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RESEARCH

 

Researchers and scientists are beginning to discuss the potential impacts of digital media use in medical terms:  

·  Are toddlers’ neural pathways transformed in a different way?

·  Are school children’s focusing capacities diminished by structural brain changes?

·  Are teens suffering from “Facebook depression” or video game “addiction” via dopamine pathways?

·  What media content and time works best for youth across platforms and demographics?

 

Role of IDMCD:  

The Institute of Digital Media and Child Development has interviewed 160 research scientist to determine their work in the field and to understand their expectations and hopes for the future of research in this area.

 

IDMCD has taken the results of these interviews to begin writing a State of the Field.  Members have defined 33 working groups that will each focus on a piece of the overall field.  The scientists in these working groups will determine the research questions and priorities for each topic.

 

In 2015, IDMCD will convene a national conference, the Digital Media and the Developing Mind, supported by the National Academy of Sciences’’ Committee on Science Programs. 

 

 The conference will gather researchers, experts and not-for-profits to accomplish these three goals:

 

  • Set the agenda for future research and support seed funding for collaborative, interdisciplinary research immediately following the conference.

  • Start a dialogue between researchers and media producers about "best practices" in the design of games, cell phones, social networks, advertising etc. directed to children.

  • Develop a consensus statement on what is a healthy media diet and guidelines for parents on how to raise happy, healthy children and developing a plan to disseminate this information.

 

 

IDMCD working groups will present white papers at the conference and prioritize 20 research topics.  These white papers will be published on the IDMCD website.

 

Through the working group method, IDMCD will further define the Top Ten research fields and provide funding directly to grad students, post doctoral students and research scientist.  

 

The research results will drive advocacy.  IDMCD will partner with parents groups, technology companies and governments to advocate for such things as a Digital Media and Children commission in Congress.

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