HRPYC81 Project 1 Assignment 3 (RESEARCH PROPOSAL) 2026 - The Psychology of Mattering

HRPYC81 Project 1 Assignment 3 (RESEARCH PROPOSAL) 2026 - The Psychology of Mattering ... Imagine Siphokazi, a junior lecturer at a psychology department. She works very hard, but her contributions go unnoticed. She starts to feel like her work in the department doesn't matter. Now, suppose that the Head of the Department acknowledges Siphokazi’s academic efforts in a departmental meeting by praising her for publishing in high-impact journals, and asks for her input on how to improve the quality of published research in the department. Suddenly, Siphokazi feels noticed, valued, and needed. Siphokazi psychologically experiences that she matters. Or remember when you were a teenager, and your parents sought your opinion on a family decision. For sure, you felt that you mattered. Or listen to the song “You are loved (Don’t give up) by Josh Groban and ask yourself, why you might like it? Perhaps, because the song assures us that we are important, loved, and matter? If you are a fan of the late Michael Jackson, listen to the song “Man in the Mirror”. After listing, you might be actually motivated to matter. Mattering, the psychological need to both feel valued and add value to others (Prilleltensky, 2020), has been argued to be fundamental to our judgments of the meaning of life (Costin & Vignoles, 2020). More specifically, research has shown that individuals’ perceptions of being important to others enhance their sense of well-being (Oyserman et al., 2007; Giangrasso et al., 2022; Matera et al., 2021; Paradisi et al., 2024; Scarpa et al., 2021), and self-esteem (Matera et al., 2020), and can reduce anti-social behaviours (Schmidt, 2018) and depression and anxiety (Dixon et al., 2009). Mattering, grounded in various psychological theoretical foundations (e.g., self-determination theory, social identity theory) and related to concepts such as belonging, self-esteem, and social support, is often described as comprising different interrelated dimensions (e.g., awareness, importance, reliance). Recent research suggests that the experience of mattering is related to various factors, including social support from family, peers, and the community, stable relationships with family, peers, and the community, relationship satisfaction, purpose in life, feelings of belonging, happiness, self-esteem, mental health, prosocial orientation and behaviour, and resilience, among others. The proposed research project will examine the relationship between these listed factors and individuals’ sense of mattering (and anti-mattering). In addition, sociodemographic 2 variables such as age, gender, relationship status, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status will be included as potential control variables. The listed factors define the scope of the individual research projects that students will conduct within this research project, culminating in their research report. Specifically, each student is required to select at least two of the listed factors to formulate their individual research problem and research hypotheses for their research project on the psychological experience of mattering. The introduction typically begins by framing your proposed research project. When we frame our research, we provide reasons that justify the research, for instance, on the experience of mattering. What possible issues could be addressed if we had more knowledge about this psychological experience and its related factors, and how could this knowledge contribute to solving current problems faced in South Africa? What are such problems? A proper framing of your research project helps set the readers’ expectations for what the research project will and will not include. Thus, outline what your study will address. Introduce the psychological constructs and their relationships, and state how they will be scientifically explored. The introduction is usually one paragraph and never exceeds one page. Literature Review Start your literature review by introducing the main concept, by outlining how it has been conceptualised by various researchers, and by highlighting the similarities and differences among their various conceptualisations. This part of your literature review should conclude with a workable definition of mattering based on the literature. The second part of your literature review provides an overview of at least four (4) factors that influence, at least four (4) factors that are influenced, by the experience of mattering, and at least two (2) factors that share bidirectional relations with the experience of mattering. These factors must be derived from the list of preselected factors for this research project. Provide various sources for the relationships you outline. The third part of your literature review focuses on at least two (2) factors that your research project will examine in relation to the 26 experience of mattering. Select these two factors from the preselected factors for this research project. Remember, this part is the most crucial part of your literature review, as it informs your research hypotheses. Here, you need to demonstrate that you have read extensively and studied various sources, which will allow you to synthesise information, such as consistent or inconsistent empirical findings, concerning the relationships between your selected predictor/outcome variable and the main concept of your research project, the experience of mattering. The literature review should logically lead to the research hypotheses you propose for your research project. Research Hypotheses State at least TWO research hypotheses you propose testing. A research hypothesis is a tentative answer to the research question concerning the relationship between psychological phenomena. Ensure that the research hypotheses are testable by the measurements applied in this research project (check under Measurements above). The Proposed Study Research Method Outline the research method that will be used to test your hypotheses in your proposed study. Remember, the research project you selected has been pre-defined, including the research method that will be applied. Thus, the research method you state must be the same as outlined for the overall research project. Justify why the selected research method is appropriate to test your research hypotheses. Participants Describe the participants you will approach (i.e., sample size, sampling technique, inclusion and exclusion criteria). When you select the sample size, sampling technique, inclusion and exclusion criteria, ensure that this information corresponds with the research project you selected. Procedure/Ethical Considerations Outline how the data will be collected, including how potential participants will be approached, what information they will receive, and how ethical principles will be adhered to. Remember, we inform about the procedure so any other researcher can replicate the study you propose or report on. Outline the basic ethical considerations considered relevant by the APA for Research and Publication (see available Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct by APA, Section 8 “Research and Publication”), and outline how they will be guaranteed in the study you propose. 27 Measurements Outline the measurements that will be used to test your proposed hypotheses. Outline each measurement you propose to use to test your research hypotheses by stating its name, source(s), and number of items, an example item, the response format, the meaning of the scores, and information available about the validity and reliability of the measurement. It is sufficient that you report only those measurements relevant to your research hypotheses. However, the measurements must be the same as those used in the research project. Also, do not forget to outline the demographic information that will be assessed. Data Analysis and Expected Results Outline which statistical test you propose applying to test your research hypotheses. Also, outline how your results of the statistical analysis should look so that they confirm your research hypotheses. Read less