Activity 3

For this activity we had to research a mixture of books, journals and websites in relation to our selected topic. I choose to look at how family's function and how important a child's youth is to how they behave in later life especially as young adolescents, and how they conduct themselves within the local community.

My researched started using the Cross Search Facilty within the University of Dundee's Library to look into journals written by academics of the university, then I went along to the library and looked into books relevant to my topic and finally on to the internet. I found several books and journals helpful however when looking on the internet I found limited reliable resources.

Jensen, A and McKee, L (2003) Children and the Changing Family Between transformation and negotiation. Kent: GreenGate.

Jensen and McKee in this book are analyzing how family and social changes are effecting a child’s youth and how they grow up perceiving the world. The three major changes covered in this book are: parental employment, family composition and ideology. The child’s point of view on family changes is a key element explored in this book.

Moore, M, Sixsmith, J, and Knowles, K, (1996) Childrens’ Reflections on Family Life. London: RouteledgeFalmer.

Moore, Sixsmith and Knowles are researching into the effects of the home and family from the point of view of the child. How important all the factors of a stable family life influence the child’s behaviour in the community. Each chapter focuses on different family type and expresses the childs feelings, and the authors have assessed this knowledge to show parents why they might want to alter their life style to benefit their child.

Phares, V, Fields, S, and Kamboukos, D, (2009) Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement with Their Adolescents.

Phares’ investigation into time youths spend with both their mother or their father has resulted in understanding of behavioral aspects of a young adolescents life. It has been discovered that a majority opinion of mothers and fathers agree mothers have more responsibility for their children when it comes down to daily conduct.

Smart, DF, Sanson, AV, and Toumbourou, JW (2008) How do parents and teenagers get along together? Views of young people and their parents

This journal is a study on developing children based on the Australian Temperament Project (ATP), which is looking at circumstantial surroundings, including family, and trying to understand their significance to the child’s welfare. Looking in particular at the similarities and differences between how teenagers and their parents view their relationship, and the final outcome found that “difficult parent-adolescent relationships are atypical and that community perceptions of the relationship are out of order.”

Waasdorp, TE and Bradshaw, CP, (2009) Child and Parent Perceptions of Relational Aggression Within Urban Predominantly African American Children’s Friendships: Examining Patterns of Concordance

This journal is investigating the effects of relational aggression and the impact it has on children and how they behave. When asked parents believed that if their child was suffering from relational aggression that they would confide in them, however when the children were surveyed the results showed girls were more likely to speak to a school teacher and boys to another adult. This give us an insight as to the differences in opinions between parent and child on the same matter and what Waasdorp and Bradshaw believe is that this research may lead to progression of methods to helping families cope.

White, D and Woollett, A (1992) Families: A Context for Development. London: RouteledgeFalmer.

In this book White and Woollett are looking at the network of contemporary families and how each member plays a vital role in the development of one anothers behaviour and social skills. They research beyond the usual assumption that the two biological parents are responsibly for their children’s behaviour by looking at how they child affects their parent. Finally they look into all types of families for example, single parent families and separated families etc, and how these circumstances change behaviours within the family.

Wright, D, SImmons, L, and Campbell, K, (2007) Does a Marriage Ideal Exist? Using Q-Sort Methodology to Compare Young Adults’ and Professional Educators’ Views on Healthy Marriages.

This journal is looking into the views of young adults and family educators to investigate if both parties have similar opinions of what they believe makes a healthy stable relationship. Three final conclusions where reached, including partners that agree with one another, good communication and similarities in tackling problem solving.

Zabriskie, RB and McCormick, BP (2001) The Influences of Family Leisure Patterns on Perceptions of Family Functioning

Zabriskie and McCormick managed a study looking at Family Leisure Patterns and how they affect the union of families and the chance for them to change. They looked into two different kinds of ‘family leisure patterns,’ which they differentiated as ‘core’ and ‘balance,’ and trying to see how each affects the need for steady relationships, the room for progression and the need for change.

Author Unknown (2009) The Medical News. Available <http://www.news-medical.net/news/2009/05/05/49165.aspx (14/11/2009)

This website is looking at the tension between parents and child and how it effects both sons and daughters in different ways and also how it effects both parents. Sex is seen as a very important factor in relationships between parent and child and is explored in some detail. Other components included in this website are housekeeping habits, lifestyles and personality clashes.