PSY4004 Research Report: An Analysis of Media Influences on Aggression

This research report investigates the influence of media on aggression, addressing the question of whether exposure to violent content in media contributes to aggressive behavior. The report outlines an experiment using an independent groups design to assess the relationship between media (independent variable) and aggression (dependent variable). Participants, consisting of males aged 15 to 30, are divided into two groups: one exposed to media violence and the other not. The experiment involves observing the participants' behavior after a period of exposure and conducting interviews to assess their responses to situational questions. The research adheres to ethical principles, ensuring respect for participants' rights and considering social responsibility. The expected outcome is to determine whether media influences aggression and to understand the age group most susceptible to such influence, while also acknowledging other contributing factors to aggression, such as physical, environmental, and psychological factors. Desklib provides access to similar research reports and study tools for students.

Running head: MEDIA INFLUENCES ON AGGRESSION
MEDIA INFLUENCES ON AGGRESSION
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
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Aim:
Certainly, there has been a rapid increase in mass shooting and gun violence, and one of
the questions that evolve within the chaos of it is whether there is any relation between media
and violence (Hall et al., 2013). Violent content is common in movies, television, video games
and on the internet. The question has successfully attracted significant researchers who present
various theories that may answer the question. In a similar aspect, the paper aims to discuss the
media influence on aggression and whether exposure to certain media can influence aggression.
The paper will present the research report including the methods, participants and procedures
that would be necessary in order to carry out an experiment on understanding whether media
influence human behavior and causes aggression.
Hypothesis:
According to research, approximately 98 percent of the population watches video for
nearly 5 hours a day (Grossman & DeGaetano, 2014). Media influence is one of the notable
changes observed in the social environment of the contemporary era. The mass media has taken a
central role in the daily lives of human being. The increasing rate in violence is one of the
significant challenges of the century, and it is no more surprising that approximately half a
million people die due to intentional homicide across the globe (Zinn, 2015). Media has become
a certain aspect playing a vital role in human lives in today’s digital world. Media is adequately
potent of virtually impacting lives through newspaper, magazine, television, and internet. Since
the impact is obvious and certain, there is no doubt that violent content displayed through media
can greatly be responsible for the increasing rate of violence. Media can manipulate, influence
and persuade the thinking pattern of society and even control the world at times in both positive

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and negative ways physically, mentally and emotionally (Dehaene, 2014). Therefore, the paper
aims to discuss the ways media influences aggression and violent behavior and presents the
research design that can be used in order to carry out an experiment on the same discussion. The
experiment will help to reach a result that would reflect whether there is a significant influence
of media in causing aggression in human behavior.
Method:
The research design is a specific method through which the researcher collect, analyze
and interpret data. For any scientific investigation, research design is a crucial method that
psychologist needs to use in their research (Hussein et al., 2014). The primary method used for
inquiry in science is an experiment. As the purpose of the experiment serves, this experiment as
well will help in investigating the hypothesis that is whether media influences aggression. In
order to investigate the relationship between media and aggression, the experimental method
used for the research is independent groups design. This experiment avoids order effect such as
fatigue or practice as people participate with one condition. Through the experiment, the critical
feature that helps to establish the cause and effect relationship is the control over variables
(Vereenooghe & Langdon, 2013). In this specific experiment, the media is the independent
variable and aggression is the dependent variable. Probably the most simplistic and efficient way
of the understanding the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent
variable is by creating two groups of participants. The experimental design will involve different
participants in two different conditions. The research design will involve random allocation that
would be used to decide which specific condition is suitable for each participant and the
particular areas they should be allocated. This will ensure each participant have an equal chance

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to be assigned to one of the group. In this experiment, two groups will be created where one is
exposed to media violence and another does not get exposed to media violence.
Participants:
The participant of the research is the target population that the research is aiming. In this
specific area, the target population belongs to the age group of 15 to 30. The participant will
include one gender that is male. According to several pieces of research, it is scientifically
proven that male population tends to be more aggressive in nature than female (Wilson et al.,
2014). The age group of 15 to 30 is selected in order to understand the intensity of the impact of
media violence on behavior as per the age group. Often it is said that it is the younger people
who tend to be most impacted by media. Therefore, through this experiment, not the impact of
the media on two groups will be evaluated but also the intensity of the impact as per the age
group will also be evaluated. The sampling method that would be adopted in this particular
research is a simple random sampling. Simple random sampling is the sampling technique that
gives equal opportunity to every participant in the population to get selected. The advantage of
using simple random sampling is that it is a very basic form of sampling and it can be used in a
very systematic method. This sampling method is easy to carry out and there is no to very less
chance of making arbitrary choices. Through this sampling methods, participants belong from
the age group of 15 to 35 will be selected randomly and then taken under the experiment.
Materials:
The materials that would be used in the experiment are digital devices such as iPad,
laptop and gaming box. These mediums of media would be used for showing the media to the
participants. Participants will be exposed to violence through the help of digital devices, such as

