Youngstown State University students win Top Undergraduate Research Paper from Ohio Communication Association

Six students in Youngstown State University’s department of Communication won the first place prize for Top Undergraduate Research Paper from the Ohio Communication Association.

Students Kalli Bucci of Vienna; Caitlyn Jones of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Audrey Kali of Hubbard; Aicha Sawaneh of Freetown, Sierra Leone; Katherine Stinson of Hubbard; and Grace Venturella of New Middletown authored the winning paper, titled “Put that Phone Down!: Amplifying the Impact of Technology on Childhood Development.”

After winning the award, Jones, Sawaneh and Stinson traveled to Cleveland to present the findings of the research project at the 2024 Ohio Communication Association conference Oct. 4-5 at Cleveland State University. The group was also recognized at the event’s award ceremony before it presented the research to the conference attendees during a special session for Top Graduate and Undergraduate Research Papers.

During their presentation they covered the scope of the paper, which explored the multifaceted effects of technology on children, considering both its potential benefits and drawbacks and offered insights into effective strategies for promoting healthy digital habits and optimizing childhood development in the digital age.

Jeffery Tyus, YSU professor of Communication, taught the course, and encouraged the students to submit their work to the association.

“To say they did a phenomenal job would be an understatement. Conference attendees were very impressed with both their research study and the confidence they portrayed while presenting,” Tyus stated. “Several attendees approached the students with business cards as they expressed interest in having them apply for graduate school at their institutions — that is how well they did during their presentation. I honestly could not have been prouder!”