Question

Analyse this article by - Mulvaney, M. K., & Mebert, C. J. (2007). Parental corporal punishment predicts behavior problems in early childhood. Journal of Family Psychology. Provide the answer in essay format. Link: http://www.repeal43.org/docs/CP%20research%20US%20Nov%2012.pdf

.a How did the researchers measure each of the key variables?

b. What method did they use to test their hypothesis and what were their results.

d. What suggestions did they provide for future research?

e. Your reactions to the research: Did anything surprise you? Do you think they used an appropriate method? If not, what would you have done differently? What would you suggest for future research on this topic?

Answer 1

• • How did the researchers measure each of the key variables?
    • Corporate Punishment
      • Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment (HOME; Caldwell & Bradley, 1984)
      • Administered when the children were 15, 36, and 54 months of age
      • Two items from HOME were used
        • an interview with the mother, to determine whether the children had been spanked more than once in the previous week
        • the test administrators' observation of whether the children were spanked in their presence.
      • Scores could range from 0 to 2, depending on whether the answer to neither, one, or both of the items was a yes
    • Behaviour Problems
      • The CBCL (Achenbach, 1991, 1992) was used as an index of children’s behaviour problems.
      • The CBCL for Ages 2–3 (CBCL/2–3; Achenbach, 1992) was administered at 36 months, and the CBCL for Ages 4–18 (CBCL/4–18; Achenbach, 1991)
    • Demographic characteristics and temperament.
      • At the 1-month assessment, the mothers reported on their children’s ethnicity and sex. When the children were 6 months of age, the mothers completed the Activity, Adaptability, Approach, Mood, and Intensity subscales of the Infant Temperament Questionnaire—Revised (Carey & McDevitt, 1978).
    • Maternal depression
      • When the children were 1, 6, 15, 24, 36, and 54 months of age, as well as during the first grade assessment, the mothers completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977)
    • Income-to-needs
      • Income-to-needs information was obtained when children were 1, 6, 15, 24, 36, and 54 months old, as well as when they were in first grade, via interviews with the parents
    • Maternal sensitivity
      • Maternal sensitivity was assessed when children were 6, 15, 24, 36, and 54 months old, as well as when they were in first grade, with a semi structured observational procedure
  • What method did they use to test their hypothesis and what were their results?
    • Specified sets of hierarchical multiple regression models
    • The first set assessed the impact of CP in infancy and toddlerhood by examining the associations between the 15-month CP variable and the 36-month Internalizing and Externalizing scores.
    • The second set of analyses examined the associations between internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems in first grade and a composite CP variable constructed from the 36- and 54-month assessments.
    • Maternal depression and sensitivity and difficult child temperament were unique predictors
    • The matrix also indicated substantial covariation between the CP, control, and outcome variables. Maternal depression had the strongest association with the variables of interest, likely reflecting the fact that many of the child variables were measured through maternal report
  • What suggestions did they provide for future research?
    • Future research should also be directed at the development, implementation, and evaluation of programmatic efforts to decrease Corporate Punishment.
    • Data are also converging on the characteristics of parents who are likely to use Corporate Punishment.