Part One

Describe about the terms for Senior Seminar in Child and Family Development.

This assignment will be on the subject senior seminar in child and family development where the ten substance areas of the National Council on Family Relations will be discussed through literature review. NCFR is a professional organization, which provides an educational forum for the family practitioners, educators and researchers for sharing the dissemination and development of the knowledge about the families. It also works to promote family well-being by establishing professional standards and family relationships. This assignment has been divided into two parts working on the ten substance areas and each area will be reviewing three peer-reviewed articles and journals.

Research Article 1

One size does not fit all: Taking diversity, culture and context seriously

This research article throws a profound light on the aspect that the present status of the mental health system is failing to provide a high quality of mental health care for the diverse families and children. The authors have critically analyzed the working conditions of the professional providers of mental health care and have estimated that they are required to interact with a diverse population of patients who differ in culture, race, nationality family composition and living circumstances. In the progressive world of treatment, this is a common sight in the urban clinics of the United States where are the providers are required to interact with the multiracial and multiethnic populations. Therefore, the authors have discussed the missing critical domain that is, providing serious attention to the context, culture and diversity, as they are essential for improving patient care. The authors have fostered the understanding of context and culture at the organizational, family, individual and societal levels. The authors concluded the article by suggesting that changes are required in the organizational cultures for building up natural supports that enhance the mental health of the children, which is definitely the need of the moment in the US healthcare system for improving the mental health on the societal context (Alegria et al., 2010). Critiquing the article can state that focusing on the key predictors of the adjustment of the children in the natural context would eventually increase the attention for building up the capacities of the family and community for strengthening the mental health of the children and the authors have clearly articulated this fact in the backdrop of the United States.

Families and Individuals in Societal Contexts

Homeless individuals, families and communities: The societal origins of homelessness

This is an exploratory study where the authors have derived qualitative information about the experiences and lives of the homeless people residing in two urban areas located in South Africa. Evidence suggests that homelessness is a daunting and huge challenge of a developing country like South Africa where millions of people are either homeless or shack dwellers, mainly due to the lack of homogeneity in the residing population. This research article critically analyzed the case histories for retrieving the experiences of 30 homeless people residing in the cities of Rustenburg and Pretoria in South Africa. The authors have summarized the reasons for homelessness of the dwellers of these urban areas as unemployment, poverty, divorce, lesser affordable accommodation, illness, disability and underprivileged childhood. The authors found that more than half of the cases were due to the growing up in the dysfunctional families and evidence of solidarity was traced among the people who are homeless and staying in shelters and informal networks were identified by them regarding job opportunities. However, the study concluded on a positive note that the interviewees hope for the improvement of their circumstances and his is possible only by finding affordable and suitable accommodation, employment opportunities and receiving grants from the state authorities (Makiwane, Tamasane & Schneider, 2010). Critiquing the article can state that homelessness is a problem of societal context that cuts across the class, gender, age and race belonging from a range of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and can be solved with appropriate government measures. The authors have put forward a rising problem of most of the developed cities of the US that need immediate intervention.

The societal context of significant others: Comparative perceptions of mother and fatherhood in Sweden, Finland and Estonia

This research article predominantly focuses on the parent attitudes in three different countries namely, Estonia, Finland and Sweden. The authors have investigated the balance between the family and work life in a certain environment of the welfare state by evaluating the social context. The social model of Europe has been referred in this context by the authors, which states that it is based on the welfare state model emphasizing on the redistribution, provision and equality of collective insurance and public goods against individual risk. This article has critically analyzed the extent to which the expectations of the parents have been met by the family policies. The authors have found noted differences in the expectations of the parents towards the supportive measures that are offered by the state authorities and combine the family and work life in the studied countries in response to the evaluation of the respondents of their social environment. The authors have summarized the facts in this article by revealing the points of concern of the parents in the broad context of the family policies and concluded with the argument that the Finnish and Swedish parents are highly satisfied with the societal context of their residing countries whereas the parents of Estonia feel insecure (Podder & Poder, 2015). Critiquing the article, it can be said that this study provides a clear picture of the European context, a further study on larger samples on the societal context of the US social policies is recommended for planning the specific social measures for pointing out the problems faced by the parents for combining the family and work life balance.

Research Article 1

Research Article 1

Sibling similarity in family formation

This research article deals with the sibling studies and the authors have developed a novel research design to combine the sibling comparisons. This sequential analysis is employed to analyze the longitudinal trajectory of family formation of the unrelated persons and the siblings. The authors have implemented sibling studies in this research article for analyzing the impact of background on the demographic and socioeconomic outcomes. The authors have critically scrutinized and investigated the fact regarding the existence of sibling similarities in the trajectories of family formation and sharing of the background characteristics like the early family structure of childhood and parental education that can account for the family formation similarities in a much rigorous manner. The authors conducted the study on a Finnish background and summarized the information that family formation has been significantly similar for the siblings in comparison with the unrelated dyads for controlling the crucial characteristics of the parental background. The authors have put forward the theory from the findings of the study that shared characteristics of the parental background have little contribution towards sibling similarities in the process of family formation and it was significant information for construction of the longitudinal trajectories in family formation (Raab et al., 2014). Critiquing the article, it can be said that education of the respondents and their gender are the decisive factors in the family formation stratification. Internal dynamics of the family have a reinforcement effect on this stratification process where the siblings have higher chances of experiencing similar patterns of family formation. The study has also demonstrated the factor of economic disadvantage and its importance on the structure of the family for reproducing social inequality.

