Formatting 35 Pointspage Setup12 Point 0 Or2 ✓ Solved

Formatting (35 points) 12 Point 0 or2 ____________ Times New Roman 0 or 2 ____________ 1†Margins 0 or 2 ____________ Name and Heading 0 – 2 ____________ Title 0 or 2 ____________ In-text Citations Format (placement and style) 0 – 3 ____________ Number 0 – 3 ____________ Works Cited 10 sources 0 – 10 ____________ 3 types 0 – 3 ____________ Format 0 – 6 ____________ Total ____________ Mechanics (20 points) Formal Writing 0 – 5 ____________ Grammar 0 – 5 ____________ Spelling 0 – 5 ____________ Editing 0 – 5 ____________ Total ____________ Content (40 points) Thesis 0 – 10 ____________ Structure Introduction 0 – 5 ____________ Transitions 0 – 5 ____________ Conclusion 0 – 5 ____________ Organization 0 – 5 ____________ Depth of Research 0 – 10 ____________ Total ____________ Overall Impression (5 points) 1 – 5 ____________ Final Total ____________ SUNY College at Old Westbury Research Methods I Assignment 4 – Research Proposal Instructions: Expand on your first two assignments by adding the following material to form the beginnings of a research paper.

Your final assignment should be typed (12pt, double-spaced) and roughly 2-4 pages of full text. It should resemble the beginning of a research paper and read accordingly. Follow the format below: 1) Title: Your topic. This should include both of your variables (independent and dependent). For example, “Religion and Drug Use.†2) Introduction (2-3 paragraphs): Introduce your topic as a social problem.

This will include your conceptual definition of your dependent variable (from A1) and the reasons it is an important topic of inquiry (from A1 & A2). You’re setting up your paper here and getting the reader interested in your study. Include at least one (1) citation from a reputable (news or academic) source that discusses your topic and its severity. 3) Theory/Independent Variables (1-2 paragraphs): Next discuss your independent variable(s), your theory about why it is related to your dependent variable, and state your hypothesis. Focus on one key variable that you are most interested in (although you may be interested in more than one).

Include its nominal definition and discuss how it might be related to your dependent variable. Why are the two connected, what do they have to do with each other? Do you expect there to be a positive or a negative relationship? This is your hypothesis. If your independent variable is race or gender or something that doesn’t have a direction up or down, just mention what you think you will find, for example: “I expect men will support abortion more than women.

This is because men… whereas women…â€. 4) Methodology (2-3 paragraphs): Finally, in the methodology section, discuss your method of data collection and sample. State your method (survey, interview, ethnography, content analysis, etc.) and discuss why you chose it. Next discuss who or what will be included in your sample. In other words, who exactly do you plan to talk to or where exactly will you be getting your data from?

Next, give the operational definitions of your dependent variable, followed by your independent variable. If you are exploring many possible independent variables such as race, class, and gender, you will only need to fully define one that you wish to focus on, and the rest may simply be listed. Be as specific as possible here. If you are thinking of a survey, mention how you might ask a particular question (e.g. if you are going to ask for someone’s race, will you have pre-determined categories or just let them fill in the blank?). 5) References: Include a full citation (in APA or ASA style) for your outside material referenced in your introduction.

Extra Credit: You may include up to three (3) additional references for 1.5% points each, on this assignment. However, only peer-reviewed sociological articles will be accepted, and the citations must be relevant to your topic and be included in the text of your paper (either in the Introduction or Theory sections). In-text citations should be in parentheses. For example, “thinking is not only hard, it’s dangerous†(Shircliff, 2021). See back of this sheet for instructions on proving an article is sociological.

How to “prove†an article is sociological 1. It was published in sociology journal a. There are many sociology journals so it can be difficult and you may need to do a little hunting. i. What comes up when you Google the title of the journal? If it says something like “published by the American Sociological Association†you are fine. ii.

You can also follow this link for a list of ASA journals: research-and-publications/journals 2. It was written by a sociologist. This may be the case if your article was published in a journal of sociology and economics, for example. a. May say in author blurb. b. Or Google one of the authors.

She/he should hold a PhD in sociology or be in a sociology department. 3. It may also help to limit your search if possible. Look for ways to search for only “social science†or “sociology†articles. You may also you “sociology*†as an additional keyword search – this will bring back articles that have some form of the word “sociology†in the text.

