HiI need a research report written, we are given the data and have to pick two out of four hypotheses given and then comment on whether the aim was successful or not given the data. the report is to include title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion and references. with 2000 words excluding references. please contact me if you need any assistance, i will upload all documents relating this assignment that were given to me
PSYC2042/5242 Assessment 2 Information Page 1 of 6 PSYC2042/5242 Lifespan Development Assessment 2: Research Report Guide, T2, 2020 Generational Differences in Personality Background “I suppose every generation has a conceit of itself which elevates it, in its own opinion, above that which comes after it.” -from ‘The Open Door’; Margaret Oliphant, The Gentlewomen of Evil: An Anthology of Rare Supernatural Stories from the Pens of Victorian Ladies. As implied by the quotation from Margaret Oliphant, it is not uncommon for older adults to describe younger generations in pejorative terms, frequently noting youth as self- absorbed, entitled, arrogant, and as lacking respect (Twenge, Konrath, Foster, Campbell, & Bushman, 2008). However, as Twenge et al. (2008) observe, it is difficult to determine if these perceptions are a function of age or of generation. In an attempt to address this question, Twenge and her colleagues (2008) developed the method of cross-temporal meta- analysis, and used the method to analyse generational differences in the personality trait of narcissism. Twenge et al. (2008) chose narcissism as their focus given both the ready availability of data on this trait, and the popular perception that since the 1960s, younger generations are becoming increasingly more self-obsessed and entitled. The results of Twenge et al.’s (2008) research demonstrated that narcissism scores were significantly correlated with year of data collection, with higher scores observed the later the year the data were collected. Twenge et al. (2008) calculated that since 1982, narcissism scores have increased one-third of a standard deviation, leading to the conclusion that Millennials or Generation Y (those born 1979-2001) are more narcissistic than earlier generations (e.g., Generation X [those born 1966-1978] and the Baby Boomers [those born 1946-1965]) (Twenge, Konrath, Foster, Campbell & Bushman, 2008). Furthermore, traits related to narcissism (e.g., sense of entitlement, inner fixation, self-absorption and self-esteem), have also been alleged to be manifested at a higher level among Millennials than Generation X and Baby Boomers (Gentile, Twenge & Campbell, 2010). However, the conclusions reached by Twenge and her colleagues have generated significant academic and popular debate, and have not been widely accepted. Indeed, Howe and Strauss (2000) and Waldman (2013) have claimed that the Millennials have a stronger social conscience and greater civic mindedness than the earlier generations, manifested in a stronger sense of life as meaningful and purposeful. Furthermore, research by Trzesniewski, Donnellan, and Robins (2008) suggests that while some indicators of narcissism have increased, others have decreased over time, leading to the conclusion of little overall generational change. The study of generational continuity and discontinuity is at the core of lifespan development, making the issue of generational shifts in personality an important one to examine and evaluate. Consequently, the aim of the present research is to contribute to the debate concerning generational differences in personality by examining five personality constructs implicated in Twenge et al.’s (2008) narcissism study: sense of entitlement (i.e. how much an individual feels he/she deserves), self-esteem (e.g., the individual’s subjective evaluation of him/herself as a worthwhile individual), narcissism (e.g., the individual’s level of self-interest), purpose in life (e.g., the extent to which an individual perceives his/her life as PSYC2042/5242 Assessment 2 Information Page 2 of 6 deeply meaningful) and hypersensitive narcissism (e.g., the extent to which an individual is absorbed by and fixated upon his/her inner states). Consistent with the results of previous research, the present study predicts that: 1) The year in which an individual was born will be significantly correlated with level of entitlement, self-esteem, narcissism, purpose in life, and hypersensitive narcissism; 2) There will be generational differences in levels of entitlement, self-esteem, narcissism, purpose in life, and hypersensitive narcissism. Given the debate in the extant literature about which generation might demonstrate greater levels of narcissism, directional hypotheses will not be proposed. Rather, we will be interested in examining the direction of any relationship between age and personality traits and any generational difference in personality traits that we find. Your Task: In addition to the two narcissism variables described above (narcissism and hypersensitive narcissism), you will select one further personality construct (from those measured in the survey), and structure your report around this construct. Therefore, your report will only address the chosen variables in the sections that are provided below. Thus your Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion sections will only be focused around the three variables of choice. Method To examine these research hypotheses, we will use data obtained through a survey, comprised of demographic items (the individual’s year of