CLO 5

LSC 2533 Research Methods

Journal Article Reviews (CLO 5)

Components

Three articles are described with the following for sections each:

·         Section 1 – Library research description

·         Section 2 – Article abstracts and references

·         Section 3 – Research descriptions

·         Section 4 – Article evaluation

The full evaluation is provided under the top ranked article – Article 1  

Article 1

Section 1

Source:           HCT Libraries page >Discover>Electronic Resources   

Search terms: Divorce and children

Section 2

Title: DIVORCE IS A PART OF MY LIFE... RESILIENCE, SURVIVAL, AND VULNERABILITY: YOUNG ADULTS' PERCEPTION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF PARENTAL DIVORCE

Abstract

A qualitative study among 22 young adults (20-25 years old) whose parents divorced during their childhood was conducted in Israel, using semi-structured, in-depth, open-ended interviews. Qualitative data analysis led to identification of three profiles, aiming at a grounded theoretical conceptualization. Three core themes were identified: the centrality of the family; short- and long-term implications of parental divorce and its relations to supportive coping resources; and perspective at young adulthood. Further analysis led to typifying participants by three profiles, which represent the grounded theoretical conceptualizations: resilience, survival, and vulnerability. The most prominent difference among the profiles was the relationships between participants and their parents, and their perception of ongoing parental responsibility. A thorough discussion of the results and their implications for future research, theory development, and practice are presented. (Eldar-Avidan, Haj-Yahia, & Greenbaum, 2009)

Reference

Eldar-Avidan, D., Haj-Yahia, M. M., & Greenbaum, C. W. (2009). DIVORCE IS A PART OF MY LIFE... RESILIENCE, SURVIVAL, AND VULNERABILITY: YOUNG ADULTS' PERCEPTION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF PARENTAL DIVORCE. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30-46.

Section 3

Population

The article describes population of Israeli young adults whose parents divorced before these young adults were 18 years old.

Research Approach

The article is qualitative in nature which leads to descriptive results and is followed by a grounded-theory approach to data analysis. It takes subjective perceptions and experiences of young Israeli adults about their parents’ divorce through in-depth, open-ended, semi-structured interviews.

Participant selection

Purposive, theoretical and spiral sampling was used in the selection of the participants. Of the 22 participants of six were men and 16 were women. Those were Israeli, and single. Their parents were married before 3-20 years. At the time of their parents, the age of the participants were 2-17. Parents were divorced 6-22 years before the participants’ interviews.

Main results

Through the data analysis of the respondents, three central themes were identified: centrality of family, short and long-term effects of divorce on the young adults and their handling, and their perceptions about divorce. From that analysis, three profiles the major findings of the research and these offer a grounded theory with explaining theoretical understanding of resilience, survival and vulnerability in the perspective of parental divorce. These profiles shows the participants’ perception of themselves, their functioning and ability to deal with the developmental tasks of adulthood with regards to parental divorce.  These profiles are connected to the ability of parents to act responsibly to support their children cope with the situations of life.

The resilience were flexible and valued the family relations greatly. They were optimistic and interpreted the divorce as empowering and meaningful. While knowing the associated pain in the divorce their overall perception is of gain. In this study 9 out of 22 fell in this category. 8 out of 22 participants were survivors who saw divorce as complex and which require lot of adjustments. They are unsure about their experiences and know about the vulnerability of gains but also the losses. They had a sense of mutual responsibility. The participants with this type of profile had very painful memories about divorce which were effecting their lives very negatively. In the present study, five participants out of 22 were vulnerable.

Section 4

            Ranking: Best

The study has a broad and well defined approach in terms of its model to deal with the subject in a broader and long term perspective. It has covered very significant traits of human behavior with association to the human social conditions. I have gained useful exposure and insights about the different themes studied and analyzed through this research. The authors had found three different personality traits with regards to effects of divorce. The first one being the resilience who were flexible and valued the family relations greatly. They were optimistic and interpreted the divorce as empowering and meaningful. While knowing the associated pain in the divorce their overall perception is of gain.  The second one was of survivors who saw divorce as complex and which require lot of adjustments. They are unsure about their experiences and know about the vulnerability of gains but also the losses. They had a sense of mutual responsibility. The last personality is called as vulnerable who had very painful memories about divorce which were effecting their lives very negatively. The major implication for practice should involve mental health professionals and family therapists which could offer proactive and reactive help in different stage of children adjustment.

