A Study on the Effects of Technology on Child Social Development

This report investigates the multifaceted impact of technology on children's social development. The research, employing qualitative methods with a sample of 16 children, explores both the positive and negative effects of technology. The study identifies how technology influences children's social interactions, creativity, problem-solving skills, and learning, while also acknowledging potential drawbacks such as excessive screen time. The report delves into various types of technology, including mobile phones, television, and video games, and their respective impacts. It offers insights into the challenges and potential solutions for mitigating the negative consequences of technology use, emphasizing the importance of parental guidance and a balanced approach that includes outdoor activities. The findings suggest that while technology offers benefits, a balanced approach is crucial for children's healthy social development.

DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT
CHILDREN`S SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT?

ABSTRACT
This present research was based on the impact of technology on the social development of
children. Technology surely influences people social life as they are engaged more and more
with mobiles, computers and laptops in a day. The objectives of the research was To identify the
positive effects of technology on children's social development to study the types of technology
that effects on children's social development; to investigate the negative effects of technology on
social development of children; to analysis different ways through which negative effects of
technology on children's social development can be overcome easily. The research is based on
qualitative methods in which the sample size in 16 children and data was collected from both
primary and secondary methods. Further the outcomes of the study stated that technology has
lead to positive impact on social development of children as it raises the creativity skills,
problem solving skills and help in effective learning. Moreover, it can be said that, it is
important that parents should keep watch on their children activities and keep balance as outdoor
activities are also very important to live a healthy and happy life instead of only using
technologies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
TITLE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL ................................................................................................4
PART 1............................................................................................................................................4
1.0 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................4
1.1 Identify a specific researchable topic area............................................................................4
1.2 Establish the importance of the problem ..............................................................................4
1.3 Aim of the research project ..................................................................................................5
2.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTION.................................................5
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................................6
4.0 METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................9
4.1 Research Design, Research approach and Research Type..................................................10
4.2 Rationale.............................................................................................................................11
5.0 ACCESS TO DATA AND RESEARCH ETHICS.................................................................12
6.0 LIMITATIONS........................................................................................................................12
PART 2..........................................................................................................................................14
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................14
Research Background................................................................................................................14
Aims and Objectives.................................................................................................................15
LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................15
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................18
RESEARCH FINDINGS...............................................................................................................20
ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................................30
Primary Analysis.......................................................................................................................30
Secondary Analysis:..................................................................................................................34
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................35
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................35
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................37
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................40

Questionnaire............................................................................................................................40

TITLE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL
“To analyse the effects of technology on children's social development”.
PART 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Identify a specific researchable topic area
In the development of a person's overall health, things which a person can remember is
start from his early childhood days. Social development is a process by which a person can learn
that how to interact with others. In these stage child has to build healthy relation with those by
whom he is surrounded like in school, park, home.
Social development help a child to learn new languages, games, speech etc. by the
strength of these learnings he can build up self-esteem, that help a children to find out solutions
of conflict in future (Abraham and et. al., 2016). Like charity begin from home similar how to
behave with others is first learned by a child from his parents. Emotional and social development
is an ability of children to know the feeling of some others, control their behaviours and feelings,
build relationship with adults and get along with other children. In today era, technology play
most essential and vital role for developing skills and knowledge of people or children about
specific subject. Technology changes the style of children that they socialize and interact with
some others, which can highly effects on their psychical and emotional health. It has now
become mutual knowledge that maximum levels of social media use by children. It is a biggest
topic that effects on children as well as society also. There are different types of technology such
as social media, internet and many other which are positively and negatively impact on children.
Maximum uses of technology is negatively impact on children's eye, brain and many other parts
of body. Along with this, technology is also have positive impact on children's by developing
different skills and knowledge about specific subject.
1.2 Establish the importance of the problem
In this research, impact of technology on social development of children is biggest issues.
Technology has positive and negative effects on children's social development. It changes the
way children interact and socialize with others, which can have large effects on their emotional

and mental well-being (Best, 2017). Technology is important and essential for children because
it gives tons of positive chances for learning, socializing and entertaining, but it should be
watched and used in appropriate manner. This topic help a population to avoid the maximum
uses of social media in their routine life. With the assist of this, they can easily overcome effects
of social media and gain better outputs within given time duration. Therefore, with the help of
research, researcher can easily influence the parents of those children whose spend their more
time over the internet and many sites. Thus, it is a more significant topic for the children and
their parents to avoid maximum uses of technology on their daily life.
1.3 Aim of the research project
In research project aim is consider one of the essential part because entire activities and
tasks of study is dependent on them. Main aim of this research is “To investigate the effects of
technology on social development of children”.
2.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTION
Research Questions: It is consider as a fundamental core of a research, study or literature
review. It mainly emphasis the study, find out the methodology and guides entire stages of
inquiry. In this section, different number of useful questions are made which are determine as
below:
 What are the positive effects of technology on children's social development?
 What are the types of technology that effects on children's social development?
 What are the negative effects of technology on social development of children? What are the different ways through which negative effects of technology on children's
social development can be overcome easily?
Research Objectives: A research objective is a concise, clear, declarative statement,
which gives an accurate direction to identify variables under the study (Bjorklund and Causey,
2017). This section is based on two variables such as dependent and independent. According to
the aim children's social development is a dependent variable which is depend on technology.
There are some important research objectives which are mention as under:

