Proposal for Project One 

 
Alyssa Baker 
 
Do monocular vision and nearsightedness lead to 
different coping mechanisms in athletic minors? 
 
Introduction 
In my Project Two Essay, I plan to discuss the relationship between certain 
types of poor vision and athletic performance. Vision impairments can make 
daily life more complicated, leading individuals to address their impairment 
with corrective lenses, surgery, and eye exercises. In the case of sports, 
monocular vision and nearsightedness could cause athletes to cope in 
different ways. Monocular vision involves the loss of vision in one eye, while 
nearsightedness is a disorder in which individuals can only see objects close 
to them. I intend to explore the different coping mechanisms that arise in 
individuals under 18 as the result of these disorders.  
 
Although farsightedness is another common vision disorder, I do not intend 
to focus on this impairment. Farsightedness allows individuals to see things 
far away, so it can be more beneficial than not in most sports.  
 
Motivation 
 
As a child, I loved to play outside with my siblings. We played basketball, 
softball, football, and a variety of made-up games. This admiration grew with 
me, leading me to join little league and multiple basketball teams. Although I 
thought I was a versatile athlete, basketball coaches regularly critiqued my 
tendency to favor one side. I always assumed that this habit was related to 
my skill level.  
 
One day at high school basketball practice, my coach commended my 
constant head movements as a good technique. However, I was moving my 
head a lot to see what was going on right next to me. I then made the 
connection that my vision played a large role in my sport-related habits.  
 
I have monocular vision as the result of amblyopia; moreover, I can only see 
out of my left eye. Amblyopia occurs when the brain blocks out the messages 
sent from a bad eye. With this impairment, I regularly preferred the right side 
of the basketball court. By playing on the right side, I aligned my blind-side 
with the sideline. This habit gave me full vision of the court.  
 
Although I found ways to cope with my vision, I still believe that it affected my 
ability to perform.  
 
Pre-Research 
 
With a simple Google search, I discovered that multiple academics, the 
American Optometric Association, and studies discuss this topic. As they tend 
to be less opinionated, scientific journals were the first sources I evaluated. 
“Vision and sports: a review of the literature” particularly caught my attention. 
This study establishes a connection between vision quality and athletic 
performance. It also discusses that athletes have better perceptive ability 
than non-athletes.   
 
Additionally, there were many websites that connect vision and sports; 
however, these sites are managed by opthamologists. While the opinion of 
specialized doctors is important, it may not be free from biases.  
 
Research Plan 
 
To effectively research this topic, I will focus in on peer-reviewed scientific 
sources. I trust these sources the most, as they generally rely on a scientific 
method. I intend to look for at least five relevant sources in this category. 
Once selected, I will review the sources to identify the best three sources.  
 
Next, I will interview at least five friends via phone or text to see if they have 
experienced vision-related difficulties in sports. I will conduct a relatively 
close-ended interview to help identify patterns or possible correlation.  
 
Interview: 
 
1. Hi [name], may I ask you a few questions? I would like to 
interview you about your sports history and possible vision issues.  
2. Have you ever played sports? 
 3. Did you play sports as a minor (18 years of age or under)? 
4. Have you ever had your eyes examined by a professional? 
5. Do you wear prescription lenses or contacts? 
6. Do you know what your visual impairment is? 
7. Did you wear prescription lenses or contacts when you played 
sports? 
8. Did you have trouble identifying teammates or numbers? 
9. Did you experience trouble with determining distance? 
10. Did you run into other people? 
11. Did you avoid a certain area of the field/court? 
12. How did your disability make you feel? 
13. Thank you for your time! 
 
Following my close-ended interview, I will reach out to my eye-doctor at 
Kellogg Eye Center to ask for their professional opinion. This will be done via 
email to limit errors. I intend to include this email in my research paper.  
 
While conducting this research, I anticipate that I may not get all of the 
answers from the people that I interview. I will note this information to make 
sure nothing is left out. My doctor’s opinion may also be skewed, so I will ask 
them a few questions about their personal history to control for possible bias.  
 
Once I have compiled data from the interviews, I can compare it to the 
academic sources that I have selected. I will also compare and contrast my 
doctor’s opinion with academic sources.  
 
I think this process will provide enough information to answer my inquiry 
question. I intend to use academic sources, personal experiences, the 
experiences of others, and a professional opinion to answer my inquiry 
question.  
 
Experience 
 
I am well-suited to carry out this type of research. I am in my fifth year of 
university, and I have written at least twenty research papers. Additionally, I 
have carried out a psychology study that included statistical analysis, 
informed consent, identification of biases, and controls.  
 
I also work as a public relations research analyst, and this job requires me to 
be detail-oriented and organized. I have been in this position for more than 
two years, demonstrating my ability to carry out research tasks successfully.  
 
Furthermore, my input on this research is acceptable. I played basketball for 
more than twelve years, including recreational teams, club teams, travel 
teams, and varsity sports. My vision impairment was identified around the 
time that I began playing organized sports, so my experiences can be 
corroborated by my medical history.