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movies, video clips, video games, magazines, and books. Group A will be given the materials in
order to watch violent content. Group B will be given be the same materials, however, they will
not be allowed to watch any violent content.
Procedure:
In group A, they are exposed to media violence get to watch action movies, play action
games and read magazines with violent content. In the other group B, the participants are
allowed to do regular routine however excluding anything that involves the content of violence.
The two groups will be given a time period of four to six weeks, after which their behavior will
be observed. After the duration of the experiment, an interview will be conducted with a
questionnaire focusing situational question. It is expected to get answers accordingly as per the
influence of the media content. The experiment will become successful when Group A responds
with answers aggressive in nature while Group B will answer that do not involve aggressive
solutions.
Discussion:
The research will be carried out considering the ethical practices. Research involves
complex nature, subjects, and participants that raise unique situations. Therefore, research ethics
specifically focus on analyzing ethical issues. Understanding the essential ethical aspects
involved in the research will be carried out following some basic ethical principles. As per the
American Psychological Association Ethics Code, the six principles are strictly followed.
Competence, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility are the first principles that the
research will abide. While carrying out the research every participant will be ensured to have
respect for their rights and dignity. There will be concerns for other’s welfare, and lastly, the

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social responsibility will be considered in every stage of the research (Vanclay, Baines & Taylor,
2013).
At the end of the research, the result will be able to manifest whether there is an impact
of media on human behavior. The dramatic influence of media on human behavior is considered
to have a negative impact while it is also considered to have a positive effect. Through the
experiment, the influence of the media can be determined. The difference in the behavior is
expected to reflect the way media can influence aggression and violent behavior. Also, since the
age group selected for the sample is from 15 to 30, the result will help understanding if media
influence human behavior, which age is most prone to be influenced. According to many
theorists, media is not the only source of aggression (Elson et al. 2014). There are physical,
environmental and psychological factors that may cause aggression in an individual. It is
important to understand the intensity of the influence of these factors also plays an important role
in human behavior. Therefore, to understand the main reason that causes human behavior to
become aggressive, the role of media is significant. Since, as discussed above, there has been a
rapid increase in mass shooting and gun violence, and one of the questions that evolve within the
chaos of it is whether there is any relation between media and violence.

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References:
Dehaene, S. (2014). Consciousness and the brain: Deciphering how the brain codes our
thoughts. Penguin.
Elson, M., Mohseni, M. R., Breuer, J., Scharkow, M., & Quandt, T. (2014). Press CRTT to
measure aggressive behavior: The unstandardized use of the competitive reaction time
task in aggression research. Psychological Assessment, 26(2), 419.
Grossman, D., & DeGaetano, G. (2014). Stop teaching our kids to kill: A call to action against
TV, movie and video game violence. Harmony.
Hall, S., Critcher, C., Jefferson, T., Clarke, J., & Roberts, B. (2013). Policing the crisis:
Mugging, the state and law and order. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Hussein, M. E., Hirst, S., Salyers, V., & Osuji, J. (2014). Using grounded theory as a method of
inquiry: Advantages and disadvantages. The Qualitative Report, 19(27), 1-15.
Vanclay, F., Baines, J. T., & Taylor, C. N. (2013). Principles for ethical research involving
humans: ethical professional practice in impact assessment Part I. Impact Assessment and
Project Appraisal, 31(4), 243-253.
Vereenooghe, L., & Langdon, P. E. (2013). Psychological therapies for people with intellectual
disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Research in developmental
disabilities, 34(11), 4085-4102.
Wilson, M. L., Boesch, C., Fruth, B., Furuichi, T., Gilby, I. C., Hashimoto, C., ... & Lloyd, J. N.
(2014). Lethal aggression in Pan is better explained by adaptive strategies than human
impacts. Nature, 513(7518), 414.

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Zinn, H. (2015). A people's history of the United States: 1492-present. Routledge.