6 peer responses due in 5 hours

Planning for the Future 

Guided Response: Respond to at least two of your peers. In your responses, identify at least two reasons why the professional qualities your peers currently possess will have a positive impact on children, families, and their chosen profession as a whole. Explain why.

SHIMIKA’S POST:

I have two potential long-term goals that I would like to obtain. The first one is to become a juvenile probation officer. I will need to obtain a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field. One year experience in education, criminal justice or social services is also required. To receive a bachelor's degree it takes an average of four years. I will be able to complete this goal within the five-year timeframe. The second long term goal is to become a licensed youth mental health therapist. Step one is to complete a bachelor's degree in behavioral, social science, or psychology. Hopefully, I will already have my bachelors by the time I pursue my second long term goal. The second step is to earn a master's degree in mental health counseling. Thirdly, I must complete graduate and post graduate internship. Lastly complete and pass any required counseling exams for licensure. An average master's degree can take anywhere from one and half to two years to complete, however in my case it will take two to three years. I know that this can be accomplished in ten years. Before I start to work on any of my long-term goals, I must complete my AA degree in Early Childhood Education, in which I only have one class left after this class and I will graduate in the upcoming months. 

Both my long-term goals are centered around working with children. An individual will need to be one that is caring and consistent at the same time. You will be required to work beyond your schedule work hours. These goals require patience and understanding. You must be able to think critically, problem solve, have forceful communication skills, research, and listen. A few more qualifications are being physically and mentally stable and familiarize yourself with different community resources. One thing that I will have to work on is being able to communicate effectively and maintain eye contact. 

The most important qualities that I possess, related to these careers are that I have a passion for working with struggling youth. Seventy-five percent of all my previous/current jobs have involved working with kids in a juvenile delinquency setting, group homes, and foster care. I am very professional, caring, and consistent when it comes to my job. I love to help others whether physically or financially. I realize that I may not be able to help everyone that I encounter, but if I can help one my job will be considered done. 

 Career Planning Step-by-Step (Links to an external site.)  resource that walks you through critical steps in the career planning process.

BOBBIE’S POST:

Hello Class,

For your initial post: identify your long-term goals. Ask yourself, what do I hope to accomplish in the next five to ten years?

 In the next 5 years, I plan to have my bachelor’s degree in early childhood development by August 2023 and I plan to have a job lined up at a non-profit organization like the National Children’s Advocacy Center or CASA somewhere where we can actually make a difference for children. I want to work as an advocate for children. A child advocate evaluates the child’s environment, reviewing potential dangers with caregivers and helping with ways to minimize danger to the child’s well-being. They maintain current records on all clients and follow up on active cases to ensure the safety of the child. They collaborate with outside organizations to provide ongoing support for the reintroduction of children into stable home lives (Child Advocate Job Description, 2021). I also want to be flipping houses and be a licensed real estate broker within the next 5 years.

Discuss the necessary skills and qualifications that are related to this type of role.

I will need to possess exceptional people skills and be able to work with children and adults from all walks of life, I will need to have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, I will need to be an exceptional listener, able to ask questions and extract information that the individual may be reluctant to share, I must maintain good judgment in crisis situations, I will need to be familiar with child psychology and be able to identify warning signs of abuse, trauma, physical and mental instability, and substance dependency. I will also need to be sensitive to different cultures and be willing to learn about different approaches to family structure, behavior, and communication, and I need to be familiar with a wide range of community resources, especially those that tend to children and youth needs.  The qualifications for this type of work is a Bachelor’s degree in child advocacy, family counseling, psychology, behavioral sciences, or social work, experience either as a volunteer with child advocacy groups or have a background in social work, legal aid, or counseling and I will need to receive training in victim advocacy, child abuse and victim services. I will have to willing to work with hostile and sometimes dangerous individuals in order to protect those who might not be able to protect themselves.

Explain what you believe are the most important qualities of professionalism that you possess that directly relate to your chosen career.

 I possess very good communication skills, I follow directions very well and I have exceptional organizational skills. I am a child that comes from a very abusive background. My childhood was a different and unique experience from most children, and I know what it is like to feel alone and unheard, so I believe I will be able to empathize with the child and earn their trust, so they feel comfortable opening up. I am really good at communicating with teenagers and getting people to open up and talk to me. I observe everything around me, and I pay attention to details and actions not just words.  I also have an open mind and adapt to change well.

