Research activities – Psychology Faculty

Research Strands

Scientific Disciplinary Sector M-PED/04, M-PED/03, M-PSI/01, M-PSI/05

Prof. Maria Amata Garito
Dr. Michalakis Pilavakis – Researcher

The study and research on the recent developments of the virtual learning communities and on the Web 2.0 tools consists in a survey on the emerging dynamics in the learning community including the students of the Psychology Faculty and in a survey on the technologies used for collaborating and for sharing knowledge. Survey on learning styles and the impact of the new Web-based technologies. The Web 2.0 tools such as WIKIs, Twitter micro-blogging, FlickR photo, LinkedIn discussions, Video sharing, DELICIOUS social bookmarking, Social Tagging, RSS are of particular interest. Another focus is on technological innovations such as scalable multimedia contents based on the features of the different use devices, the spreading of the geo-localized services, the adoption of mobile devices and the spreading of social tagging. Research on this field represents an essential premise to facilitate the study of the distributed, de-centralized and constructive nature of learning and knowledge acquisitions processes.

Research in this field is strictly linked to research questions such as: which is the impact of emerging technologies on the Web and that of Social Media on customized learning processes and on knowledge acquisition processes? The study of the processes of the collective construction of meanings and the discovery of patterns in knowledge acquisition represent one of the main elements for innovating UNINETTUNO distance learning psycho-pedagogic models. 
A further research field concerns media education, that is the pedagogical modes of media education in formal as well as in informal environments. Media Education studies both the methodologies through which media are object of education as well as media general development policies in education paying particular attention on citizenship, intercultural dialogue, children protection, digital story-telling, educational technologies.

S.S.D M-PSI/06 M-PSI/07, M-PSI/08

A research-intervention activity in various fields of developmental psychopathology at child level as, for instance, in the area of child nutrition disturbs and in other clinical situations is conducted. Developmental disharmonies and children’s emotional-adaptive behavior is considered and studied in conjunction with parent psychopathological risk from an inter-subjectivity and attachment perspective. In particular, attention is paid to mother’s depression as risk factor in the construction of an adaptive link between mother and child in association with father’s symptomatic situations such as anxiety or hostility. An experimentation of research-intervention protocols based on methodologies of data collection and clinical interviews made on online platform and through videoconferencing systems according to indications given by the World Health Organization (WHO) that suggested to implement and realize “e-health” and “m-health” procedures is being carried on. These research strands are deepened in cooperation with national and international institutions and services such as, for example, Rome’s Pediatric Hospitals, the Nutrition Center directed by Prof. Chatoor at the University of Washington (USA)  and Reading-Oxford University (United Kingdom) where Prof. Murray works.

The research work on trauma is conducted in cooperation with the Italian association “Caritas” and it allows to further study issues related to PTSD as a clinical situation developing further to potentially traumatic events, such as children and adults’ forced migrations.

The risk area in adolescence is treated in the frame work of an observatory on young people in collaboration with a Roman trauma hospital and a work group including also Prof. Carbone. In 2011-2014 year these research works produced several scientific publications appeared in peer-reviewed international journals having an impact-factor and were included also in the Scopus database. In addition, a research work, based on the a face-to-face and online data collection on risk and risk protection factors from psychopathological risk in adulthood and its side-effects as it regards academic performance is underway. For this area international publications are being prepared.<

In addition, a Psychological Counseling Service, both face-to-face and at distance, which includes also data collection on psychopathological risks.

The Counseling and Psychological Service Center will be aimed at collecting research data and at implementing intervention strategies even thanks the use of the new technologies (online data collection and by implementing special procedures and computer-based platforms to be integrated to UNINETTUNO’s portal). It will also offer a support to all those who may find themselves facing situation of emotional distress linked to personal and/or relational difficulties and/or stressing and traumatic events that may jeopardize the quality of their personal and familiar life as well as their study paths.

Even in this case the aim of this Center is to experiment and assess the effectiveness of “remote” procedures allowing distance contacts between consultants and users. The Counseling and Psychological Service Center will be targeted to the students of the Psychology Faculty as well as to the students of other Faculties and also to external users who request it also based on conventions with healthcare and research centers.

Internet Addiction Center

UNINETTUNO suggests to implement a research line aimed at enhancing its competences in the use of the Web which, by now, starts since the first years of life and which has become a widespread social fact. If, from one hand, the Internet fosters the advancement of research, knowledge and socialization of knowledge, at the same time, there are risks that can involve those who use it. This is the reason why UNINETTUNO is going to set up a center supporting people to safely navigate it carrying on a prevention activity through information and awareness raising at social, school and family level assured by psychologists (and engineering as regards the information literacy diffusion) in order to help to make an informed and selective use of the opportunities offered by the Web. At the same time, since there are significant risks while using the Web, the Center will specifically deal with the tracking and support of the people who faced problems or difficulties in using the Web. For instance, you can come across games and bets on the Web having serious effects, the use and spread of pornographic or sex materials (used for commercial as well as for blackmailing purposes) as well as various forms of abuse and stalking up to forms of Internet addiction that can interfere with the daily life of people and with the sleep-wake cycles. These situations affect different age ranges, but they can be more troublesome in adolescence when the use of the Web can be particularly involving. To this end a team of psychologists coordinated by Prof. Ammaniti will receive the requests of parents, teachers and/or concerned people who found themselves in these situations. The requests can be made on the phone, personally or thanks to the Center and there will be counseling session to help people to overcome these problems and make a more reasonable use of the Web.