Competency Draft: A Paper That Answers The Research Question ✓ Solved

Competencydraft A Paper That Answers The Research Question Based On Fi

Write the introduction section of a research paper for your professor. This section should: Clearly identify the research question/problem. Pique the reader’s interest in your research paper. Analyze why the research question/problem is important by reviewing studies that have addressed the question/problem. Summarize groups of studies, not necessarily individual ones. The studies that you cite should be recent, published in the last 5-10 years. Older studies may be cited if they have been widely referenced by others. Evaluate the deficiencies/gaps in the studies. Explain how your research paper will address the deficiencies/gaps of past studies and how it will contribute to the scholarly research. Explain what you expect to find by performing research on this question. What benefits will the findings have and on whom? Establish the purpose and the thesis of your research paper.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The rapid rise of social media platforms has transformed how individuals communicate, share information, and influence public opinion. Despite the proliferation of these platforms, concerns have emerged regarding their impact on mental health, particularly among adolescents. This research paper aims to investigate the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes among teenagers, a topic of significant relevance given the increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues within this demographic.

The question of how social media influences adolescent mental health has garnered considerable attention from scholars, policymakers, and health practitioners. Recent studies conducted within the last five years suggest a complex relationship: some findings indicate that excessive use of social media correlates with increased feelings of loneliness and depressive symptoms (Keles, McCrae, & Grealish, 2020), while others point to potential benefits like enhanced social connectivity and support networks (Riehm et al., 2019). Furthermore, several large-scale surveys have documented a rise in mental health issues aligned with increased time spent on social media platforms, hinting at a possible causal relationship (Twenge, 2019). These studies underscore the importance of understanding the nuanced effects of social media engagement on adolescent mental health.

However, despite the growing body of literature, significant gaps remain. Many of these studies employ cross-sectional designs, limiting the ability to infer causality (Orben & Przybylski, 2020). Additionally, existing research often overlooks individual differences such as gender, socioeconomic status, and pre-existing mental health conditions, which may moderate or mediate effects. Moreover, much of the prior research has focused on general social media use without differentiating between specific platforms or types of engagement, which could have varying psychological impacts (Nesi & Prinstein, 2015). These limitations highlight the need for more comprehensive, longitudinal studies that can better elucidate causal pathways and contextual factors.

This paper aims to fill these gaps by exploring how specific patterns of social media use influence mental health outcomes among adolescents over time. Utilizing a longitudinal research design, the study will examine the moderating roles of demographic variables and types of social media engagement. It is hypothesized that high-frequency use of visually-driven platforms like Instagram and TikTok will be associated with increased depression and anxiety, whereas active social engagement may serve as a buffer against negative effects. The findings are expected to inform targeted interventions and guide policymakers in developing age-appropriate guidelines for healthy social media use. Ultimately, this research aspires to contribute substantively to the scholarly understanding of social media's complex influence on adolescent mental health, providing evidence-based insights for clinicians, educators, and parents.

The purpose of this study is to deepen understanding of the specific mechanisms through which social media interactions impact mental health, aiming to foster healthier online habits among youth and reduce the prevalence of associated psychological problems. By addressing the identified research gaps, this research will offer comprehensive insights into causal relationships and individual differences, supporting more effective, tailored interventions that promote psychological well-being in the digital age.

References

• Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in young people. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 165-178.
• Nesi, J., & Prinstein, M. J. (2015). Using social media for social comparison and feedback-seeking: Gender and popularity moderate associations with depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 124(4), 976–986.
• Orben, A., & Przybylski, A. K. (2020). The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use. Nature Human Behaviour, 4, 1-11.
• Riehm, K. E., et al. (2019). Associations between time spent using social media and internalizing and externalizing problems among US youth. JAMA Network Open, 2(8), e199545.
• Twenge, J. M. (2019). More time on technology, less happiness? Time spent on electronic devices and subjective well-being. Psychiatric Annals, 49(2), 96-102.