Child Advocate Job Description. (2021). Retrieved from Great Sample Resume: https://www.greatsampleresume.com/job-description/examples/social-services/child-advocate#::text=Bachelor's%20degree%20in%20child%20advocacy,behavioral%20sciences%2C%20or%20social%20work.&text=Must%20have%20experience%20either%20as,%2C%20legal%20aid%2C%2

Qualitative Methodologies

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

KENYATTA’S POST:

 Qualitative researchers usually focus on interpretation and making sense of what they observe opposed to quantifying these observations with numerical data. Qualitative research may involve collecting interviews, surveys, or observations made in a natural setting (Malec, 2019).

The topic of interest that I would like to discuss is the effects of divorce on older children or teenagers. Most studies that I have found are usually generalized to only children and are not age specific.

The first study I found was a qualitative study that used a comprehensive systematic review on teenagers who had just recently been separated from one parent due to divorce. This type of study uses all systems to help assess results of a study- in this specific qualitative study, healthcare, housing, education, and home systems were all reviewed (Murry, 2018). This study suggests that teenagers are affected by divorce of their parents based on more than on an emotional level. Open dialogue and openness with having conversations about the separation may help the teenager feel more comfortable with the transition.

 The second qualitative study that I found used more of a survey-styled research method to gauge the effects of divorce on teenagers and older children. Using this method, findings showed that after interviewing five teenagers, the analysis uncovered two themes- to be in between and to be there for each other (Lofthus, 2016). Teenagers felt that if they were offered support from both parents during a divorce and not feeling as though they had to choose, this would help their emotional ability to cope with the separation.

Researchers have agreed that the children of divorced parents do report more psychological hurt; however, when parents cooperated with each other, children were then better able to find more meaning and understanding. Studies also reported that teenagers who experienced divorce after the age of 15, did not suffer more than younger children (Lofthis, 2016).

The difference in these two studies were that in the second one, the interview style study offered more of a deeper understanding of what the children felt about divorce firsthand, whereas the first study incorporated more of a systematic review of results. It would have been beneficial if both studies included more children and a wider variety of circumstances (finances, family structure, peer group, etc.)

 

References

Lofthus,G., Aarreberg, S., & Frode, S. (2016). To be in between: The meaning of PIS-divorce groups for children from divorced families. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 36(3), 161-167.

Malec, T. & Newman, M. (2013). Research methods: Building a knowledge base. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Murry, V., & Lippold, M.(2018). Parenting Practices in Diverse Family Structures: Examination of Adolescents’ Development and Adjustment. Academic Journal, 28(3), 650-664.

SHEMAIAH’S POST:

Qualitative research seeks to answer questions based on noticing’s and wonderings that occur in one’s natural environment. These research methods include ethnographic studies, phenomenological studies, grounded theory, case studies, archival research, and observational research (Malec & Newman, 2013, pp. 108-123). For this week’s assignment I selected two studies that both utilize qualitative research.  Kenneth and Mammie Clark were two psychologists that sought to understand the ways that segregation played a role in the lives of African American Children (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 2021, p. 1). The qualitative test conducted by these psychologists is referred to as, The Doll Test. In this study, African American children were given one Caucasian doll and one African American doll, in which the child would identify which doll he or she prefer to engage in play with. The Doll Test is a phenomenological study because it is founded on comprehending one’s perspectives in relation to a specific circumstance or scenario (Malec & Newman, 2013, p. 110). In this case, this study was based on gaining an understanding of how racial limitations effect one’s self esteem. Finally, this study’s underlining question referred to why self esteem seemed to be lower in African American children during segregation, utilizing active participants, and communication and observation (Anderson, 2006, p. 3).

Moreover, the second study is commonly referred to as the marshmallow test. In this study, a child is given a tangible object, such as a marshmallow, gummy bear, or cookie in which the child is told that one has the option to eat the item immediately or the ability to wait and receive a bigger reward (Kiderra, 2020, p. 1). This study is an observational research because the participants in this study were video recorded in which the behaviors of the child were noted (Malec & Newman, 2013, p. 123). Furthermore, this study sought to gain a more targeted understanding of gratification itself. Qualitative research has been described as the methods one uses to collect data based on elements that are action based and subjective in manner (Anderson, 2006, p. 1).  Although phenomenological studies and observational research studies are both qualitative research approaches, they have many differences as well. For example, both observational research and phenomenological are conducted by recording participants using an informal manner of gaining information (Malec & Newman, 2013, pp. 111,123). However, a phenomenological research study requires the human service professional to interview participants whereas observational research gains deeper insight strictly through observational elements. I am very interested in self esteem and how situations can cause self-esteem to increase or decrease. In my opinion, I think that phenomenological studies are effective at determining what one is thinking but I think that if an observational research method is used the psychologists can identify behaviors that may suggest what effects self-esteem.

