Research Proposal
Proposed Thesis Statement:
We must address the growing concern of children’s increasing addiction to technology by implementing strict measures such as educating them on responsible technology usage and setting limits on their screen time.
Topic Overview:
In today’s fast-paced world, the increasing reliance on technology has become a significant concern for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. The prevalence of children’s addiction to technology has increased with the widespread availability of electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets. Kids spend more time on screens than ever before, which is detrimental to their physical health, mental well-being, and social development.
Excessive use of technology can have several adverse effects on our well-being. That can lead to gaining weight, sleep problems, social isolation, anxiety, and depression, particularly in children who spend too much time in front of screens. In addition to causing stress, social media and digital platforms can negatively impact users’ self-esteem, as they may need to meet unrealistic expectations and seek validation from others. We must be mindful of our technology use and seek balance to maintain our physical and mental health. To effectively address the issue of technology dependency and promote healthy screen habits among youth, we must strive to gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon. By doing so, we can develop appropriate strategies to address this issue in an effective and discreet way.
Guardians and instructors have a significant impact by regulating screen time, promoting physical exertion and outdoor activities, and cultivating an optimistic and nurturing atmosphere that encourages healthy conduct and socializing. Moreover, healthcare specialists can extend valuable counsel and assistance to youngsters and their families, aiding them in confidently managing technology’s effects on their physical and emotional wellness.
Research Questions:
1. What are the factors contributing to children’s addiction to technology?
2. How does excessive screen time impact children’s physical health?
3. How does technology addiction affect children’s social development?
4. How can parents and educators help children limit their screen time and develop healthy tech habits?
5. What role can government policies play in regulating children’s access to technology?
Methodology:
To ensure the credibility of my research project, I plan to incorporate a wide range of secondary sources, including scholarly articles, books, and reports focused on technology addiction in children. My primary objective is to deliver a rigorous and trustworthy study by cross-referencing data from numerous sources and scrutinizing the legitimacy of each source. This means I will carefully evaluate each source to ensure it is reliable, relevant, and up-to-date and that the information provided is supported by empirical evidence.
Furthermore, I aim to comprehensively analyze the subject by considering various viewpoints. This will involve engaging with multiple perspectives and examining the strengths and weaknesses of each argument. In doing so, I hope to provide a more nuanced and well-rounded understanding of technology addiction in children.
Overall, my research project will be characterized by a high degree of detail and thoroughness. I am committed to producing an academically rigorous and socially relevant study. I am committed to making a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on the effects of technology on children’s growth and development.
Proposed Outline:
I. Introduction
– Definition of technology addiction in children
– Importance of addressing this issue
II. Factors contributing to technology addiction in children
– Influence of media and advertising
– Psychological effects of screen time
III. Impact of technology addiction on children’s health
– Physical consequences
– Mental health implications
IV. Effects on social development
– Decreased face-to-face interactions
– Development of social skills
V. Strategies for limiting screen time
– Setting boundaries at home
– Educating parents and educators
VI. Government policies and regulations
– Role of policymakers in addressing tech addiction
– Examples of successful initiatives
VII. Conclusion
– Recap of critical points
– Call to action for addressing children’s addiction to technology
Works Cited
Anson, Chris M. “Distant Voices: Teaching and Writing in a Culture of Technology.” College English, vol. 61, no. 3, 1999, pp. 261–80. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/379069. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
CRITTENDEN, CAMILLE. “The Kids Are Online—and Alright.” Issues in Science and Technology, vol. 36, no. 1, 2019, pp. 43–47. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26949078. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Daugherty, Lindsay, et al. “Moving Beyond Screen Time: Redefining Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use in Early Childhood Education.” Moving Beyond Screen Time: Redefining Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use in Early Childhood Education, RAND Corporation, 2014, pp. 1–8. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/j.ctt14bs43q.1. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Deborah J. Chavez. “Youth Day in Los Angeles: Evaluating the Role of Technology in Children’s Nature Activities.” Children, Youth and Environments, vol. 19, no. 1, 2009, pp. 102–24. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.19.1.0102. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Haugland, Susan W. “What Role Should Technology Play in Young Children’s Learning?: Part 1.” Young Children, vol. 54, no. 6, 1999, pp. 26–31. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42727719. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Mackinnon, Katie, and Leslie Regan Shade. “‘God Only Knows What It’s Doing to Our Children’s Brains’: A Closer Look at Internet Addiction Discourse.” Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures, vol. 12, no. 1, summer 2020, pp. 16+. Gale Literature Resource Center, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643063368/GLS?u=aacc_ref&sid=bookmark-GLS&xid=23837213. Accessed 7 Apr. 2024.
