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Activity: Does technology harm our our relationships with others? 

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Activity: Does technology harm our our relationships with others? 

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ATL: Creative thinking skills

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Activity: Does technology harm our our relationships with others?

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Gathering research requires putting together evidence and information from a variety of sources. Citing sources shows readers how a writer has researched and formed conclusions. Sources provide historical context and allow scholars to extend credit to other researchers' and ideas.

In academic research, whether it's in the social sciences, humanities, or natural sciences, it's important to distinguish between the types of sources used. From creating a convincing argument that informs the reader that an author is reporting firsthand impressions, to relaying the experiences and opinions of others, both primary and secondary sources are essential to creating novel, interesting, and effective academic research and writing.

When writers use primary sources, they are using raw information and firsthand evidence such as interview transcripts, memoirs, statistical data, and works of art. Secondary sources, on the other hand, constitute secondhand information and commentary made by other researchers. Secondary sources include journal articles, reviews, and academic books.

What is a Primary Source?

A primary source is an original material created at the time a historical event occurs, or soon afterward, and can be original documents, creative works, material published in modern times, institutional and government documents, or relics and artifacts. Authors citing primary sources relay the subjective interpretation of a witness to an event, which allows historians to use the materials to interpret and analyze the past.

Diaries, letters, memoirs, personal journals, speeches, manuscripts, direct interviews, and other unpublished works can be primary sources and typically serve as the main objects of an analysis or research work. Published pieces, including newspaper or magazine articles, photographs, audio or video recordings, research reports in the natural or social sciences, or original literary or theatrical works are all considered primary sources.

An example of how a primary source is used includes the collection of research associated with the spread of a particular disease and the use of source material that may include medical statistical data, interviews with medical experts and patients, and laboratory results. In cases of research related to historical events, an author may not be able to access direct evidence because the people associated with the event may no longer be alive, but sources produced by witnesses at that time may be used. This includes photographs, video footage, letters, diary entries, and newspaper reports at the time of the event.

What is a Secondary Source?

Secondary sources are created by someone who did not experience firsthand or participate in the events or conditions being researched. Secondary sources are used to interpret and analyze primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event and may contain pictures, quotes, or graphics of primary sources. They are used to interpret, assign value to, conjecture upon, and draw conclusions about the events reported in primary sources. Textbooks, edited works, books, and articles that interpret or review research works, histories, biographies, literary criticism and interpretation, reviews of law and legislation, political analyses, and commentaries are all examples of secondary sources.

Authors of research studies cite secondary sources to support arguments, formulate new theories, or argue against existing information in the field. Using secondary sources, researchers reinforce theories or arguments based on primary sources.

Differences Between a Primary and Secondary Source

Primary and secondary sources are the two types of materials used for research, and while both are important to creating well-developed projects, they are vastly different. Primary sources offer raw information, or the first-hand evidence compiled by research, whereas secondary sources interpret or analyze the information from primary sources.

The most significant difference between two different types of sources is that primary sources gives direct access to the subject of the research, while secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers.

Secondary sources offer summaries, critiques, opinions, and analyses, and are written by people who did not witness or have a direct part in the event or events they are describing. Based on the accounts of primary sources, this type of source is the author's interpretation of the event or subject matter they are writing about.

The information gathered using primary sources offers direct, first-hand information, while secondary sources relay other peoples' interpretation of the event. Information based on primary source material gives readers direct access to the subject of the research, while secondary sources provide commentary from other researchers.

On occasion, primary sources can be both subjective and personal because an individual's firsthand account is based on the views and opinions formed from the experience.

Secondary sources are typically objective and gives the reader the opportunity to evaluate a source by purpose and objectivity by asking questions such as if the information provided is biased, or whether the purpose of the research is to inform, teach, sell, entertain, provide public services, or persuade.

