Useful Websites for Applied Psychology

A site with useful technology articles and news:
http://www.mashable.com/

A great reference generator!
http://www.ottobib.com/

The Right Computer For My Course

            When considering what computer to buy for my applied psychology course, there are a lot of factors to consider, such as memory, size, weight, hardware, software, cost and dependability. Before I even go into detail about these factors I will rule out all Mac computers, not because there is anything wrong with them in particular, but because I find them extremely difficult to use. The main criteria for my ideal computer are quite obviously that it is a laptop. Laptops are portable, which is vitally important for my course, so I can work while travelling and bring all of my work into college with me. The laptop also needs to be small and lightweight. A small laptop is a necessity so I can easily carry it around in my bag, and it must be lightweight so it is not a chore to bring it around with me everyday.                                                    

           
It is important that the computer you buy has the necessary hardware and software available not only if you are buying it for educational needs, but for your own use of the computer aswell. The internet is an absolute necessity for anyone buying a laptop, especially for someone in college in order to use it for research and references. Other software packages that are important are Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Publisher, so investigate is these software packages come with the computer or if you have to purchase them separately. I would recommend that if you are buying a Windows laptop that it comes with Microsoft XP or a version that has come out after that. Do not buy a computer with a previous version of software than Windows XP, it is not modern enough for applications nowadays. For my course in particular, USB ports are a must have on a computer, in order to be able to avail of memory sticks. A CD disc drive is also great to have, but in my opinion not a necessity. That is one problem with small laptops as a lot of them do not have CD drives built in to them. Other great features to have on a laptop is a reasonably big screen, touch mousepad earphone ports.

A computer with a good memory is also extremely important for my course, in order to store documents for assignments and any other work. Microsoft recommends a minimum RAM (random access memory) of 128MB for Windows XP, which in fairness is not a lot. We have a Multimedia Design module in my course and a huge chunk of that is using Photoshop. So considering Photoshop takes up about 1GB of RAM, Microsoft’s recommendation would not be near enough for my ideal laptop.
           
Probably the biggest factor in deciding on a laptop to purchase (for a student especially) is cost. Laptops are not cheap, and in other to get a good one, you’re going to have to pay for it! There is no point in buying a laptop that costs an astronomical amount, in order to have a computer fancier than those at NASA. However, you know if you’re paying €100 for a laptop, it’s not going to be very effective, so you need to strike a balance. Establish the things you need for the laptop, and buy one that has these things. Don’t be tempted by unnecessary add-ons that will cost you more. There are hundreds of different computers out there, so find the right one for you!

Lastly, but most certainly not the least important factor is dependability. It is all well and good buying a brilliant laptop that has all the most modern software for a decent price, however if it only lasts for a year you have wasted your money. I would recommend buying a laptop made by a well-known company e.g. Dell. I would also advise anyone buying a new computer to inquire if warranty comes with the laptop or if you have to pay for it separately. Even if it does not come with the laptop, buy it, it will prove worthwhile if anything happens to your computer. So taking all these into consideration, I’m looking for a cheap mini-laptop, with Windows XP or Vista and software packages for Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Publisher included, a relatively large RAM, with USB ports, a touch mousepad and warranty included. I might be looking for a while!

Boy Meets Girl: How Facebook Functions in Modern Romance - ICT CA Article Summary No. 1

Everyone knows that Facebook and other forms of social networking have had a huge impact within our society, especially with teenagers. It has changed the way we meet, talk and build relationships with each other immensely. In particular it has had a huge impact on the way teens and young adults meet, flirt, fall in love and break up. In a fascinating study conducted by Seventeen magazine, we get a shocking overview of the repercussions our social networking has on our relationships. The study was conducted on 10,000 boys and girls between the ages of 16 - 21, and shows how much of an impact Facebook has on our relationships.

-Within one week of meeting a new person, 79% of people will add the person on Facebook. This is changing how we perceive ‘friends’ Most people would consider a friend someone they have known for a long time, who they communicate with often and who they know personally. Now it seems a friend is anyone you bump into on the street and talk to for 5 minutes.

-If they are interested in them romantically, 60% of people will click on this new friend’s profile once a day (40% check in on their new ‘obsession’ several times a day).

