With the emergence of technology, discoveries and theories about human cognition, behaviour, personality, and mental health have crossed the limits of scientists' observational capabilities.
Machine-learning research has proliferated due to the increased computing power and 21st-century data sources, including social media, smartphone texts, and crowd-sourced research tools. In university labs, the emergence of massive data sets and advanced technology has led to a focus on machine learning, thanks to the use of growing big data and artificial intelligence (AI).
For instance, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) launched BrainHub, an interdisciplinary initiative to develop new technologies to measure and analyse the brain. The University of Colorado Boulder's Institute of Cognitive Science houses experts in psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and other discipline. It aims to modernise the study of human cognition, and Stanford University's Computational Psychology and Well-Being Lab uses social-media data and machine learning to examine health and psychological issues.
Such techniques have allowed scientists to study emotions in cultures through innovative ways. One such psychological scientist is Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel from Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz. An international research team collaborated with him to develop an algorithm that investigated how people from different cultures connect emotions with colours (e.g., anger with red). They combined questionnaire responses from 4,598 individuals in 30 countries with Oberfeld-Twiste's creation to show the large number of colour/emotion associations that are similar across the globe and those that vary from country to country.
Technology has also helped produce discoveries that provide insights into human learning and ways to improve education systems. With social media platforms- from Facebook to Instagram to TikTok- there are more ways to communicate with the public than ever. Scientists are embracing social media, quickly discovering that information can be distributed more efficiently and to a larger audience than in scientific journals.
Social media is one of many ways psychologists reach a larger audience. Along with social media, podcasts are also emerging as a popular method to disseminate scientific and clinical information. The podcasts that discuss topics related to science and technology interest listeners. Researchers found that from 2010 to 2018, science podcasts on topics like biology, chemistry, and physics grew exponentially, with 65% of these series hosted by scientists and 77% targeted to public audiences.
Communicating to the public through social media has also allowed psychologists to break down stereotypes about what "typical" psychologists look like. For example, Regina Koepp, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist based in Atlanta who specialises in working with ageing adults and their families, uses social media platforms like LinkedIn to share her work. She said, "In a world where the majority of people are using social media and accessing health and mental health information through the internet and social media, I might invite psychologists to think about what our role is. Are we, as psychologists, going to be a part of that conversation, or will we keep ourselves out of it? Is our absence in these spaces helpful? I do not think it is."
With the upsurge of taking advantage of social media and technological advancements, psychology as a field can benefit from these inputs. Although there is some hesitancy when it comes to writing or talking about science to the public, the field of psychology has a history of encouraging researchers to disseminate their findings. By adapting the technology for psychological science and educating the masses, this work will help continue to benefit the public, psychologists, and scientists. Picture Credits for Science and Technology: https://unsplash.com/photos/an-abstract-image-of-a-sphere-with-dots-and-lines-nGoCBxiaRO0
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