RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Emma Donovan
Independent Research
2017-2018

Title:
Technology Usage: The Effect of Extensive Technology Usage on the Development of Young
Children

Introduction and Overview of Research:

The problem at hand is the developmental effects that result in young children with the overuse
of technology. This is a very current issue given that the generation born into immediate
technology has not grown up yet, so the benefits and consequences of technology have not been
fully defined. To solve this problem, extensive research will be collected from various sources,
such as articles, interviews, and videos. Data will also be collected through surveys or interviews
with pediatricans and parents of young children. At the end of my research, I hope to have a
more in depth understanding of the effects of extensive technology and what can be done to limit
the negative effects seen in young children as they grow up.

Background and Rationale:

Technology plays a large role in development. Screens have been proven to emit a harmful blue
light that may cause headaches for children. Sleep schedules are disturbed by this same light.
Children who spend the majority of their time using technology have shorter attention spans and
less ability to focus. It limits them from thinking critically and creatively (Patel, 2017). High
levels of social media usage have been tied to lower self-esteem as well. Emotions become more
difficult to develop due to limited human interaction. Parents are often worried about
cyberbullying and incomplete homework as a result of their children using technology, but they
should be asking if their children will be able to hold their own conversations. Real conversation
is becoming a thing of the past, harming children’s futures. Although it has minimized over the
years, adults still have the experience of talking face-to-face with people. Children today are
growing up with instant dependence on technology. Since so many things occur through
technology, handling conflict in person is becoming increasingly difficult. Brains have evolved
to need constant stimulation (Bindley, 2011). Reading nonverbal cues is something today’s
young people are not learning. Children are being given devices to entertain them, losing the
strong connection between parent and child. Mental illnesses are soaring in children. Humans
need to be connected to other humans to thrive. Creativity, imagination, and self-initiation are
becoming a thing of the past. A child’s brain is ninety percent developed by age five (Hunter,
2011). It is said that a child’s vocabulary increases from 55 words at 16 months to 225 words at
23 months to 573 words at 30 months (Hunter, 2011). I feel that this issue is important because
technology is becoming so prevalent in many people’s lives. Technology has taken our world by
storm with very little information about its effects. Additionally, we have yet to see the
generation born into immediate technology grow up. For this reason, the conclusions that this
research develops will be very important in determining how technology affects the development
of children, in both positive and negative ways. Since the brain is such an important body part,
this research is crucial. I have also seen numerous young children staring at the rectangular
screens that have become our world during times when kids should be playing outside and
making personal connections, building strong relationships. I know that technology is used by
the vast majority of, if not all, people. In my experience babysitting many families, it is
interesting to see the differences between kids attached to their iPads and television screens from
those who play outside with chalk and ride their bikes. With some kids, it is very difficult to pry
them away from their technology while others are not permitted to use technology at all, so they
never ask. I am interested in trying to see how technology usage impacts brain development in
children. This issue is very prevalent due to the immense role technology plays in society today.

Research Methodology:
Research Question: What is the effect of extensive technology usage on the development of
young children? This is focused on extensive technology usage, referring to hours at a time. This
includes when children become angry when their designated technology time is over, showing
attachment issues. Young age deals with the age group between zero and eight years old. It has
been scientifically proven that this is the time period when the majority of the brain is developed.
Technology usage, including handheld devices, phones and tablets, and television, alters the
makeup of the brain.
Research Hypothesis: Extensive technology usage will hinder development, preventing certain
connections from being made in the brain. This hypothesis was formed based on previous
research and experiences. Research has shown that ​the overuse of mobile phone and devices
usage has a largely negative neurological effect on children (Want to raise happy kids? Well you
need to stop your child's technology dependence now!, 2017). Children who spend more than
seven hours a day on screens have shown premature thinning of the cortex, which is the
outermost layer of the brain, where higher order thinking, problem solving, and planning are
done, along with emotional responses released (Ruston, 2018). Children who overuse technology
have been associated with poor attention spans, weakened creativity and imagination, higher
depression levels, and weaker relationships built on strong foundation.
There are many emerging themes and elements throughout the research that has been completed.
The main concept is the strong correlation between technology use and the brain. In this age of
technology, its benefits are easily seen. However, its consequences are going under the radar, so
more awareness must be brought about with the ongoing research. Additionally, many parents
worry about their children’s technology usage. Six ​in ten parents worry that their children are
spending too much time looking at screens (Jolly, 2016). Technology control is a difficult
concept, especially since many people are not knowledgable about the brain-altering effects it
holds.​ This issue is relevant in so many people’s lives, but more research and evidence is still
necessary.
Research Design Model:
Data will be collected using mixed methods of both quantitative and qualitative data through
surveys and/or interviews. This will allow people to learn about the large-scale effects of
extensive technology usage on young children. The independent variable is the technology
usage, such as phones, tablets, or television. The dependent variable is altered brain composition,
along with various other effects, such as creativity, imagination, emotional responses, anxiety,
and depression.
Data Collection:
For the original data collection, meta-analysis will be completed to gather the attitudes, opinions,
behaviors, and experiences of pediatricians, parents, and kids in relation to technology usage.
This was chosen in order to learn about extensive technology usage and its effects on children,
whether positive or negative . There are many examples proving the negative effects of extensive
technology usage that I have found through my research so far, but stronger examples and
comparisons will be even more proving of the attention that this issue needs to be given.
Through my research, I have seen evidence that this problem exists, but research is ongoing with
new findings constantly surfacing. I want to explore this area further. The literature review will
support the data collection by highlighting the reasoning behind the meta-analysis and the
importance of understanding how technology is changing our world, one brain at a time.