Beyond transmission: Intergenerational patterns of family formation among middle-class American families

This research article proposes the analysis of multichannel sequences to dyadic sequences for studying the intergenerational processes of family formation. The authors have significantly focused on the research of the parental effects on the family behavior to demonstrate the progressive sequence of intergenerational transmission. In the study, the authors have overemphasized the similarities and obscured the heterogeneity in the parental effects on the behavior of the family to determine whether the children exhibit similar family behavior according to their family. The article has critically made two contributions where the authors have conceptualized on the holistic family formation of the children and their parents as the union formation process and then discussed the mechanisms that are likely for shaping the intergenerational patterns. The other concept that the authors have developed and contributed to the study was the innovative application of the multichannel sequential analysis to the data of dyadic sequence on a group of middle-class families from America based on the Longitudinal Study of Generations. However, the authors did not focus on the isolated focal events and estimated beyond the average effects of transmission. This was a radical contribution by the authors as it resulted in the exhibition of three salient patterns of intergenerational family formation among the study population, which consisted of an intergenerational contrast, a moderated transmission and a string transmission pattern (Fasang & Raab, 2014). Critiquing the article, it can be said that the authors have examined the factors that determine the children and the parent’s likelihood for sorting into a specific pattern that is intergenerational. The study demonstrated that the family formation intergenerational patterns are generated by the intersection of the internal psychological family dynamics and the macro-structural changes.

Research Article 2

Developing a scale to measure family dynamics related to long-term care, and testing that scale in a multicenter cross-sectional study

This research article extensively deals with the aged population of Japan involving clinical researchers and primary care physicians. Evidence have shown that the frail elderly people are taken care by their family members and therefore make it difficult to study the family dynamics, as they are difficult for quantification. Hence, the authors developed a scale for the assessment of the family dynamics that are related to the long-term care of the aged population of Japan. The authors in this article have critically evaluated the development and reliability of the scale and the results of the validation testing and reliability testing are analyzed. The study employed two specialists of primary care for drafting the family dynamics questions and a final questionnaire was generated that asked the four undesirable situations or problems that included disengagement, scapegoating, transfer of inter-generational problems and undesirable behavior. The authors had selected 199 families for the study and the sample size was large enough to accommodate satisfactory study results. The study summarized the fact that a unidimensional scale was developed by the authors that enabled the physicians to assess the family dynamics with a family caregiver and a patient. The scores of the scale were found to be reliable and the validation testing results were satisfactory and have a good scope in the primary care practice and research (Kusaba et al., 2014). Critiquing the article, it can be said that it is beneficial for studying the scale named IF-Long and its effects on the dynamics of family in the long-term care for the aged population. Analyzing of the validation testing and reliability testing of the scale by the authors furthers strengthens the fact that family dynamics is a relatively important aspect for understanding the inter-generational problems and undesirable behavior and the development of a scale gives a new dimension for the long-term care aged population.

Research Article 1

Adolescence and human development

This research article is an overview on adolescence as it is observed as a complex developmental stage that involves physiological, psychological and sociological issues that start with puberty and concludes in the middle age of life with the attainment of maturity of the central nervous system. Adolescence leads to the development of an autonomous adult with the capabilities of functioning at the vocational, sexual and intellectual levels that are acceptable to the society. The article provides an overview on adolescence by critically reviewing the normal psychosocial stages, adolescent stages of sexual maturity, sexuality concepts, health status overview of adolescents and the caring principles of adolescents. The author summarized the facts by stating that the clinicians who are privileged with caring responsibility for the youth must serve as the prevention advisors and committed counselors for guiding the adolescents into adulthood. This article focuses on the fact that anticipatory clinical guidance is important for promoting healthy sexual development for the prevention of complications and the involvement of youth in the abusive relationships should be handled with proper guidance from the trusted counselors and clinicians for steering them towards healthy adulthood (Greydanus, 2012). Critiquing this research article, it can be said that this research has been a guiding manual for the youth by the author for their proper propagation towards their adulthood and will promote healthy living and healthy sexuality for dealing with adversities and lead a productive adult life. The basic factors that the author has kept centrally are sense of belonging with the peers, receiving proper education, acquiring healthy system of values and help the adolescent to enjoy the fascinations of life as a phenomenon.

