Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Research Projects (2010-2011)

Akansha Bhatia

(Supervisor: Dr. Nalini Deka)

Dynamics of Love

TOPIC

Impact of Residential Setting and Gender on Intimate Relationships, Self Consciousness and Self-Disclosure: A Study of Delhi University Students.

ABSTRACT

The present study was an attempt to examine the Impact of Residential Setting and Gender on Intimate Relationships, Self-Consciousness and Self-disclosure among Undergraduate Students of University of Delhi. The sample consisted of 80 students categorised into four groups-A1 (Delhi Males), A2 (Delhi Females), B1 (Out-station Males), and B2 (Out-station Females). Each group comprised of 20 students. The Multidimensional Relationship Questionnaire, Self Consciousness Scale, and The Self Disclosure Rating Scale were used to assess Intimate Relationships, Self Consciousness, and frequency of Self Disclosure respectively. The impact of Residential Setting was found on one of the dimensions of relation scale, that is, Relationship Motivation. Significant interaction effects of residential setting and gender on social anxiety was also observed. Significant correlations were obtained among some dimensions of the intimate relationships scale, some dimensions of self consciousness and the frequency of self disclosure. The results were discussed in the light of empirical framework on intimate relationships, self disclosure, and self consciousness. The research aids in exploring the impact of residential setting and gender on the dependent variables of intimate relationships, self-consciousness and self disclosure; and also the inter correlation between these variables.

Ashima Gupta

(Supervisor: Dr. Mitu Rohatgi)

Psycho-social Correlates; a study of Adolescents

TOPIC

Comparative analysis of Adolescents from Double Parent and Single Parent Families on Psycho-social Correlates.

ABSTRACT

The normal adolescent is engulfed in a development process in which social and intimate relations are rapidly changing. in such a situation the family structure gains even more importance and it becomes extremely relevant to study them. therefore, a sample of 60 adolescents aged 17 to 21 years, belonging to double parent (15 males, 15 females) and single parent (15 males, 15 females) families were administered the Perceived Social Support Family Scale (Procidano & Heller, 1983), Psychological Well-Being Scale (Carol D. Ryff, 1995), The Satisfaction With Life Scale ( ED Diener et al., 1985) and The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Argyle, Martin & Crossland, 1989). The results revealed that the females compared to males scored higher on Perceived Social Support, Psychological Well-Being, Life Satisfaction and Happiness. However, there was no significant difference between adolescents from double parent and single parent families on these variables. Significant inter correlations were obtained between all four variables. Thus the findings cast an aspersion on the notion of a double parent family being 'Ideal Family'.

Damini Sahay

(Supervisor: Dr. Nalini Deka)

Talent: Virtue or Vice?

TOPIC

A Comparative Study of Athletes and Dancers on Body Image Consciousness, Disordered Eating and Perfectionism.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to examine the presence of Body Image Consciousness, Eating Disorders and Perfectionism among Athletes and Dancers. Participants were chosen from the Delhi University and divided into 3 groups- Athletes (G1), Dancers(G2), and Control(G3) with n=30 for each group such that there were a total of 90 participants; An equal number of males and females were included in each group. The results showed that the group of Athletes were more satisfied with their appearances and also invested more time and effort on it. However, they were also more prone to developing eating disorders as compared to the dancers and the control group. Further, on Perfectionism, Athletes showed a significant higher score on Parental Criticism and Negative Perfectionism while Dancers showed higher Means for Organisation. Besides these, significant correlations were also found among the dimensions of Body Image Consciousness, Disordered Eating and Perfectionism.

Hansika Singhal

(Supervisor: Dr. Veena Gupta)

TOPIC

Work Family Conflict, Work Family Guilt and Gender Role Ideology: Impact of Gender Differences and Age of the Children among employed Parents.

ABSTRACT

The present study was an attempt to examine Work Family Conflict, Work Family Guilt and Gender Role Ideology among male and female employees having children below 8years and those having children between 12-19 years. The sample consisted of 100 subjects, subdivided equally into 2groups- G1 (Employees having children below 8years) and G2 (Employees having children between 12 to 19 years), having equal number of males and females in each group. Work Family Conflict Scale (Carlson, Kacmar, &Williams,. 200), Work Family Guilt Scale- Revised (Mc Elwain, 2008) and Traditional Egalitarian Sex Role Scale (Larsen &Long, 1988) were used to assess Work Family Conflict, Work Family Guilt and Gender Role Ideology respectively. Further, interviews were conducted with 4 participants from each group to further understand the concepts in the context of participant’s demography. Female employees reported significantly higher Work Family Conflict than Male employees. No significant gender differences were found between employees having younger children and those having teenagers on Work Family Conflict, and Work Family Guilt. Correlational analysis revealed a positive correlation between Work Family Conflict and Work Interfering with Family Guilt and between Work Interfering with Family Conflict and Work Interfering with Family Guilt. No significant correlation was found between Gender Role Ideology and Work Family Conflict. A significant negative correlation was found between Gender Role Ideology and Work Family Guilt and between Gender Role Ideology and Family Interfering with Work Guilt.

