Summary of the Study
The research conducted by Choi, Palmer, and Pyun, entitled, “Three measures of non-resident fathers’ involvement, maternal parenting and child development in low-income single-mother families,” tried answering the research problem whether there is an association between three independent variables and four dependent variables. The independent variables included the non-residential Father’s: frequency of contact with their respective children, amount of payment for child support, and quality of father’s parenting. The dependent variables were: children’s cognitive development, children’s behavioral development, maternal parenting, and maternal parenting stress. The research utilized the quantitative method of analysis. It also utilized mediation models to support the results of the quantitative analysis it performed. Results of the study showed that both payment for child support and father’s parenting have indirect association with children’s behavioral and cognitive development. Results also suggest that such associations where mediated by maternal parenting.
Research Strengths
The aforementioned research had numerous strengths. The firs strength is that it was able to justify the purpose or the aim of the study. Accordingly, it has shown through its literature review that there is, indeed, a lack of reliable information as to the association between the aforementioned independent and dependent variables. It was also successful in emphasizing why the research is relevant to the present time – that the child cognitive and behavioral development is an important issue that must be studied in relation to their fathers’ and mothers’ parenting among single mother families. Another strength that the research has is the computation of Cronbach’s alpha in order to measure internal consistency or reliability of the information which they have gathered on Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, and from interviews. The interviews involved the use of scale-type questions, wherein the interviewee will rate a parameter using a defined scale.
Research Weaknesses and Limitations
The research is full of weaknesses. For example, its interpretation of correlation is erroneous. Accordingly, the two types of variables were analyzed for their correlation. The research then interpreted correlation to be associations. Note that correlations do not imply neither suggests association. Correlation values simply states how a curve accurately describes the behavior of at least two variables. For example, hair growth may be correlated to the increase in average earth temperature, but it does not mean that the two variables are associated so that a change in one variable causes a change on the other. Another weakness of the research is that it failed to discuss the ethical considerations in communicating with the samples for the interview of single mothers – the research failed to mention this part in the entire research. This failure to discuss the ethical considerations makes it possible to conclude that a high degree of bias may have resulted. Another major weakness is that due to some errors in its questions, it failed to determine the correlation on some of the dependent and independent variables. The research also failed to consider one sub-variable of “amount of payment for child support.” This sub-variable is the cost of living of the samples selected. For example, the standard of living for one family may be higher than another family; hence, even if they receive the same amount of payment, they would the respective mother’s would have different degrees of parenting stress. Note that the sampled mothers for interview had their data gathered from 1998 to 2000, and they were from different places; hence, they could have had different standards of living when the data gathering took place. The research also failed to use controls. It has also failed to define what correct or sufficient cognitive and behavioral development for children is. In other words, the overall research design was inadequate to capture all the significant variables.
Conclusion
Overall, the research was poorly designed to accomplish its objectives. The majority of these errors came from poor research design and methodology as well as incorrect understanding of statistical terms and variables, such as correlation and correlation coefficient. With the number of weaknesses and limitations exceeding those of the strengths, it can be further concluded that the results of the study are highly unreliable.
References
Choi,J-K., Palme, R.J. and Pyun, H-S. Three measures of non-resident fathers’ involvement, maternal parenting and child development in low-income single-mother families. Child and Family Social Work, 19(1), pp. 282 – 291.
Csiernik, R., Birnbaum, R., and Decker Pierce, B. (2010). Practicing social work research. Toronto: University of Toronto Press Inc.