Research Article 3

Linking social change and developmental change: shifting pathways of human development

This research article is a novel theory on human development and social change for demonstrating the altering socio-demographic ecologies change the learning environments and cultural values shifting the pathways of development. The author has put forward the theory that the global socio-demographic trends include the factors of movement from the rural residence, subsistence economy, informal education and environments of low-technology to formal schooling, urban residence, commerce and environments of high-technology. Two German terms have been used by the author for summarizing these movements that are Gemeinschaft (for community) and Gesellschaft (for society) respectively. This article is a review of the empirical research, which states that by the adaptive processes, ecologically variable movements in the direction of Gesellschaft aids to shift the cultural values in a direction that is individualistic. It also shifts the developmental pathways towards more abstract cognition and independent social behavior. The author has also demonstrated a contrast by stating that movement of the ecological variable in the direction of Gemeinschaft aids to move the developmental pathways and cultural values in the opposite direction (Greenfield, 2009). Critiquing the article, it can be said that a theoretical link has been established by the author that has been used for linking developmental change with social change and therefore the author has simultaneously dealt with two developmental scales, which are change across the succeeding generations and changes in a lifetime. It was very clearly depicted in the stud that the socio-cultural environments in the developing and developed world are not static and must be dynamically treated in the areas of developmental research.

Human development: Biological and genetic processes

This research article is a review of the human development system where adaptation has been the central organizing principle of biology for studying individuals, populations and species. The authors of the study have demonstrated that adaptation of the human beings to the biological systems is a result of the response to the molecular and molar environments. Therefore, the authors have critically analyzed the fact that the nervous systems and genetic systems are cybernetic or dynamic in comparison with the previous conceptualizations with the brains and genes fixed in the function and form. This study has been a developmental pathway towards epigenetics where experience and biology come together for enhancing the adaptation throughout thin and thick. The author has summarized the concept of endophenotypes and road markers for bringing the biological origin closer to the developmental journey and facilitated the understanding of the maladaptive and adaptive processes. The author has also put forward the theoretical perspective that the disorders of human behavior that includes autism and schizophrenia, the inherent plasticity of the nervous system has been endowed with a systemic approach for incorporating the myriad factors that are epigenetic for influencing the outcomes (Gottesman & Hanson, 2005). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the article has been very informative in stating the fact that every genetic product is biological whereas not every biological product is genetic. The author has put forward a clear understanding of this fact in the article by stating that the CNS and genomes are designed for promoting adaptation and the adaptation responding must be considered subsequently.

Internal Dynamics of Families

Research Article 1

Evolution and human sexuality

This research article is to review the primary features of human sexuality in the light of evolution. The author has addressed five topics concerning with the human sexuality evolution and therefore, this article has been an integral document for investigating the evolution of human sexuality. In this attempt, the author has addressed the theoretical foundations in the first step that included the recent developments and critiques. In the second step, the author considered the central models that attempted for specifying the phylogenetic details regarding the change of the hominin sexuality. In the third step, the author has addressed the physiological and genetic data for the refined understanding of the human sexuality. The fourth step considered the rigorous, large and recent studies of the human sexuality. The fifth step discussed the relevance perspective life course for evolutionary understanding of the human sexuality. The author has summarized by tracing back the sexual selection view of the research to the principles of Darwin for refining the theoretical bases to the sexual differences and the mating efforts to the life history allocations. The author has linked Socio-sexual partnerships that are bonded on a long-term basis with the polygynous hunter-gatherers and the Chimpanzee-like ancestors. This linkage provided a strong foundation to the article for deriving an evolutionary relationship of the human sexuality (Gray, 2013). Critiquing the article, it can be said that this has been an exploratory inner view on the evolutionary perspectives based on multiple lines of evidence that point towards the importance of long-term bonds of polygynous socio-sexual relationships in the context of human sexual relationships which includes cross-cultural marital data. The author reflected on the principles of Darwin to interlink the history of life allocations with the socio-sexual partnerships which has been a breakthrough in understanding the concept of human sexuality.

John Bancroft: Human Sexuality and its Problems

This research article critically analyzes the work of John Bancroft in his book titled ‘Human Sexuality and its Problems’ that focuses on the psychosocial and physiological mechanisms of sexual experiences. The author has critically acclaimed the societal expectations and views that have been dealt by Bancroft in his book. The gender differences have been treated efficiently for better understanding of the evolution and history sexuality of women over the time. The author has praised the way Bancroft have explained the concepts of HIV and AIDS that have thrown enough light on the sexual behaviors and habits for updated and accurate statistics. The treatments for these epidemics have been emerged from the psychological and pharmacological approaches to the sexual dysfunctions as the author have quoted in the article. The book also provides an overview of four sexual theories and the main constructs for defining the fields of human sexuality models and the role of theory. The author here suggested that Bancroft has thickened the argument by classifying the sexual theorists into two camps including the postmodernists and the conventional sexual scientists, societal versus individual and social versus biological. The author put forward the theory stating that Bancroft, being a behavioral endocrinologist, was much interested in the interaction procedure between the physiological and psychological mechanisms existing in the human sexuality (Stone, 2011). Critiquing the article, it can be said that the author have deeply and innovatively analyzed the chapters of the book by Bancroft and elaborately discussed the theories and opinions proposed by him in the book for the understanding of the sexual behavior and relations in the present world. This can be of great dynamism for investigating the characteristics of human sexuality and the related psychosocial and physiological problems.

