Dependent and Independent Variables

The two articles that I did my research on to identify methodologies and dependent and independent variables are Other mothering as a Framework for Understanding African American Students’ definition of Student-Centered Faculty and A Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Perception of Child Neglect. Both articles use the ethnography participant observation and nonparticipant observation methodologies when summarizing these articles. The first article illustrates through observation and research that it indicates that faculty/student relationship affect student satisfaction with college. The dependent variable is the relationship students have with faculty and the independent variable is the satisfaction that African Americans are satisfied with the school which could affect participation in school ultimately determining what types of grades that are achieved. This qualitative definitively illustrates how social setting plays a part in the dependent and independent variables because the research article concludes” that black students attending predominately white institutions had less contact with faculty outside the classroom and were less academically integrated into campus life than were white students”. Nettles (1991). Additionally, Fleming (1984) her examining the experience of black students at PWIs and at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Arnold (1993) “in a study investigating the college experience of high school valedictorians, both found that African Americans students at PWIs experienced difficulty developing positive relationships with white faculty. Their results were supported by other research indicating that students of color were more apt to seek academic help from family, friends, or academic counselors who were minorities than from white Faculty.” As stated before the social setting exemplifies the dependent and independent variables as well as using an observatory methodology were data and surveys were conducted to get an accurate conclusion for this article. The interpretation of this article is that observation and ethnography was the important factor in this qualitative research. In the second article, “A Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Perception of Child Neglect” This research explores the experiences and perceptions of mothers receiving services for child neglect. Statistical data was collected and approved by an Institutional Review Board to conduct interviews as a way to find solutions to the child neglect issues. Participants in this qualitative study understood through informed consent that by participating in the study they would have a voice on a an important topic and help to contribute to future practice models that seek to help children and families dealing with child neglect issues. Methods included interviews where open ended questions were administered as well as surveys. The independent variable in this article is why that child neglect is growing at an alarming rate and the dependent variable is the effect it has on families dealing with this issue. Child neglect is commonly defined as a parent’s or caretaker’s inability to meet a child’s basic needs. Wilson (2005) supports a theoretical model that stresses the need to “understand the relationship between and among poverty, substance abuse, mental health problems of parents as a contributing factor in child neglect”. There is no unifying approach or a comprehensive understanding of child neglect; however, we do have an emerging understanding of familial and societal problems that contribute to child neglect. Hearn (2011). Qualitative methods using a constant comparison approach guided data analysis which contributed to some sort of bases to analyze why child neglect has become so pervasive. Both articles use qualitative methods in defining their research and the constant constraint involves some type of social setting. The dependent and independent variables are somewhat different between the articles because the social setting in the first article sometimes cannot be consistent with the findings. I say this because there are cases where African Americans thrive in a setting where they are predominately the minority. Qualitative research is dependent on how you obtain your information for the research. Methodology can be very different depending on what you are researching and the basis of why some things are the way that they are. It takes great skill in analysis and comprehension to providing a sound report.

References Bundy-Fazioli, K; Delong-Hamilton, T. (2013) A Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Perceptions of Child Neglect. Child and Youth Services Vol.34 (Issue 3) p.250-266 Guiffrida, D. (2005) Othermothering as a Framework for Understanding African American Students’ Definition of Student-Centered Faculty. Journal of Higher Education. Vol. 76 (Issue 6) p701-723. Hotchkiss, L; Dorsten, L (2014) Research Methods and Society: Foundations of Social Inquiry, 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; Pearson Education, Inc.