research proposal

1. Running head: INFLUENCES OF RHETORIC IN THE DEBATE OF VACCINES AND AUTISM
Influences of Rhetoric in the Debate of Vaccines and Autism
By
Opari Hussein
+254 716542044
oparihussein@gmail.com

2. INFLUENCES OF RHETORIC IN THE DEBATE OF VACCINES AND AUTISM 2
Influences of Rhetoric in the Debate of Vaccines and Autism
Introduction
Autism is a contagion that was notably uncommon in the past few decades. However in the last
two decades, the malady has been advancing and taking root at an unbelievable rate. Standard research
links its occurrence to anomalies in the human brain’s roles and it may either stem from medical
complications or genetics. Autism Key (2011) states that, the classification of autism has been
revolutionizing radically since 1956 and it is currently definite than it was before. In addition to the above
claims, Autism Key (2011) asserts that autism is under immunization and it will continue to thrive if
medical practitioners do not introduce and employ appropriate measures to control it. From the past, there
has been a firm belief that Autism has a strong link to the MMR vaccination that infants receive in their
first year. A fundamental example to note was the outbreak of whooping cough in California (Melnick,
2011.) for this reason, there has been the emergence of scores of initiatives especially in the education
domains to help in the administration of public programs to educate the public on the effects of
immunization (Autism Key, 2011). As it is, it is rather difficult for one to make a conclusion on the
relationship between vaccination and autism because environmental factors also cause disorders that are
similar to autism. However, one cannot deny that there is a direct link between vaccination and autism
Problem Statement
Over the preceding two decades, there has been an upsurge in the rate of autisms cases. Many
claim that the overwhelming rates are due to the medical practice of vaccination whereas others view it as
result of the complex classification approach and environmental factors (Autism Key, 2011).
Research Justification

3. INFLUENCES OF RHETORIC IN THE DEBATE OF VACCINES AND AUTISM 3
For the past few decades, there has been a traditional belief that autism has a link to the medical
vaccination MMR that is vital for infants within their first year of birth. For this reason, most guardians
have not been taking their children for immunization (Autism Key, 2011).
Research Questions
The research raises the following important questions:
a. What evidence is there to justify the link between the vaccination and autism?
b. Is autism preventable?
c. What are the other probable causes of autism cases?
d. What is the character comparison between autism and environmental and diet factors?
Brief Overview of the Study
Vaccines contain an anti-bacterial compound known as Thimerosal (EPichichero, 2002). The
component helps in the preservation of vaccines and it contains elements of mercury. For this reason, a
majority of people link the mercury in vaccinations to autism (EPichichero, 2002). Autism Key (2011)
reveals that mercury has severe effects on the development of the human brain and its severity is more
pronounced in children. Among other effects of mercury is the loss of memory in children. Therefore,
Autism Key (2011), bases his claim on vaccination being a leading cause of autism cases. This research
will establish the level of mercury in children at a specified period. It will also address the correlation of
vaccination and autism through family visitation and oral interviews, and analyze medical reports from
three hospitals. The data will then undergo a keen thorough analysis to draw a reasonable conclusion.
Research Background and Literature Review
The study is based on the theory that MMR causes Autism especially among infants in their first
year of life. The study will review a case study by Cernichiari, Pichichero, Treano, and Lopreiato (2002).
In the study on the vaccination and autism, Pichichero, Cernichiari, Lopreiato, and Treanor examine sixty
one infants with autism. As a matter of fact, they base their experiment on infants of two and six months.
The study examines the children at given time intervals; for the two-month age group, the study examines
seven, five, and seven infants after 8, 8-15, 15-21 days after vaccination respectively. For the case of six

4. INFLUENCES OF RHETORIC IN THE DEBATE OF VACCINES AND AUTISM 4
month age group, the study examines 7, 8, and 5 infants after 4-7, 8-14, and 15-27 days after the
vaccination. In addition, the researchers visit their control group regularly to acquire the blood samples
for the experiment. According to the study, in the first 24-36 months duration, the infants are in good
health. From that point forward- in the two month age group- the researchers collect 17 and 16 blood
samples from children in the six-month age-group. From the analytical results, five of the children in the
two-month age group reveal mercury concentration although below the designated range. In contrast,
children in the six months age group had seven with low mercury levels to the specified range of
(p=0.48). The average concentration of mercury in children under the 6months age-group is lower than
that of those in the two-month age group. For the control group, the study examines 15 blood samples in
which 8 belong to children in the two-month age group, and 7 in the 6-month age group. The findings
indicate that the mercury level is below the designated levels in seven and eight of the samples from
children in the two- month age-group and 6-month age group respectively. In this research, there are high
levels of mercury concentration especially after vaccination although the mercury concentrations in all the
cases are uniformly lower than the quantum level to cause autism.
In the outgoing case study, the researcher tries to qualify the fact that there is no link between
autism and vaccination. Waterhouse (2013) in his study “Discourse Studies of Scientific Popularization,"
argues that some scientific claims are not real facts, but popularized ideas. Therefore, the relationship
between vaccination and autism is not an exemption. Meyers further asserts that the popularization in
science involves the assumption and contradiction of ideas in various areas of specialization in the entire
field of science (Waterhouse, 2013).
Meyers (2003) further asserts that popularization may be as a result of the inability of the public
to access the expertise information. Therefore, this argument may apply in the case of vaccination and
autism theory. Apart from the elementary knowledge and information to the public, the public lacks the
ability to establish the root of given scientific claims. Therefore, different models always crop up in the
scientific arena due to loopholes in the public domain (Meyers, 2003). He also claims that ignorance in
the public domain contributes much into the popularization of scientific facts that have no basis. Meyers