Hina Shaheen

(Supervisor: Ms. Anshu)

TOPIC

Inappropriate Internet usage in Female College Students: Qualitative Enquiry)

ABSTRACT

The present study explores Personal and Interpersonal aspects of Inappropriate Internet Usage among female college students with special reference to Self esteem, Family Environment and Social Support. In the present qualitative enquiry, 5 cases identified using Young’s Internet Addiction test (IAT) and multiple case study analysis was conducted. The data gathered through semi-structured interviews schedule and psychological testing was subjected to inductive thematic analysis and multidimensional profile analysis respectively. The important themes that emerged from the analysis include: the experience of addiction (lack of self control, timelessness, mood alterations, escape mechanisms, negative impact and cognitive preoccupation), impoverished family environment (lack of acceptance, freedom, excessive control, lack of emotional support, warmth and expression, excessive conflict, rigid structure), social skill deficit 9introversion, evaluation apprehension, conformity, and need for social validation), cultural transition, low self esteem and psychological split. The emergent themes are discussed in the light of past researches and present research questions.

Priyanka Shokeen

(Supervisor: Dr. Nidhi Malik)

TOPIC

Believing the Irrational: exploring Superstitions and Luck Beliefs in relation to Locus of Control and well-Being.

ABSTRACT

The present study was an attempt to examine the impact of the positive and negative superstitions as well as belief in good luck on the individual’s locus of control, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being. The sample consisted of 60 subjects categorised into 2 groups- science students (G1) and Humanities students (G2). Each group comprised of 30 subjects with equal number of males and females. A new questionnaire was developed in the course of the study to assess superstitious beliefs relevant to the Indian society. Other measures used were Drake &Freedman’s Belief in Good Luck (BIGL) Scale, Levenson’s Multidimensional Locus of Control Inventory, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). No significant differences were found between G1 and G2 on Positive superstations and belief in good luck. However, a significant difference was found on negative superstitions. Gender differences were found to be significant for belief in good luck, with women scoring higher than men. A significant negative correlation was found between superstitions and internality. Negative superstitions were found to be negatively correlated with Autonomy and Personal Growth.

Shraddha Chatterjee

(Supervisor: Dr. Gayatri Arunkumar)
TOPIC

A Visual Artist’s World- The Effect of Personality, Coping, Stress, and Gender Differences.

ABSTRACT

The present experimental study aims at studying relations between the personality, coping styles, life stressors, and social resources of Visual Artists in Metropolitan India today-thereby gauging the reactions of these artists to today’s world. A stratified sample of 30 visual artists, which equally represented males and females between ages 30 and 60 years, was explored in the hope of identifying gender differences between them. The questionnaires employed were the NEO-FFI (Cost & McCrae, 1992), Cope Inventory (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraus, 1990) and LISRES-A (Moos & Moos, 1990). The results, analysed using Pearson’s Product Moment correlation and Pearson’s Chi-Square test, shows significant gender differences between personality and coping; personality, life stress and social resources; and coping, life stress and social resources. Significant correlations emerged for personality and coping; coping, life stress, and social resources; and personality, life, and social resources.

Shruti Gogia

(Supervisor: Dr. Gayatri Arunkumar)

TOPIC
Victims of Domestic Violence: Struggling on the Road to Well-Being.

ABSTRACT

The present study was an attempt to examine the effect of employment and socio-economic status on the copping strategies, psychological well-Being and Optimism of the victims of Domestic Violence. The total sample was of 60 women who had approached an organisation seeking help for their present situation. The sample was categorised equally according to the employment and socio-economic status. The following questionnaires were administered; COPE, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale and Optimism-Pessimism Index. In addition, a qualitative analysis was done. The findings revealed that employment had a significant role to play in the Well-Being and Optimism of the victimised women and the increased usage of problem-focused coping strategies. Socio-economic Status, however, did not emerge as such a significant predictor of the variables being studied. Further, the correlations revealed a positive relation between Optimism and the Problem- Focused coping strategies and dimensions of Psychological Well-Being.