Introduction
This paper critiques and analyzes important elements and aspects of research methods and approaches that are used to compile and present peer-reviewed journals. To this end, the essay will evaluate two peer-reviewed journals and evaluate the research components that are used to gather data, analyze the data and draw conclusions.
Overview of the Studies
The papers include one by Tabi et al that focuses on women in polygynous marriages. The second peer reviewed article research under review focuses on failures and successes in polygamous families by Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krenawi which discusses important elements of marriages where a man has many wives. The focus on both articles is to bring to light, practices of foreign cultures, particularly in the developing world and provide an objective review of the state of affairs in the lives of these people. This is because in most Western countries and countries in the developed world, marriage is restricted to only two people. Hence, the study is to bring to light the state of affairs of women in relationships around the world who are going through various conditions as a result of polygamy.
Aims and Objectives of Articles
Tabi et al state the purpose of the research in a clear-cut manner as a part of the abstract. This is restated as the purpose and research questions in the first page of the actual journal. This indicates to the reader the scope and focus of the research. However, in most cases, there will be more in-depth analysis of the questions of the research.
Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krenawi give a systematic review of the background of their study. They fail to state their aims and objectives clearly. However, the build-up of their aims and objectives help the reader to infer the kind of work being done in the research.
Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krenawi are both associate professors at the Ben Gurion University of Negev in Israel. Whereas Slonim-Nevo is an authority in women’s affairs and social work in the Western context, Al-Krenawi, has a personal connection to the research topic. This is because she is Bedouin and has a connection to the stakes of the research in the personal sense.
Mirian Tabi is a professor in an American university but was born and raised in Ghana so she had a strong connection with the population studied. Dorster and Cheyney are both nursing practitioners in the same university as Professor Tabi.
Funding of the Research & Stakeholder Interests
Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krewani’s research was independent and it was conducted by the authors in through indirect supports. This implies that it were not directly funded. However, the authors are independent researchers, and they are all entitled to receive funding as a general arrangement in their respective institution. Hence, it can be said that the study were independent because there is no evidence that the funding they receive gives any stakeholder any direct control over their research processes and procedures.
On the other hand, Tabi et al acknowledge that their study was funded. However, it appears the funding was sourced from an independent entity that assisted in the study due to the circumstances of the country they studied.
Research Methodology and Practice
Research methodology is defined as the system through which data is collected, analyzed and reviewed in order to draw a logical and an acceptable conclusion in a given research. The research methodology is usually qualitative or quantitative in outlook. Quantitative methods utilize important mathematical models that seek to measure variables through various approaches including statistical measures and other quantifiable components. Qualitative methods include various forms of theorization that uses social science models to deduce important things by observation and the utilization of other social methods and approaches to draw conclusions.
Research Methodology Utilized in Study
The methodology used in both studies is qualitative. This is because examining a concept like polygamy requires the examination and review of the feelings and sentiments of the people involved in these relationships. Quantitative measures like number of children and other things are not very important. However, what is important to the researchers is the experience and perception of members in these forms of marriages that seem to be unusual to the western mind. Hence, the research uses observation and other social science research methods to interview and take information about the activities and processes of these families.
Thoroughness of the Literature Review
The literature review of Slonim-Nevo and Al Krenawi provides a comprehensive coverage of polygamy in general. To this end, they utilize important theories, concepts and definitions from different parts of the world. Then they focus more on polygamy amongst the Bedouin and Arab communities around the world. This is simple but very thorough and covers all relevant and important matters in great depth and scope.
However, Tabi et al go the extra mile and they examine and critique the background of the subject by analyzing general literature review. They then proceed to a definite and organized literature review section which shows critical analysis and review of different concepts. Although this is structured, it appears the literature review of their article lacks the scope because it is presented with too many independent analysis and reviews.
Scope of Critical Analysis of Literature
It appears that Slonim-Nevo and Al Krenawi did a comprehensive review of a lot of literature and presented important findings in a more critical manner. On the other hand, Tabi et al reviewed a limited number of articles. However, they did more analysis and reviews in-between sources.
Sampling and Group under Observation
The universal populations under review were taken Ghana, a country in Africa and the Bedouin Arab population of southern Israel respectively. Tabi et al take their sample of 15 interviewees from the south of the country and the second largest city of the country. This means the north of the country and the east of Ghana were not studied. This limits the ability to generalize the findings. On the other hand, the Bedouin population of southern Israel is somewhat homogenous and a random sample of ten families taken was somewhat open to better generalization.
Data Collection Methods
Data for the study was collected by in-depth interviews by both parties. These were semi-structured interviews that allowed a wide array of submissions to be taken. This was the closest to a thorough review that the two papers could take. The data collection method was however opened to systematic bias since interviews inherently come under the influence of researchers.