Research Article 1

Biological factors in human sexuality

This research article discusses the key concepts of biological determinants related to human sexuality that includes brain mechanisms and sexual differentiation involved in sexual response. The author has also discussed the sexual effects of drugs and the role of sex hormones. This article is not a comprehensive review but it is a critical overview of the key concepts that is relevant for understanding the biological role of shaping the human sexuality in its interaction with culture. The author summarized the factor of human sexual behavior as the purpose of reproduction and has been influenced greatly by the cultural factors. The author has expressed the human sexuality in different ways that are varying over the history and across the cultures. In spite of the presence of the strong cultural influences, biological factors that are involved in response to the sexual arousal have been recognized by the author as fundamental for the sexual experience by human beings. This article has been vital for explaining and understanding the problems and complexities and the positive aspects of the human sexual conditions in relation with the surrounding environment from conception (Bancroft, 2002). Critiquing the article, it can be said that the author has compared the interaction between the environment and the individual at different levels and has put forward the theory that the biological influences from the surrounding environment make the pheromonal signals to have sexual contact on a regular basis with a male partner increases the chances of a regular ovulatory cycle. In addition, chronic stress has been found to change the neuropeptidergic system that results in the suppression of fertility and sexual interest and this finding has given a new direction to the research on human sexuality that the author has critically exhibited.

Research Article 1

Interpersonal relationships and emotional distress in adolescence

This research article examined the negative and positive qualities in the interpersonal relationships of the adolescents and their importance for the prediction of emotional distress. The authors conducted a primary research with a sample size of 260 students from three schools located in Dublin who were aged 12 to 18 years, having the sample population of 141 boys and 119 girls. The authors collected the data for the research by survey questionnaires from the students and quantitatively analyzed them for assessment of the qualities that are important in the interpersonal relationships and the existing emotional distress in their lives. From the research, the authors summarized that the girl students were found to report more positive qualities when compared to boys in their relationships with their best friends and mothers. It was also found that the older students had lesser positive qualities in their relationships with their parents when compared with the younger students. To critically analyze the results of the research, the authors performed a multiple regression stepwise analysis for quantitative analysis of the collected data. It was summarized by the authors that lower levels of emotional distress were predictive of the higher levels of satisfaction in the interpersonal relationships and higher levels of distress were predictive of the higher levels of exclusion and criticism.  The article also linked emotional distress to the higher levels of disclosure and support based on romantic relationships in the younger population (Kenny, Dooley & Fitzgerald, 2013). Critiquing the article, it can be said that the authors have put forward the justification for the distress that the young population tends to seek out emotional support in their romantic relationships. Therefore, this article has been satisfactory enough to demonstrate the emotional factors in human relationships.

Passion for an activity and quality of interpersonal relationships: the mediating role of emotions

This research article investigated the role of passion from four different studies for the quality of interpersonal relationships. The authors carried out the investigation for an activity and from the context of the given activity, the quality of the interpersonal relationships was derived based on the experiences. It has been evident that focusing on the strong positive emotions, energy and activity make the people passionate for activities and are regarded as magnetic and energetic by others. This research article had two purposes, one to ascertain the quality of the interpersonal relationships based on the experiences of the activity and the other was the examination of the psychological processes that is involved in the relationship between the interpersonal and passionate relationships. The authors hypothesized that positive emotional experiences derived from the activities mediated harmoniously and positively the interpersonal-passion relationships and was associated positively with the negative emotions. This would in turn negatively mediate the relationship between the positive, negative, and obsessive passion interpersonal relationships respectively. From the studies, the authors summarized the positive association of a harmonious passion with the interpersonal relationship quality in context with the activities whereas the unrelated part was the obsessive passion, as it was not related to the positive emotions. It was also derived from the results that the experienced positive emotions at work mediated completely the relationship between the interpersonal relationships quality and the harmonious passion (Philippe et al., 2010). Critiquing the article, it can be said that this study effectively implemented and discussed the broaden and build theory and the dualistic model of passion for understanding the mediating role of emotions. This article has been very helpful in demonstrating the quality of interpersonal relationships based on the psychological experiences of various human activities.

The woman’s birth experience—The effect of interpersonal relationships and continuity of care

This research article demonstrated a deeper understanding of the relational continuity and its influence on the experience of a woman’s childbearing and birth process. The authors chose a Q-methodological approach as it provides the researcher for systematic assessment of the subjectivity. The sample size for the study included 23 women where 48 statements were collected regarding their birth experience and shared their subjective view. The study was based in Norway incorporating 6 midwifery students providing continuity care to 58 women during the process of childbearing. The study was a quantitative study that implemented factorial analysis for sorting the patterns by the statistical software PQ that reveals one weak and one strong factor. The authors later interpreted the defining statements and the consensus statements. The article summarized both the factors that represented the experiences of the psychological trust and a teamwork feeling for the midwifery students. Both the factors indicated that in a relationship, quality is important. The authors analyzed the first factor and derived the experiences of emotional support and presence in a relationship and the personal growth feeling for the women was represented. In the second factor, the predictability experiences in the process and relation were defined and the interdependency feeling in a relationship was determined (Dahlberg & Aune, 2013). Critiquing the article, it can be said that relational continuity has been a crucial concept in context with the positive experience of birth and higher relationship qualities provide the possibilities of positive experiences during the process of childbearing, empowering both the woman and her partner. The authors have positively exhibited that higher relationship qualities also provided the midwives an opportunity to provide holistic care.