-21% of people said they would break up with someone by changing their relationship status, and 10% reported that they were dumped over Facebook. This is a horrifying depersonalisation of any relationship, being dumped over a social networking site, for all the world to see. Your friends could quite easily see it even before you do.

These incredible statistics show how much we depend on Facebook, and what an important part it plays in our lives. We also see that not only does Facebook play a huge role in developing relationships, but also in ending them. These statistics would bring anyone to believe that social networking is eroding interpersonal communication and relationships based on real-life events, however this is not the belief of the youngsters studied in the survey. A staggering 72% of them said that they believe talking to someone online actually brings you closer to them in real life. At the rate we‘re going, it seems, in 10 years time we won’t be able to converse in person anymore, rather through some sort of computer mediated communication!
Some more interesting information came from the study, backing up the fact that we are turning into a technology-obsessed society.

-43% of girls would decide to date someone or not based on their Facebook profile, compared with 33% of guys.
-17% of guys wouldn’t share their relationship status on Facebook, compared with 12% of girls.
-50% of girls actually enjoy changing their relationship status, compared with 33% of guys, while 24% of guys find it unnecessary, compared with 17% of girls.

These statistics show that the girls are leading the battle against relationships that aren’t based on Facebook. However, the boys aren’t far behind, which shows that this worrying trend is only set to get worse in the future!


Article taken from http://www.mashable.com/
Link: http://mashable.com/2010/11/19/seventeen-facebook-study/

6 Ways to score a Job Through Twitter - ICT CA Article Summary No. 2

We all know how hard employment is to come by in the current economic climate, and how hard it will be to come by in the foreseeable future, but some have come across it in an unlikely place, a website most of us know called Twitter. Employers have actually been known to hire people based on what they tweet, and by reading this article you could have employers knocking on your door (or following your tweets) in no time. Mashable.com have spoken with 9 tweeters who have landed a job through the website, and they give their top 6 tips on how to make your online job hunting successful.

Tweet like an industry expert.

Your tweets should be informative, relative and represent you as a professional individual and an expert within your industry with important and unique ideas to contribute. Christa Keizer, an intern at a strategy and communications firm at the time, used Twitter to post industry related tweets on a daily basis to establish credibility, and was subsequently offered a job in the company she was interning in.

Use Twitter hashtags.

You can find job listings and general advice on Twitter by simply using hash tags, e.g. #jobadvice. Most industry conferences have their own hashtags nowadays, so when you see one approaching, even if your not attending, get involved using the hashtag. It’s all about getting your name out there, and making a connection with possible employers

Connect with recruiters and current employers.

Don’t hesitate to research the companies you want to work for and find out who is involved with recruiting there. Even if they are not hiring at the moment, stay in touch with recruiters and employees, that way when a position opens up, you may be contacted.

Build a relevant network.

Twitter is all about networking, it’s a social networking site! So why not use it in order to build yourself a network of people relevant to the area you would like to work in? Surprisingly a lot of people who have successfully obtained employment over Twitter weren’t even looking for a job! It’s all about who you know, and the more people you do know, the better your chances are. So begin to make your social network, you could be one acquaintance away from securing your new job!

Start a ‘Hire Me’ campaign.

Although this may not be the best strategy for every type of job out there, it has proven to be very effective for many, including Eric Romer, who, after a job posting for his dream job, he set up a website, Facebook page, Youtube account and Twitter page (being the most effective in his opinion) all in the name of getting the job. Within 48 hours he had received a call and subsequently got the job!

Take it offline.

Quite obviously, a relationship online cannot be as strong as one in the real world, so arranging to meet a business acquaintance who you may have met on Twitter first may be a great idea in your efforts to secure a job. Once you’ve gained a certain level of dialogue with a potential employer, meeting them will boost your relationship and help in obtaining the job!

As you can see from these easy tips, its not that hard to secure a job, you just have to look in the right places!

Article taken from http://www.mashable.com/

Link: http://mashable.com/2010/11/27/twitter-job-tips/

Last night.

Thats all I have to say on the matter.

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment.

Here's the links to the fascinating experiment Zimbardo carried out demonstrating the powerful effect roles can have on people's behaviour.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GpuB_Q2RUw&feature=related

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHc5vX1m_zk&feature=related

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg37p1RxnSk&feature=related

New Blog

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It was crap anyway..