Latino Children Educational Achievement - Assignment Example

Research Proposal Are Latino Children Educational Achievement Affected by Alcoholism in the Family? Contents Introduction 4 1 ment of the problem 4 1.2 Purpose of the study 6 1.3 Significance of the study 6 2. Research questions and hypothesis 2.1 Research question 7 2.2 Research hypothesis 7 3. Review of the literature 8 4. Research Plan 4.1 Framework of the study 10 4.1.1 Research Epistemology 10 4.1.2 Research Ontology 11 4.1.1 Research Approach 11 4.1.1 Research Design 12 4.1.1 Operationalization of variables 13 4.2 Data collection and sample 14 4.3 Data analysis 15 4.4 Validity 15 5. Scope and Limitation 16 6. Ethical considerations 17 7. Timeframe of the study 18 8. Dissemination plan 18 9. Reference 19 Abstract The low educational achievement amongst the Latino children in America has become a major concern for the people at large. In the present circumstances of volatile economic scenario of the nation and fast changing dynamics of globalization, education has become intrinsic part of development and an effective to meet the challenges of the time. It is observed that the drug abuse through the use of alcohol consumption, illicit drugs and other types of substance abuse are the major causes of ‘domestic violence, failed marriages, and child abuse and neglect’ (Johnson, 1988). It has especially become a critical factor in the Latino families where alcoholism is adversely impacting the educational achievement of the children. The children, as innocent victims, not only carry the scar all through life but low achievement in education is increasingly creating barriers in the process of their empowerment and becoming part of mainstream population. The study would go a long way in identifying the factors which are detrimental to higher academic achievement amongst the Latino children and help the authorities in taking appropriate remedial action to address the problem. Are Latino Children Educational Achievement Affected by Alcoholism in the Family? 1. Introduction Through the ages, drug abuse has been a serious social offender that is responsible for most of the heinous crimes against innocent people. The drug abuse has wide ranging implications not only for the users but all the people, directly, indirectly coming in contact with him or her, are affected in some way or the other. One of the worst scenarios of drug abuse is violence and insecurity in the family life. The drug abuse through the use of alcohol consumption, illicit drugs and other types of substance abuse are the major causes of ‘domestic violence, failed marriages, and child abuse and neglect’ (Johnson, 1988). It has especially become a critical factor in the Latino families where alcoholism is adversely impacting the educational achievement of the children. The children, as innocent victims, not only carry the scar all through life but low achievement in education is increasingly creating barriers in the process of their empowerment and becoming part of mainstream population. 1.1 Statement of the problem According to 2003 report of Pew Hispanic Center, Latino population in United States will increase dramatically from 35.5 million in 2000 to 60.4 millions in 2020, 18% of US population! In 2000, 35.7% of Latino population was less than 18 years of age and therefore, in 20 years of time, there will be a lot more younger Latinos (Delgade, 2005). U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, Latinos will reach 25% of the total U.S. population (US Census, 2000). Studies have also shown that there is disproportionate majority of Latino who are living in impoverished conditions, 1 out 3 US residents, constituting nearly 29% are living in poverty (US Census, 1999). The poverty accompanied by increasing incidence of alcoholism in the family environment is adversely impacting the education of the Latino children who are increasingly opting out of school and getting involved with anti-social elements. In fact, studies have shown that children who experience violence, neglect and insecurities due to substance abuse by their parents are observed to be caught into the vicious cycle of the drug abuse and not only carry the stigma of disturbed family but very often become victims of the circumstances and themselves become abuser in their later life with low academic achievement (Houser, 1999; Pumareiga et al., 1992; Amato, 1993). Hence, it becomes imperative that education for Latino children must become the focal point in the overall development of the community as it empowers the people and facilitates in raising their standard of living. It therefore has become important that the studies must be conducted to evaluate and assess the impact of alcoholism in the Latino families and other factors that are major contributor to the low academic achievement of Latino children. 1.2 Purpose of the study The purpose of the study is to evaluate the existing environment of Latino children and identify factors which have significant impact on their educational achievement. In the fast changing global equation of socio economic development, high quality of education needs to be disbursed to the students, especially amongst Latinos who are being deprived of the same due to rampant poverty and alcoholism in the family. The study of the factors which may hinder the continuity of the college, leading to higher academic achievement, must be undertaken and efforts need to be made to mitigate the influence of those factors. 