Family Resource Management

Relationships between social support cognition types and family resource management of Chinese migrant workers

This research article analyzed the relationship between the management of the family resources and the cognition types of social support. The authors selected 501 migrant workers as the study participants from the Suzhou province of China as the migrant workers of China are neither pure urban residents nor traditional peasants. The authors have critically analyzed the relationship between the management of the family resources and the cognition types of social support in this study. From the research, it was summarized that the migrant workers with different cognition types of their social support were found to have significant differences in the management of family resources and the migrant workers with different variables of demography were found to have significant differences in the cognition types of their social support. The migrant workers have become a group with vulnerable members who are trapped easily in poverty (Chen et. al., 2012). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the demographic variables and social support cognition have been technically explained by the authors to demonstrate that these are important aspects of the migrant workers in context to the family resource management and influenced directly their quality of life. Although this was a good study with respect to the family resource management, it had the limitations in terms of sampling and future studies could use stratified samples for overcoming this.

Family resource management style and life adjustment of low-income single mothers in China

This research article examined the relationship between life adjustment and the styles of family resource management using two questionnaires. The authors selected 271 single mothers with low income residing in China and critically analyzed the present status of life adjustment and the styles of family resource management for them. The effect of demographic variables on the single mothers and their perception of the styles of family resource management were also determined. Evidence have shown that global urbanization has changed the structures of the cultural values, lifestyles and social structures that had a profound effect on marriage. With the inflow of western ideologies and economic reforms in China, there has been a remarkable shift in the marriage and family values. Based on this fact, the authors have summarized the findings of the research by stating that significant differences have been observed in the management style of family resources depending on the reason for heading the family by the single mothers and their educational backgrounds. The authors reported that the women participants of the study had observed significant differences in their life adjustments (Chen, Gu & Chen, 2012). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the article has been and efficient demonstration of the effect of the interaction of the monthly income on life adjustment and the resource management styles and it was significant enough. Explanation of the fact like educational background of the low-income single mothers of China and their resource management styles remarkably predicted the adjustment of the life of the women have been thoroughly analyzed by the authors. The article have been exploratory as it determined the fact that the single Chinese mothers should make an overall plan for effective utilization of the family resources.

Hong Kong parents’ perceptions and experiences of involvement in homework: A family capital and resource management perspective

This research article is a qualitative study that examines the experiences and perceptions of the Hong Kong Chinese parents of getting involved in the homework process of their primary school children. The authors have drawn upon the theoretical frameworks of family resource management and family capital theory which is perspective explicating the role of these parents for enhancement of the homework outcomes of their children. Since it was a qualitative study, therefore the authors collected the required data from a sample population of 52 parents with at least a single child attending a primary school, through focus group and individual interviews. It is evident that the Chinese culture recognizes education as the most efficient and effective pathway for economic and social advancement and for the individual improvement. Therefore, the Chinese parents hold higher aspirations regarding their educational achievement of their children as an assurance of the brighter future of their families. In context to this theory, the authors have critically reflected the strategies and experiences of the Chinese parents of getting involved in the homework of their children (Tam & Chan, 2010). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the study have been helpful in providing exposure to the extensive range of the homework involvement strategies adopted by the Chinese parents and demonstrates the parental cultural values and goals that have been embedded in the process of generation of family capital. This article has been helpful for the policy makers and schools in understanding the parental involvement and cultivating the participation of the parents in the home-based learning process for their children.

Research Article 1

Maternal knowledge and behaviors regarding discipline: The effectiveness of a hands-on education program in positive guidance

This research article examined the most effective method for supporting the parents using the positive guidance techniques. The authors have employed a parent training series that is lecture based and includes a hands-on series on parent training. This study explored the possible moderators towards the positive guidance for the maternal characteristics of attitudes, stress-level and depression. The sample population of the study includes 49 mother-child dyads to determine the long-term and negative effect of physical punishment on children. From the study, the authors summarized that the cognitive understanding of the positive guidance usage of the participants in the groups of hands on plus lecture based versus lecture-based only did not differ significantly. Both the groups remarkably improved over the time in the cognitive understanding of positive guidance. The authors carried out a further investigation to reveal that attitudes, stress level and depression towards the positive guidance did not moderate the effects of behavioral usage of the participants of positive guidance (Saunders et al., 2013). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the study was effective for aiding the participants to gain a better understanding of the effective parenting techniques with the establishment of the fact that a hands-on component of the programs of parent training is essential for incorporation of these strategies into the behavior of the parents. The study reflected on the note that the early childhood professionals who are working with the parents must address the behavioral issues of the children in association with the designing of the parent support programs for meeting the objective of this parenting intervention study.

