Free
write about some subjects you might be interested in researching this
semester. Consider some of the inquiry based questions you have
generated in class and consider your own personal interests. This is
pretty open and the content is really up to you. What is a problem that
you notice in your daily life? How might you characterize that problem
or issue? Some of the best inquiry based projects focus on particular
problems.
If
you are having a bit of trouble coming up with your research subject,
consider the research articles that are published on Stylus.
http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/issues.php
It
is important to note that not all articles published on Stylus are
inquiry based studies, so be sure to look for articles published from
ENC 1102 classes. Also, you might try watching some of the videos posted
on the blog or reading some of the articles for invention strategies
that might help.
Most importantly, find something that makes you wonder- that you care about!
The Costs of a Utopia
ReplyDeleteOverpopulation due to trying to achieve a utopia-like world is ethical, but not entirely the right thing. Do the advances as a species we get as a result of trying to achieve this utopia, outweigh the problems we get as a result. Humans like to do their favorite thing while screwing people lower than them over.
The Decline of Altruism and Why
Peoples truthfulness has gone done in recent times it seems. The amount of people who are genuine for genuiness and not morality’s sake has gone done. People do something because it is the right thing to do, but not because they want to. Nell Nodding’s Care Ethics says there is a natural empathy to care in everyone. However, I think the ability to care has to be nurtured and taught over time and is not innate. The nurturing or parenting is the root cause of the ability to care to grow into a genuiness.
Accountability of Ourselves?
How can privacy be something each person owns if we belong to the internet. Everything is on the internet. Chips are being sold and implanted for mobile devices and people are wearing watches connected to the internet. Who should control all this date being stored, transferred, and compiled? Whose qualified? If more people in the world can start getting access to the internet, then how will social class be formed when everybody has a piece of the internet?
Negative Progress?
Soon, will virtual reality become our exercise like in the movie Walle? We are so involved on our devices that we forget what being with friends is like. I remember knocking on people’s doors to hang out with them every day. I read a study a few days ag that said dopamine is released when tweeting a tweet and gambling, an addiction. Now we can send a message to a friend and fill that dopamine quota for the day without any social interaction.
The Man-Box
This is my fifth attempt at finding a topic and after researching and thinking I’m probably going to do the stereotyping of being a man. I’ve always found it so intriguing after that TED talk about the “man-box” about what is defined as being a man. You can’t show your emotions, have to be an authoritarian, be athletic, be successful, and most importantly be “manly.” I’m not going for gender roles rather for stereotyping and its effects. The effects, I don’t know yet. I haven’t done enough research to determine what would be the most interesting to investigate. But, this will most likely be my topic.
Hi Zane,
DeleteThe Man Box is a really interesting topic to cover. Clearly, there is a movement to shift the definition of manhood. It may be interesting to dive into the question of how fatherhood is changing and adjusting to new movements of masculinity. It may be interesting to see how the current generation of young fathers are thinking about how they are raising boys. To what extent are fathers age 22-30 pushing back against stereotypes of 'manhood' and how might this push-back show up in parenting styles for boys?
All of your topics are interesting to say the least. I recommend that you go to the library orientation module and get it done early! Finishing the module will give you the tools you need to begin searching for sources and getting your project started.
Let me know if you need anything as you develop your project.
- Joe
Happiness
ReplyDeleteHave you ever wondered why babies smile? Or why is a smile or laugh a symbol of happiness? Are scientists 100% sure that maintaining the level of serotonin in our body leads to happiness, or how can the mass audience know that happiness promotes longevity? Maybe happiness is not a good emotion after all. There are some questions or thoughts that have occurred in the brains for many people. Everyone just assumes that happiness is a good emotion and yet we can smile and mask our happiness. An extensive research about happiness may delve deep into how the science of happiness promotes wellness.
Moral vs Ethical: Is There a Good or a Bad?
Society agrees that the world has gotten more violent, immoral, unethical and bad. There are underlying assumptions made about good or bad, right or wrong and yes or no. Is there a one clear-cut solution to achieving world peace? Everyone has their own interpretation or what’s good or bad and right wrong. Although the Bible or the Qur’an offers religious and moral beliefs about what actions to do and not to do, the meaning of every action is up to the interpretation of every individual.
Mental Health: Eating Disorder
Eating Disorder is one of the most difficult diseases, both physical and mental, to fully recover from. Unlike alcoholism, in which a patient must restraint themselves to fully recover from, an eating disorder means not restraining to your disease. An alcoholic does not need to drink, a narcotic does not need to use, an eating disorder patient must eat. Whether we realize it or not, there has been an unfortunate increase In the amount of eating disorder patients due to the ever-increasing importance of how one must look caused by today’s society.