The validity of the article could be increased if there were more number of participants included in the research with consideration of diverse backgrounds.

Article 2

Section 1

Source:           HCT Libraries page >Discover>Electronic Resources   

Search terms: Divorce

Section 2

Title: The Long Reach of Divorce: Divorce and Child Well-Being Across Three Generations

Abstract

We used data from the study of Marital Instability Over the Life Course to examine links between divorce in the grandparent generation and outcomes in the grandchild generation (N = 691). Divorce in the first (G1) generation was associated with lower education, more marital discord, weaker ties with mothers, and weaker ties with fathers in the third (G3) generation. These associations were mediated by family characteristics in the middle (G2) generation, including lower education, more marital discord, more divorce, and greater tension in early parent-child relationships. In supplementary analyses, we found no evidence that the estimated effects of divorce differed by offspring gender or became weaker over time. Our results suggest that divorce has consequences for subsequent generations, including individuals who were not yet born at the time of the original divorce.

Reference

Amato, P. R., & Cheadle, J. (2005). The long reach of divorce: Divorce and child well‐being across three generations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(1), 191-206.

Section 3

Population

The population of this study consisted of all married individuals in a household in the neighboring United States who has a telephone, both husband and wife present and both spouses were 55 years of age or less in the year 1890. The study was conducted from years 1980 to 2000. The study was conducted in and around the United States.

Research Approach

The present article is of a qualitative nature which takes interview as a method of data collection and insights.

Participant selection

Random digit dialing technique was used to select a household sample and another second random procedure was used to select husband and wife of the research participants. The final sample size was 2033 married persons (not couples).

Main results

The authors concluded that there was a consistent trend with the implications of grandparents (Generation 1) divorce on the grand children (Generation 3). G1 divorce was associated negatively with G3 education and positively linked with G3 marital conflict. It was also negatively associated with quality of G3 relations with fathers and mothers. Overall results say that divorce in the grandparent generation was associated with numerous problematic consequences in the generation of grandchild. Hence according to the result of the study, those grandchildren whose grandparents had divorced obtained less education, earned less income have more trouble in marriages, and have weak relationship with their parents and face several psychological problems. 

Section 4

            Ranking: Bottom

Article 3

Section 1

Source:           HCT Libraries page >Discover>Electronic Resources

Search terms: Divorce

Section 2

Title: The Cause of Divorce among Men and Women Referred to Marriage and Legal Office in Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Marital separation and divorce can be the most unpleasant event in the adult's life, and families will be hurt by divorce event. The prevalence of divorce has been increased in last decades. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the divorce cause among the divorce seeking men and women in Qazvin, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 572 (400 women and 172 men) subjects who requested for divorce and were referred to divorce and marriage office of Qazvin province during 3 month in 2009. Data were collected by self - administered questionnaire, interviewing subjects and using Likert scale. Data were analyzed by Chi- Square test and Mann-Whitney (SPSS version 16). The participants of the study included 400 women (26.5±7.4 years) and 172 men. In view points of women the primary wrong mate selection was main cause of divorce (59.8%), but the men believed that the families and relatives interference was the main reason for separation (43.7%). Among the respondents, mean score of "dependency to their families" and "unmet emotional needs" were 3.44±1.6 and 3.86±1.4 respectively. In addition mean score of infertility among men and women were 1.37±1.0 and 1.29±0.9 respectively. Wrong mate selection, unmet emotional needs, families' interference, and "dependency to families" are more important factors than traditional factors which are sexual or physical factors.

Reference

Barikani, A., Ebrahim, S. M., & Navid, M. (2012). The cause of divorce among men and women referred to marriage and legal office in Qazvin, Iran. Global journal of health science, 4(5), p184.

Section 3

Population

The population used in the research were women and men with a total of 572. Among them 400 were women and 172 were men who had requested for divorce in the office of marriage and divorce in year 2009. The study was conducted in the Qazvin province of Iran.

Research Approach

The research approach was quantitative which involved self-administered questionnaires. The Likert scale was administered in the study and the outcomes are presented numerically.

