MAXIMIZING THE IMPACT OF RESEARCH IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - A PRACTITIONER VIEWS RESEARCH (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION V 1, 1978, BY MICHAEL LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59268)

• NCJ Number: 59276
• Author(s): R M FRIEDMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE IMPACT RESEARCH MIGHT MAKE ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED, AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF RESEARCH IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE CONSIDERED, FOLLOWED BY SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH.

Abstract

GENERAL FACTORS DISCUSSED AS AFFECTING THE CONTRIBUTION RESEARCH MAKES TO COMPLEX SOCIAL PROBLEMS CONCERN THE NATURE OF THE TARGET GROUP TO WHICH THE RESEARCH IS DIRECTED, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS TO THAT GROUP, THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE OF THAT TARGET GROUP, AND THE POTENTIAL BREADTH OF INFLUENCE OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS THEMSELVES. SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF RESEARCH REGARDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THE PRIVATE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE VARIED FORMS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. DEBATE ON DEFINITIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAS FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE DEGREE OF COMPREHENSIVENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THE INTENTIONS OF THE ABUSER, AND WHETHER OR NOT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS IN FACT A CERTAIN SET OF BEHAVIORS OR CULTURALLY CONDITIONED PERCEPTIONS OF PARTICULAR PARENTAL BEHAVIOR. THE PRIVATE NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE, AS WELL AS ITS PROSCRIPTION BY LAW, MAKE IT UNSUSCEPTIBLE TO DIRECT OBSERVATION, THUS REQUIRING THAT HEAVY RELIANCE BE PLACED ON VERBL REPORTS OF PARTICIPANTS, WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY UNRELIABLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR RESEARCHERS EXAMINING ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS THE MULTITUDE OF FORMS THE PROBLEM BEHAVIOR TAKES. EVEN WHERE INDIVIDUALS AGREE THAT PARTICULAR ACTS OR CONDITIONS CONSTITUTE ABUSE OR NEGLECT, THE BEHAVIORS THEY DISCUSS MAY VARY CONSIDERABLY. INCLUDED ARE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT : (1) A DEFINITION OF THE SCOPE AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM; (2) THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES ON FAMILIES; (3) RESEARCH ON PROGRAMS AIMED AT PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; (4) IDENTIFICATION OR CAUSAL FACTORS WITHIN FAMILY UNITS; (5) A STUDY OF VIOLENCE; AND (6) INTEGRATION OF THE EXISTING BODY OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING ABUSE AND NEGLECT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)