RESEARCH PROPOSAL 3
Civility in America
Rothstein N. Campbell Jr.
Running Head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Running head: CRITICAL THINKING 1
Grantham University
Civility in America
If we had the power to change how we as people treated one another, would we use the option? Civility is the centerpiece of human interaction and the ability to survive as a people. Without civility, our humanity and dignity will continue to decline at a rapid pace. Even though technology can allow us to do great things, we have lost the art of being social with one another and opened the door of social distance to creep in. Most of the stuff we do is behind a computer and most of our conversations done through social media. A survey done by PR Newswire article said ” A poll that has tracked the state of civility in the United States since 2010 once again finds that the vast majority of Americans – 93 percent – identify a civility problem, with most classifying it as a “major” problem (68 percent)” (Tate, 2019).
Statement of the Problem
The problem to be addressed in this study is that civility has declined in our society and must turn around for social survival. “The current presidential election has shined a light on the lack of civility in the public square. Uncivil actions, such as name-calling, bullying, and calls to fisticuffs, seem to take priority over respectful dialogue and the healthy exchange of diverse viewpoints” (Andrews, 2016). We have exposure to a great deal of uncivil behavior because of a new connection between social media and technology is the vehicle. “Incivility in the United States has risen to “crisis” levels, according to 70 percent of respondents in the 2016 survey, Civility in America. The last time the survey was conducted, in 2014, 65 percent of respondents felt that incivility was at “crisis” levels in the United States” (Andrews, 2016). More recent studies have proven that this is worse than it was in 2016.
The purpose of this study to investigate some causes and make us aware of a severe problem that, if not addressed, will destroy our social responsibilities as we continue to thrive in our technology space. The topic of civility and technology is broad and covers many different social areas. We will narrow the scope, and this study will specifically investigate workplace and social application civility.
Research Questions
“Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves” – RALPH WALDO EMERSON (N.D.) Civility is the backbone of respect. Civility sets the tone for a better encounter with society. Therefore, the following research questions will guide this study:
Q1: Why has incivility risen in America?
Q2: How is civility important in our lives?
Study Significance
The results of this study will be useful for any community of people. This researcher believes that education on where incivility is headed. If the hearts and minds of our society do not change, we will not continue to function as a civil society. Even though this message does not focus on politicians, it should speak to any leader in all capacities. We lead the way, and if done correctly, people will follow, and the results will not end in unwelcome responses.
Conclusion
We must see where we are headed as a society. Incivility changes the dynamic of all societies. This problem is not racial, nor is it gender bios. It reaches all walks of life and does not discriminate. Incivility affects us from our youngest child through our adulthood through both physical communication and digital social applications. We owe our children a better example to be able to survive once they enter the social scene. This scene covers both school education to working with others in a job capacity. “It is time to change.”
References Andrews, A. (2016). Civility: Does It Matter? National Conference of State Legislators. Scheff, S. (2017, July 5). Shame Nation: The Rise of Incivility in America. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shame-nation-the-rise-of-incivility-in-america_b_591357d3e4b0e070cad70b2f Tate, W. S. (2019). Civility in America VII: The State of Civility.