1.3 Significance of the study The study would help the authorities to realise the various factors which are seriously affecting the academic achievement of the Latino students. While alcoholism in the family is observed to be the major factor that promotes violence and insecurity amongst the children and adversely affects their studies, the study would encourage the authorities to look at the wider implications of the low academic achievement that is intrinsically linked to alcoholism and subsequent anti-social behaviour of the Latino youth. Education empowers people to decision making, which greatly facilitates in building trust and wisdom. It is also the most vital tool of improving and raising the standard of living. The study would, indeed go a long way in improving the educational achievement of the Latino children. 2. Research Questions and Hypothesis 2.1 Research question 1. What are the factors that are adversely affecting the academic achievements of the Latino children? 2. Is alcoholism in the family, one of major factors for low educational achievement in Latino community? 3. Why do the authorities need to identify the discouraging factors? 4. What are the wider implications of the low academic achievement of the Latino students? 2.2 Hypothesis The low educational achievement amongst the Latino children in America has become a major concern for the people at large. In the present circumstances of volatile economic scenario of the nation and fast changing dynamics of globalization, education has become intrinsic part of development and an effective to meet the challenges of the time. Hence, low academic achievement amongst the growing population of Latinos in America is not only serious issue but the wider implications of low educational achievement are also greatly detrimental to the peaceful co-existence of the people in the diversified societal framework. 3. Review of the literature The various literatures throwing light on the low educational achievement of Latino children and prevalence of alcoholism in their family. They help provide a strong incentive for the need to study the impact of alcoholism on children’s low academic achievement, especially in the times when globalization has become a hard reality and education a necessity. Studies have shown that Latino population in America is the fastest growing community and faces challenges from various quarters. They are one of the most impoverished families with low education, large drop-out rates, high teen-aged pregnancy, rampant alcoholism in the family environment etc. The growing concern of the authority is legitimate and needs to be addressed urgently. Family environment facing stressful situations like poverty, acculturation, alcoholism etc. have resulted in increased alcohol and drug use, violence, school drop-out amongst the Latino youth than children from other communities (Gonzales, Knight, Morgan-Lopez, Saenz, & Sirolle, 2002; Grunbaum et al., 2004). It is also seen that teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school, have negligible parenting skill and are prone to use alcohol to overcome their poverty related woes (Letourneau, Stewart, & Barnfather, 2004). According to Gonzalez, education is the most important issue for the Latino community in America (Gonzalez, 2002) as more than 30% of the Latino population in the age group of 16 years to 24 years, are school drop-outs. In 2000, the dropout rate was 28% (cf. Carger, 1997; Chavkin, 1993; Gibson, 2002; Inger, 1992; McKissack, 1999; National Center for Education Statistics, 2003; Scribner, 1999). Johnson et al. have claimed that disturbed family environment and drug abuse has largely been responsible for the Latino youth to move towards alcohol, drugs, leading to school drop-out, anti-social behavior and low educational attainment which later lead to unemployment(Johnson et al., 2001; Erickson, 1994). Many social scientists have maintained that process of acculturation promotes confusion, inferiority complex and frustration amongst the adult population and parents leading to increased use of alcohol which in turn adversely impacts the educational attainments of the children and their social behavior (McFee, 1968; Stonequist, 1937). Many studies have taken the issue of migration of Latino population and substance abuse amongst the parents and children that have significant impact on the academic achievement of the Latino children (Caplan, Choy, & Whitmore, 1991; Cropley, 1983; Matute-Bianchi, 1991; Suarez-Orozco & Suarez-Orozco, 1995). 4. Research Plan 4.1 Theoretical framework of the study The social scientists are known to apply different research methodologies for different types of research, usually depending on the subject and area of concern. The major objective of all types of researches is to assess the impact of issues or facts on the people, either directly or indirectly. The various approaches to research are therefore important to identify, so to reach to a comparatively accurate results or outcome for the given research question or aim. The study would be taking into account the conceptual model as well as the theoretical model. The salient features of the study are as detailed below. 