The Effects of the SENG Parent Education Model on Parents and Gifted Children

This research article investigated the effects of the parent education model named SENG (Social-Emotional Needs of Gifted Children) for the parents and their gifted children. The study population included parents of the gifted children studying in the third, fourth and fifth grade in a school in Turkey including the children. The research design was control group, experimental and pre-post test design and included the sample size of 20 parents in each of the control and experimental groups. The study duration was ten weeks that employed a non-randomized sampling approach. The authors critically analyzed the effects of implementation of SENG as the parent education model on the thought level of the parents and the level of psychological adaptation of the children to demonstrate the social support level that is perceived by the children from their parents. The study employed several tools like Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, Social Support Appraisal Scale, Mann-Whitney U Test and Hacettepe Emotional Adjustment Scale for analyzing the collected data. The authors summarized the SENG model effects on the levels of emotional adjustment for the gifted children evaluated from the perspectives of the parents that are statistically significant ad are positive (Saunders et al., 2013). Critiquing this article, it can be said that this descriptive study determined the fact that there is a need for the programs for the parents that can present them the appropriate methods with the required skills and in-depth knowledge that is not available in the environment. Analyzing the study, no remarkable effect was identified from the support program in the perception of the gifted children for the social support from their parents and the authors demonstrated the benefits of the effects of parent education on the parents and the gifted children.

Parent education – Education partnership essential components

This research article addresses the parental educational issues in a contemporary and defining context and formulates the solutions for the improvement of the educational partnership. It is evident that family has a major role to play in shaping the children for the future and so parental education plays a definite role in the partnership of education. The author has critically analyzed parental education as a basic educational component that should be applied consciously. The author has summarized the concept of parent education through two channels where the first step includes educating the future parents through the introduction courses on family planning and sexual education. The second step includes educating the real parents according to the needs of their children. Courses were designed for the children and parents for child development and care, judicial and medical aspects, risk and communication methods and psychological characteristics. The study considered that the actual system of education is too formal, dysfunctional and very flexible when it comes to the community and the parents (Stăiculescu, 2013). Critiquing the study, it can be said that the study has been very informative and focused on the family functions that are emotional, cultural, informational and social support for fulfilling the fundamental function of developing the educational awareness of the parents according to the educational needs of the children. The study demonstrated several interventional proposals out of which, the psycho-pedagogic training is most essential for the teachers. Development of the psychologists and counselors teaching network is another measure discussed by the author and this study has been very informative in terms of the development of the parent education for shaping the future of the children.

Research Article 1

Empirical research for public policy: With examples from family law

This research article discusses the weaknesses and strengths of the empirical research that is policy relevant based on the law studies of three families as examples. Through this study, the author has delivered the message that the legal empirical research that is policy relevant must be encouraged, however, the research policy relevance of single studies must not be oversold. Evidence shows that legal scholarship influences the public policies and the law reviews replete the articles suggesting the need for new law and abolishing the existing one with the legal language tweaking. Empirical research related to the issues out of economics and law has been dominated not by the lawyers but by the social scientists. The author from his critical empirical research suggested that the empirical research policy value can have a negative valence and degrades rapidly if the not performed appropriately and not cautiously and fairly interpreted. The study summarized five concluding points of the empirical research that are policy relevant and must be considered by the consumers. Firstly, the consumers should not rest the policy analysis or change on a single study irrespective of its performance. Secondly, the consumer should read the empirical study report and look beyond the bottom line of the researcher to the other revealed relationships in the data. Thirdly, a close reading of the methodological narratives, graphs and tables along with the application of common sense will always be beneficial. Fourthly, the existence of a situation is equally important for policy analysis and its existence. Fifthly, too much dependence on the results might turn out to be false (Lempert, 2008). Critiquing this article, it can be said that this article can be referred as a guiding manual for the consumers regarding policy-relevant empirical research. The authors have critically analyzed each of the concluding points of the empirical research and have highlighted the requirement of the new law.

Mixed messages: Parental responsibilities, public opinion and the reforms of family law

This research article explores the issues that arises while updating the family law for keeping pace with the changes in values and family practices and the changing parenting patterns. The authors have considered the extension of the rights and responsibilities of the parents beyond the traditional boundaries set up by the family law and extended to step-parents and grandparents and unmarried fathers. The authors have extended the boundaries in context to the four different roles corresponding to the family laws that includes promotion of family norms, regulation of family life, resolving disputes and protecting children. It has been evident that reformation is required in the family law of Scotland in response to the changes in family relationships and norms. It has been observed that the family practices in many families no longer conform to the regulations of the law. Therefore, this article has critically analyzed the factors that lead to the reformation of the family law in accordance with the changing cultural and social changes. This article has taken the example of the legal reform enacted by the Family Law Act (2006) of Scotland and have summarized the messages that have been conveyed by the reform with the alignment of the public opinion evidence in Scotland regarding the parental obligations and similar issues (Dey & Wasoff, 2006). Critiquing this article, it can b said that the authors have deliberately put forward the fact that law reform is informed by the evidence based on public consultation and public opinion, as evident from the Scottish reformation of the Family Law Act. Therefore, this article has led to the theory that public opinion may be used for informing the processes of law reform provided the necessary requirements are accommodated in the family law and social attitudes.

