Technology and Psychology By: Kylie Panian Due: 12/11 Instructor: Isti J. Sanga, Ph.D.

Past Technologies in Psychology The purpose of the so-called "Skinner Box," (which was actually called the "heir conditioner") was to be an improvement from the regular crib made for babies. The Skinner Box controlled air temperature, made cleaning easier, and was soundproof, in that the baby could sleep through the night peacefully without having any outside noises to disturb him/her. The invention received both positive and negative reviews, but due to the media's negative view of the box, it was doomed to fail. Another device that has been used to catapult psychology into the future is an x-ray machine used to take images of the brain's ventricles. According to the picture below, the machine appeared to "somersault" in order to take these images. In future blogs, I will be covering machines similar to the x-ray that are popularly used today to take more accurate pictures.

Current Technologies in Psychology Technology-Based Therapy : A controversial trend in the practice of psychology is the use of internet therapy which allows both therapist and client to see and hear each other speak in real time. Software to Track Emotional Health : Titled Optimism, the software prompts you to keep a detailed record of all things that affect your state of mind. The company that designed the program explains that by “monitoring patterns in your life you can identify negative influences that you need to avoid, early warning signs that your health is deteriorating, and the inputs and activities that benefit you most.” Computerized Testing : Changes in testing have significantly changed many aspects of psychology. Personality assessments and IQ tests that were once completed with pencil and paper are now completed on computers. As computer technology has developed, tests have developed as well. Test takers using computers can be fed different questions based on their answers of previous questions. Research psychologists and diagnosticians take advantage of this to create more accurate assessments.  Diagnostic Equipment Specialization : Researchers, practitioners and clients now have at their disposal innovative ways to collect and evaluate psychological data about the patient's mental, physical and emotional states. One of these tools is a stress sensor based on Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) introduced in the research report,

Computerized Testing in Psychology computerized testing objectively measures the primary symptoms of ADHD: hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. A motion tracking device tracks a child’s micro-movements as they work on a computerized activity that lasts about half an hour. Computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) programs are technological tools that have been commonly used to interpret data in psychological assessments since the 1960s. CBTI programs are used for psychological tests. CBTI programs are either empirically based or clinically based. The empirically based programs, or actuarial assessment programs, use statistical analyses to interpret the data, while the clinically based programs, or automated assessment programs, rely on information from expert clinicians and research. Although CBTI programs are successful in test-retest reliability, there have been major concerns and criticisms regarding the programs' ability to assess inter-rater and internal consistency reliability. Research has shown that the validity of CBTI programs has not been confirmed, due to the varying reports of individual programs. CBTI programs are very efficient in that they save time, reduce human error, are cost effective, and are objective/reliable, yet limited in that they are not always used by adequately trained evaluators or are not integrated with multiple sources of data. As technology continues to transform our modern society, computer-based interpretation programs have the possibility to expand their software and even alleviate some of the current concerns with the programs' methodology.

Cons of Computerized Testing Changes in testing have significantly changed many aspects of psychology. -Computerized testing also comes with disadvantages. Technical difficulties can skew results as can vision issues such as color blindness in test takers. Today’s psychologists need to understand the potential problems with computerized testing and address them in order to more accurately diagnose disorders or identify personality traits.

Resources An Intro To Cutting-Edge Psychology Technology. (2016, July 24). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://psychologydegreeguide.org/psychology- technology/ Staff, P. (2001, July 01). Technology & Psychology. Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200107/technology- psychology 3 Ways Technology Has Affected the Field of Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://careersinpsychology.org/three-ways- technology- affected-field-psychology/ What Technology Advances Are Affecting Psychology Studies? (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/faq/what-technology- advances-are- affecting-psychology-studies/