4.1.1 Research Epistemology The research addresses the issue of educational achievement amongst the Latino children and therefore requisite epistemology would be interpretive in nature. This is highly relevant for my research as the broad spectrum of knowledge gained through this methodology would greatly facilitate in realizing the aims and objectives of the study. Interpretivism broadly interprets the various elements of inter-related factors within the social environment to improve and improvise the academic outcome of the Latino children who have family history of alcoholism and substance abuse. 4.1.2 Research Ontology The theoretical ontology of research based on subjectivism broadly emphasizes the need to arrange the knowledge database in some hierarchical structure so that it can be shared and reused. My research would adopt this ontology so that the research topic would not only add value to the existing database of factors impacting educational achievement but delve deeper into the wider implications of the importance of academic excellence within the pre-defined parameters of given social paradigms. 4.1.3 Research Approach In order to meet the aims and objectives of the research proposal, my research methodology would mainly concentrate on the empirical research based on inductive methodology. In empirical research observations and experiments are used to derive to come to some particular theory or knowledge. According to Robson it ‘involves a systematic investigation of an experience which should be both skeptical and ethical’ (Robson, 2002). The similar group of the models and subjects are observed and studied. Thereafter, based on the observations, they are interpreted to come to some broad based theory. The inductive research methodology is particularly found to be appropriate for my research proposal as it would facilitate me to be better able to explore, examine and discover factors and issues that could be used to further improve the qualitative framework of academic achievement of Latino children in America. The inductive methodology is not only an extremely effective way of getting general, observation based information but it also helps us to come to common but logical assumptions about things and events that are observed and directly and indirectly affect people and event. The necessary awareness and feedback procedures and subsequent observations of the events lead to conclusions based on the evaluations of the same. These evaluations often give us a new and fresh insight into the phenomena or events that are being studied for the purpose and facilitate improvements. 4.1.4 Research Design The research study would primarily be qualitative in nature but encompass elements of quantitative research also so that better and more accurate conclusions could be achieved. Qualitative research is a very important tool for evaluating trends and behavioural pattern of the people who are in a position to influence a set of defined parameters or vice versa. It helps to analyse the changing paradigms of the evolving social values and the factors that affect the decisions for adopting the changes. The research methodology is significant for my research topic as it is based on ‘grounded theory’ where the qualitative analysis of the data is used for generating theories that reflect the realities of life. Researchers believe that a detailed description of the emotional state of people is necessary for understanding the quality of social life. This detailed description is often referred as ‘thick description’ and may contain radical ideas and concepts which could facilitate better understanding of the issues under study. ‘It establishes the significance of an experience, or the sequence of events, for the person or persons in question. ‘In thick description the voices, feelings, actions and meanings of interacting individuals are heard’ (Denzin, 1989). 4.1.5 Operationalization of variables or variables used In the study, educational achievement of the Latino children was the dependent variable and the cultural, social and psychological factors, including alcoholism and substance abuse became the independent variables. Socio demographic variables like age, sex, family structure and length of stay in America would be taken as covariates. Family involvement would be considered as major contribution to the model chosen for optimal academic performance outcome for Latino children. 4.2 Data Collection methods 4.2.1 Data collection and sample Inductive or empirical research basically uses two types of instruments which are questionnaires and interviews. In the questionnaires, the participants record the data in the given schedule, whereas in the interview, it is the researcher that records the information or data. Interviews can be carried out in one to one settings or can be in a group setting, often referred to as a focus group (Krueger, 1994). Primary data collection would be collected through detailed qualitative and quantitative questionnaires prepared, keeping in mind the major factors, especially alcoholism in the Latino family. The survey would entail questionnaire filled directly by random selection. Sampling area would comprise of Latino youth, parents, community peer population, school authorities and social workers. Special interview Schedules would also be used to gauge the responses of the people towards impact of alcoholism in the family on the educational achievement of the children, in particular. 