Case Study
Young children and toddlers staring intently at the screens of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets) for hours has become a common sight nowadays. This is a worrying trend.

A collaborative research study comprising researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences has found an association between excessive screen time and negative effects on brain development among children.

Through a longitudinal cohort study, the research team reported a dose-response relationship where the longer a child’s screen time during infancy, the poorer his cognitive functioning later during childhood. This effect has been shown to persist even after the child turns eight.

The researchers said that their study’s findings are important as it concerns the development of the future generation of Singapore. They also highlighted the need to examine underlying factors that could explain the excessive screen time among young children.

Suppose the Singapore government would like to know more about excessive screen time among children in Singapore. You are tasked to submit a research proposal that will elaborate on how you can apply relevant concepts and research methods to study the topic. Your proposal should be written as an essay and include the following five parts.