The Start of My Research

Since settling on the topic of behavioral differences between social introverts and extroverts and their roles in society, I have started considering the methods through which I plan to conduct my research.  Although nothing is finalized yet, I believe that the research for this project will be carried out in a three-step process.  The first step of this process is research through literature.  By looking through behavioral genetics textbooks and studies investigating the factors behind the behavioral differences of the two groups, I hope to eventually be able to ascertain as to whether social introverts and extroverts are created by their environments or by their genetic makeup, or by a combination of the two (nature vs. nurture).  In this respect, I hope that by contacting experts in the field of behavioral genetics I will be able to consult with others who have an adequate understanding of the subject matter.  The second step of this research process is research through survey.  I plan to distribute surveys out to mass groups of people (students as well as adults), questioning what their definition of an introvert or an extrovert is, asking how they would identify if tasked with choosing one group to relate to, inquiring what thoughts go through their heads when they are forced into a group setting, examining how they would respond to different situations, and looking into their perceptions of both introverts and extroverts and of their usefulness to society.  By conducting this step in the research, I hope to better recognize the differences between social introverts and extroverts, to better understand and sympathize with the two groups, and to better evaluate their use in society, as viewed from society's perspective.  The third step of this research process is research through observation.  While this step in the research process is tentative and may or may not be carried out because confounding factors may be involved and because I may fail to record the data accurately, I hope to gain permission from some teachers to observe their students during class and to record their responses to different societal situations (identifying them as introverts and extroverts) and any apparent treatment of introverts and extroverts in the class setting.  If this step in the research process is conducted successfully, I may be able to learn how and why the two groups act under different situations and what their treatment is by their peers, who merely serve as miniature pre-adults.  In order to receive effective results and conduct my research in an efficient process, I still must brainstorm and plan for an extensive period of time before any of these steps in the research process can be considered finalized.  However, I hope that I will have my research through literature underway and my first survey designed before the end of next week.  I will continue to update this blog with posts as I reach nearer to the different steps in the research process and begin to realize/understand new things and produce results.