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gives examples of the parents and farmers; farmers, guardians, and parents may lack information on the
diseases on their crops or infants respectively. However, they are highly likely to adopt the myths and
assumptions in the polluted air of science without establishing the truth. In his work, Myers, recommends
an in-depth analysis of facts and claims before people draw conclusions. In the case of this study, it is
critical for one to examine and come up with correct facts to draw out a conclusive stand. It should
involve a comprehensive exploration of a number of hypothetical claims and information to make any
scientific fact valid. It is not all about the suggestion from one study, but a validation of the suggested
claims. All scientific claims should have clear references and be an aggregate of valid quantum (Meyers,
2003). The relationship of claims to the reference should be clear and beyond any reasonable doubt.
Methodology and Procedures
Research Design
The study takes a quantitative design. It will involve the exploration of past laboratory health
experiments and their outcomes to make comprehensive conclusions from the data. The research also
focuses on healthy records from hospital and families.
Sample and sample Size
In this case, the samples will be children of difference age groups. The children’s age groups will
be 2 and 6 Months. The sample size will be twenty families that have a close observation of the infants.
The research will also explore three different hospitals especially maternity care units for infant health
records.
Instrumentation
The research aims at responding to the relationship between vaccination and autism, and focuses
on the rhetoric aspect. Therefore, different lab records, infant maternal records, and general health records
will be essential. They will be from maternal care hospitals. The researcher will develop twenty
questionnaires with open-ended questions to acquire proper answers.
Procedural Details

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The researcher will select three hospitals with maternal care units randomly to examine health
records of infants. Here, the researcher will undertake oral interviews with the maternal care units from
the three hospitals. It is imperative to note that the only point of focus for this research is to learn the
trend and character progress among children in the two age groups. There will be no disclosure of other
details or the infants’ identities. On the side of family, the researcher intends to carry out oral interviews
and administer questionnaires. The interviews will be on the health trends of children and the
correspondents in the family will answer the questions. There will be clarifications of the questions by the
researcher if the need arises.
Internal Validity
For the researcher to achieve excellent standards in data validity, they will focus on the children
that had no other prior physical complications. Before the analysis and presentation, the raw data will be
confidential and only for the researcher.
External Validity
The results of this data will instrumental in drawing conclusions about the effects of vaccination
process on the new born babies. It will help to answer the question of the environmental role in the spread
of autism. With comparative analysis, the results of this research will help the researcher make an
appropriate recommendation for vaccination and fill the knowledge gaps that exist in dealing with and
classifying autism.
Data Analysis and Presentation
The data to be will be in groups that will be classified according the age groups and interval. The
presentation will involve drawing graphs, charts, and, proportional circles. These will help the researcher
to compare the mercury level while delineating their references and similarities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this research will help to answer the question of vaccination ad autisms comprehensively.
However, previous studies show that no link exists between autism and vaccination. Some the researchers
like Meyers claim that ignorance in the public domain has been a major contributor to the popularization

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of scientific facts that have no basis. In his work, Myers, recommends an in-depth analysis of facts and
claims before people draw conclusions. Therefore, this study is justified as it seeks to establish the
relation between vaccination and autism and hence eliminate false arguments in the public domain.
The research will disapprove or approve the theories and claims of other existing studies and hence make
an informed conclusion on the question of vaccination and autism
References
Autism, Key. (December 2011). Autism Symptoms: Symptoms Definitions, symptom checklist, and information
on related conditions. Retrieved from: http://www.autismkey.com/autism-symptoms/
EPichichero, E., Cernichiari, Lopreiato & Treano ,.(2002).Mercury concentration and metabolism in infants
receiving vaccines containing thiormersa:a descriptive studuy.the lancet volume 360.Number
9347retreived from: https://iaomt.org/TestFoundation/hgconcmetab.htm
Spectar, Michael. (2010).The danger of science denial. Retrieved from:
https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_specter_the_danger_of_science_denial
Myers, Greg. (2003). Discourse studies of scientific popularization: Questioning the Boundaries. Retrieved from:
http://dis.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/5/2/265 Retrieved from:
https://iaomt.org/TestFoundation/hgconcmetab.htm
Waterhouse, L. H. (2013). Rethinking autism: Variation and complexity. London: Academic Press.
Institution:

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