A Sniper’s Mentality
As a basketball fan, one must wonder how can a 3-point shooter that practices shooting over hundreds and thousands of time cannot manage to shoot more than 50% over a full season. One can list out all the factors that may excuse any great shooter for not achieving such feat, yet records are made to be broken.
Hi Roberto,
DeleteIt looks like you are onto some interesting possibilities for your research project. If you are interested in studying happiness, I recommend you have a look at Mihaley Cszikszentmihalyi's book titled Flow. To what extent do people's perspectives and definition of happiness underpin those individuals true sense of happiness?
Here's a link to a Wikipedia page that outlines his work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi
You pose a point in your second section claiming that the world has become more violent, immoral, and unethical, but is that really the case? Just 133 years ago, slavery was legal and that period seems worse in many ways. With that said, I think it is interesting to look at the good and evil as constructs. Clearly, there are some situations that are purely black and white, but there is a lot of nuance here.
I think you're onto some cool stuff here. Let me know if you should need anything as we move forward.
- Joe
Depression:
ReplyDeleteSince my sister has severe depression, i would like to do some research and learn more about it. In my mind i have always seen it as a myth since i myself have never had experiences with it. I would like to understand the aspects of depression more. A lot of people tend to say it is something that cannot be explained. It is a topic that hits close to home with me and i would enjoy knowing what i can do to help and more aspects of this situation.
Thinking vs. Doing:
Ever since i was a child i was always fascinated with the idea that what you focus on and think of, has a higher probability of happening than those things that you don't focus on. in other words, if i were to think positive thoughts; positive things would start to happen to me vice versa. This is something my mother would always push towards me and i would like to learn more about the whole idea.
Twin Telepathy:
Myself, being a twin, would like to learn more about this topic. I get asked the question about twin telepathy ALL the time while i am with my sister and i never know how to answer it. Some mornings when i automatically wake up in a bad mood, is that because my twin is angry? If i get sad out of the blue is that because my twin is upset? I don't even know that answer to these questions so it would be nice to finally find an answer. especially since we are away at different colleges and i cannot be there to see if she is upset, can i still feel it inside?
Hi Morgan,
DeleteYou are onto some interesting topics here. Exploring the pathways that friends and acquaintances can use aid people with depression is a worthwhile inquiry.
The second topic is also fascinating- it seems that you are looking at the power of forethought and perhaps the power of visualization to influence performance and desired outcomes. You might want to check out some of the work being done by The Pacific Institute as an entry point for this study.
The question of twin telepathy is a hard topic to get at given the tools we have. Clearly, using MRI machines and advanced technology may reveal some interesting things, but I'm not so sure you will have access to the kinds of tools you will need to study telepathy.
In any event, you're onto some cool ideas here.
- Joe
Emotions
ReplyDeleteAll humans are unique and we respond differently to numerous situations. A situation that causes anger to one person could just as easily cause extreme sadness in another. Our perception is key. Why do we perceive certain situations in different ways? People surmise that our emotions are a unique part inside of us, but why do they occur? This can be neurologically traced, however the real mystery is in the individual perception. With more information, this could possibly lead to helping people through emotionally painful situations.
Self-Motivation
What motivates humans to move forward? Some people rely on finding role models, while others are fully self-motivated. Many people find some stories “inspirational”, but what makes these stories motivate others into improving their own lives? Motivation is very important in the success of many people. Finding what causes motivation could help many people succeed.
Imagination
What triggers the mind to think of innovative ideas? Even at a young age, ideas and mental creativity occurs. What causes it? Is there a way to lead this productive thinking towards progress? Discovering more on this topic would enable us to concentrate our own personal thinking better.
OlaToyin,
DeleteYou are onto some really interesting topics. Clearly, these lines of inquiry are delving deep into psychology, and I think any of these are great choices for your project.
If you're interested in creativity, you might check out works by Vera John Steiner's work. Her book Creative Collaboration is pretty interesting. You might also look at Keith Sawyer's work.
I'm really excited to see where you go with this, OlaToyin.
- Joe
Stigmas Surrounding Mental Illness
ReplyDeleteBeing a person who has lived with various mental illnesses for a number of years, I have had to deal with not only the effects of the illnesses themselves, but the lack of understanding from those around me as well. People with a mental illness are often called crazy and told to get over it and stop behaving the way they do or feeling the way they do. Most people don’t understand that no one ever chooses to have depression, anxiety, etc., and that needs to change. I would like to give a broader understanding of mental illnesses and their effects if I were to use this topic for my research paper.
Emotional Connections Between Siblings
I have a fraternal twin sister, and while we often don’t get along with one another, I feel that at times, I can feel her emotions, even though we’re at different colleges. For example, when she gets upset, even if I’m not aware that she’s upset at that moment, I sometimes feel like I get upset as well for no reason. It would be interesting to find out if there is some sort of emotional connection that exists between twins, or at least to uncover a few explanations as to why this happens.
