updated proposal and annotated bibliography

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 happened 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 into 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 they start to play, but to better understand why kids and young adults don’t want to go outside and play.

I know quite a lot about this topic simply because I see it every day. I am part of the growing youth were electronics have developed along side. I observe friends every day on their mobile devices that can’t seem to get their eyes unglued from the screen. I also know of friends who are extremely addicted to their video games who have to play every night as if it were crack cocaine. I’ve done a little research on the addiction of video games, cell phones and addiction in general. Several sources such as Douglas Gentile in the article “Pathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8-18 A National Study,” stated there is an increasingly large amount of youth becoming addicted to their video games, published in 2009 by Physiological Science. This information coincides with other sources talking about the same problem. When a child is addicted to electronics they are being active. They sit inside playing on tablets, smart phones, and game consoles hooked up to their parents flat screen TV’s. Ask yourself, what happens if a young adult sits around all day? Well they get fat and fat leads to obese which nobody wants to be. Addiction to drugs can kill more than just lives; it can burn bridges with family, friends, and jobs. If a young adult creates an addictive behavior at such a young age they will be susceptible to other addictions when they get older. This is all information I have researched and have experienced first hand. I have also observed fellow friends and family members with their addictions. If we can put a limit on the time spent with electronics for kids now, we can decrease the chances of addictive behavior later on.

I have also been addicted to sports and hitting the gym multiple times a day. I did a little research on this and found an interesting article written by S. G. Krivoschekov and O.N. Lushnikov “Psychophysiology of Sports Addictions.” The article states that anything practiced daily can become addictive published by Human Psychology in 2011. Not only is tobacco addicting but the act of smoking is addicting as well. Behavior and repetition is just as addictive as a drug.

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.

While doing some research on mobile phones and children an article written by Michelle Maffei “Mobile Phones and Children,” I found some positive information about why children should get phones at a certain age. One of those reasons being to show them responsibility and another being the safety of the child so you know where they are at all times. Although there was positive information Min Kwon “The Smart Phone Addiction Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Version of Adolescents,” says there is a huge problem with kids and phones, especially smart phones published by PLoS ONE in 2013. This is true because smart phones now have everything you can think of at the touch of a screen. They have stores with thousands of applications that you can download, some free and some a small price. The Tom Tom that used to cost hundreds of dollars is now free on a smart phone. There are plenty of games to find that are just as addicting as doing heroin. Smart phones do make life easier for someone who isn’t dependant on the device.

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

“Addiction.” reference.com. Dictionary.com (2014): Web. 8 Feb. 2014.

This website gave me several definitions of addiction that I will be able to incorporate into my paper. Some definitions consist of World English Dictionary, World Origin and History, The Medical Dictionary and the Science Dictionary.

 

Biddle, Stuart JH. “Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Youth: Issues and         Controversies.” Perspectives in Public Health. Google Scholar.com. 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. This will give me great backup for my side on the issue and will use it accordingly.

 

“Capital District YMCA.” Cdymca.org. (2014). Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

I looked up the YMCA to find out what activities you can do as a kid. The YMCA now offers a summer camp for your kid to attend to. This can help with lazy kids who do nothing but play video games. Your child will have the chance to make friends and to be active. There are other opportunities to do this through the YMCA you just need the incentive to sign up. I can use this by stating an alternative to playing video games and other inactive hobbies.

 

Christman, Kimberly. Personal Interview. 8 Feb. 2014.

Kim is a 20 year old college student transferring to Washington State University next semester. I asked this young lady what she thought about cell phone use in young adults. She replied with, “I hate when I go to hang out with my friends and everyone is texting or calling other friends on their cell phones, it’s annoying.” I asked then if she thought there was a positive outlook on technology amongst children and young adults? Her response was, “I think that we can learn a lot from technology but when it is abused or taken for granted then we lose track of what life has to offer without technology.” This made me think of what exactly she meant by saying that, which in turn made me research more in depth. Interviews are a great way to have a reader understand from a personal view.

