components. Qualitative methods of data processing are used. The study found that people with high levels of psychological well-being have close relationships between the indicators of the components of psychological well-being, creativity and uncertainty tolerance. Instead, these relationships are significantly fewer among people with low levels of psychological well-being.