Research Proposal

Kyle DellaPietro

Professor Goeller

Research in Disciplines: College!

October 18 2016

Research Proposal

Working Title:

 How early childhood development effects academic or (social) success of students attending college.

-Could challenge the parental influence on success of students and focus on the individual’s self-motivation.

Topic:

Focus on:

• Poverty
• Cognitive Skills
• Parental role and nurishment

I will introduce the idea of parental influence on a child’s success and the resources that are needed to set a student up for success especially when growing up in a poverty stricken environment. Resources include extra schooling, practicing cognitive skills, attention, parental and social guidance. There are many cases with underprivileged children defeating the odds they are given and work hard to become successful like many football players, actors and businessmen/women.

Research Question:

Does a child’s parental guidance and available resource determine their future? If a child is privileged with wealthy parents and receives guidance are they guaranteed success in the future? If a child does not have the necessary guidance and support how do they manage to succeed with their limited expectations?

Theoretical Frame:

Are children who grow up in poverty really given the short end of the draw? Attending college is becoming a gateway for individuals of all demographics to create opportunities to succeed. Before the federal government began to supply students with helpful sums of financial aid to make college more affordable students who were financially stable from their parents income were the majority of those in attendance. Nowadays there are many different components that feed the capability of making college a possibility. Some can argue that those who are financially fit are set for success. College tests the motivation and discipline of those who truly want to succeed both socially and academically. It is not rare when students neglect their school work in order to attend every social event on campus and drink alcohol with their friends. The molding of a successful person doesn’t start at college; it begins when they are a child.

            I am extremely interested in this topic because I watch my friends around me fail out of school while they have the privilege of attending school with no financial worries and are far from independent. Meanwhile those who have had a rough childhood and lack of parental guidance have strived academically while working to afford their expenses and college tuition. Not every student belongs to these two sides of the spectrum but at the same time it is interesting to learn what contributes to a student’s motivation in during their childhood that makes them strive or fall during their college years.

Research and Plan

Studies show that children who grow up in poverty are extremely unlikely to attend college or any post high school schooling. The CNN article, “For Poor Children, Trying is not Enough” written by Trina R. Shanks quotes, “Some might think that a child's educational future is the responsibility of that child's parents alone. Others believe that enough government money already goes to help poor people. Benefits go to the lowest-income earners. And many programs, such as rental assistance and child care, don't reach everyone who is eligible”. Although financial loans are making college more attainable there are many more factors that determine a person’s success in school. Regardless of the available government programs educational outcomes seems to be tightly linked to parent’s economic status. Children are curious and are willing to constantly learn. It seems as though their desire to learn is effected by the feedback from their parents. If children are not rewarded or even noticed when they receive good grades they will begin to become less engaged in school. This parental behavior exists more frequently in poorer households. Humans tend to replicate the behavior of their parents.

Now this opens an idea to two ideas. Parents will educate their child the same way they were educated. To elaborate, parents will struggle with bills, are more likely to stress, and exert less energy and money on the well-being of their children. Children absorb emotions and behavior like a sponge. If they are constantly neglected their desire to achieve academically decreases. Children who grow up in poorer environments also receive worse education. Studies have proved that poorer areas such as Camden, Detroit or Compton possess awful education in their school systems. Students are more worried about violence, surviving, and finding their clique. It is nearly impossible to find a low-income area where all schools perform well whether charter, public or private.

Children growing up in poverty are less likely to achieve academic success for the reasons listed above. There are situations that show the success of those who thrive in poor conditions due to their motivation and dedication to their studies. Students succeed in college when they are forced to grow to up early and learn to fend for themselves. They desire success and a better life. This burning passion developed at an early childhood stage pushes children living in these conditions to college success.

Working Bibliography