IGeneration 1 iGeneration: The Social Cognitive Effects of ...

iGeneration 1

iGeneration: The Social Cognitive Effects of Digital Technology on Teenagers

Eugenia A. Ives

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Education

School of Education and Counseling Psychology Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA October 2012

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This thesis, written under the direction of the candidate's thesis advisor and approved by the Chair of the Master's program, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the Education and Counseling Psychology department in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Education. The content and research methodologies presented in this work represent the work of the candidate alone.

Eugenia A. Ives, Candidate

Date October 30, 2012

Elizabeth Truesdell, PhD., Chair

Date October 30, 2012

Madalienne F. Peters, Ed.D., Thesis Advisor

Date October 30, 2012

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Acknowledgements My sincere thanks to Dr. Madalienne Peters for her enthusiasm, support and wisdom during my writing process. My hat off to Shira Lee Katz, Director of Digital Communication at Common Sense Media, for providing me with an excellent interview and for pointing me in so many right directions. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rod Milstead, a technology high school teacher, for giving me carte blanche access to his students and his computer lab for my field study. I hold appreciation of my colleagues and the staff at Dominican University of California for all their technical and editorial assistance. Notably, academic reference librarian, Suzanne Roybal, thanks for her diligent attention to my citations. Most of all, my deepest heartfelt thanks to my sweet family: Michael, Mikailah, and Dylan, for their ongoing patience, love, and support.

It has become appallingly obvious to me that our technology has exceeded our humanity.

-Albert Einstein

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. 4 Abstract.............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 7

Statement of Problem...................................................................................................... 7 Purpose Statement........................................................................................................... 8 Research Question .......................................................................................................... 8 Theoretical Rationales .................................................................................................... 8

Albert Bandura............................................................................................................ 8 Dr. Daniel Siegel....................................................................................................... 10 Assumptions.................................................................................................................. 11 Background and Need................................................................................................... 12 Need to Bridge the Digital Generation Gap.............................................................. 12 Need for Best Practice Guidelines and Digital Citizenship Education..................... 12 Need for Up-to-Date Digital Media Reviews ........................................................... 13 Need for Longitudinal Studies .................................................................................. 13 Need for Protective Legislation ................................................................................ 15 Need to Learn Balancing Skills ................................................................................ 15 Chapter 2 Review of the Literature .............................................................................. 17 Historical Context and Timeline of Digital Technology .............................................. 17 Summary of Major Themes .......................................................................................... 18 General information and Statistics on the iGeneration .......................................... 18 Positive Effects of Digital Technology Consumption............................................... 21 Education .................................................................................................................. 21 Social Congregation.................................................................................................. 23 Creative Content/Digital Literacy............................................................................. 26 Texting ...................................................................................................................... 27 Cognitive Enhancement ............................................................................................ 28 Negative Effects of Digital Technology Consumption ............................................. 29 The Brain .................................................................................................................. 29 Attention Deficit ....................................................................................................... 32 Tethered Lives .......................................................................................................... 35 Emotional Health ...................................................................................................... 37 Aggressive Behavior................................................................................................. 40 Addiction .................................................................................................................. 41 Cyberbullying ........................................................................................................... 43 Sexting ...................................................................................................................... 46 Physical Health ......................................................................................................... 47 Piracy and Plagiarism ............................................................................................... 49 Etiquette .................................................................................................................... 50

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Best Practice Guidelines for Educators and Parents............................................... 51 Media Use Agreement .............................................................................................. 51 Embrace Their World ............................................................................................... 53 Discuss Privacy......................................................................................................... 54 Teach Digital Citizenship ......................................................................................... 56 Take A Break ............................................................................................................ 58 Stop Violent Media ................................................................................................... 58 Be A Role Model ...................................................................................................... 59 Balanced Mind Practice ............................................................................................ 60

Chapter 3 Methods of Research .................................................................................... 61 Interview with an Expert............................................................................................... 62

Chapter 4 Action Research Project............................................................................... 68 Sample and Site ............................................................................................................ 68 Ethical Standards .......................................................................................................... 68 Access and Permissions ................................................................................................ 68 Data Gathering Strategies ............................................................................................. 68 Data Analysis Approach ............................................................................................... 69 Overall Findings of Action Research Project ............................................................... 69

Chapter 5 Discussion /Analysis...................................................................................... 75 Summary of Major Findings of Research..................................................................... 75 Limitations/Gaps........................................................................................................... 76 Implications for Future Research.................................................................................. 77 Overall Significance ..................................................................................................... 77 About the Author .......................................................................................................... 77

References ........................................................................................................................ 79 Appendix A ...................................................................................................................... 84 Appendix B ...................................................................................................................... 89 Appendix C ...................................................................................................................... 90 Appendix D ...................................................................................................................... 91 Appendix E ...................................................................................................................... 92 Appendix F ...................................................................................................................... 94 Appendix G...................................................................................................................... 96 Appendix H...................................................................................................................... 97 Appendix I ..................................................................................................................... 105 Appendix J..................................................................................................................... 106 Appendix K.................................................................................................................... 107

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