As a firsthand or contemporary account of an event or topic, a primary source has not been modified by interpretation and offers an original thought or new information. Primary sources function as the main object of analysis in a research study, whereas secondary resources are used to describe, interpret, generalize, or synthesize primary sources. Secondary sources help readers understand second-hand information and commentary and can detail how and why a historical event occurred.

Primary or Secondary Source?

Determining if a document or research project uses primary or secondary sources isn't always easily discernible based on the publication it's found in. Newspaper and magazine articles are usually considered secondary sources. However, if a story in a newspaper describes a war through an eyewitness account, then it would be a primary source.

To use sources efficiently and in the correct manner, it's important to identify the background of each source and the reason for including it in an author's work. This helps researchers distinguish between their contribution and the argument expressed by the sources used. Helpful questions a writer may ask when citing primary or secondary sources include:

How does the author know these details (names, dates, times)?

Was the author present at the event or soon on the scene?

Where does this information come from-personal experience, eyewitness accounts, or reports written by others?

Are the author's conclusions based on a single piece of evidence, or have many sources been taken into account (e.g., diary entries, third-party eyewitness accounts, impressions of contemporaries, and newspaper accounts)?

All source materials used should be assessed critically, as even the most ethical and thorough work is viewed through the eyes of the writer or interpreter.

Take a look at other articles from WGU. Our articles feature information on a wide variety of subjects, written with the help of subject matter experts and researchers who are well-versed in their industries. This allows us to provide articles with interesting, relevant, and accurate information.

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What Is the Difference Between a Primary and Secondary Source?

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Primary and secondary sources are types of evidence used in research projects. Discover how to tell the difference between them.

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HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS?

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HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS?

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There are many ways technology can affect our relationship, both positively and negatively.

On one hand technology can weaken our friends, constant phone use can divide our attention and reduce meaningful face to face interaction and replacing it by brief, short messages. Conversations become shallow and the emotional bond with the people you love can become weakened. Social media further complicates relationships by encouraging comparison, leading to insecurities and focuses less on authentic relationships. Overtime this can create emotional distance with the people we are physically close with.

On the other hand, technology has the power to strengthen relationships. It allows people to stay connected across long distances, maintain friendships, and build communities that might otherwise be inaccessible. For many, digital communication provides a safe space to express emotions and seek support. Used thoughtfully, technology can enhance understanding and closeness rather than replace it.

For many, the internet is more than a tool, it is their voice. People with disabilities can communicate, build friendships, and share their thoughts in ways that might be impossible offline. For minorities, it offers visibility, a space where their experiences are acknowledged and their opinions can be heard.

In our opinion, we think that if used correctly, technology can strengthen our relationships and our social skills leading to more positive connections with others but when you use it for non meaningful interaction it creates more distance. Ultimately, it's all about how you use the tools in your hands and how responsibly you use them.

Bibliography:

Przybylski, Andrew K., and Netta Weinstein. “Digital Screen Time Limits and Young Children’s Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From a Population-Based Study.” Child Development, vol. 90, no. 1, 2019, pp. e56–e65. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1111/cdev.13007.

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HOW DOES NEW TECHNOLOGY AFFECT OUR IDENTITES AND RELATIONSHIPS

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How can technology affect our relationships with our loved ones?

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How can technology affect our relationships with our loved ones?

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There are many ways technology affects our relationships with our loved ones. Some are harmful some are positive.

The causes of technology are many, one of them is that it could affect our relations with others through making us less social, more busy with our phones and causes us to me ignorant and paranoid.

The positives of technology are that it can allow us to connect with people at all times, especially our loved ones. For example one of your loved ones are in a different country. Technology allows us to connect with then and talk to them at all times even from different places.

For most people now days the internet is the place or media were you can speak without anybody judging you and more. It allows people to connect with people.

We believe that if technology is used properly it can change the way our relations are and can strengthen and our social skills with others. It depends on how you use the technology in your hands.

If responsibly it will give you positives. If not can harm rather than help.

I got the info from my brainstorming with my teammates and from my self nothing more. I would like to credit the post of Aleena-Noors group as there post helped us significantly too with their information.

