Senior Project Information Interview

1. What does this topic mean to you? As a registered nurse, I am required by the law to report any case of child abuse that I observe or suspect. Juts like policemen, teachers, social workers, etc.
2.  Do you have first-hand experience with the topic? Yes. Working as a student nurse in the pediatrics department, I worked in a ward where one time a 5 year old victim was sexually abused by her step dad. She was brought in by her mother, and everyone heard about it. Going to nursing school, we were taught how to spot and identify the victims of child abuse. We were taught all the signs and symptoms of child abuse and were required to report them.
3. How long have you been connected with/affected by this topic? That short period of time where I was working as a student nurse.
4. Do you think this is a serious problem, or something that can be put off? Yes,  especially with all the controversy going on in those schools. Adults should be protecting their children, not abusing them. If children can't protect themselves, we should be able to protect them.
5. What are your thoughts on how to improve the problem?Improvement has to start from the home. Proper education, early education with the parents. People should be informed on how to spot it and prevent it. Finding other ways of discipline other than spanking or hitting. It's a tough subject because how do you teach parents? I guess the communities have to watch out for each other and increase awareness about child abuse.
6. What are your thoughts on the opposing views? People shouldn't hide abuse and should report it as soon as they suspect anything.

Source #5

“Specific Page Title or Article Title”	Child Abuse
Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)	Steven C. Gabaeff
Title of the Entire Website (not www. )	emedicinehelp.com
Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)	emedicine health
Date Page was Last Revised	26 August 2005
Date You Read It	14 February 2012
<URL address> (ALL of it)	<http://www.emedicinehealth.com/child_abuse/article_em.htm>

FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):

The author states that "Child neglect in any form, when it concerns a child’s welfare, is generally considered to be criminal behavior" (POV).

The author states that "Love is the complementary behavior to discipline", that "Both are necessary if you are to be a successful parent." (POV).

The author states that "abusive tendencies frequently turn into abusive behaviors, which are usually difficult, if not impossible, to stop" (POV).

The author states that "if reporting a pattern of abuse is delayed, the abuse situation usually gets worse until the abuser and his or her behaviors are discovered by others" (POV).

The author states that "most abusers, once they have acted out and committed acts of abuse, are arrested, charged, tried, convicted, sent to prison, and marked for life as sexual offenders" (POV).

Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

The author is an MD that wishes to inform the public about all the aspects of child abuse as well as how you can prevent it and detect it. He wishes to provide information to prevent child abuse as well as put an end to it.

Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?

The author is Steven C. Gabaeff, an MD. The purpose of this site is to inform and promote awareness.

Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?

This site is simply informative.

Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?

There is no bias that I detect in the author's writing


References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

Yes, the author does cite his references at the end. This adds to the credibility of his article.

Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?

I will use this source to gather information on the topic of child abuse.

Source #4

“Specific Page Title or Article Title”	Child Abuse and Neglect
Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)	Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.
Title of the Entire Website (not www. )	Helpguide.org
Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)	Helpguide.org
Date Page was Last Revised	January 2012
Date You Read It	14 February 2012
<URL address> (ALL of it)	<http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm>

FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):

The authors state that "other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse or child neglect, also leave deep, long lasting scars" (POV's).

The authors state that "Many have been victims of abuse themselves, and don’t know any other way to parent" (POV's).

The author believe that "Child abuse doesn't only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods" but that "It crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines" (POV's).

The authors state "that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children" (POV's).

The authors state that "a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as with a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety" (POV's).

Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

The authors of this source provide information on child abuse, including what it is and how it can be prevented. The authors are all educated and hope to prevent child abuse with the information they provide.

Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?

The authors include Joanna Saisan, who has a  M.S.W., Melinda Smith, who has a M.A., and Jeanne Segal, who has a Ph.D. The purpose of this site is to promote child abuse awareness. It in a nonprofit resource.
 
Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?



this site is simply informative, created to prevent child abuse and promote awareness.
 
Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?



there is no bias that I detect in the author's writing



References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

the authors do not cite references in their writing.

Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?



I will use this source to gather information on the topic of child abuse.

Source # 3

“Specific Page Title or Article Title”	Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Youth Violence: Strategies for Prevention and Early Intervention
Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)	Janet Carter
Title of the Entire Website (not www. )	Making the Link
Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)	Family Violence Prevention Fund
Date Page was Last Revised	11 January 2011
Date You Read It	8 January 2012
<URL address> (ALL of it)	<http://www.mincava.umn.edu/link/documents/fvpf2/fvpf2.shtml>

FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):

Janet Carter states that "many of the factors highly associated with the occurrence of child abuse are also associated with domestic violence, and many of these are the same factors that put children at risk for youth violence and adult violent crime" (POV).

Janet Carter provides a statistic stating that "researchers found that 50% of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently assaulted their children" (POV).

Janet Carter states that "men who as children witnessed their parents' domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents" (POV).

Janet Carter states that "a significant portion of child abusers, domestic violence perpetrators, and violent juvenile offenders grew up being abused themselves and/or witnessing their parents' domestic violence" (POV).

Janet Carter states that "Many of the risk factors that are highly associated with child maltreatment are the same factors that put women at risk for domestic violence and children at risk for juvenile violence" (POV).

Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

Janet Carter uses statistics and actual evidence to analyze the effects that child abuse has on the behavior of an individual later on. Her information has exact numbers and statistics of children that are abused and it provides support to the theory that child abuse does lead to crime. She describes the effects of child maltreatment and then lists ways to prevent it.

Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?

The author is Janet Carter. The site exists to inform and help prevent child abuse. The site is funded by a group that works toward promoting the safety of battered women and children exposed to domestic violence.

Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?

The site exists only to inform on the effects of child abuse.

Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing? 

There is no bias in Janet Carter writing.

References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility? 

 Janet Carter provides a list of references at the end of her article. This adds to her credibilty.


Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?


I plan to use this source to provide information for my project and allow me to prove my ideas and opinions on my topic.

Source # 2

“Specific Page Title or Article Title”	Long Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect
Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Title of the Entire Website (not www. )	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Date Page was Last Revised	2008
Date You Read It	2 February 2012
<URL address> (ALL of it)	http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm

FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):

The Child Welfare Information Gateway stated that "An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006"(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008).

The Child Welfare Information Gateway stated that child abuse often has "physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences" (POV).

The Child Welfare Information Gateway statesChildren who are abused or neglected are "25 percent more likely to experience problems such as delinquency, teen pregnancy, low academic achievement, drug use, and mental health problems" (Kelley, Thornberry, & Smith, 1997).

Children who are abused or neglected are "11 times more likely to be arrested for criminal behavior as a juvenile, 2.7 times more likely to be arrested for violent and criminal behavior as an adult, and 3.1 times more likely to be arrested for one of many forms of violent crime"(English, Widom, & Brandford, 2004).

The Child Welfare Information Gateway states that "one-third of abused and neglected children will eventually victimize their own children"(Prevent Child Abuse New York, 2003).

Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

The Child Welfare Information Gateway  states it's information from a variety of sources that describe the affects of child abuse and neglect on children. The sources cited describe the physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences. It talks of how much of an impact child abuse and neglect has on children and their families, hoping to find an end to abuse all together.


Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?
The Authors are part of the Child Welfare Information Gateway , which promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Their site is used to inform about the effects of child abuse and what ways it can be stopped or prevented. They provide research that can be shared to inform and child welfare.

Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?

The site exists simply to inform and teach. It wants to take a step towards ending child abuse and neglect.

Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?

I do not detect any bias in this source.

References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

Yes, the authors cite many references in their writing. This adds to the credibilty because it shows that the information was actually researched and accurate.

Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?

I will use this source to support my opinion on the fact that child abuse does lead to criminal activity. It provides a lot of statistics and information that I can incorporate into my project.

Source # 1

“Specific Page Title or Article Title”	Does Child Abuse Cause Crime?
Primary Contributor to the Website (if given) (author, editor, producer, etc)	Janet Currie (Department of Economics, Columbia University), Erdal Tekin (Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University).
Title of the Entire Website (not www. )	Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series
Publisher or Sponsoring Organization of the website (if given)	Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series
Date Page was Last Revised	April 2006
Date You Read It	30 January 2012
<URL address> (ALL of it)	aysps.gsu.edu/publications/2006/.../currietekin_childabuse.pdf

FIVE FACTS FROM THE SOURCE (Embedded):

The authors Janet Curdie and Erdal Tekin, both students at the University of Georgia believe crime "is one of the most socially costly potential outcomes of maltreatment" (POV).

The authors found that "maltreatment" is the cause for people "engaging in many types of crime"(POV).

From their studies, the authors came to find that child abuse led to "risky, self-destructive or aggressive behavior" when a child grows up (POV).

The authors found that children that were abused tend to"have lower grade point averages, are more likely to have repeated grades, and are more likely to have been suspended or expelled from school"(POV).

The authors found that "child abuse is thought to have many harmful long-term consequences"(POV).

Summary of Source (Three-Four Sentences of the Who, What, Where, Why, and How in your own words. NO OPINION):

Janet Currie and Erdal Tekin wrote a paper that goes in depth into the study of how child abuse relates to criminal activity. They use is from real situations and from real sources; sources that they've interviewed and researched. From their research they find that child abuse doubles the chances of criminal behavior later on.

Credibility of Source:
Author or Site: Who is the author? What training have they had? If there is no author, examine the site. What is the purpose of the site? Who funds the site?

 The authors are both graduates from a Georgia University. They both have had an extensive study on the topic of child abuse. Janet Currie has also graduated from Columbia University and UCLA, Erdal Tekin graduated from Georgia State.

Attachment: Does the author or site have anything to gain from writing this, or is it simply informative? For example, is it a cigarette business posting an article about the benefit of cigarettes, or is it a scientific community unaffiliated with the cigarette business?

They are two college graduates trying to gain more credibility and extensive knowledge on the subject they are researching.

Bias: Do you detect a bias (a favoring of either side) in the author's writing?

There is no bias because they provide reasons as to why child abuse would and would not lead to criminal activity later on.

References: Does the author cite references in the writing? If so, do these add or take away from the credibility?

The authors do site their references in their writing. It does add to the credibility because I know they are giving legitimate information.

Use of Source: How will you use this source in your project?

I will use this source to gain information on my topic. I will use the actual facts that they give to provide support for the topics I will use in my project. It will help a lot when I am looking for facts to make my research more credible.

Senior Project Proposal

Proposed Topic in the form of an  Essential Question:

Is child abuse linked to criminal behavior in adulthood?

Rationale for Choice

What about this topic appeals to you? Why did you choose it?

-The topic of child abuse is very shocking and I would like to research more about it. I would like to find out if there really is a link between child abuse and criminal behavior.

What do you already know about this subject?

-That sadly, many children have to go through abuse.

What are you hoping to learn about the subject?

-If there is a link between the two and if there has been steps taken towards putting an end to child abuse.

What are you most interested in regarding the topic?

-Seeing how child abuse can affect the mind and how an abused child if affected in the future because of what they had to deal with.                                                                                                                                         

What potential risks or challenges do you foresee for your project?

-Not finding enough research or not being able to find community service that relates to my project.