Due Date: April 30 by 11:59 p.m. This research paper has two parts. Be sure to provide a brief introduction and a brief summary/conclusion each to Part A and Part B.
Survey A—Family Crises Survey According to most experts in the field, all families experience crises at one time or another. They may very in degrees of severity and/or longevity but it is an experience common to families. Families respond differently to crises as you will discover in your research. This family research consists of interviews on the topic of Family Crises. For the sake of health and safety, you must conduct your interviews remotely. A phone interview is standard or you may use other technology of your choice. Please note the Guidelines for the Family Crisis Study follow. There are three (3) parts to this Family Crises Survey
1) Interview two (2) families that you are comfortable talking to about a family crisis that they have had to face. Each family crises that you discuss must be different. (You will also survey your own family, making a total of three (3) family crises surveys in all. See Number 2 below.) You must discuss three different family crises. (No, you cannot get all of your survey data from one family, even if they have weathered many crises.) For each family, you must interview (remotely) two or more members of the family individually or together about the same family crises in order to get a more balanced perspective. For anonymity, in order to protect and respect the families in your survey, you should label the families as Family A and Family B, . You should also either change the names of individual family members or refer to them as husband, wife, 16 year old daughter or 10 year old son, etc. Describe the family. Example: Husband (40 years old), Wife (30 years old), 4 children (two males ages 6 and 14; one daughter age 9, and a 11 year old niece living with them.) List the family members that you interview and record their specific responses. Example: Interviewed wife and 14 year old daughter Responses of each was…
1. Ask the family member(s) that you survey to discuss the following components and record their responses in their own words. a) Nature of crisis b) How it impacted the family c) How the family managed the crisis, if at all. d) Comparison of family life before and after resolution of the crisis. e) If family, in retrospect, would have handled the crisis the same way or differently. If differently, how would they have handled it? 2.) Now reflect on a crisis within your own family and address the same components. You must address a different crisis than those discussed in your survey of other families.You may use either your family of origin or family of procreation, if applicable.
Content of Paper The Content of the paper you submit should include a) the description of the families selected and the quoted responses of the two members you interviewed in each family b) a summarization of the interviews and of your experience in conducting them, and c) a discussion/comparison of your interview findings with related material in your text. You may want to start with Chapters 10 and 12, if relevant, but you may use any chapters in the book. The discussion may support, refute or provide additional information to the topic. Finished paper on Family Crises should be between 2 1/2 – 3 pages long.
Survey B—Blended Families Survey For the sake of health and safety, you must conduct your interviews remotely. For anonymity, in order to protect and respect the families in your survey, you should label the families as Family A and Family B, . You should also either change the names of individual family members or refer to them as husband, wife, 16 year old daughter or 10 year old son, etc. Blended families are very common today. Yet, there are special challenges and rewards associated with the blended family form.
Survey three (3) blended families. For each family, ask two (2) members the following three open-ended questions and record their individual responses.
1). What are/were the greatest challenges faced by your blended families or individual
members of the blended family? 2). What are/were the greatest rewards realized by your blended family or individual members? 3). What advice would you give to people who are considering blending their families?
NOTE: If you are a member of a blended family, you may use your own family as one of the three required families. You must still get responses from two individuals within your family. Yes, you may serve as one of the individuals. Following is an example of how you should submit your paper. Family A –Husband, wife, 4 children. Married (or cohabited) 5 years. Husband, 34, has two children from previous marriage (or relationship) Daughter 7, and son. 12; Wife has 1 son,10, from a previous marriage. They have a 3 year old daughter together. Record what each of the selected members say in response to your questions. The husband says the greatest challenge is/was …. The 12 year old son says the greatest challenge is/was… The mother says the greatest reward is … The 10 year old son says the greatest reward is… On advice for blending a family, the mother says… On advice for blending a family, the husband says … After you have recorded the survey responses, summarize the results of the survey and relate it to at least three (3) concepts, theories, etc. from your textbook. Do not merely mention the concept or theory or term, but discuss how it relates to, supports, or contradicts your survey findings. Present your information clearly and thoroughly.
The finished paper on the Blended Family Survey should be 2 1/2 – 3 pages long, double-spaced.
To submit your study on Family Crises and Blended Family, scroll to Submit Family Survey and proceed as indicated .
