Critique of Research Report: Howlett, N., Kirk, E., and Pine, K. (2011). Does ‘Wanting the Best’ create more stress? The link between baby sign classes and maternal anxiety. Infant and Child Development. This assignment will critically review Howlett, Kirk and Pine’s (2011) study, which aims to investigate whether attendance of gesturing classes affects parental stress. Howlett et al., (2011) attempt to examine claims, advertised by commercial products, that believe attending gesturing classes can improve child-parent communications, thus reducing parental stress. Participants gave demographic information and completed a Parenting Stress Index (PSI) questionnaire. ANCOVA was used to look at whether attending gesturing classes …show more content…
However, principal findings and design measures used in the study are stated. The introduction appears to lack in structure and organisation. No initial description of research question with reference to what it attempts to demonstrate is present; this is firstly mentioned in the third paragraph. Furthermore, authors first provide a definition of ‘gesturing’ in midpoint of this section. Considering this topic is the phenomenon of the study it would have been more appropriate to be stated at the beginning, rather than after the discussion of the benefits of gesturing; this may prevent misinterpretation. Although an explanation of ‘non-gesturing’ is provided in the discussion section, it would also be helpful for readers if it were included in the introduction; this enables differentiation between the two conditions. Similarly, a definition of the authors’ interpretation of ‘stress’ could have been stated at the start in ensuring readers’ clarity of terms. There is also no statement of hypothesis.and authors do not provide a rationale or historical backdrop, therefore it lacks in significance and does not substantially contribute to the literature. Moreover, research discussed appears to be framed as a general review of literature and set out in list form with a lack of evaluation. For example, research has been described in relation to a study that has found no relationship between gesturing and
The result is that signing babies cry less often and be able to communicate about what he or she wants very easily. The entire family will thus be much happier and more peaceful as they go through fewer tantrums.
The researchers included both a hypothesis and research questions. They stated a hypothesis, however it is a research hypothesis versus a null hypothesis. A research hypothesis explains there is correlation between two or more variables. A null hypothesis is a classification of hypotheses that states there is no connection between the independent and dependent variables. Statistical testing is performed to determine whether the statement is acceptable or not. Whereas the research question is an analysis statement detailing the variables and population of the specified research study (Adams, 2015). The hypothesis, the authors were hoping to prove, was whether the use of music would reduce pain and anxiety in postoperative pain in a particular patient population during a defined time frame (Allred et al., 2010). An example of a null hypothesis for this study would state music would have no effect on postoperative pain in a particular patient population during a defined time frame. There were four research questions the researchers attempted to answer. Three of the four questioned the effect of music on the patient’s pain, anxiety, and physiologic parameters. However the fourth question pertained to the impact of music on the amount of opioids taken from the beginning of the intervention until six hours later (Allred et al., 2010). The clinicians had not mentioned this component of the study before
Ainsworth also interviewed the mother in order to learn more about her parenting style as well as her experiences growing up with her own mother. She came to the conclusion that three types of children existthose who are secure in their relationship with their parents, those who are anxious-resistant, and those who are anxious-avoidant. She demonstrated that the infants began to convey "consistently different patterns of distress" (on separation) and protest (upon reunion with their mothers (Shaw, 414). Similarly, the mothers displayed "very consistent patterns of interactions" with their infants while free playing during the laboratory introduction sequence, as well as patterns of comforting the infant on reunion (Shaw, 414). Ainsworth correlated these patterns with infant-parent interactions in the home during the first year of life. For example, children who appeared secure in the strange situation typically had parents who were responsive to their needs while the insecure children often had parents who were insensitive or inconsistent in the care they provided (Fraley, 2).
where no academic studies in opposition of this perspective. Also, the academic study lacked any
Methodologically, the hypothesis is not founded upon methodological impartiality. One of the vital limitations is the absence of
Examine and comment on this claim with reference to the topic you have investigated? (15)
Did the researchers’ conclusions make sense, did they answer the research question, and did they appear to flow from the review of the literature?
The absence of these information affect negatively the reflexivity of this research. It means this research did not study what was
These assumptions and biases do not necessarily hinder the study, given its focus, but do constitute its limitations, which are presented in the concluding findings, strengths and weaknesses section
The next period that assists with growth is known as the infancy phases. When a baby enters the infancy periods, there are various things that parents can do and one of the simplest things a mother can do is breastfeed. Breastfeeding not only helps with brain development, but also creates a mother and child relationships; Predominant breastfeeding in the first 28 days of life was associated with... better IQ, academic achievement, working memory, and motor function” (Belfort 2016). Another way that parents can promote children development is by participating in hands games because it helps with learning sequences. A parent should talk to their kids daily, read them stories, sing to them or have them listen to music, those factors can help stimulate
The article describes a correlational study, so the researchers are not able to make causal claims. It is identified as a correlational study because the researchers are looking at two variables and looking to see the connection. The researchers are looking at 330,000 men and women who exercise for 20 minutes a day. They are not making them do
There are different parenting and caregiving styles in the United States and around the world and there is no doubt that these styles can be influenced by the expectations of the surrounding culture and society. In fact, the assumptions made by a culture affects every action a parent takes (Berger, 2016). Some cultures believe in a proximal style of caregiving where caregivers are expected to be close to children and there should be physical interaction such as touching and holding. In other cultures and societies, distal caregiving is what is normal; there is not as much physical contact so communication between the child and the caregiver consists of talking, providing toys to play with, and encouraging self-feeding (Berger, 2016). Looking
When thinking about a student, educators may forget to consider how what happens during infancy can help or hinder a student even when they are years older. One of the most important things a new mother can give to her child, is quality time and physical touch. Prior to this class, I had basic understanding of how important touch was, but I didn’t know how it is truly a necessity for an infant’s healthy development. According to the article, The Power of Touch, Dr. Lin Day states, “Babies who are regularly touched gain weight faster, develop stronger immune systems, crawl and walk sooner, sleep more soundly and cry less than babies deprived of close physical contact” (Day, 2008). These benefits of touch can help a child to be more successful throughout their lives, but when they are deprived of touch, the damages can be even more noticeable. In the same article, Day discusses some of the negative effects of touch deprivation, “Approximately one third of clinic referrals
Babies and toddlers are sitting in their strollers in front of a television while a show created for their age group is playing. “At the same time as children are spending more and more time with technology, in the last five years the use of psychotropic medications has tripled for 2-4 year olds and quadrupled for elementary school aged children. Very young children are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, autism and other types of mental illness” (Crawford, 2011). The amount of time children spent on television, smartphone, or computer have increased dramatically. The increase is so severe, theres a noticeable percentage of young children under eight years old with a cell phone. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report of January 2010, “on average, kids from eight to eighteen spend seven hours and thirty-eight minutes a day using entertainment media”. That is almost a twenty-five percent increase from five years ago. There has been reason to believe that days without technology decreases Social Anxiety Disorder. The following experiment had a goal to see if increasing opportunities of face-to-face interaction while eliminating face-to-screen interactions could improve nonverbal emotion-cue
Yes, the conclusion was supported by the research discussion because they prove with statistics their point of view. Moreover, they state that need another type of study who gives them more accurate information.