Television And Young Children: Benefits And Disadvantages Research Paper Examples

The purpose of my research paper is to inform my audience about what specific benefits and disadvantages, if any, occur when young children watch television, including educational and entertainment programs as well as commercials. I chose this topic because my own two-year-old child now watches some television shows, and I observed my child learning some words and behaviors from these programs. I want to explore both the positive and negative effects of young children watching television, so that as a parent I can increase any beneficial effects of television viewing and decrease any negative effects. My intended audience is other parents of young children who are interested in their children’s development and would want information about how television viewing can enhance or disturb their child’s development.
As the writer, I want to take a neutral attitude toward the topic until I have actual evidence about what the benefits and disadvantages are. Although I have my own observations of at least some of the effects of children watching television, I want information from experts about what types of programs might be beneficial, how much television viewing is too much for young children, and what types of programs to avoid. Some of these questions might have common sense answers, but I want to provide credible analysis and information on these issues instead of relying on my own opinions and ideas. Here is my initial thesis: Although both positive and negative effects can occur when young children watch television, parents can increase the benefits through careful selection of television programs their young children view and decrease negative effects by limiting the hours per day their children watch television.