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Humanities 200 (HUM 200)

Course guide for Humanities 200

Example Research Question

How does green space affect the mental health of teenagers?

Evaluating Sources Activities

Part One: Evaluation Criteria

  1. Brainstorm 3-5 criteria you would use to evaluate a source based on our research question. How would you decide if it was useful to you?
  2. Share your criteria on the class Padlet.

Part Two: Evaluating a Source

  1. Navigate to the appropriate sample article.
    1. Source 1: Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health
    2. Source 2: Why More Green Space is More Essential for Cities
    3. Source 3: Does Exposure to Green Spaces in Childhood Lead to Better Mental Health?
    4. Source 4: Passive green space exposure leading to lower aggression: The mediating role of sense of control
  2. Evaluate using the criteria we established as a group.
  3. Think about:
    1. What are some good things about this source?
    2. What are some potential issues with it?
    3. When might it be appropriate to use this source?

Part Three: Evaluating a Generated Response

  1. Look over the Copilot-generated response shown below.
  2. Individually, evaluate this response using the criteria we established.
  3. Think about:
    1. What are some good things about this source?
    2. What are some potential issues?
    3. How is this process similar to or different from what we just did as a group?

Sent by you: 

How does green space affect the mental health of teenagers? Please provide sources. 

Sent by Copilot: 

Certainly! leaf emoji Exposure to green spaces has been associated with better mental health outcomes for teenagers. Here are some relevant studies: 

  1. A large study in Denmark1 found that growing up with limited access to green space was associated with a 15 to 55 percent higher risk of developing mental health conditions in adulthood. The association remained even after adjusting for factors like urbanization, socioeconomic status, and parental history of mental illness. 
  2. Harvard University research2 indicates that adolescents living in areas surrounded by trees and green vegetation have better mental health compared to those with less greenery at home. 
  3. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research also found that teenagers living near green spaces are more likely to have better mental health34.

While these studies show an association, it's essential to note that correlation doesnโ€™t imply causation. However, the evidence suggests that green spaces play a positive role in mental well-being. ๐Ÿ˜Š 

Learn more:

1 smithsonianmag.com

2 niehs.nih.gov

3 medicalexpress.com

4 newsroom.ucla.edu

Screencapture of a Copilot interaction