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Does technology affect our relationship with others?

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Does technology affect our relationship with others?

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Technology can negatively interfere with a relationship, but its effects depend on how it's used.

For example, it can be beneficial for people who use technology to keep in touch or strengthen their connection can benefit from its use, especially with trying to maintain a long distance relationship and keeping in contact with family and friends who you don’t see as often and allows more communication between both parties.

However, it can also have a negative affect on relationships when a person’s technology use interferes with their relationships or social interactions, such as scrolling through social media at dinner or checking a text in the middle of a conversation, and can make people feel ignored and unimportant. Technoference can impact every kind of relationship, whether it be a parent and child, friends and classmates, or even between parents.

And many parents and experts worry that technoference hurts the parent-child relationship. Research shows that parents using phones around kids pay less attention, talk less, and have lower quality of conversations or interactions with their kids. This matters because children develop best with support and interaction from their parents.

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Black and Blue Modern Technology Presentation

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Does Technology Harm Our Lives - Presentation

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Check out this Presentation designed by Shiea Bangin.

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Black and Blue Modern Technology Presentation

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ACTIVITY: DOES TECHNOLOGY HARM OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS?

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ACTIVITY: DOES TECHNOLOGY HARM OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS?

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-Does technology harm our relationships with others?

Technology plays a vital role in our lives, shaping how we communicate with each other. Smartphones, social platforms, and messaging apps allow quick communication, simplifying keeping in touch. However, despite these good points, technology can also get in the way of good relationships. This brings up the arguable question of whether technology hurts our relationships with others.

One main way technology can hurt relationships is by making face-to-face talks less good.

A common issue is phubbing, which happens when people check their phones while talking. This can make others feel ignored or not important, making emotional bonds weaker. When phones and screens are often used during meals, family time, or talks, real interaction goes down. Over time, not paying attention can lead to upset feelings, more stress, and more fights in relationships.

Technology can also cause misunderstandings. Text messages and online talks lack important clues like how someone's voice sounds, their face looks, and body language. Because of this, messages can be easily misunderstood. A short reply or slow response might be seen as rude or not caring, even if the sender didn't mean it that way. These misunderstandings can break trust and cause needless arguments, especially when serious things are talked about online instead of in person.

Social media also has a big emotional effect, especially on kids and teenagers. Young people are often more open to online bad feelings, drama, and harmful actions. Some people use the internet to insult or hurt others emotionally, which can harm self-esteem and mental health. In some cases, technology shows kids things they are not ready for emotionally, taking away their innocence and causing emotional harm. But, social media can also be a safe place for those who feel alone, giving support and connection when they really need it.

Another worry is the pretend interaction made by digital communication. People often think they are being social when commenting on posts or messaging online, but they might not truly know the person they are talking with. Online comments have become a replacement for real communication, even though replies are not promised and relationships are often not deep. Because of this, technology can lessen real human interaction. Many everyday interactions are now done through emails, texts, or automatic systems, which can make communication feel cold and separate.

Even with these problems, technology can still help relationships when used well. It lets people stay in touch through calls, messages, and video chats, which is very helpful for keeping up with friends or family who live far away. Technology also helps with daily plans and sharing important news fast.

To sum up, technology does not always hurt relationships, but using it too much or carelessly can weaken communication, emotional closeness, and real human connection. When used, thoughtfully and balanced with face-to-face talks technology can he helpful. So, technology both harms and helps relationships, depending on how it is used.

Bibliography

Center for Individual and Couple Counseling. Impact of Technology in Relationships. Center ICC, www.centericc.com/impact-of-technology-in-relationships/.

Care Clinics. The Impact of Technology on Modern Relationships. Care Clinics, www.care-clinics.com/the-impact-of-technology-on-modern-relationships/.

Kang, Shimi. Technology and Modern Relationships: Helpful or Hindersome? Dr. Shimi Kang, www.drshimikang.com/post/technology-modern-relationships-helpful-or-hindersome.

