Research Report

(This was apparently uploaded as a draft instead of published which is why it is particularly late)

No that I have decided on a topic, nature versus nurture, I am going to look into all the different views on this subject. I am currently thinking that I side more on the side of nurture having more power than nature but who knows what I will decide after researching it some. So now, my research begins...

1. Source 1: Nature vs. Nurture Revisited
1. “Nature vs. Nurture Revisited” by Kevin Davies published on PBS Arizona Public Media’s website
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. Simon and Schuster
1. Wrote the book Cracking the Genome
2. LinkedIn
1. Graduate of Oxford and University of London
3. Target Audience
1. People interested in psychology - not necessarily psychologists but the general public
1. Because of the widespread public access to PBS, this article is distributed to many many people
2. It is written in an academic manner but also in a manner that is accessible to someone who might not know the ins and outs of psychology
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Davies describes, “With so much attention on explaining behavior in terms either of nature or nurture…” which suggests that he is attempting to address and resolve this controversy
2. The last paragraph argues that you cannot choose one or the other because they work together
5. Context
1. PBS states at the bottom of their website that they are a non-profit
1. This suggests considerable reliability for unbiased information
2. The sources listed at the bottom of the page allow the reader to trace his steps through his research
2. Source 2: The End of Nature Versus Nurture
1. “The End of Nature Versus Nurture” by Evan Nesterak published on The Psych Report
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. Nesterak’s bio on The Psych Report
1. Editor and Chief of The Psych Report
2. Culture Works bio
1. Graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in psychology and statistics
3. Target Audience
1. People interested in the argument of Nature Vs. Nurture
1. The first sentence is a rhetorical question: “How do we become who we are?”
2. People interested in the research of David Moore
1. It is an interview with David Moore
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. It’s not the actual genes that matter, it’s what the genes actually do that matters
1. “What counts is not what genes you have so much as what your genes are doing”
2. Genes are affected but not determined by their environments
1. “genes do what they do because of the contexts that they’re in”
2. “You need [genes and environment]. They’re both absolutely essential”
5. Context
1. According to their about page,The Psych Report is a non profit that works on providing science news and more to the public
2. LinkedIn says that there are 1-10 employees, suggesting that this company is very small
3. Source 3: Environmental Influences on Gene Expression
1. “Environmental Influences on Gene Expression” by Ingrid Lobo published on Scitable
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. Graduated from UT Austin with a degree in molecular biology
1. According to Write Science Right’s profile page
2. Edited by Laura Hoopes
1. Founding member of Claremont McKenna
2. Professor of Biology and Molecular Biology at Pomona College
3. Target Audience
1. High school teachers and their students
1. About page of scitable
2. Form of writing
1. Figures, headings, and more options to explore the topic support the high school structure of learning
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Genes are influenced by environment
1. “The expression of genes in an organism can be influenced by the environment, including the external world in which the organism is located or develops, as well as the organism's internal world, which includes such factors as its hormones and metabolism”
2. Drugs, Chemicals, Temperature, and Light affect genes
1. Headings and supporting evidence
5. Context
1. Acts as a social network for science and research fields
1. Techcrunch
2. Resource mainly focusing on genetics for undergraduate and high school biology students
1. Research Information
4. Source 4: It’s nature, not nurture: personality lies in genes, twins study shows
1. “It’s nature, not nurture: personality lies in genes, twins study shows” by Nick Collins published on the Telegraph
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. According to his mini bio on the article, Nick Collins is the science correspondent for The Telegraph
2. Graduated from Durham University with a B.A. in English Literature and from Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd with a postgraduate degree in Newspaper Journalism.
3. Target Audience
1. People around the world interested in nature vs. nurture
1. Wikipedia page
1. Specifies that it is international
2. Under the science category so the people viewing it have some particular interest in science or psychology
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Argues that genetics are much more powerful of an influence than environment
1. "Previously, the role of family and the environment around the home often dominated people's ideas about what affected psychological well being. However, this work highlights a much more powerful influence from genetics."