PTSD in Veterans and Average People and the Range of Severity
I found out recently that it is possible to experience PTSD in a mild form in relations to social anxiety and other forms of anxiety. For example, if you go out with friends and something embarrassing happens, you may be too afraid to go out with those friends again because you are traumatized by what happened. While it can be mild, it’s still an issue that people have a hard time dealing with, just with a different level of severity. PTSD for a combat veteran looks different than PTSD for a sexual assault survivor, or even someone with social anxiety, but the point is that they are all problems that have an effect on someone’s day to day life. I would like to understand how PTSD can occur, and by that I mean trying to understand if there are parts of the brain that play a role in the development of it, or if it’s spontaneous. Overall, I believe uncovering PTSD in all forms would be an interesting topic.
Hi Hayley,
DeleteThese are wonderful ideas. I wonder what kinds of initiatives have succeeded in addressing stigmas associated with mental illness, and why are certain approaches to reducing the stigmas associated with mental illness more successful than others?
Any of your topics can work, and I encourage you to go with the one that is closest to your heart.
- Joe
Media:
ReplyDeleteObserving the rhetorical scenarios that advertisers use to promote their products, and how they would make a rhetorical call to action that is sufficient enough to cause a significant surge of sales. Most notable in movies.
Sleep
How certain activities before bed may affect the ability to sleep, as well as the quality. What is sleep even? Everyone needs sleep and a way to know how to get the very most would be beneficial to everyone.
Creative Space
If the environment of someone could possibly affect the thinking abilities of a particular person and improve their ideas. What inspires people? Knowing this could allow for more creative thinking in general.
Hi Brandon,
DeleteYou are onto some awesome potential topics for your project. Looking at why certain approaches to marketing work is an excellent line of inquiry. Perhaps you can look at marketing done through new media.
The question of sleep is also interesting. Just last night, I completed a yoga session designed to help me sleep better- or at least get to sleep faster. Perhaps there are certain kinds of yoga practices that can improve sleep quality.
Exploring creative spaces is also very interesting. Right now, I'm sitting in a Starbucks, and the space I am in is designed to chance meet-ups. It would be really interesting to explore the relationship between spaces and creativity. You might want to have a look at Mac Barnett's TED talk.
Let me know if you have any questions as you get moving on your project.
Best,
Joseph
Depression/Anxiety
ReplyDeletePeople in my life have struggled with both and the way it affects every day life is interesting. Both make things as simple as getting out of bed or brushing your teeth extremely difficult. The effects it has on college and work are much more extreme. A lot of people just think these things are cries for attention or just a reason to complain but they arent. They are real and they make life very hard for some.
Dreams
Why do we dream? What can we learn about ourselves from dreams? What do mental disorders and chemical imballances have to do with dreams?
Hi Rachel,
DeleteBoth of your topics are interesting. There is much to explore regarding the perception of mental illness- specifically, it seems that the general public falls short in understanding how depression works, which may result in stigmas.
Dreaming is an interesting topic to research too. New MRI technology and computer processing capacity has allowed researchers to create video representations of visuals from people who are dreaming- crazy stuff.
Let me know if you need anything as you get started on your adventure!
- Joe
Optometry:
ReplyDeleteThe eye is the second most complex organ. I want to pursue something in this field so doing research on it can help me explore it more. How they eye adjusts to dark and light environments and what cause someones vision to go bad.
Nature vs Nurture
There's always been a controversy with this topic. If humans are the way they are based on genetics or the environment they're raised in. Doing research on this topic can help others and myself understand why humans behave the way they do.
Procrastination
I've always wondered why students (especially) or anyone procrastinates. Stressing yourself out and waiting till the last minute when you could've done it weeks in advance. Im guilty of this but i just don't understand what drives people to do this.
Hi Brittany,
DeleteYou have some interesting topics here. The question of nature versus nurture is as old as psychology itself, and exploring the workings of the eye is another interesting topic.
My concern for the topic of nature versus nurture is its broadness. Perhaps narrowing down to something more specific in this broad conversation could work.
My concern with studying the eye is that you are expected to conduct your own primary research, and unless you can get access to a lab that might allow you to do primary research, it may be hard for you to add to this conversation as a first-year college student. Clearly, once you get to graduate school- there will be opportunities for this kind of research.
Procrastination is fascinating, and exploring the factors that lead to procrastination or perhaps pathways for individuals to overcome procrastination are interesting inquiries.
Looking forward to working with you this term, Brittany.