Public policy and Islamic law: the modern DHIMMI in contemporary Egyptian family law

This research article analyzes the status of the non-Muslim Egyptians in the contemporary of the personal status law that is based on the legal literature and Egyptian case law. The author states that the public policy concept plays a crucial role in the understanding of the inter-religious law mechanics in Egypt. The author has further argued that the public policy of Egypt serves as a legal barometer for the co-existence of the non-Muslim and Muslim communities from the Egyptian perspective. Evidence suggest that the Egyptian law has maintained the inter-religious law of Islamic system under which the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities are governed by their own laws and their own courts. However, with the course of time, the abolition of these separate courts took place, making way for the non-Muslim laws. These laws were restricted to the matters of divorce and marriage only in case the non-Muslim spouses are found to share the same religion and its sect and rite. Excepting this, Islamic law prevails for all other cases. The author has critically acclaimed the inter-religious system of law in Egypt that consists of the duality of non-Muslim and Muslim laws with the religious multitude of the personal status laws (Berger, 2001). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the article has thoroughly investigated the application of the public policy of the Islamic law in three ways that are by the positive, negative and the dhimmi public policy. The author in the study have critically acclaimed this by stating that the Islamic form of the inter-religious legal order or the public policy is subjected to limits on the autonomy of the policy as it has been interpreted as an Islamic concept and will not be subjected to the process of unification.

Research Article 1

Competence and scope of practice: Ethics and professional development

This research article discusses the importance of the capacities of a psychotherapist and analyzes the attributes that goes beyond the formal training and education. The author has related the attributes with continued competence throughout the professional life and the clinical training readiness. The article has analyzed the professional development of psychotherapists, as it is important for maintaining their professional competence. The author illustrated and reviewed the clinical vignettes of the standards and principles of the ethics code of the American Psychological Association (2002). Evidence suggest that the scope and competence of practice of the psychotherapists are considered regulatory matters, ethical and professional that entails emotional and less tangible capacities. For professional development, practicing self-care can help for the maintenance of the personal well-being and health. The author has critically explored the considerations that deal with the scope and competence of practice and related the considerations on exposure to the professional world of psychotherapy. Summarizing the facts, it has been stated in the article that despite the challenges and long hours of practice for the psychotherapists, they remain committed to providing effective and high quality services to the clients by abiding the legal standards that are designed for protecting the public and regulation of their practice (Wise, 2008). Critiquing this study, it can be said that the author has examined the operational considerations of the psychotherapists and reflected their perspectives towards the education program required for maintaining their competence. The author technically exhibited this fact by stating that the psychotherapists should focus on the professional development and proactive self-care along with complying with the formal system of continuing education that has been mandated by most of the states.

General practice ethics: inter-professional responsibilities

This research article is an illustrative compilation of cases and not on a specific individual where the authors have provided a suggestive framework for consideration of the ethical issues for allowing the practitioners to arrive at a conclusion based on ethics. This article investigates a case of an ethical dilemma between a general practitioner and the in-charge officer of the reception services regarding the competence of another general practitioner. In response to this case, the authors have critically evaluated the case and have put forward the theories that can be beneficial for resolving the ethical dilemma. The author has professionally demonstrated an ethical decision framework that is required for clinical practice for encountering such ethical dilemmas. A stepwise analysis of the issues and concerns of professional practice has been laid down and the perspectives have been taken into consideration. The considering perspectives include the perspective of the patient and the obligations and duties of the practitioners. From the perspective of the patient, the author has considered the priorities of the patient and considered the best options and from the perspective of the practitioner, the ethical qualities have been evaluated that includes beneficence, fairness, trustworthiness, respect and honesty (Rogers & Braunack-Mayer, 2015). Critiquing this study, it can be said that the author has efficiently interlinked the theoretical aspects with the case for demonstrating its practical implementation. This ethical analysis reconsidered and reviewed the favored options, the robustness of the reasons was appraised and the unintended consequences were double-checked. Finally, the author demonstrated the solution of ethical issues in work by providing suggestions for the general practitioner to come out of his ethical dilemma and arrive at a reasonable and ethical decision and this can be remarkable dimension for the settling the issues of ethical dilemma at work.

