Research Memo

Ben Flo

Ms. McKoy

26 February 2013

English 2 – 1^st

The Golden Rule Research Memo

Hypothesis

Empathy by definition is the intellectual identification of feelings of another. It is the reason that most people have relationships. I asked my respondents if they had been bullied in their life and 83% said that they have. This is the major part of my class in terms of data. My school is made up of many different high schools in Horry County. If they come from schools that have bullies, then the bullies now go to their base high schools and continue to bully others. Bullying, racism, and prejudice are all one in the same. They are all apart of bigotry, which is the outcome of non-empathy. I asked if having empathy would make the world a better place. If those who have experienced pain were asked this, they would completely agree. Those who have the sense to feel pain also have the ability to give love. If people who have experienced social discrimination or abuse, then they will understand what it means to have empathy.

Context

My specific target audience is teens to adults who have suffered bullying, prejudice, racism or any other social torment. I chose those respondents because they have empathy. They know through life that it is hard and will be all the more understanding to others. They are the ones who once were victims to bigotry and they have a voice worthy of being heard. I discovered from my pilot testing that 83% of my respondents were bullied. I asked them to write a response to how they felt when they were bullied, thus supporting their credibility. Bias towards non-empathy with people who have been bullied does not skew the data one way or another. Those are the respondents I seek because they have experienced what is necessary to have empathy.

Results

In my first data point, it shows that 83% of my respondents were bullied at some point in their life.

In my second data point, it also shows that 100% of my respondents agree to question 9.

In my third data point, it shows that 59% percent of those who have been bullied agree that tradition is the cause of racism

Data Analysis

In my first finding, I recognize that all of the respondents that have been bullied agree that if people were to know the feelings of being bullied or harassed then they would have more consideration for others. Every single respondent agreed that life would indeed be a better place. In my second finding, 92% percent believe that ethics and understanding should be taught in schools. Those who agree also understand that empathy is the key to social equality and success. If empathy was taught in schools, bullying would be prevented and lives would not be ruined, and I am confident that those who agree also believe in these principles. In my third finding, I discovered that 59% of my respondents believe that racism is caused by tradition. They understand that the open hate for someone’s race is taught through ignorant teachers. They are so compelled to defile and show disdain for a people they barely understand, be it black, Hispanic, white, Asian, or any other race. Ignorance is misunderstanding. If tradition is based on that, then those who agree that violence is the cause of it will believe this too.

Conclusion

Empathy is a simple concept that many do not understand. Those who have been affected with this injustice are those who know how important empathy really is. For who are we to withhold knowledge of equality of future generations? If we are not the heralds of our future, who will be?

Follow Up

In following up to this research memo, I could have formatted my questions differently and more clearly. My questions led the respondent to answer in a way to support my thesis. I could have used questions that have more than one way to answer them. I could have focused my questions to be more specific on areas of empathy like everyday life or more common struggles.