Assignment: Linking Trends and Issues Through Research
You will begin a research assignment that you will complete and submit. Like the assignment you completed, this Application will give you the opportunity to explore the connections that exist between trends and issues that affect school-age children.
To begin this assignment, choose one specific trend/issue relating to children's health or children's family/peer relationships. It can be one that you studied in this course (i.e. obesity, autism, ADHD, nontraditional family structures, parental relations, etc.), or it can be another children's health or relationship trend/issue of interest to you. Using the Walden Library, Internet, and/or print resources, locate a recent article or research study that draws a connection between your chosen health or relationship trend/issue and the larger world as it affects children, specifically technology/media influences or issues related to child poverty.
After you have chosen the article, write a 3- to 4-page summary and analysis of the article that includes responses to the following questions:
• What specific connection(s) does the article draw between your chosen health or relationship trend/issue and a trend/issue related to the larger world? Provide a brief summary.
• Do these findings surprise you? Do they confirm what you already suspected? Explain.
• What are the implications of these findings for practice in schools, homes, youth programs, etc.? Identify and describe at least two specific implications including at least one for professionals who work with school-age children in a setting of your choice.
• Do you think further research is needed? If so, why, and what kind? If not, why not?