birth, sex, country of birth, number of siblings, birth order, relationships status and commitment to a spirituality), the Psychological Entitlement Scale (Campbell, Bonacci, Shelton, Exline & Bushman, 2004; a measure of sense of entitlement); Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965; a measure of feelings about the self); The NPI-16 (Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16, Ames, Rose & Anderson, 2006; a measure of level of self-interest); Purpose in Life Scale (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964; a measure of the extent to which life is perceived to have meaning and purpose) and the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (Hendin & Cheek, 1997; a measure of level of inner fixation and self-absorption). The questionnaires used in the present research have all been demonstrated to have sound psychometric properties, with Cronbach alphas ranging from moderate (α = .69 for the NPI-16 [Ames et al., 2006] to .90 for the Purpose in Life Scale [Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964]). The psychometric properties of all questionnaires used in the present research are summarised in Table 1. Table 1: Internal consistency of scales used in the present research Questionnaire Cronbach Alpha Psychological Entitlement Scale (Campbell, Bonacci, Shelton, Exline & Bushman, 2004) .86 Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) .85 Narcissism Personality Inventory-16 (Ames, Rose & Anderson, 2006) .69 Purpose in Life Scale (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964) .90 PSYC2042/5242 Assessment 2 Information Page 3 of 6 Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (Hendin & Cheek, 1997) .74 Please note that none of the measures employed in the present research are clinical instruments used for assessing psychological disturbance. Rather, they measure a self- reported lesser or greater tendency in the personality trait under consideration. Procedure The SPSS data and output files will be available in Week 5. The Week 6 – Tutorial 5 will be dedicated to discussing the research report assessment, the method of the research, and the results. It is very important that you do not miss this tutorial! Your task is then to use the results of this research to write an APA style research report summarising the findings of the study. The Report Your report should comprise the following sections: 1) Abstract A 120-250 word summary of the study in its entirety (background to research, rationale for research, aims and hypotheses, method, results, interpretation of results and conclusion); 2) Introduction. Here you should provide an overview to the broader research area and define the key constructs you are reviewing in the literature (i.e., the two narcissism variables, and your third variable of choice). Go on to review the existing theory and research that relates to the research question; how are the variables related to one another? You may use the references provided for you at the end of this document. In addition to these you must find AT LEAST TWO original references from your own search. You will need to use a search engine for this process; for example, EbscoHOST, or PsycINFO. The ACAP Library and Student Learning Support can assist you in this process if you have questions. On the basis of this review, write an introduction for your report. 3) Research Hypotheses Frame hypotheses (predictions) based upon your review of the existing theory and research. Hypotheses MUST follow consistently from the existing theory and research; for example, if previously conducted studies show that narcissism and entitlement are greater in younger generations, the hypothesis you frame must reflect the direction of this difference (that is, it makes no sense to predict that Baby Boomers will be more narcissistic). Be sure to only include the variables of your choice (i.e., the two narcissism variables and the third variable of choice) in your hypotheses. Place the hypotheses at the end of the introduction to the report. 4) Method Using the information provided to you on the sample, the instruments used in the study, and the procedure followed, write a method section for the report. This section should contain the following subsections: PSYC2042/5242 Assessment 2 Information Page 4 of 6 a) Participants Include the number, sex, and age of the individuals who participated in the study. Also include other information where relevant that describes the sample (e.g., cultural backgrounds). b) Instruments Describe the instruments that were used to collect the data in the study, with information on their levels of internal consistency as originally reported and as calculated for the present research. Note that you only need to include the instruments relevant to your three variables chosen and the relevant details associated with these instruments. c) Procedure Describe how the study was conducted. 5) Results Results will be provided to you. You can omit the findings not relevant to your variables, and only include the results pertaining to the variables of choice. Make sure the results of the data analysis are consistently presented in APA format. 6) Discussion Discuss the results of your research. Include the following sections: a) Aim/hypotheses and if hypotheses were confirmed or disconfirmed; b) How the results link to (i.e., compare and contrast) with previous research and presented in your introduction, and explanations for the results c) Discuss the wider implications of the results d) Strengths and limitations