Background Information
Introduction. The teenage years may be the most confusing for teenagers but it is also a period of great stress for parents. On the one hand, parents are relieved that their kids can now do things on their own unlike when they were younger when they are very dependent. But on the other hand, it is precisely this capacity to of doing things on their own that brings in a lot of stress for parents. Children at this age also begin to distance themselves from their parents and prefer to communicate more with their peers. Some would even have boyfriends/ girlfriends at this age. Therefore parents find themselves often in a dilemma of tightening the reins or loosening their hold.
Objective of the FGD. The focus group discussion is aimed at collecting information about effective strategies to raise children, especially teenagers. The questions asked will revolve around four main areas: (a) reaction to a major conflict with son/daughter; (b) ways the conflict was resolved; (c) spouse’s intervention; and (d) most effective parenting style.
Participants.
There target participants are parents within the 30-50 age groups. They shall have similar socio-economic backgrounds. There shall be separate FGDs for parents from black, white, Hispanic, Asian communities. The reason for this is to encourage a more open discussion about the topic and minimize a few persons monopolizing the conversation.
FGD Results. This researcher anticipates that the response of the parents would provide a list of parenting techniques that are effective and feasible in different homes within the American context. The results of the focused group shall become the key reference in the formulation of a survey questionnaire. Such survey shall identify the most effective parenting techniques of teenagers in America society.
Focus Group Discussion Guide
INTRODUCTION
Researcher: Good day everyone. Thank you very much for agreeing to participate in today’s activity. I will be showing some materials and then we will discuss the contents of these materials in what is referred to as a focus-group discussion. I have prepared a short list of questions for each of you to answer. Your responses shall be used as a reference material for a survey that my group will be doing about parenting. I encourage all of you to freely express you opinions about the topic. This is a safe environment and we assure you that we will not be recording confidential information (like names of your children) from your sharing. Our discussion will be about an hour and a half. Are there questions? Can we begin now? Thank you.
STIMULUS: Video Clip of “Wizards at Waverly Place”
This is a clip from the TV series Wizards at Waverly Place wherein Alex was left at Harper’s place as her parents have to go out for the night. Alex wanted to attend a party but her mother told her that she could not attend it because the party was at someone’s house in Brooklyn and her mother does not even know the host’s parents. Alex appealed saying the everyone was going to this party. Harper added that the party organizers gave out a thousand flyers. Then Alex loked at her mother’s eyes and emotionally declared “Why are you destroying my life?” When her mother did not show any signs of changing her mind, Alex turns to her father to ask permission, but her father told her to “do as your mother said.” The couple then left and Alex told Harper they are attending the party.
AFTER SHOWING THE CLIP
Researcher: Did you like it? How many of you have children? How many of you have teenage children? Can you relate to the scene we have just watched? Did you have a similar experience?
ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO VOICE OUT IF THEY HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE
Researcher:
When you had a major conflict with your son/daughter, how did you react?
Were you angry? Sad? Disappointed? Inept?
How did you feel after you reprimanded him/her?
ALLOW EACH PERSON TO ANSWER. ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR BRIEF ONE WORD ANSWERS
What are the most frequent causes of conflict with your kids?
TURN TO THE FIRST ONES WHO ANSWERED AND ASK
Researcher: Miss A, how old are your kids? Why is ________ (her answer) a cause of conflict?
Continue to ask each one about the source of conflict or misunderstanding. The following are some of the expected answers:
STAYING UP LATE
NOT DOING THE CHORES
SPENDING TOO MUCH
LEAVING THE HOUSE WITHOUT PERMISSION / GOING HOME LATE
SHOUTING AT SIBLINGS PARENTS
BODY PIERCING / COLORED HAIR /TATOOS
BOYFRIEND / GIRLFRIENDS
If any of the above are not mentioned by the participants, ask them.
Researcher: How about body piercings or tattoos? Did you have problems with these
How old was your child when she had this?
Researcher: How did you resolve the conflict?
How long did it take before the issue was resolved?
Was someone else involved? A friend, a family member?
HERE, WHEN YOU ASK EACH ONE HOW CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED, MENTION HER/HIS ANSWER TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION.
Researcher: Mr. F, did someone intervene when your daughter stopped talking to you for a month?
What is her relationship to this person?
How long has she known this person?
ASK ABOUT THE MANNER THE CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED
Did your child apologize? Did you apologize?
Did you talk about the lessons learned from that incident?
ASK ABOUT FAMILY INTERACTIONS AFTER THE CONFLICT
Researcher: After the conflict was resolved, was it easy to talk to your son?
Does he accompany you voluntarily?
Did you laugh often?
Was the family more cheerful?
Researcher: When you had the conflict, did your spouse intervene?
ASK PARTICIPANTS SPECIFIC ACTS OF THE SPOUSE
Researcher: Did your spouse take your side?
Did your spouse defended your son/ daughter?
ASK ABOUT THE WAY THEIR SPOUSE SUPPORTED THEM DURING THE CONFLICT
Researcher: Did you and your spouse discuss the issue?
What forms of support did he/she gave you?
ASKABOUTTHE WAY THEIR SPOUSE SUPPORTED THEIR CHILD
Researcher: What forms of support does your spouse give to your child during this time?
Can you say that your child felt there was someone in the family that cared for him/her?
Do you think your child felt alienated?
Researcher: What do you consider your parenting style?
When is it most effective?
What is its effect in your relationship with your kids?
TRY TO COME UP WITH NAMES OF PARENTING STYLES TOGETHER WITH THE PARTICIPANTS
Researcher: Mrs B, would you say your parenting style is the same with that of Mrs G?
What do you think is the most appropriate name of this style? How are we going to call it?
CONCLUSION
Researcher: Thank you so much for sharing your time. We have learned a lot from our discussion. It is definitely not easy being parents. I commend your hard work. Again, thank you very much. In behalf of the whole research team, we appreciate your participation. Take care.
BE SURE TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH PERSON. SHAKE THEIR HANDS AND BE APPRECIATIVE. IF THERE ARE SNACKS PREPARED FOR THE ACTIVITY INVITE THEM TO PARTAKE. AVOID GETTING TOO BUSY WITH PACKING YOUR THINGS WHILE THERE ARE STILL PARTICIPANTS.