 

Christman, William. Personal Interview. 8 Feb. 2014.

In this interview I spoke with a ten year old boy who loves his video games. He likes to play Mind Craft along with Grand Turismo 5. I asked him why he likes to play video games and he replied, “I have fun playing video games, I can play online with my friends and sometimes with random people.” When asked why he doesn’t play outside instead young William said, “I have more fun playing video games and there is nothing to do outside.” I asked several more questions about the sports that you could play outside and for the most part he said he partakes in baseball, football, and wrestling when he isn’t busy with homework and scouts. This individual is a key element in why I am writing this paper and will give me solid facts to put in this paper.

 

Drouin, Michelle and Carly Landgraff. “Texting, Sexting, and Attachment in College       Students’ Romantic Relationships.” Computers and Human Behavior.     EbscoHost.com. 22.2 (2012): 444-449. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

This article explains that teenagers and college student rely on their smart phones for their romantic relationships. Texting is for communication purposes and sexting for sending pictures over the phone. They choose this method instead of seeing someone in person because it is faster and easier. Some people would agree that this kind of relationship is meaningless to have and others would argue the opposite. This can give me a reason behind on of my key points that will strengthen my writing.

 

Emery, Davis. “Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do.” About.com.           Urban Legends (2005): Web. 7 Feb. 2014.

I found some interesting facts about cell phones that I didn’t know before. I will do further investigations on this in my personal experience to see if it is legend or truth. The author states that you can unlock your vehicle if someone else at home has the remote for the car. All you need to do is call them, have them press unlock, and your car is unlocked over the phone. This is very interesting and worth checking out. Interesting facts are nice to have in a paper if they add positive reinforcement to your position which this will help me do I think.

 

Gentile, Douglas. “Pathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8-18 A National    Study.” Physiological Science. Google Scholar.com. (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.

 

Guan, Shu-Sha Angie. “Youth Internet Use: Risks and Opportunities.” Current Opinion   in Psychiatry. GoogleScholar.com. 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. This backs up my statement and helps to lead my paper more to my side than the opposing side.

 

Heid, Markham. “4 Signs You’re Addicted to Your Cell Phone.” Menshealth.com. Mens              Health (2013): Web. 9 Feb. 2014.

This gave me four signs to tell if someone is addicted to their cell phones. Anticipation or thinking about calls and message you may receive is one sign you may be addicted. Activity interface is another sign, or choosing to spend time on your cellular device rather than your friends or family. If you get angry when someone interrupts your phone time or you aren’t getting enough phone time you may have emotional attraction to your phone. Problem recognition is the first step in fixing the problem many have. You must know you have a problem to fix the problem. With this information I will incorporate these signs into strong points with solid examples.

 

Krivoschekov, S. G. and O. N. Lushnikov. “Psychophysiology of Sports Addictions.”      Human Psychology. EbscoHost.com. 37.4 (2011): 509-513. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

There are chemical addictions as well as physical addictions. This author states that a behavior if practiced daily can be just as addictive as a drug. Going to the gym is one of the behavior physical addictions. Not only is tobacco addicting but the behavior of smoking a cigarette is also addicting. I will use this in my paper to state that there are more than just behavior addictions and chemical addictions. There are other ways to be addicted to things

 

Kuss, Daria J. “Internet Gaming Addiction: Current Perspectives.” Psychology Research              and Behavior Management. EbscoHost.com. 6 (2013): 125-137. Web. 5 Feb.        2014.

This article helped to better understand addiction. The author does not only say that video games are addicting, but explaining the “why” behind it. When playing a video game your brain chemical changes, which causes you to enjoy what you are doing. This is the same when someone uses drugs that have addictive behaviors. You can even experience withdraws from not gaming after you played for several days in a row. By bettering to understand addiction in general and with my past experience I can add an emotional appeal to this paper.

 

Kwon, Min. “The Smart Phone Addiction Scale: Development and Validation of a Short              Version of Adolescents.” PLoS ONE. EbscoHost.com. 8.12 (2013): 1-7. Web. 5          Feb. 2014.