Paper for above instructions

Introduction

In recent years, the emergence of social media has drastically transformed communication, and it continues to play a significant role in shaping the interactions and self-perceptions of adolescents. The psychological ramifications of social media usage, especially among teenagers, are profound and have raised concerns regarding adolescent mental health outcomes. Research has increasingly highlighted adverse effects, including heightened anxiety, depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem among young social media users (Twenge et al., 2018; Riehm et al., 2019). The exploration of social media’s implications on adolescent mental health is pivotal in understanding and addressing the challenges faced in today’s digital age, particularly as mental health issues among young people continue to escalate (Pew Research Center, 2020).
Social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook enable adolescents to create a curated digital presence and engage with peers. However, these platforms can also exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, triggered by social comparison and cyberbullying. For instance, studies suggest that frequent exposure to idealized representations of peers can lead to negative self-image and a decline in mental well-being (Levine & Murnen, 2009). This research proposal aims to examine the correlation between the frequency of social media usage and the prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents, hypothesizing that increased social media use is positively correlated with heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Theory/Independent Variables

In this research, the independent variable is social media usage, operationally defined as the number of hours spent on social media platforms daily, particularly during critical developmental periods. Studies have identified heavy use of social media as symptomatic of underlying mental health issues rather than their cause; however, these platforms can catalyze the exacerbation of mental challenges by fostering environments ripe for social comparison and cyberbullying (Frison & Eggermont, 2016).
The hypothesis posits that increased social media usage correlates positively with negative mental health outcomes among adolescents. It is expected that as the hours spent on social media increase, symptoms of anxiety and depression will also escalate. The functioning of social media platforms often amplifies feelings of loneliness and social isolation, which can intensify maladaptive thinking patterns prevalent in mental health disorders (Keles et al., 2020). By focusing on social media usage as a primary independent variable, the research aims to clarify its role in the mental health landscape of adolescents.

Methodology

Data Collection

To investigate the research hypothesis, a quantitative approach will be employed, utilizing a cross-sectional survey method. This method is deemed appropriate as it allows for the collection of data from a diverse sample of adolescents within a relatively short time frame, providing insights into the current mental health status and the extent of social media usage. The survey will be distributed online, ensuring accessibility and anonymity for participants.

Sample

The target population will consist of adolescents aged 13 to 19 from various socioeconomic backgrounds, with the aim of enrolling a minimum of 300 participants. This age range is critical, as it encompasses a developmental stage where social identity formation occurs, alongside increased engagement with social media (Erikson, 1968). Recruitment will be facilitated through schools, community centers, and online platforms, ensuring a diverse sample that accounts for variables such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
The operational definitions for the dependent and independent variables will be as follows:
- Dependent Variable: Mental health outcomes, operationalized using standardized scales to assess symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9).
- Independent Variable: Social media usage, measured by asking participants to report the average number of hours spent on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook daily.
Questions will include both quantitative items (e.g., “How many hours do you spend on social media each day?”) and qualitative items (e.g., open-ended questions about experiences with social media).

Data Analysis

The collected data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing multi-regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes while controlling for confounding variables such as age, gender, and previous mental health history. This statistical approach will provide insight into the strength and nature of the relationship between the independent variable and dependent outcomes.

Conclusion

This research proposal endeavors to address the pressing social issue of adolescent mental health in the context of rising social media influence. By establishing a clear connection between social media usage and mental health symptoms, the findings from this study can inform interventions aimed at promoting healthier social media interactions and increasing awareness of their potential mental health ramifications among adolescents and their caregivers.

References

- Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. Norton.
- Frison, E., & Eggermont, S. (2016). Increasing depressive symptoms in adolescents: The role of social media. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(3), 674-685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0439-9
- Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The impact of social media on mental health in young people. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 25(3), 207-220. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2019.1598618
- Levine, M. P., & Murnen, S. K. (2009). “Everybody knows that mass media are/are not [pick one] a cause of eating disorders”: A critical review of the evidence for a causal link between media, negative body image, and disordered eating in females. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28(1), 9-42. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2009.28.1.9
- Pew Research Center. (2020). Teens, Social Media & Technology 2020. Retrieved from https://www.pewinternet.org/2020/04/07/teens-social-media-technology-2020/
- Riehm, K. E., Holingue, C., Windle, M., & Green, H. D. (2019). Associations between social media use, mental health, and well-being among US adults. Depression and Anxiety, 36(2), 212-220. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22852
- Twenge, J. M., Joiner, T. E., Rogers, M. L., & Martin, G. N. (2018). Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among US adolescents, 2010-2015. Psychological Science, 29(3), 530-539. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617731112
By performing this study, we hope to contribute meaningful insights into the complex relationship between social media consumption and the mental health challenges faced by adolescents today.