Shields, Margie K., and Richard E. Behrman. “Children and Computer Technology: Analysis and Recommendations.” The Future of Children, vol. 10, no. 2, 2000, pp. 4–30. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1602687. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Upitis, Rena. “Girls (and Boys) and Technology (and Toys).” Canadian Journal of Education / Revue Canadienne de l’éducation, vol. 26, no. 2, 2001, pp. 164–82. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1602199. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
William Sugar, et al. “Examining Teachers’ Decisions To Adopt New Technology.” Journal of Educational Technology & Society, vol. 7, no. 4, 2004, pp. 201–13. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.7.4.201. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Essay Assignment: Research Essay
Process:
In class we have read the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. This book aligns with the theme
of the theme of this course, which is “Living a Good Life.” Recently, you have completed a
Research Proposal outlining a topic agreed upon by the student and the professor. Additionally,
you have completed two argumentative essays (Aristotelian and Rogerian), which helped you to
develop academic arguments. Reflecting on your professor’s feedback on these essays, it is now
time to continue developing your writing and research skills in the Research Essay.
The Research Essay will build upon the skills you developed in the previous essays. Note: you
may utilize either the Aristotelian or the Rogerian essay as the foundation for your Research
Essay. Sources utilized for one of the previous essays may carry over to your Research Essay.
However, you also have the option of developing a new topic with new sources. The topic of
your essay must connect to the theme or broad idea mentioned by your professor in class, which
is “Living a Good Life.” The Research Essay requires a dedicated counter-argument paragraph.
Format:
The Research Essay will contain at least (8) double-spaced pages written in Times New Roman,
font size 12. The essay will be formatted with one-inch margins, a proper MLA heading and title,
and a formal Works Cited page. The Research Essay requires at least twelve (12) sources from
mediums (books, e-books, journals, e-journals, magazines, e-magazines, interviews, government
sources, organizations, academic databases, newspaper articles, web sites, etc.) authored by
identifiable professionals in their respective fields. At least four different source mediums must
be included in the essay; in other words, sources cannot all be newspaper articles. The essay will
include at least four different sub-topics, each supported with outside sources.
The instructor will provide sample topics and model paragraphs for students to review. The
primary objective of the essay is to argue or prove to the readers that an identified problem or
issue can be effectively remedied by applying various strategies, approaches, or solutions
(thereby helping them to live a better life.)
Support:
Students will have opportunities to discuss the assignment and provide a rough draft for review.
Students are encouraged to attend workshops offered by the Writing Center and to make an
appointment in the Writing Center or Virtual Writing Center for additional guidance. Students
will be provided with sample paragraphs, sample topics, sample thesis statements and topic
sentences, and writing resources.
Essay Grading Rubric
Component Points
MLA format
Spacing, margins, heading, title
/5
Introduction Paragraph /4
Thesis statement /5
Topic Sentences /10
Evidence/quote selection /10
Tone, diction, syntax, vocabulary /5
Grammar/Sentence Structure /10
Quote Integration /5
Thoughtful, relevant analysis supporting
topic sentences & thesis statement
/40
Conclusion paragraph /6
Any essay without proper MLA citations (in-text or Works Cited page) may be penalized up to 10
points at the discretion of the instructor. The paper will not be eligible for credit if written on a
topic that, in the judgment of the instructor, does not align with the assigned topic/prompt. The
essay will not be eligible for credit if, in the judgment of the instructor, the student has utilized
Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT to generate any portion of the essay or if
