Difficulties That Single Fathers Face in Raising a Child in London - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal on Single Fathers Introduction With the passage of time, we can see there is an increase in the number of single fathers raising their children. This may be because of the mother’s death, parents divorce and father gets the custody of children form court or some mothers voluntarily leave their children with their fathers (Greif & DeMaris, pp.259, 1990). In most cases, mothers play a very important role in the upbringing of children and are more likely to be close to their children as compared to fathers. In situations where fathers are solely, responsible for the upbringing of their children it becomes very difficult for them to deal with the situation. Therefore, the single fathers face many problems in raising their child especially in a busy city like London. Research Statement “To identify and analyze the difficulties single fathers face in raising a child in London” Problem Identification The researcher formulates the following research question: • How does it affect the life of a man in up bringing his children as a single parent? • What are the difficulties a single father face in raising up his child in London? • Does the upbringing of a child differ when a single father raises them? Research Hypothesis 1. If a single father raises the children in London then it is more likely that he will face more difficulties in proper upbringing of children. Objectives The main aims and objectives of this research are to: Identify and analyze the difficulties a man face while raising his children as single parent personally, as well as socially. Analyze the psychological and social changes in individuals’ life in up bringing their children as single parents. Examine the impact of single fathers’ changes on growth and development of children Analyze the role of urban society and its policies in reducing/increasing difficulties of single fathers Literature Review Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs that a person performs in life. Successful parenting is all about making a good personality of your child and providing them with all their needs and wants (Kurdek & Siesky, pp.85-99, 1981). A mother usually listen to the child’s problems and solves them and deals with all the household issues and the father is more responsible to meet the financial issues, in this way, they collectively runs the house helping each other in performing their jobs as best they can (Goldernberg, pp. 44-59, 2007). Analysis of the literature (Yarber & Sharp, pp. 29-52, 2010) has indicated that job a single father is a huge challenge as the children will be solely dependent on the father and the entire burden related to the household issues to the financial issues would be on him. All the responsibilities that were shared by both parents are then dealt by the father only which might be threatening for children, as well as for the parent. Experts (Shimberg & Shimberg, pp. 56-67, 2007) have clarified that at times, father may feel frustrated if the children are suffering from the trauma of living without their mother, the father may feel as if he may not be able to do this job alone that results in adverse psychological alterations. However, with a passage of time, it is an observation that children start understanding the situation and may help their father in running the house; however, reports have indicated vice versa occurrences as well. Even if the children understand the situation, father has to take on all the responsibilities as a single parent that result in huge impact on various aspects of his and children’s lives (Risman, p. 98-99, 1986). In cases where the mother passes away, experts (Goldenberg, pp. 20-44, 2007) have indicated that it becomes a challenge for the father in a way that he himself goes through a psychological dilemma of losing his partner, and needs time to get out of that mental. However, at the same time, it becomes responsibility of the father to take care of the child instead of thinking about himself and his life, one of the major difficulties of single fathers globally. He has to make sure that he gives enough time to the children to take them out from the trauma of losing their mother and start performing the jobs of their mother as well that results in physical burden, as well as emotional trauma in a father’s life. In addition, scholars (Yarber & Sharp, pp. 71-79, 2010) have pointed out that in cases of school-going children, and especially in urban settings, it becomes more than a challenge for single fathers to focus on studies of children, as well as give time to the kitchen that somehow results in ignoring some aspect of personal or children’s lives. In this regard, reports have indicated that single fathers often confront high levels of stress and depression, and more importantly, feelings of guilt for not giving proper care and time to the children (Yarber & Sharp, pp. 29-43, 2010). Scrutiny of the reports (Goldenberg, pp. 55-63, 2007) has indicated that in divorce cases where fathers acquire custody of their children, it results in worst impact on children, as well as fathers. In such cases, experts have identified non-cooperation of children that do not allow single-parent fathers to concentrate on their professional aspect of life, and subsequently, results in increment in economic difficulties in lives of single fathers. In addition, reports (Everette, pp. 325, 1991) have indicated higher levels of anxiety, frustration, and aggression in children as well that affects psychological aspect of fathers as well, and in a number of cases, single-parent fathers often end up getting into drugs and alcohol. Moreover, there are more chances that such children will have difficulties in getting into good relationships with their fathers once they grow old, another challenge for single fathers. One of the major difficulties in the cases (Mooney, pp. 59-86, 2008) of single-parent fathers is that it results in anti-social upbringing of their children, as children confront fear of talking about their parents’ divorce in public and therefore, prefer to isolate themselves from others, which create more problems for the fathers. This results in lack of confidence in personality of children, and consequently, low performance in studies as well that subsequently indicates lower economic status of the family (Yarber & Sharp, pp. 262, 2010). Single fathers (Berns, pp. 86-94, 2009) also confront some difficulties apart from their children, usually related to their ex-spouses. In specific, studies have indicated that in most of the cases, fathers do not want to meet their ex-spouses; however, they are unable stop them from visiting the children time-to-time that results in emotional impact on adverse level (Richards & Schmiege, pp. 278-282, 1993). Secondly, single fathers go through an emotional rollercoaster of proving themselves in the society by raising their children alone just like mothers do; however, this really does not happen in most of the cases that results in psychological inferiority complex (Shimberg & Shimberg, pp. 6, 2007). Another difficulty as identified by experts (Shimberg & Shimberg, pp. 69-78, 2007) is confrontation of lack of financial support. In families where both mother and father earn money, one can observe a higher financial viability. However, when the father has to support the family all alone, then it is more likely that he will spend more time working