This study examines the significance of the relationship between student’s hand of preference, academic interests and brain
lateralization. It incorporates two main aims; firstly, it investigates the number of left/right handed students studying for a particular course/degree. Secondly, it explores what academic areas students are interested according to the hand they use for writing. Therefore, the independent variable of this study is
hand of preference and the dependent ones are
course type,
academic interests and
preferred hobbies. This paper also provides useful insights into understanding patterns of variance of cognitive and behavioral skills among left- and right-handed individuals. Although this topic counts with a considerable amount of research and scholarship, many clinical psychologists and neurologists seem to consistently study ‘
handedness’ only in connection with eugenics, etiology and pathology. In contrast, this piece of research provides an alternative approach to ‘handedness’ which enables the researcher to emancipate him/herself from regarding it as a factor associated either with mental/physical disorders or with human evolutionary processes. In addition, more priority is given towards the investigation of how individuals’ academic potential can be effectively utilized towards an occupation compatible with their ‘nature’. Moreover, it is important to understand how physical ‘clues’ such as preferred hand can help to identify and characterize intellectual potential as either ‘rational’ or ‘creative’ orientated. This identification may possibly ensure students’ best performance in academic areas that maps their dominant cerebral hemispheric skills. Although the
definition of handedness varies according to different theoretical approaches, this paper adopts the most common definition (handedness as the hand one uses for writing). Furthermore, the results of this paper are analyzed and interpreted using this definition as frame of reference. Finally, the findings of this research are discussed and evaluated in terms of positive and negative criticisms by drawing upon alternative perspectives such as cultural influences and the role played by the environment in determining handedness. Theoretical and methodological strengths and weaknesses are also assessed, as well as possible ways in which this research could be improved. Your introduction is just superb, but I was wondering if its ok to to do this way other than the way Sandra put it in the module hand book? It is ok if you consulted her, see module hand book for what am talking about. For the sake of Sandra, am not sure if it would be good to clearly spell out your 1. Aims 2. Variables for the study