Key Findings
Tabi et al identified that infertility, co-wives’ relationship and ways of coping formed the main themes are the main reasons for polygyny that runs through most of the findings of the study. However, other problems like jealousy and unhappiness runs through the findings. On the other hand, Slonim Nevo and Al-Krewani identify that polygamy is painful for the wives of who live together, however, they accept their position in life because they consider it to be the will of God in their lives.
Reliability in the Studies
The Tabi et al seem to have an issue with reliability because the sample they took does not cover the entire Ghana because Ghana has different zones and has different cultures. Hence, the findings might not necessarily apply to the entire Ghana and certainly the entire Africa. Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krewani on the other hand provide a reliable conclusion because the findings are relevant to a homogenous society and it means that they can be applied to different people and different persons.
Validity of the Studies
Validity refers to the logic and the acceptability of the findings in the absolute sense and this implies the extent to which the findings will be replicated if the research is repeated with the same methodology on different sections of the population. Tabi et al’s research methodology demonstrates some degree of subjectivity in the approach and as such, there is the room for some kind of systematic bias to occur. On the other hand, Slonim-Nevo and Al-Krewani seem to use more objective models that are applied to all the classes of respondents with controls to ensure internal validity.
Presentation of Findings
Tabi et al provide a large number of findings that are quite difficult to generalize. Therefore, the findings are many and the scope is extremely large. However, Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani provide a more definitive thesis that is discussed in relation to the central theories under discussion.
Constraints of Study
Tabi et al identify that instituting change with the findings is going to be difficult in an African culture where divorce was never an option for couples who disagreed in any way or in any matter. Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani identify that there are constraints in changing anything, but there is the need for proactive methods to be implemented to improve the ways and manner through which the problems can be handled and limited.
Application to Practice
The application of the findings to real-life incidents enables researchers to utilize the findings of a social science research to real life situations and problems. Looking at the facts of this case, there are important sets of variables that are relevant and are discussed below.
Ethical Issues
In the study of Tabi et al, there is an inherent challenge with the class of women interviewed. It appears Ghana is a divided country where the educated had a different lifestyle which is completely distinct from the lifestyle of the uneducated rural people. Tabi sought to generalize her findings to cover the entire country although the study only focused on the urban rich. The harsh realities of Ghana and other African countries mean that it is very difficult and complicated to measure everything in every part of the country. However, this limitation is not stated and this implies that the findings are questionable.
Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani have a major trust issue which leads to potential biases in the submission of the respondents. This is because in an Arabic part of Israel, the Bedouin are likely to see an Israeli researcher of European origins as a threat to their culture and way of life. This clearly influenced the levels of trust and other standards like honesty and cooperation.
Linkage to Theory
Tabi et al seem to present a standpoint that is based on the findings and originality of the study this is because the study seems to be a pioneering research into a subject matter that is not typically researched in their parts of the world. Therefore, most of the findings are based on the data collected and the data is analyzed and reviewed in a very independent and unique sense. This is sometimes done in a way that departs from the broad theoretical framework and desires of the study. This study therefore lacks important traditions and trends in social research that is often based on the theories and concepts of traditional studies. It is observed that the discussions are not even done with any citations. This shows that everything was somewhat prescriptive than analytical.
In the case of Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani, their critical analysis is steeped in a robust theoretical framework. This is because they analyzed all the necessary ideas and concepts within the framework of appropriate models and theories. This makes their research analysis and conclusions more detailed and more comprehensive in relation to existing theories.
Conclusion and its Link to Aims
Both findings of the research works seem to present important conclusions that are based on the fundamental aims stated at the beginning of the research. This shows that the conclusions are logical and they answer the fundamental research questions.
Suggestions for Improvement
Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani will need to be more structured in their approach. They use a direct approach that does not really follow the normal pattern of research. They could have done better by defining the backgrounds, outlining the aims and objectives more clearly and then do an independent literature review with stated sub-headings. This would have made the research more thorough and more easier to reference.
On the other hand, Tabi et al seem to have a major flaw with the way they applied literature review to their interpretation of their findings. The findings were analyzed with few references and this shows that the conclusions are close to subjective prescriptions rather than objective analysis and reviews expected for a paper at that level.
Recommendations for Further Investigations
Slonim-Novo and Al-Krewani recommend the need to investigate a proactive approach that can be used to measure the levels of sentiments and happiness that each wife attains in a polygamous marriage. This gives room for a new investigation and review of a different set of data and analysis of this data in order to draw conclusions.
On the other hand, Tabi et al open up their discussion to important and vital evaluations of the ways and means through which women could be made to get their husbands to become more complaints in the African country they studied. This is because their findings suggest that the situation of women in the country under review is something that little or nothing can be done to improve. Hence, there is the need to research options for the improvement of the state of affairs for these women caught in polygynous marriages in the country studied.
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Slonim-Nevo, V. & Al-Krenawi, A., 2006. Success and Failure Among Polygamous Families: The Experience of Wives, Husbands, and Children. Family Process 45(3), pp. 311-330.
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