I learned that the youth has a huge problem with cellular addiction mainly when it comes to smart phones. Everything you want is at the press of a button or slide of your finger. Smart phones are in every pocket in the United States and other countries as well. This has contributed to countless car accidents and is a hazard to the human race. Although there are many negative things to say about smart phones they do help people on a daily basis. This is a positive thing to say about smart phones and will be able to counter it with other facts and opinions.

 

Maffei, Michelle. “Mobile Phones and Children.” Sheknows.com. She Knows Parenting.              (2012): Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

This article gave me five good reasons on why children should have a cell phone. Mobile phones keep children safe. Mobile phones are convenience. Mobile phones are affordable. They can also help teach responsibility and Family bonding can come through text messaging. I agree with the safety a mobile phone can create plus the convenience and the responsibility that the child can obtain. You can then keep in contact to know your child is safe. You will know right away if plans change about pick up times. And responsibility is very important to learn at a young age. Having more reasons that are good about children having smart phones gives me more to either agree with or counter against.

 

Packer, Courtnie. “Are Teenagers Becoming Too Attached to Their Cell Phones.”              TopTenReviews.com. Top Ten Reviews. (2011): Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

I read some things in this article that really stood out to me. It listed some facts that they found during research that I will be able to use in my paper to help get my message across. For being such a short article it has a lot of useful information that will come in handy while writing. Most kids get a cell phone during the age of 12-13, some even at ten. Information regarding how much cell phones are used amongst teens daily will also help me with the message I believe. Having information such as this helps me with my opinion about my topic.

 

Richter, Linda. “Effectively Addressing Addiction Requires Changing the Language of  Addiction.” Journal of Public Health Policy. EbscoHost.com. 35.1 (2014): 60-        64. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

What society thinks addiction is and what addiction really is are two different definitions. Once you can understand the true meaning and how someone is addicted to anything you can understand how to help or where to get help. We need to make people aware that addiction is a disease and is not a quick fix. I have personal experience with addiction and will use this and my own to help me back up key points in my paper.

 

Rosen, Larry D. “Facebook and Texting Made Me do it: Media-induced task-switching    while studying.” Computers and Human Behavior. EbscoHost.com. 29.3 (2013):      948-958. Web 5 Feb. 2014.

In this article the author explains that students tend to use Facebook and text while they study. This creates longer study periods and less effective works as a result. They did a study to come up with percentages of students who did this all the time and on occasion. Having information that states how teens behave when having a cell phone or social media will strengthen my side of the issue and I will be able to put it on paper.

 

Tulane, Sarah, and Troy E. Beckert. “Perception of Texting: A Comparison of Female       High School and College Students.” North American Journal of psychology.  EbscoHost.com. 15.2 (2013): 395-404. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

In a recent study females deemed it more appropriate to send text messages in relationships rather than to talk on the phone. This is how young adult females choose to have relationships with males in today’s world. If smart phones were obsolete then relationships would most likely last longer or be more involved. This information helps me prove a point that we should be more interactive and not rely on social media to have relationships with human beings.

 

Wallace, Kelly. “How to Cut Your Kids’ Cell Phone Addiction.” CNN.com. CNN Living             (2013): Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

I really like what this writing had to offer. Not only did it address that there is a problem with cell phone addiction but also suggested a solution. One wood maker made a ‘Be Present’ box. To where people would put their phones in and shut the top and be present with others around them. Another suggestion was that when eating out people should put their phones in the middle of the table and the first person to touch their phone would pick up the tab. I think this is a great idea and might try this with some friends. I can also use this as a strong example in my paper to relate to people.

 

Ferdosi, Masoud, et all. “Behavior Addiction Versus Substance addiction:             Correspondence of psychiatric and physiological views.” Olympic.edu. ProQuest    (2012). Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

In this article I found out that there are some similarities between substance addiction and behavior addiction. This is more information that I can use to back up my points in my paper. I can also use this to give people an idea of what similarities there are between the two addictions.