1. To identify the positive effects of technology on children's social development.
2. To study the types of technology that effects on children's social development.
3. To investigate the negative effects of technology on social development of children.
4. To analysis different ways through which negative effects of technology on children's
social development can be overcome easily.
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
A literature review is a reproducible, explicit and systematic method for synthesizing,
evaluating and identifying the existing body or recorded and finished work produced by scholars,
investigators and practitioners (Chang, 2015). It is a form of narrative review which includes the
actual understanding about substantive findings, as well as methodological and theoretical
contribution to a specific topic of research. There are different purpose of literature review some
are determine as below:
 It identify conflicts and gaps in previous studies.
 Literature review provide foundation of knowledge on specific topic of research.
 This section of research help a researcher to identify relationship of works in relates of its
contribution to the particular topic and to other work.
 It also help an investigator to accomplish all research objectives in systematic and
effective manner.
The positive Impacts of technology on children's social development.
According to the Littlefield, (2017) National association for the education told that
technology refer to digital way of learning. It include all application, games, e-books etc. all are
included in technology. About the learning of technology studies show that they have positive
effect. Research show that children who play maths games or watch television show with their
parents they learn new strategy fast as compare to when they watch alone. With the use
technology children are growing fast that how to respond on different technology.

With the play of different games children can learn better coordination between their eye
and hand, response time and how to do different work at a same time. Technology need just to
be a ongoing interaction with children (Technology Good For Little Kids, 2019). Present era
provide a opportunity to use technology as a educational tool but it need coordination between
children and technology.
Nowadays children are learning how they will be able to develop themselves. With which
application they can increase their learning abilities. Present scenario told us that now children
are in easily in touch with devices because it is available at everyone homes.
Sounds, graphic, colour, action activity etc. gain the children attention. This all help them
to increase their focus , to avoid distraction. It is more with the came up of touch screen
technology. Survey which are in schools show that mostly children go only with educational
game because it is a different way of learning in class. If educator is taking responsibility of
using technology in class than effectiveness of learning by students also increased. basic
awareness of parents and teacher on children that how much time was spend by his children in
technology can provide several benefits to their children.
 Effectiveness and efficiency of a children depend on how much he is focused for use of
devices.
Interaction between children and parents is important to tell that purposeful use of technology
help to grow a children fast.
Types of technology that effects on children's social development.
According to the Rasmussen, (2016) it is important that how parents mange the things so
that effect of technology can be decreased because it is one of those area which bring adverse
impact on children. There are some of the area which is effecting the most to child and they are:
Mobile Phones: It is one of those electronic item which has been effecting the must
because it do contain all those features which normal computer do have in it. The use of mobile
phone has been increasing day by day which have decreased the level of interest on other
activities.

Television: It is also among on of the effecting area for children in terms of technology.
If anyone become the victim of television then social development of that child takes excessive
time. So, it is important for parents that how they can change the mind set of their children.
Video games: This are also one of the factor through which social development of
children take extra time. At present there are many children who are addictive of video games
which do not let children to develop their mind in a systematic manner.
This are some the technology at present which has been effecting the most in social
development of children.
The negative effects of technology on social development of children.
According to the Tartaro, (2015) there are different number of negative effects of
technology on social development of children. Some are determine as under:
Technology slows down the brain: Today's, children do not get adequate exercise. They
spend their maximum time on internet and different types of technology which will negatively
effects on its mental health. In addition to this, maximum use of technology may origin children
to become dyslexics, it can cause its brains to not hold things quickly.
Technology increases risk of cancer: Computer scree and cellular phones emit radiation
which can maximise the issues of cancer, especially in children. Therefore technology is not
good for the mental and physical well-being of children (The Negative Effects of Technology in
Child Development, 2018).
Technology delays cognitive development: Children's cognitive development between
two to three years old can be negatively affected if they usage devices for long duration. At this
specific age, children should learn and develop spatial skills, motor skills and visual skills to lead
a normal life. Such type of skills are created by exercising or by playing.
Technology causes Eye Strain: Different number of children face eye issue when they sit
in front of laptop and television screen for maximum time. In addition, eye strain can track to eye
weariness, blurry vision and focus problems, which can be more dangerous and irritating.

Different ways through which negative effects of technology on children's social
development can be overcome easily.
According to the Willis and Nagel, (2015), In the era of modern technology electronic
devices have very crucial role but, it is very important at present to make children aware about
electronic devices as they are the one which bring negative impact on their health. There are
different number of ways through which negative effects of technology on social development of
children can be reduce or overcome easily. It is necessary that how it is being utilised. Even, it
has been found that electronic devices have destroyed the life of many children so, it is better for
every parents to prohibit their children from electronic devices. Some of the necessary area that
be focused more by parents are: Increasing the outdoor activities: It must be understood by every parents that children
should get more opportunity to visit outside rather forcing them to stay in home. It will
allow children to focus more on other activities then electronic devices (Negative effects
of technology on children, 2018). Seat at specific distance: The thing that parents need to keep in mind that, if they allows
their children to use electronic device then it is necessary to make them keep distance so
that it will not affect the eyes much and more.
 Avoiding Electronic Items: It should be understood by all parents that they themselves
need to change because if they will not avoid using electronic item in front of children
then how they can convince their child.
4.0 METHODOLOGY
It is the theoretical and systematic analysis of different methods used to a field of
research. In addition, research methodology is consider one of the useful process used to
accumulate data and information for the purpose of making effective business decision. This
section of study may cover publication research, survey, interview and other techniques relevant
to the topic (Connell, Lauricella and Wartella,2015). Main purpose of research methodology is to
collect, analyze and interpret information or data to answer questions. Thus, with the help of this

section an investigator can easily identify impact of technology on social development of
children.
4.1 Research Design, Research approach and Research Type
Research onion is consider one of the best theory and framework used by researcher in
explaining research methodology for specific topic of study. This framework has different outer
and inner layer which will help a researcher to identify useful and appropriate methods for
accumulating accurate data or information about the positive and negative effects of technology
on children's social development. It will also help an investigator to identify information about
the different ways regarding managing negative effects of social media on children.
Research Design: The entire activities or tasks of study depends on research design
which is executed by an investigator for identifying effects of technology on children's social
development (Gordon and et. al., 2016). There are fundamentally three form of research design
namely descriptive, experimental and exploratory. In order to identify impact of technology on
social development of children, descriptive design will be more suitable and appropriate because
it provide accurate results about the topic.
Data collection: For collecting accurate amount of information, there are mainly two
methods of data collection which will be used in the study, one is primary and another is
secondary. Under primary data, questionnaire will be followed because it help in accumulating
reliable and valid data about the topic (Lim, 2015). On the other side, there is secondary data,
books, journals, publication research and many other articles used to collect in-depth and proper
information about the field of study. For this research, secondary research will be used by
researcher for accumulating relevant data about the study.
Data analysis: In these themes are prepared on the basis of research questions. In order to
analysis data, thematic analysis as an analytical tool will be used by researcher. In these case
different number of themes are made on each research questions which will help a researcher to
minutely analysis response from the respondents side.
Research approach: There are two types of research approach which name is inductive
and deductive. In case of inductive approach, it is concerned with building an unique or new

theory. On the other hand, under deductive approach, it is mainly concerned with testing an
existing theory. For this research project, inductive approach will be used by researcher because
it help them in accumulating quality data about the topic.
Research philosophy: For evaluating data or information effectively, there are basically
two types of research philosophy which is positivism and interpretivism (Littlefield and et. al.,
2017). According to the topic, Interpretivism philosophy will be applied because it help a
researcher in analysing data accurately. On the other side, there is positivism research philosophy
which will be not valuable for executing research in more suitable manner.
Sampling method: For selecting sample size, there are basically two types of sampling
method which name is probability and non-probability. According to the topic, random sampling
method as a technique of probability will be used by research because in which samples are
selected randomly. On the other hand, non-probability sampling which is not useful according to
the topic because it is difficult for researcher in making valid inference about the whole
population.
Sample Size: For collecting information or data about the effects of technology on
children's social development 60 respondents out of total population will be taken into
consideration.
Target Population: Children's are targeted for this research who are faced the effects of
technology on their social development (Rasmussen and et. al., 2016).
4.2 Rationale
Main reason behind doing this research is to identify the effects of technology on social
development of children. With the help of research methods, approaches and techniques, a
researcher can easily analysis types of technology, positive and negative effects of technology
and ways about managing and overcoming negative issues on the children. Thus, it is a main aim
of this research which will be achieve with the help of research methods such as research
paradigm, inductive approach, probability sampling method, equipments and data analyse. All
these are most appropriate and essential way for the researcher to effectively answer all research
questions. For this questionnaire is consider one of the best tool for investigator to accumulate