Participant selection

The selection of the sample is not clear in the study, however it is mention in the method that those who had requested for divorce during 3 months, from August to November were included in the research.

 

            Main results  

The results indicate that according to women participants, 60% viewed the major cause for divorce was “primary wrong selection”. Among men, 43.7% believed that the main cause of the divorce is effect of “family interference”. The average score form both men and women viewed "dependency to his or her family" and "unmet emotional needs" (feeling less) were higher than any other factors causing divorce. The "infertility" as a factor of divorce in both women’s and men’s opinion were lower than the other factors. However, table 5 suggests that "dependency to his or her family" and "Primary wrong selection of spouse" were the most significant reasons for divorce from the men and women perspective respectively. 

Section 4

            Ranking: Middle

CLO 4

Divorceeeee from S3eedo

Finding Report

LSC 2533 Research Methods

Findings Report

‘What are the main causes of divorce among UAE couples?’

(Research Topic)

Section 1 - Research questions

Primary Question

1)      What are the main causes among UAE couples?

Sub-Questions

1)      Is divorce the solution of the problem of the couple?

2)      Are women in the workforce a major reason for divorce?

3)      Who are most affected by divorce?

Section 2 – Background report summary 

     Cases of divorce in the United Arab Emirates are alarming.  An article in “The National” issued on September 16, 2005 revealed that the divorce rate in the UAE has reached 46%, the highest so far in the Gulf Region, followed by Qatar with 38 percent.  “ Meanwhile, a separate survey in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia reported that divorce rate in GCC countries are increasing by 30 to 35 percent every year” (Kraideh, 2010).

     According to Pickardt (2007), both UAE national couples who were involved in divorce cases totaled 1,190, followed by the UAE husbands and expatriate wives that stood at 420 cases, while those involving UAE national wives and foreign husbands totaled nearly 110 in a matter of one year. The same article said that among the Emirates, Abu Dhabi, the premier capital has the highest divorce rate totaling 920, of which 412 involving UAE national couples. Other emirates have the recorded divorce rates as: Dubai, 594 divorces including 248 local couples, Sharjah, 541, Ajman, 361, Ras Al Khaimah, 193, Fujairah, 125 and Umm Al Quwain, 49. (Kraideh, 2010).

      The said statistics are alarming according to Marwa Kraidieh, a social researcher at the Juma Al Majid Center in one of the center’s conducted seminars for education and awareness of divorce cases in the UAE. Along this line, this work proposes a study to research the root causes of the divorce in the country and to find possible solutions to hasten or decrease the alarming and increasing rate because it will have an adverse effect on the UAE families in particular and to the society in general.

Section 3 – Questionnaire results

       I made my survey questionnaires to be distributed to 25 participants who will voluntarily participate in the study. They were males and females whom I randomly gave my questionnaires in the malls and parks during weekends. My questionnaire consists of ten items that aim to answer my primary research question and sub-questions.

Primary Question

§  What are the main causes of divorce among UAE couples?

Sub-Questions

§  Is divorce the solution of the problem of the couple?

§  Are women in the workforce a major reason for divorce?

§  Who are most affected by divorce?

        The results showed that divorce is a social issue and even is  considered a world problem as well.  In most cases, men are the main cause of divorce. The findings revealed that 76 percent of the men or 18 out of 25 of the respondents wanted divorce as compared with 24 percent of the women who only wanted divorce. One of the important findings showed that 23 out of 25 or 92 percent said that divorce is possible to happen when women are in the workforce. Simply stated, men do not want their wives to work probably because their income is enough for their daily sustenance. Of the results, only ten percent of men will allow their wives to work. In addition, 72 % of the participants stated that children are most affected by the consequence divorce while less than 30 % said that men are the losers while none stated that women are losers at all. Surprisingly, the majority of responses showed that divorce can be the solution to marital problems. More than half of the participants showed that if the couples told their own respective families that they are planning for divorce, more likely divorce will not happen. This was agreed upon by more than one half of the participants. Another major cause of divorce is the irresponsibility of the couple to attend to the needs of their children. Finally, the biggest challenge of divorce is how to gain the same respect of children to their parents.