References

Anderson, J. D. (2006). qualitative and quantitative research . GEO, 1-3.

Kiderra, I. (2020). The marshmallow test,revisited. UC San Diego, 1.

Malec, T., & Newman, M. (2013). Research methods building a knowledge base. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, I. (2021). The significance of the doll test. LDF, 1.

Qualitative Validity

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings 

PATRICIA’S POST:

Having read this week's articles,  Validity in research can be seen as the truthfulness or accuracy of findings. There are various things that a qualitative researcher can consider in an effort to enhance the validity of a study’s results. As informed by Shenton (2004), one of these things is welcoming peer scrutiny into the research project. Researchers can attempt to establish validity in their study by allowing scrutiny from colleagues, academics, as well as peers. This is primarily because their ideas and suggestions pertaining to the research may challenge the researcher’s assumptions, inhibiting the study’s validity. Thus such opinions might be crucial in boosting the study’s validity. Further, the researcher may also increase the study validity by employing ‘reflective commentary’ during the entire research process. In addition to allowing peer scrutiny, the researcher should strive to conduct an evaluation of the project as it progresses. Shenton (2004) denotes that reflective commentary “may be done through a reflective commentary, part of which may be devoted to the effectiveness of the techniques that have been employed” (par.14). This (reflective commentary) is crucial in ensuring a robust research process that enhances the study’s validity.

Considering the qualitative study articles I found, the reported result is supported in various ways, including thoughtful consideration of the limitation and strengths of the study by the researcher. This includes the consideration of the study consequences, as well as the benefits emanating from the research. Additionally, the reported results were supported through satisfactory demonstration existing between the research data and claims in an effort geared towards enhancing the validity of the reported result (Freeman et al., 2007). The article reports the validity of the study results in several ways, including the depiction of result that is in line with the researcher’s preferred perspective. Also, the research evidence presented by the authors concerning the research was observable. In my opinion, the authors have done a good job demonstrating validity in the article, notably, by demonstrating the results in a manner that is in line with the researcher’s perspective as well as in an observable way (Freeman et al., 2007).

 

 

References

Freeman, M., de Marrais, K., Preissle, J., Roulston, K. J., & St. Pierre, E. A. (2007). Standards of Evidence in Qualitative Research:  An Incitement to Discourse. American Educational Research Association, 36(1), 25-32.

Shenton, A.K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75.

CHARIA’S POST:

When it comes to addressing validity in qualitative research, it is usually done with reference to its three common threats: reactivity, researcher bias, and respondent bias. A researcher must therefore ensure that these threats are controlled to enhance the validity of qualitative research (Malec & Newman, 2013). One way of increasing the validity of qualitative research is by using the triangulation strategy. This involves researching multiple perspectives so that different angles can be used to inform the research results. If the results are consistent, the level of validity is high (Malec & Newman, 2013).

Another way of increasing validity in qualitative research is by using the respondent validation technique. In this technique, initial research results which are already interpreted and condensed are tested with participants to establish if they are still true. The ability of participants to recognize the results as authentic increases the validity of qualitative research (Malec & Newman, 2013). Seeking alternative explanations is yet another way that a researcher can increase the validity of qualitative research. The validity of research, in this case, is increased by the researcher being able to exclude other scenarios (Malec & Newman, 2013).

From a qualitative study conducted by Halawi and Haydar (2018) on the effects of training on employee performance, the authors aimed to support the claim that the performance of employees is positively impacted by training programs. To increase the validity of their research results, the authors used the triangulation method. Data was collected from two different groups: human resource managers and those in charge of training and employees in different departments (Halawi & Haydar, 2018). This allowed the researchers to view research results from different angles. Although the article does not report on the validity of research results, one can identify how the researchers tried to increase the validity of their research results. One thing the authors should have done differently is to report on the validity of the results.  

 

References

Halawi, A., & Haydar, N. (2018). Effects of Training on Employee Performance: A Case Study of Bonjus and Khatib & Alami Companies. International Humanities Studies, 5(2). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ali_Halawi4/publication/325420167_Effects_of_Training_on_Employee_Performance/links/5b348cd74585150d23dc01e8/Effects-of-Training-on-Employee-Performance.pdf (Links to an external site.)

Malec, T. & Newman, M. (2013). Research methods: Building a knowledge base. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc