Research Proposal

Joseph Joosten

English 102

2/5/2014

 

Research Proposal: Understanding the Young Mind

Today’s youth is much different than what used to be playing outside with your friends. What ever happened to playing baseball, two hand touch football; wiffle ball, riding bikes, and roller blading? You could always find something to do outside in the nice weather. If it so happen to be raining kids would put on a rain jacket, boots and go puddle jumping. As for the snow I think everyone can agree that snow ball fights were a must, along with building Ole Frosty. When there was work to be done around the house the boys would get the yard back to shape and the girls would sweep and vacuum the house. It wasn’t always bad, you could learn a lot and find away to have fun doing the chores.

What ever happen to the old way of having fun, the days where there was always something to do? The main objective of this paper is not to tell you to work your kids to death or to shove them outside until the start to play, but to better understand why kids and young adults don’t want to go outside and play.

I feel that my peers have grown up enough to understand the issue at hand and have different backgrounds that might be able to help with the investigation. What I hope people get out of this paper is a better understanding of why young people have a different way of interacting now than they used to. If this paper does not give enough information I hope that it will at least inspire someone to do their own research and find out a better answer to the issue.

I will collect information by doing interviews with young adults ages varying from 7- 18 and adults 18- 65. Another way to collect information will be observations and research online articles. Books, journal articles, library catalogs, databases, and scholarly journals will help me with my investigation.

I will have six weeks from now to complete this research paper. I intend to compile a works cited page with most of my sources by the sixth of February along with my research proposal. I would like to have an outline done this week with all my reasons and supporting ideas to back up the reasons. Then I will start with the digging to find the information I need to make my position and statement valid and reasonable. By the third week I will have begun my first draft for the paper and have it edited by several peers. Then I will correct what I think needs to be done and rewrite what I do not need. By the forth week I should have a well written version of my paper ready for grammar modification and final revision. The fifth week will be a huge part of this paper for the rough draft will hopefully be a completed final version of my paper and will only need a little proof reading to complete last minute changes. Then it will be turned in the sixth week.

Some challenges I may have or run into may include the interviews, and the research information available. I have not looked into this issue but believe it is definitely something to check out. I don’t think time will be an issue except that I go to school full time and have a full time job. I will need to work on my writing skills to properly put together a college level research paper which might take a little practice and reviewing/correcting.

Working Bibliography

Gentile, Douglas. “Pathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8-18 A National    Study.” Google Scholar.com. Physiological Science. 29 May 2009. Web. 5 Feb.       2014.

This article helped me to realize that people have problems with getting addicted to video games. The article talked about ages 8-18 and did a survey to find out information. Pathological gamers spent twice as much time playing as non-pathological gamers and received poorer grades in school. This helps to back up my thesis statement that kids should spend more time outside rather than inside. It also gives me a better look at why kids aren’t outside more playing sports.

 

Biddle, Stuart JH. “Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Youth: Issues and         Controversies.” Google Scholar.com. Perspectives in Public Health. 124.1 (2004)     29-33. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

The article I just read explains the exact reason why I am writing this paper. It gives great examples of “couch-kids”, and not only relating them to video games but computer games and television. It states that too much of the youth population is sedentary and doesn’t go outside to play. This also is the same population that happens to be obese among children. There must be some solution for this problem whether it is the parents or the drive of the child. Eating habits can also play a huge role in this problem.

 

Guan, Shu-Sha Angie. “Youth Internet Use: Risks and Opportunities.” Google      Scholar.com. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 22.4 (2009) 351-356. Web. 5 Feb.           2014.

Risks and opportunities are present when young people search the internet. Bullying, addiction, and solicitation are risks that one might face and need to be protected from. This article states, “We need more research to understand which youth may be most susceptible and to develop targeted interventions to protect them”. The Internet also has many positive aspects and can be used to enhance youth learning. There are spelling games and grammar games I’m sure we have all played as kids. The only thing is that the internet at home must be better monitored.