Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Master of Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences , Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
With the increasing use of cyberspace, this environment has acted as a double-edged sword that, along with many benefits, has also caused harm. The aim of the present study is to meta-analyze the psychological and social harms of using cyberspace in Iran. In order to answer the research question, the meta-analysis method was used and a systematic review of past studies was conducted. The statistical population was all the research conducted related to the use of cyberspace in Iran between 2009 and 2013, with an emphasis on psychological and social harms. In order to collect information, a checklist of research design specifications was used. After the necessary investigations and sensitivity analysis, 20 studies that met the criteria in the database related to the meta-analysis were selected using purposive sampling. Of these studies, 8 were classified as psychological harms and 12 as social harms. CMA3 software was used to conduct this meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between the use of cyberspace and psychological and social harms. The average effect size of the use of cyberspace and its impact on psychological and social harms in the study sample in the aggregate is 0.320; in psychological harms independently, this amount is 0.318, and in the case of social harms, the effect size was 0.314. According to these values, the relationship between the use of cyberspace and psychological and social harms was confirmed. Also, according to Cohen's interpretation criteria system, these numbers represent a medium effect size. Therefore, in the use of cyberspace, attention should be paid to the harms and solutions to solve them.
Keywords