4.2.2 Data Analysis Comprehensive data analysis would be undertaken. Software like SPSS would also be used to analyse the data using different techniques. Tabulation and analysis of the data would be thoroughly carried out using scientific methods so the results are conclusive and give proper evidence in terms of academic attainment of Latino children coming from disturbed family environment and the factors that have significant influence on their educational performance. Appropriate efforts shall be made to ensure that the analysis of data give a clear picture of the wider ramifications of the vital factors and issues like alcoholism in the family and the extent of its impact. 4.4 Validity It is not the main concern of the qualitative research as the main purpose of the researcher is the deeper understanding of the views and thoughts of the persons rather than validation. According to Harry Wolcott (1994) ‘What I seek is something else, a quality that points more to identifying critical elements and wringing plausible interpretations from them, something one can pursue without becoming obsessed with finding the right or ultimate answer, the correct version, the Truth’. (pp. 366-7). While it becomes pertinent for the interview schedules, the investigators must promote trust building in the respondents so that they are not misinformed. 5. Scope and Limitations of the study Comprehensive sampling with wide ranging issues which influence the educational processes of Latino children would be introduced in the questionnaires and interview schedules so that the scope of study is large enough to ensure the success of the research’s aims and objectives. The empirical method of the research is appropriate mainly because the aim and objectives of the research need a survey requiring qualitative analysis of the various factors that wide ranging impact on the socio-economic paradigms of the Latino community and adversely impact the educational achievement of the Latino children. The study would be limited to the framework of factors that have adverse impact on the education of the Latino children and hence the sampling would be limited to the Latino community and people that are linked to the education of the children. Some people have criticised the inductive methods because of lack of valid means of obtaining proof. It is said that since the conclusions are drawn from the data observed, the results or the conclusions may vary if the observations of the participants differ. 6. Ethical considerations Ethical consideration is most prominent part of the qualitative research. The covert and overt dimension of the research where the subjects’ right to privacy and the public’s right to know, clash over the ethical issues. The delicate line between the two is often contentious and it is important that the researcher does not transgress his ethical boundary to commit any serious offence that might lead to criminal proceedings. The researcher must at all times, remember that confidence building and mutual trust are foundation for the generation of an authentic and socially relevant theory that must stand the test of time. As Dean says that ‘a person becomes accepted as a participant observer more because of the kind of person he turns out to be in the eyes of the field contacts than because of what the research represents to them. Field contacts want to be reassured that the research worker is a good guy and can be trusted not to do them dirt with what he finds out’. (Dean, 1954). 7. Tentative time frame Serial Activity Days 1. Field Work 60 2. Compilation of data 30 3. Data entry and processing 15 4. Data analysis and evaluation 30 5. Writing and printing 60 8. Dissemination plans The expected results of the study would help in redefining human resource strategies and policies as per the emerging new business requirements. The publication of the result in various academic journals and reputed papers would motivate people in general and parents, in particular to create appropriate family environment that would encourage and improve Latino children’s educational achievement that are intrinsically linked to the development of the society and better living standard. Reference Amato PR. (1993). Children’s adjustment to divorce: theories, hypotheses, and empirical support. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55:23-58. Caplan, N., Choy, M., & Whitmore, J.(1991). Children of the boat people: A study of educational success. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. Cropley, A. J.(1983). The education of immigrant children: A social psychological introduction. London: Croom Helm. Dean, J. P.(1954). ‘Participant observation and interviewing’ in Doby, J., Suchman, E.A., McKinnet, J.C., Francis, R.G. and Dean,, J.P. (eds) An introduction to Social Research. Harrisburg. Pa., The Stackpole Co., pp. 225-252. 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