Product Objectives:
A video will be created to showcase my information at the end of the year of study. This will
allow the target audience, a class at Mt Hebron High School as well as parents, pediatricans, and
children, to access the information. The video will be released on a neighborhood
communication application currently in existence. Experts in the field of interest, such as
pediatricians, could benefit from seeing more examples of how technology is altering the brain
makeup of young children. Parents of young children, along with their children, would also
benefit from the research and data. They can see that they are not alone in their worries about
technology control, but proper guidelines must be put in place, and information regarding this
would be provided. I should make sure that the audience is varied. There will be both girls and
boys.

Logistical Considerations:
I will need to ensure that I will have access to enough people to survey or interview. For the
project and product, human, print, organizations, and media resources will be required. An
assortment of various sources lead to many different perspectives and opinions on the topic,
therefore enhancing the research being conducted. In consideration of the project, research will
need to be done on how feasable creating an app is. If it is not possible, I will create a video.

Timeline:
Date Item to be Completed Further Elaboration Completed

March 8 Complete research Revise proposal and Yes

proposal and timeline add timeline of events
of product to complete.
development

March 15 Locate 5 Sources Find 5 sources for

meta-analysis data
collection.

March 15 Work on oral Work on oral

presentation presentation relating
to data collection.

March 24 Work on oral Finalize oral

presentation presentation relating
to data collection.

March 27 Deliver oral Give oral

presentation. presentation to a
specific class.

March 31 Get materials for Gather all the

display board. materials needed and
begin work.

April 4 Update weebly Add final product,

website. video, to website.

April 4 Complete Finish the

meta-analysis meta-analysis for data
collection.

April 6 Work on final An online video will

product - video. be recorded and
designed.

April 10 Work on display Add items to display

board. board.

May 7 Finish display board. Complete display

 board and finalize
everything.

May 10 Final paper. Work on and submit

final paper, including
data collection and
data analysis.

May 31 Give oral Deliver presentation

presentation. to another class.

May 31 Present final product. Present video to

another class and give
out evaluation.

References:
Bindley, K. (2011, December 09). When children text all day, what happens to their social skills?
Retrieved October 4, 2018, from
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/children-texting-technology-social-skills_n_1137570
Hunter, E. (2017, February 22). How a child's brain develops from the womb to age five.
Retrieved October 25, 2018, from
https://theirworld.org/news/how-childs-brain-develops-from-womb-to-age-five
Jolly, J. (2016, March 15). In 'Screenagers,' What to do about too much screen time. Retrieved
December 13, 2018, from
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/15/in-screenagers-what-to-do-about-too-much-sc
reen-time/
Patel, D. (2017, March 04). How technology impacts children's development – Thrive Global –
Medium. Retrieved October 4, 2018, from
 https://medium.com/thrive-global/will-technology-ruin-your-childrens-development-663
351c76974
Ruston, D. (2018, December 11). Groundbreaking study discovers an association between screen
time and actual brain changes. Retrieved December 13, 2018, from
https://www.screenagersmovie.com/tech-talk-tuesdays/groundbreaking-study-discovers-a
n-association-between-screen-time-and-actual-brain-changes?utm_source=Impact Flow
Attendees&utm_campaign=3683e72b6f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_11_02_45_CO
PY_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c7c0526734-3683e72b6f-160170265&mc_ci
d=3683e72b6f&mc_eid=243f73752f
(2017, August 30). Want to raise happy kids? Well you need to stop your child's technology
dependence now! Retrieved December 20, 2018, from
http://www.familyfriendlyhq.ie/family-blog/want-to-raise-happy-kids-well-you-need-to-s
top-your-childs-technology-dependence-now