Monday, March 11, 2013

Blog Post #8: Tell us about something that you learned during your research that's bothering you. It doesn't have to be directly related to your paper. Did you read something that challenged your assumptions about the world? Has it made you change your mind? Why or why not?

10 comments:

  1. Because my paper is on Leprosy I looked up a ton of the history behind the disease. I already knew that in general Lepers were outcasts and were banished to live in villages far away from town where they were never allowed to leave. But I learned some disturbing details. Sometimes these people were buried alive, locked them in rooms until they died, had to wear clappers when they walked, and some were burned alive. It was and is still considered a curse; in India and Africa a leper's family will send them away and never see them again just to not be associated with the curse. These lepers are branded for the rest of their lives and some can't work even if they were permitted by the public and they rarely marry. This research has really uncovered how little change has come for these people since the middle ages. Though there is a cure for the disease there isn't one yet for the related stigma.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've noticed in my research about the mental, physical and emotional effects of fat (whether it is included or excluded from one's diet) that things are not as clear cut as I had hoped. The sources I'm finding aren't specifically for one aspect of wellness, but blend the lines between the three parts I'm looking at, so I have to do more work in dissecting the information I'm including in reference. Also, i think it's interesting that there isn't an caloric fat percentage intake level that is the best for everyone. I was hoping to show this to people, but I guess I will stay disappointed. Also, before I changed directions in my research, i got a glimpse of just how aware teenage girls are about what the media is doing to impress the idea of an ideal-size-for-all. Being a guy, I don't really notice as much, but it was eye-opening to see what they go through even when they know what's going on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Basically, I'm researching how Americans and businesses try to help poor people in third world countries. What is bothering me about my research is that there seems to be no solution. One possible solution to poverty is microcredit organizations, but there is so much arguments against it.
    Through my research it's becoming evident that it is so hard to find long term solutions to help people. And that bothers me. There should be something that works and so far, there's not. There are plenty of short term solutions, such as Toms Shoes giving away shoes and businesses that go into povertous countries and install wells. However, when the children outgrow the shoes and the well breaks, outside sources need to come in again. I guess I didn't realize how difficult it was to find a way to help people for good. Ideally, you would help people help themselves, but it's so hard to find a balance between giving people handouts and not helping at all. It's bothering me that there isn't a solution to such a widespread problem.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I already knew a lot about my topic when I began researching, but something that has always bothered me is when children are forced into poverty or are abused because of the choices that their parents have made. I just see it as unfair and think that those children should not have to suffer because of the mistakes that their parents have made. I read a talk previously by Dallin H Oaks that was titled, "Protect the Children". Throughout the talk, Elder Oaks taught how children need to be loved and cared for and all of the different ways that parents can affect their children. He taught that abortion, divorce, and simply the lack of affection or attention are all some of the worst kinds of abuse that can be inflicted upon a child. I think that the lack of affection applies more to my topic of child poverty though. Many children are left to take care of themselves and their siblings because of decisions that the parents made. This concept has never settled easy with me, and honestly probably never will.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My topic is something that I saw first person while I was serving my mission, and it is something that I know I want to be writing about. However what I am finding difficult is my research, there is plenty that I am finding however that is kind of like my problem, I'm getting a fire hose effect where there is too much to handle. This also making it fairly difficult to narrow down from social welfare in general to a specific facet of social welfare. At this point it seems as though my best source of information is frankly myself and my experiences. Also a lot of the information that I could be looking for is going to be more towards the opinion area rather than strictly fact based. Which makes it good for finding things about opposing viewpoints, however finding legitimate information from reliable sources could be more difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My topic deals with the problem of space debris - man-made pieces of junk cluttering up Earth's orbits, endangering satellites and future space missions. The problem that i have found is that because this is an issue that is addressed by governments and organizations like NASA and ESA, most of the information is written in the form of reports - which is to say, full of technical lingo, and very hard to read. I haven't found many reputable sources that provide information that is presented in an accessible manner, and this is something that really bothers me. I'd rather not have to read five 10-page reports to get the information i need...

    ReplyDelete
  7. My topic is emancipation in the foster care system, or more specifically, what is it that is causing youth to have so many continuing problems once they are released from the foster care system? What is frustrating about this topic so far, is that although many of the sources I've found provide possible suggestions for what might be the cause of these problems, or simply say that causes are not yet certain, I'm finding that I already know the answer to this question! And so do you. Serious problems such as homelessness, unplanned pregnancies, and drug abuse post- foster care actually stem from a lack of the gospel in a youths life. Why is this a research problem I am encountering? Because although you and I might know that this is true, how do I explain something like this in a scientific way to someone who is looking for a solid, literal, tangible explanation to my question?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Honestly, my topic has to deal with supplements(creatine) and the effects they have on people who use them in sports(football, soccer, baseball players etc). I've heard a lot of negative things about creatine so I'm researching the ethics and long-terms effects of the use of this supplement. And all my research that is very reliable is in the form of actual experiments done. The most difficult part is interpreting the experimental language to and understandable form of language. Other than that, my studies have put to rest all the negative things I've heard. Not only does creatine greatly assist athletes in their endeavor to build strength and endurance, I have yet to find a negative side effect in either the short or long term aspect. So, my opinion has been optimistically confirmed. That creatine monohydrate is a great product for those who enjoy athletics and working out. Not only that, I've found that they're using to do tests on how it can be used as a therapy for neurological disorders, cancer, and other similar things.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My biggest concern right now, from my research, is as to whether I will actually be able to make a unique finding, or if my paper is going to be more of a report of what other people have found. This is because my topic, dealing with the effects education on overall happiness, seen by how high of an education they achieved, and any degrees they've received. The problem is that some of the articles I have read are very specifically tied to my research, and in some cases almost completely the same research.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So my research question is whether the socio-economic status of families affect the quality of drinking water they can access and consume in Bangalore, India? My research for this project so far has been super productive and useful however I do run into the problem of finding experiments that have actually tested drinking water in Bangalore and not Delhi for instance. I currently have two but the more the merrier. I chose Bangalore because I can personally relate to it. Nevertheless, the more I research the more results I will find so I just have to keep looking! :)

    ReplyDelete