Section 4 - Discussion of Results

      The results of the study confirmed the increasing divorce rates in the UAE. In fact, the statistics of divorce in the country are alarming. On the issue of divorce, men are most likely to start the issue of divorce as compared with women. Also, one interesting finding is the fact that 92 percent of the men do not want their wives to work, hence this could be a major cause of divorce. The researcher expects that communication could be a major cause of divorce, but it was not mentioned in the results, yet it is confirmed that the background information is correct that children are the individuals most affected by divorce. Also, another interesting finding revealed that women are not considered losers but men are even mentioned as losers when divorce happens. With these findings, to minimize the causes of divorce in the country, it is recommended for the college and the council of this school that there should be education and awareness among students inside the classroom on the sanctity of marriage. Divorce is not always the solution to the problem and in fact it will aggravate the circumstances because it would always have a negative impact on the children. Lastly, if I were to conduct the same research in the future, I would attempt to determine the empirical data of what really causes divorce in the country of the UAE only. Also I would like to find the records in courts if all couples that divorce have filed cases in there. 

Analysis of results

From my results I knew that divorce is a social issue. In most cases, men are the main cause of divorce. Responses show that more than 70 % want divorce while less than 30 % of the females want divorce. More than 90 % stated that divorce takes place when women are in the workplace while less than 10 % responded negatively to this. In addition, 72 % of the participants stated that children are the most losers of the divorce while less than 30 % said that men are the losers while none stated that women are losers at all. Surprisingly, the majority of responses showed that divorce can be the solution to marital problems. More than half of the participants showed that if the couples told them to their family, there could be a solution to divorce while less than half of the participants negated that. Moreover, most of the participants stated that the inability of the parents to give care to the children is one of the main causes of divorce. The biggest challenges after divorce as stated by the respondents are children and showing respect to each other. 

Divorce survey

1_What do you think are the reasons for divorce?

2_What is the biggest challenge after divorce?

3_In most cases, who wants to divorce first?

4_Is divorce because more women are in the workforce?

5_Who is the biggest loser from divorce?

6_How we can reduce the percentage of divorce?

7_Can divorce be a solution to marital problems?

8_If the couple tells their problem to the family, will it increase the problem or will it be a solution?

9_If the husband cannot give all requirements to his wife, do you think that is a major cause of 

divorce?

10_Is the inability of parents to take care of the children enough reason to divorce?

11_Is the inability of one of the parents to have children enough reason to divorce or is love enough 
reason to live with each other? 


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RKT5WRD

Justification

No doubt, there are a lot of issues around us but in my opinion I think that divorce is the worst problem in the world for many reasons. Firstly, divorce lead to destruction of the community, because when the divorce happens, that means the children have to choose between their parents and this makes the children so confused so they will not know what they should to do and this is one of the reasons of destroying the community; secondly divorce is considered a main reason of starting problems between the families, last but not least divorce lead to hating in the community between the divorced and who will be marriage.

CLO phase 2

Source Descriptions:

Source 1:

Reasons for divorce.

Description:

There are many reasons for divorce but the top and important reasons as webpage said is, the control, control the spouses in their behavior because as we see the more causes of divorce in our world come from anger. Mistreatment of children, if one of parents mistreated children that leads hate between the parents. Infringement beating between spouses is the main cause of divorce.         

http://www.poweroftwomarriage.com/info/reasons-for-divorce/

Top 6 Reasons For Divorce-When to stay and when to leave. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2015.

Source 2:

Cons divorce.

Description:

There are many disadvantages for divorce, the important disadvantage is divorce hurts children, because divorce distract children and make them walk in the wrong way in the life. Divorce cost money, if the spouses want to divorce they must to pay to raise the issue in court and then pay to a lawyer and some of the spouses can't get married again because of that.

http://divorceinfo.com/disadvantages.htm

Disadvantages of Divorce. (2015, February 20). Retrieved September 8, 2015.

Source 3

Solution of divorce

Description:

This website talking about the solutions that we can do it to avoid the divorce. There are steps can help us to do that such as recognize the problem, be honest about your feeling, ask about the problem and you must see the result comes out.

http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/isdivorcethesolution/qt/solutionstomaritalproblems.htm

Meyer, C. (n.d.). 5 Step Guide To Solving Marital Problems. Retrieved September 10, 2015.