2. “Researchers found that identical twins were twice as likely as non-identical twins to share the same personality traits, suggesting that their DNA was having the greatest impact.”
5. Context
1. In the top right hand corner of the page, there is a link to the facebook page describing that they have 3.1 million follower
1. Well known and widely accepted
2. According to Real or Satire, the Telegraph has no history of false information and any satirical pieces are sectioned under humor
5. Source 5: How do your genes and the environment interact?
1. “How do your genes and the environment interact?”, no author listed, published on Genes in Life
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. The “team”, listed on their website, is James O’Leary and Sharon Alexander
1. Both heavily involved in genetics
1. O’Leary is the Chief Innovation Officer at Genetic Alliance
2. Alexander “manages a program at Genetic Alliance (NGECN) focused on creating new partnerships and resources for consumers (individuals with genetic conditions and their families) to access quality genetic services”
3. Target Audience
1. People concerned about their health in relation to their genes
1. It is an organization run by geneticists trying to help people answer questions about their health
2. Genes in Life is a place to learn about all the ways genetics is a part of your life
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. There are many things in your environment that can affect your body
1. “Mutagens are pollutants in the environment that enter the body and directly change your DNA sequence.  Example: The chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause cancer.
2. “Some environmental exposures and dietary factors can lead to abnormal changes in epigenetic pathways.”
5. Context
1. Their Twitter page has over one thousand followers so they are accepted by a good number of people
2. They are sponsored by Maternal and Child Health, run by the Department of Health and Human Services, which suggests they are credible if they are backed by a government agency
6. Source 6: Nurture over nature: Loving mothers boost their baby's intelligence by stimulating the growth of brain cells, study claims
1. “Nurture over nature: Loving mothers boost their baby's intelligence by stimulating the growth of brain cells, study claims” by Jonathan O’Callaghan published on Daily Mail
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. According to his LinkedIn, he graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Physics and Astrophysics, so he is scientifically knowledgeable
2. He has been working as a journalist since 2010 so he is familiar with the field
3. Target Audience
1. People interested in science
1. It is under the science tab of the Daily Mail
2. People interested in mothering
1. Centered around  how mothering affects neurological development
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Early and attentive care from mothers can positively affect a baby’s neurological development as well as account for differences in behaviors within uniform cultures
1. “The study also helps explain how differences in the way mothers nurture their young could account, in part, for the wide variation in infant behaviour among animals, including people, with similar backgrounds, or in uniform, tightly knit cultures.”
2. “Scientists found that a mother's presence can have a positive influence on the neuron generation of her children.”
5. Context
1. Their Facebook page has almost four million followers which suggests that many people consider it to be a credible source
2. According to its Wikipedia page it was the first daily British newspaper aimed at the newly-literate lower class, started in 1896, so it has a long history of (mostly not controversial but also sometimes controversial) history
7. Source 7: Nature or Nurture? The Long-Running Debate May Finally Be Settled
1. “Nature or Nurture? The Long-Running Debate May Finally Be Settled” by Macrina Cooper-White published on The Huffington Post
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. According to her Twitter she is a Ph.D. student in social neuroscience at UCLA
2. According to her LinkedIn she graduated from Yale with a B.S. in cognitive science
3. Target Audience
1. People following the nature vs nurture debate
1. By beginning with, “It’s an age-old debate”, she immediately attracts an audience interested in that age old debate
2. Scientists
1. She describes her “study design” and what can be done “moving forward”
1. This structure appeals to a science/experiment-minded person
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Nature and nurture are equally influential
1. “Genes and environment exert equal influence”
2. Certain traits are more affected by nurture or by genes
1. “Some traits turned out to be more heritable than others. For instance, cleft lip was found to be 98 percent heritable, risk for having bipolar disorder about 70 percent heritable.”
