Goal of This Research Is to Identify

¶ … goal of this research is to identify interventions that can reduce the risk of negative outcomes for at-risk youth. The basis for the analysis will rely on prior literature on parenting styles, co-parenting conflicts, and also child pre-disposition to violence. A literature review is the initial research design, with the goal of explaining the nature of the problem and the variables involved (Blakstad, n.d.). The research may progress into two further stages, including an exploratory and primarily qualitative phase. Subsequent to the exploratory research, a pilot study with longitudinal design may be warranted, but experimental designs are not indicated in a project of this nature.

Because the research is currently exploratory in nature, as it is in the early stages, several descriptive research designs would be highly appropriate. Three of the descriptive research designs that would be appropriate to this dissertation in particular include Case Study and Descriptive Research. Later stages of the research would build on the exploratory and descriptive design, and may include a pilot study with a longitudinal focus (DeVaus, 2006).

A case study research design may be one of the most appropriate types of methodology for this current dissertation. Case studies allow for the testing of pre-determined models or interventions, and encourage in-depth description of observable changes and results. Because we are dealing with individual lives, it would be irresponsible to reduce each case to a set of numbers and statistics. Therefore, case studies permit a holistic enquiry rooted in qualitative research methodology. The drawbacks to case study are clear and include a lack of external validity and also the potential for researcher bias. Yet social scientists must rely on case studies, which can have a "strong impact" on policy and other results-oriented research (Shuttleworth, n.d., p. 1).

Methods of conducting a case study would be to apply specific intervention programs, such as positive parenting classes, on selected research participants in the target population. Thorough and naturalistic observations will allow the researcher to study the detailed nuances of the intervention effects, and also trace the results of the intervention over a long period of time. A case study is also flexible in that it allows the researcher to simultaneously conduct other types of research designs using methods such as surveys.

The case study can be combined with other types of descriptive research examining the results of specific interventions in at-risk youth and their families. The advantages of descriptive research designs include the ability for the researcher to remain detached and naturalistic, thereby reducing the potential for bias. Using a cohort research design, the researcher foc uses on the at-risk communities of interest. Narrowing the participant population according to demographics would allow the researcher to make some conclusions as to the efficacy of the treatment interventions. However, there is little reliability or generalizability potential with descriptive research. Results cannot be replicated reliably, and there are no variables being manipulated. For this reason, subsequent phases of research can include designs that allow for quantitative or statistical analysis.

While not the best or most appropriate research design or methods for this particular research, it is worth investigating the potential of more in-depth studies such as a pilot study. The pilot study would be especially warranted if it were determined that a new intervention, such as a proprietary parenting class, were developed. This proprietary intervention could be tested on a sample population and results tabulated in a longitudinal design that tracked variables such as academic performance, recidivism and rates of delinquency. Qualitative measures, including the results of self-report surveys, could also be included in the analysis of the pilot study. Self-report surveys would help researchers gauge the parents' and youths' perspectives of the intervention and solicit input for the development of future programs.

Because the ultimate goal of the research is results-oriented, it will be important to envision the application of the research on public policy and programs. Therefore, the validity and reliability of the research remain tantamount. Combining various methods, including a reliance on a solid literature review, will help the dissertation become relevant to future research in parenting and improving outcomes for at-risk youth. Interventions that are parent-focused can be combined with ancillary interventions that are community-based or education-based too. The goals would include reducing the rates of juvenile encounters with the criminal justice system and also reducing rates of substance abuse among young people.