- Joe
Prevalence of School Shootings in the United States
ReplyDeleteWhat drives young adults to want to physically harm their fellow peers? And why is it so easy for them to do so? Is school security a problem? Does bullying play a hand on why some students may want to lash out? And then there’s the big, controversial question: are guns the issue? This topic interests me a great deal and has always led me to question why school shootings and other tragedies that take place in schools are so common. These shootings are also glamorized in the media, like news outlets and even in Hollywood movies. But why?
Vaccines and Young Children
Why are parents suddenly so against vaccinating their babies? Nowadays, there’s constant talk and speculation about how vaccines can cause certain disorders and cancers, but is this the truth or just a bunch of pseudoscience? While many people are outraged that parents won’t vaccinate their children, these same parents are turning the other cheek and asking what the real benefits of vaccines are. My opinion on this issue is somewhat irrelevant, because I really just want to know what happened over the years to make new parents change their minds on vaccines.
Hi Carissa,
DeleteYou are tackling a pair of very relevant and controversial topics. Both have very contentious milieu, and my concern is that if you come to these topics with a very strong position, the work of doing legitimate inquiry could suffer because of preconceived notions that you bring to the table.
If these contentious topics are your forte, and you pick one, you can succeed in doing inquiry based research. You will, however, have to be on guard regarding personal bias.
Let me know if you need anything as you get started on your adventure.
- Joe
Procrastination
ReplyDeleteWhat is it? Why do we wait until the last minute? What could be the consequences of being a procrastinator? Are we faking it or we have learned to develop this habit?
Hi Andre,
DeleteYou have an interesting topic, Andre. I wrote more extensively in a response to a student who posted earlier about the same topic.
What do you think leads to procrastination?
- Joe
Ignorance in America:
ReplyDeleteThroughout history America has seemed to move farther and farther way from institutionalized segregation, but recently the nation went through one of the most volatile elections in history. This election was one where we have seen people with great ignorance come out and speak against people of all races, religions, and sexualities. Also, we have seen these comments develop into acts of violence. With our next president being inaugurated, we shall see if he will continue to spread ignorance to his supporters from the white house, thus dividing the American people more than we already are.
The Complications in Relationships:
Why is it that no relationship is perfect? Why is it seem that today relationships seem to be failing more? Why are people straying away from strong committed relationships?
Hi Aicha,
ReplyDeleteIt may be interesting to endeavor on an inquiry based adventure into the emerging activism that responds to the vitriol and negativity that has come out of the woodwork. What kinds of new efforts to pursue better equality are succeeding and why? What are the underlying elements of successful campaigns to initiate shifts in perspective and move towards political change?
The second question you pose is equally interesting. I wonder if relationships are actually worse today than in years past. Sometimes, we look at divorce rates and say, oh my, the sky is falling, but perhaps there are other reasons that drive up divorce rates. Perhaps stepping the question back and asking if relationships are worse off today is a better starting point.
I'm looking forward to working with you this term. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
- Joe
Work Ethic:
ReplyDeleteEverybody has their own work ethic of some sort, A patterned sequence of work they do on a daily basis to help them achieved their individualized desired needs. How is it created? Can it perhaps make up for other characteristics, qualities and skills that one may be lacking?
The Effects of Memory Due To Concussions:
ReplyDeleteA majority of us have all seen the Will Smith movie called “concussion.” The movie discussed the long term effects of numerous and severe concussions. After having a total of six concussion the movie was definitely a little intense for me and even spine chilling for my mom. I know in the movie these characters have had way more than six but I would like to know if my concussions are the reason for my poor memory. Memory is interesting and my memory lacks in many different areas. For example, when being introduced to people be prepared for me to not remember your name and even your face the next time I see you. I want to know if things such as my example are caused by concussions or something I simple lack naturally.
Dreams:
Dreams are very interesting to me. Why do we have them? Why do we have the dreams that we have? Do they have a deeper meaning or are they just random thoughts put into a story? I don't believe the voodoo beliefs that if someone you know dies in a dream then they are hurting or in danger in real life. I do believe that dreams are compelled of memories and thoughts and things you may have seen during that day. However, I have always had issues with dreams. For as long as I can remember I have always had nightmares. Why is that? I do not watch anything that may contribute to nightmares such as horror films, I am well rested (7-8 hours of sleep), and I eat healthy. I have read articles about the reason for my consistent nightmares being lack of sleep and health but I do not fit the category. These dreams are the same nightmares either. Why is that? I always have a nightmare that differs in so many ways but is extremely vivid and absolutely terrifying. It has come to a point where I may be chocking or drowning in my dream and hyperventilating in real life. Is it hereditary? My mother used to have continuous nightmares and went to the doctor, however, she did continuously watch and read horror genres.
Both topics are interesting and I believe researching and writing these topics will not only be captivating but also beneficial.