Research Topic Proposal
Research question
During the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, also known as adolescence, an individual goes through growth that will affect them in their adulthood. During this period, many psychological factors come into play, including the environment surrounding them and the influence of their parents (Anderman, 2002). This results in the question; in Generation Z, which is more influential during the adolescence period, nature or nurture?
Thesis statement
Psychological factors shape one’s development throughout their life, especially when young (Cherry, 2018). This issue has, over time, triggered various scholars to venture into establishing a sufficient explanation behind these factors and their impacts. However, due to the changing times, different generations exhibit different results of this influence. In most cases, scholars focus on distinguishing, which is more influential between nature and nurture. In the current age, that is, Generation Z, various norms have changed, including the influences during adolescence. This is a result of the impacts resulting from the global changes occurring, including the advancement in technology. However, nurture is more influential during adolescence than nature in Generation Z.
Description of the Proposal Topic
According to WHO, adolescence is considered to be one of the most rapid phases in general human development (Adolescent development, 2020). During this period, humans go through a series of development, including physical growth, neurodevelopmental development, and also associated social and psychological development. Especially in this Generation Z, many parents and teachers face challenges in the process of trying to ensure that adolescents become responsible adults. This is because sometimes they focus on either nurturing adolescents well or protecting them from particular environments, and the results conflict their expectations.
Various research studies have been conducted in psychology to establish which one is more influential between nature and nurture. However, there is still the need for more research to identify the more influential psychological factor between environment and upbringing, especially for Generation Z. The results of this topic will aid in the understanding of some of the behaviors exhibited by human beings during adolescence and mitigation measures. Additionally, this topic is relevant in guiding adolescents through their way to adulthood through all the different stages of development, as described by Eric Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development (McLeod, 2018).
References
Adolescent development. (2020). Retrieved 19 April 2020, from https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/development/en/
Anderman, E. M. (2002). School effects on psychological outcomes during adolescence. Journal of educational psychology, 94(4), 795.
Cherry, K. (2018). Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Retrieved Juny, 5, 2018.
McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Simply Psychology.