that will ultimately result in child’s loneliness. To overcome this loneliness, single fathers start finding someone who may pay attention to the children, or on the other hand, start giving lesser time to the employment, which subsequently results in financial burdens. Reports have indicated that single fathers face many difficulties in coping up with this problem. Surviving in a city like London is not a piece of cake, earning money requires more working hours that results in lack of time for children (Grief, pp. 213-231, 1994). All this may result in low self-esteem of the child. Such children get jealous when they look at their friend’s family living together and they have a mix emotion of anxiety, anger, and loneliness. At times, they result in having an inferiority complex when they see their friends getting love and affection and more time by their parents. A father is mostly a role model for children, therefore, he must portray himself the way he wants his children to be. He needs to change his bad habits like short temperament, smoking etc and take interest in the activities he believes are good for his children so that the children will do the same and develop a high self-esteem. However, in most cases of single parents, fathers usually do not get such time to be the perfect father than affects him psychologically, emotionally, as well as socially (Brott, pp. 306, 1999). Rationale for Undertaking this Research The research will focus on the difficulties of single fathers in raising a child in London. The reason to choose this topic was the increasing rate of single parenting. The researcher wants to know how it affects the life of a man while raising the children alone. What are the strengths and weaknesses, the problems that single fathers face? When finding the problems of single father it is also important to know how the children feel living with a single father and problems that they face. This piece of research will help realize the problems faced by fathers raising families themselves. Research Design A combinational approach drawing on both the qualitative as well as quantitative research methods will be use for this research in order to ensure a specific amount of outcomes that relates to the research objectives and to explore certain aspects of the research questions. Following is a break down for the methodology: 1. Primary sources Questionnaires Interviews Focus groups 2. Secondary sources Books Internet Articles Research papers Magazines Published journals Methodology The initial stage of this research aims to use a quantitative based survey utilizing a questionnaire. The researchers will distribute the questionnaires among the single fathers who come to drop their children to the day care centers within London. We will also interview the caretakers of children at the day care centre and ask them about the differences in children they notice between those who come from complete families and the ones raised up by a single father. We will also interview some teenagers who live with a single father and ask them what challenges they feel their father faced in their upbringing. We will also conduct 2 focus group each consisting of eight members. One group will be of those single fathers who are in an initial stage of raising their children alone, the other group will be of those single fathers who raised their children alone, and the children are now grown up. Researchers will ask both groups about the difficulties they are facing or have faced in raising their children as a single parent. Researcher will ask them about the difference it would have made in their child’s personality if both the parents were there for the up bringing of child. After gathering the data, researchers will analyze it with the help of hypothesis testing method. Sample Design Researcher will have cluster sampling as he is conducting the research within London in the day care centers where the fathers come to drop their children. Researcher will study the single fathers raising their children only so with the help of the day care centre he will be able to get the information about such father. The researcher will distribute the questionnaire among 120 single fathers. Researcher will conduct 15 interviews including five caretakers at the day care centres, 5 children brought up by single fathers and 5 single fathers. There will be 2focus groups and eight single fathers in each group in the presence of a moderator. Rationale for undertaking this research strategy The purpose for conducting qualitative research in form of questionnaire is to see the percentage of single fathers who are able to manage their families independently and are able to raise their children in London. It will also make possible to check the percentage of single fathers facing the similar problems while raising their children in London. The purpose for conducting quantitative research in form of in-depth interviews and focus groups is to understand the problems faced by single fathers in detail and observe their attitude and behavior towards the situation. It will also help to observe and understand the reactions and perceptions of the children raised by single fathers. The focus groups will help to understand the difficulties of single fathers and to what extent their difficulties are similar. Quality Assurance Arrangement of interview questions are proper and in orderly manner. Trained interviewers will conduct the interview. There will be 100% check on the interviews. There will be a consistency check in the questionnaire. Chapters to be Covered Our final report will cover the following chapters: Observation Literature Review Problem recognition Theoretical framework Hypothesis Development Data collection Data analysis and research findings Hypothesis testing Final Conclusion Summary Time Schedule The following is the anticipated timetable along with the tasks that the researcher will perform. Questionnaire preparation: 2 Days Questionnaire distribution 3 Days Interviews (15 interviews 30mins each) 15*30 = 450 min or 7.5 hours = 4 Days Focus Groups 2 groups; 8 members in each group = 2 Days Data processing 5 days Analysis of Data 2 days Final report preparation 5 days Total approximate time needed to conduct the research 25 Days References Berns, Roberta M. 2009. Child, Family, School, Community. Cengage Learning. Everette, Craig. A. 1991. The consequences of divorce: economic and custodial impact on children and adults. Haworth press, Inc. Goldenberg, Herbert. 2007. Family Therapy. Cengage Learning. Greif, G. L., & DeMaris, A. 1990. “Single father's with custody. Families in Society.” The Journal of Contemporary Human Services. Volume 71, pp. 259-266. Grief, Geoffrey L. 1994. “Single Fathers with Custody Following Separation and Divorce.” Journal of marriage and family. Volume 20, pp. 213-231. Kurdek, Lawrence A. & Siesky, Albert E. 1981. “Effect of Divorce on children.” Journal of Divorce. Volume 4, pp. 85-99 Mooney, Linda A. 2008. Understanding Social Problems. Cengage Learning. Richards, L. N., & Schmiege, C. J. 1993. “Problems and strengths of single-parent families: Implications for practice and policy.” Family Relations. Volume 42, Issue 3, pp. 277-285. Risman, B. J. 1986. Can men "mother"? Life as a single father. Family Relations. Volume 35, pp. 95-102. Shimberg, Elaine Fantle & Shimberg, Micheal. 2007. The complete father. Adams media. Yarber, Annice D., Sharp, Paul M. 2010. Focus on Single-Parent Families. ABC-CLIO. Read More