-"Imagine that you possess
the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic
in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not
restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will
make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or
their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the
positive contribution(s) would be?"-
If I had this opportunity I would conduct a longitudinal research project that studies the long term affects of a fathers absence in young children. The components of this research will require analyzing 15 boys and 15 girls from the ages of 0-18, and once again when they turn 25. The children will be separated into 3 groups of equal boys and girls. Group 1 will have a 2 parent household, Group 2 will have a single mother with minimal contact with father, and Group 3 will have a single mother with no contact with father. All of the children will have the exact same circumstances as far as social status, income, parents education level & age, and religion.
The research team will collect data across all developmental domains, as well as social interactions, peer relationships, family relationships, and school success. With the data collected from the research, ec professionals can incorporate programs to encourage fathers involvement, and also develop therapeutic services with the intention of preventing any possible harm to the child.
This sounds like a great research project. As a teacher in an urban school district many of my students do not have a father at home and see their father sporadically or not at all. I think this research project could benefit both educators and parents alike to help them see the significance of a positive male role model.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your ideal research study. Longitudinal studies are hard in that the participants are hard to track after so many years. I applaud your idea as I too feel that one part can raise a child but, having two parents in the lives of a child does make a great difference in the development of a child.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful research study! I teach at a Title I school, and I too see many, many absent fathers. I believe this research study would help educators, but also help families see the importance of having their fathers and mothers in their lives, and how this allows for healthy development of children.
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