MedicineNet. Can Technology Destroy Relationships? MedicineNet, www.medicinenet.com/can_technology_destroy_relationships/article.htm.

Psychology Today. How Technology Can Help or Harm Relationships. Psychology Today, 2022, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-love-the-scientific-take/202208/how-technology-can-help-or-harm-relationships.

U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Partner Phubbing and Relationship Satisfaction. PubMed Central, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7430699/.

Utah State University. New Study Shows Impact of Technology on Relationships. USU Today, www.usu.edu/today/story/new-study-shows-impact-of-technology-on-relationships.

Zhao, Xueyan. Technology and Interpersonal Relationships. The Qualitative Report, vol. 19, no. 11, Nova Southeastern University, nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol19/iss11/2/.

Zhao, Xueyan. Technology and Interpersonal Relationships. The Qualitative Report, Nova Southeastern University, nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1260&context=tqr.

“How Does Technology Affect Our Relationships?” Quora, www.quora.com/How-does-technology-affect-our-relationships. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

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does technology harm our relationships with others

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Does technology harm our relationship with others?

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Does technology harm our relationship with ?

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Does technology harm our relationship with others?

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Does technology harm our relationship with others?

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does technology harm our relationship with others?

Technology can negatively interfere with a relationship, but its effects depend on how it's used.

For example, it can be beneficial for people who use technology to keep in touch or strengthen their connection can benefit from its use, especially with trying to maintain a long distance relationship and keeping in contact with family and friends who you don’t see as often and allows more communication between both parties.

However, it can also have a negative affect on relationships when a person’s technology use interferes with their relationships or social interactions, such as scrolling through social media at dinner or checking a text in the middle of a conversation, and can make people feel ignored and unimportant. Technoference can impact every kind of relationship, whether it be a parent and child, friends and classmates, or even between parents.

This kind of interference can slowly weaken emotional connections, especially when real conversations are replaced with screen time. When someone constantly chooses their phone over the people around them, it can lead to frustration and hurt feelings. Over time, this may cause people to feel less valued or ignored, which can damage relationships without it being noticed right away.

Technology can also affect the way people communicate. Texting and online messaging do not include tone of voice, facial expressions, or body language, making it easier for messages to be misunderstood. A message meant to be harmless can sound rude or uncaring, leading to unnecessary arguments. These problems are often easier to avoid through face-to-face communication.

Social media can also negatively influence relationships. People usually post only the best moments of their lives, which can cause others to compare their own relationships to what they see online. This can create feelings of jealousy, insecurity, or pressure, even when there is no real issue. As a result, relationships may suffer due to unrealistic expectations.

Another issue is the lack of quality time. Even when people are physically together, they may be distracted by notifications or social media. This can make others feel unimportant or unheard. Strong relationships require attention and effort, and constant phone use can take away from meaningful interactions.

However, technology itself is not entirely harmful. When used in moderation, it can support communication and help people stay connected. Setting boundaries, such as limiting phone use during important moments, can help prevent technology from interfering with relationships.

In conclusion, technology can harm relationships if it is overused or used at inappropriate times. While it offers many benefits, distractions and poor communication can weaken emotional connections. By using technology more thoughtfully and prioritizing real-life interactions, people can maintain healthier and stronger relationships.

Works Cited

Kushlev, Kostadin, and Elizabeth W. Dunn. “Checking Email Less Frequently Reduces Stress.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 43, 2015, pp. 220–228.

McDaniel, Brandon T., and Sarah M. Coyne. “Technoference: The Interference of Technology in Couple Relationships and Implications for Women’s Personal and Relational Well-Being.” Psychology of Popular Media Culture, vol. 5, no. 1, 2016, pp. 85–98.

Pew Research Center. “Social Media and Relationships.” Pew Research Center, 2018, www.pewresearch.org.

Turkle, Sherry. Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. Penguin Press, 2015.

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