Professional ethics: Sociological perspectives

This research article analyzes the sociological perspectives of professional ethics and has discussed the ethical problems of professional activities. The authors have stated that the mission of professional ethics is self-criticism of the related profession that matches to the societal values and in turn, the society has held on to the professional ethics under critical and constant scrutiny. It is evident that maximum standards are implemented on the professional activities of the engineer, lawyer, school-teacher and physician whereas lesser standards are implemented for the professional activities of farmers, craftsmen and tradesmen. This is because the professional activity of a physician expects him to make heroic sacrifices for the service of the people and not only an occupation for making money. Conversely, the craftsman, farmer and tradesman may consider the well-being of the along with their own interest. The authors have critically argued the fact that people who are specially skilled in a profession are responsible towards their duties and services and this gives rise to the necessity of the professional ethics. The authors have summarized the discussion algorithm of the nature of professional ethics in several steps for demonstrating the moral dimension of the profession (Bakshtanovskii & Sogomonov, 2007). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the authors have significantly carried out a study on the journalistic, political and entrepreneurial ethics substantiating and working out on the algorithm and subsequently complying with it. This article has been very informative about the morality and ethics of professionalism and the purpose of the professional activities have been adequately presented. The norms and values of behavior have been identified as the base of the professional ethics.

Research Article 1

Reconceptualizing the domain and boundaries of family life education

This research article explored the professions of family case management, family therapy and family life education by using the questions of how, for whom, when, what and why. The authors have examined these questions for individual roles and introduced the domains of family practice for differentiating among them. It has been evident that family life education has been differentiated or have been found similar to the other fields that are family related and have been answered promptly by the authors. To improve the boundaries between family therapy and family life education, the authors have carried out an extensive research for examining these criteria. The approach of this study defines the family life education and encourages the collaboration that is appropriate for the fields. The authors have implemented the perspective of examining the outsiders and insiders of the three domains of the family life education with the feedback and interactions with several family case managers and family therapists. This attempt was undertaken for outlining the concerns regarding the model of levels of family involvement and proposed an innovative and alternative structure (Myersâ€ÂWalls et. al., 2011). Critiquing this article, it can be said that the authors have successfully positioned the three domains as unique and related professions are rather comparing them with each other for their level of advancement for assisting the family professionals as it helps to identify and define the work parameters. The article provided important suggestions for using the model for reviewing the job requirements, career exploration, determining the appropriateness of and need for collaboration and referral and assessment of role clarity and consistency and this provided an in-depth analysis of the appropriateness of family life education.

ARSH 8: Family life education and counseling: A school-based model

This research article provided an outlook for understanding the problems of the school-going adolescents and provided family life education that is class based on two phases of the study. The authors identified the major components that make up the family life education as general health and growth, nutrition, adolescence, scholastic and other relevant issues that bother the girls and boys like self-understanding, identity crisis and body care. The primary objective of research work was to develop the understanding the school problems of the adolescents from selected schools in the Thiruvananthapuram district of India. The government of India has laid down policies for improving the health services in the country and the authors have critically reflected their understandings based on those policies. It is evident from the summarization of the facts that adolescence has been recognized as the period of life, that is nutritionally critical as the increase in the physical development and growth during this period exerts pressure on the nutritional need by the body. The adolescents have experienced a weight gain during this period and this trend is more prominent among the girls than in the boys. During both the phases of the study, the authors identified the issues of lifestyle and nutrition, reproductive health, mental health and scholastic problems among the school-going adolescents (Nair et. al., 2013). Critiquing this article, it can be said that this article had been very descriptive in creating awareness for hygiene, common disorders and health in schools can help to improve the health of the adolescents and avoid the problems that arise due to malnutrition that often goes unidentified. The authors have critically analyzed the problems of the adolescents and identified the major components of family life education and this has been an important aspect as it helped the study to achieve its goal efficiently.

Sharpening Our Focus on Family Life Education: Evidence-based Curricula for Strengthening Close Relationships

This research article is focused on encouraging the family and consumer sciences and other educators of family life to incorporate the evidence-based materials and curricula for improving the close relationships of the constituents and the students. The author has attempted to improve the relationship quality of the individuals by implementing the knowledge based on research with the focal point of family and consumer sciences and demonstrate the fact that healthy close relationships are not based on facilities and personnel. It is evident from the past that the families, marriages and close relationships have undergone remarkable changes and maintenance and development of the strong interpersonal relationships have changed as well. Close romantic relationships associate positively and strongly with the psychological and physiological measures of well-being throughout the lifespan of the human. The authors have provided the family and consumer sciences leaders the dynamic opportunity for showcasing the evidence-based educational relationship and identified this as a critical component of the curricula of the relevant sciences as it is timely and cost effective. The authors have summarized the facts by stating that the practitioners and educators of family and consumer sciences who focus mainly on the close relationships and family needs to focus primarily on the family by assisting the communities, families and individuals. This assistance should be provided for making informed decisions regarding their resources, relationships and well-being for achieving the optimum life quality (Randall, 2012). Critiquing this article, it can be said that this article has been very much beneficial in improving the relationships between the families and the close relationships between the couples by recognizing the relationship as an investment and making it a success with responsibility.

Reflective Summary

From the course long review, an in-depth understanding of the substance areas of the family life was developed and the various aspects of the family contexts were perceived. The practice, research and theory that are included in the area of family life education have been analyzed and appropriate knowledge has been acquired in the core perspectives, frameworks and theories of this education. The areas in which specialization have been developed includes family systems, family and individual development, ecosystems, symbolic interaction and stress. Therefore, the review was beneficial in understanding the developing the cultural and social influences that affect the family life through the substance areas.

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