psychology

Brainstorming Research Paper

1. We will have three options for how you write your paper. Of these three which one do you think you will choose:

· Debunk a myth about child/youth development or parenting

· Compare two cultures on an aspect of child development or parenting

· Create a practical guide that can be used by a community organization, government official, educator, counselor, or school to improve child/youth lives

2. Who will your audience be? *i.e., who are you writing too? Hint: It should not be me.

- My audience will be expecting parents and future parents.

3. Identify 2-3 tentative thesis statements/research questions that have potential for being your paper topic.

- Because there is so much anxiety surrounding the start of parenthood, we should minimize the spread of false or misleading information about parenting. Comment by Riser, Diana: This one is an interesting idea, but is a little vague right now. Are you wanting to investigate how misinformation (or excessive information) may increase anxiety in expecting parents? Something looking at information literacy and how “too much information” can overwhelm new parents could be neat.

-Women are thought to be biologically programmed with motherly instincts, but research shows the truth is far more complicated. Comment by Riser, Diana: I’m guessing these two ideas overlap some. Maybe? Is the core interest that they both share surrounding the pressure that expecting mothers may feel to be perfect and know it all? If so, that is a great idea to pursue. Maybe focus on predictors of “mom guilt” for expectant mothers and how we can reduce that?

4. Identify 2-3 variables you will likely need to operationally define in order to write a strong paper.

- I would need to define instinct/ motherly instinct

- I would need to define the spectrum of human behavior Comment by Riser, Diana: That is way bigger than one paper could ever do. Consider other variables like: anxiety, misleading or false information, parenting. Also- consider what your outcome variable is – what’s the goal?

5. What age group will this be focused on?

- newborns, infants.

6. How long do you think your essay will need to be to “tell the story” well? (not including title page, abstract, references page)? *You can give a range here.

- I feel I could tell the story well in about 3 full pages. Comment by Riser, Diana: I’d estimate 4-6

7. How many scientific references do you think it will take to make your case well? *I mean in a way that an outside reader who doesn’t know me or you would trust the evidence and feel it was sufficient.

- I think I will need 5 or more scientific references in order to make my case well. Comment by Riser, Diana: Minimum 8

8. Do you foresee yourself working alone or with a partner?

- I foresee myself working alone.