5. Context
1. According to their Wikipedia page they are the first commercially run US digital enterprise to win a Pulitzer Prize
2. According to their Twitter, they have almost seven million followers, suggesting they are widely accepted and followed
8. Source 8: Stress and Trauma in Childhood Affect Gene Expression for Life
1. “Stress and Trauma in Childhood Affect Gene Expression for Life” by Rachel Barclay published on Healthline
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. According to her website, Rachel barclay graduated from UC Berkeley in 2009 with a B.S. in Psychology
2. According to her LinkedIn she has been a freelance writer for healthline for three years so she has a strong history in writing for the same place
3. Target Audience
1. Parents
1. The title of the article attracts people who are interested in successfully parenting
2. Content of the article attracts people interested in understanding the effects of stress during childhod, this could attract
1. People with the symptoms described as side effects of the stress, people who have had similar childhood experiences, etc
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. When overproduced, cortisol has negative effects. This overproduction is stimulated by stress during childhood.
1. “After cortisol has docked with about 50 percent of the glucocorticoid receptors in the brain's hippocampus, any more cortisol will cause performance to decline.”
2. “His finding might help explain why people with a history of abuse are at a greater risk for developing mood disorders. ‘Excessive or prolonged exposure to stress hormones, like cortisol, can cause people to stay chronically upset, alert, and vigilant for danger.’”
5. Context
1. According to their about page, they are committed to providing trusted and credible information
2. According to Wikipedia they are a privately owned health services company that solely provides information to people interested
9. Source 9: Nature vs. nurture outcome depends on where you live
1. “Nature vs. nurture outcome depends on where you live” by Nick Collins published on The Telegraph
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. According to his mini bio on the article, Nick Collins is the science correspondent for The Telegraph
2. Graduated from Durham University with a B.A. in English Literature and from Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd with a postgraduate degree in Newspaper Journalism.
3. Target Audience
1. People interested in the nature vs. nurture debate
1. The title immediately attracts people interested in that
2. The contents of the story and the video of nature-nurture maps continue to appeal to people interested in that debate
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. Nature has a greater influence depending on where you live
1. “But in London environment played a greater role - possibly because wealth varies so dramatically within communities, meaning twins growing up on the same street are more likely to fall in with different groups of friends who could influence their behaviour.”
2. “For example, across most of the country 60 per cent of the variation in children's behaviour at school - whether they were unruly or not - was down to their genes.”
5. Context
1. In the top right hand corner of the page, there is a link to the facebook page describing that they have 3.1 million follower
1. Well known and widely accepted
2. According to Real or Satire, the Telegraph has no history of false information and any satirical pieces are sectioned under humor
10. Source 10: Nature vs Nurture - The Debate Examined
1. “Nature vs Nurture - The Debate Examined” by Kate T., Gauri S., Pooja Sehgal, Nikhilesh Jasuja, published on Diffen
2. Sources, Author(s)
1. Wikipedia, National Journal, Youtube, PBS
1. Mostly credible, however, Wikipedia and youtube are not always reliable sources
1. The YouTube video was an award winning video at an history competition
3. Target Audience
1. People who are unclear about the difference between Nature and Nurture
1. The site gives a very basic description of nature vs nurture
1. “The nature versus nurture debate is about the relative influence of an individual's innate attributes as opposed to the experiences from the environment one is brought up in, in determining individual differences in physical and behavioral traits.”
2. The comparison chart is very very simple
4. Main Purpose, Message
1. To give an overview of the entirety of the debate to someone who may not be caught up
1. “In recent years, both types of factors have come to be recognized as playing interacting roles in development.”
2. “In the "nature vs nurture" debate, nurture refers to personal experiences [..] nature refers to an individual's innate qualities.”
5. Context
1. According to their about page they attempt to provide all the information about various ideas, controversies, etc. in one location
2. A WordPress article describes the usefulness of Diffen, suggesting it is accepted and used by a relatively large and likely educated audience