Is spanking your child effective discipline or bad parenting - Research Paper Example

Research Proposal Is spanking your child effective discipline or bad parenting? Submitted by: Reg and Submitted to:Date of Submission:Research ProposalResearch Paper Topic: ‘Is spanking your child effective discipline or bad parenting?’AbstractThe research paper is going to include a very important issue related to parenting and childcare, that is, whether or not spanking a child comes under the heading of effective parenting. I will use questionnaires and structured interviews for carrying out the research.

The whole process will take around one month which includes visiting people, distributing and collecting questionnaires, and conducting interviews.IntroductionYou have probably heard the expression, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Perhaps you were spanked as a kid. Was it or is it appropriate? Some people see spanking as an outdated method of punishment or even child abuse, while others view a swat on the bottom as a parents prerogative and if done correctly can be effective. Do you agree with this?

Where do we draw the line when it comes to disciplining our children? There has been a huge amount of research on the effectiveness of corporal punishment of animals, but remarkably little on the effectiveness of spanking children. This may be because almost no one feels the need to study it because everyone assumes it is effective. Study after study shows that almost 100 percent of parents with toddlers and young children do hit their children. There seems to be many reasons for the strong supporters of spanking children, but they all seem to be myths.

For this study, there are three terms that need to be defined:Definition of DisciplineWikopedia: In its original sense, discipline is systematic instruction intended to train a person, in a craft, trade or other activity, or to follow a particular code of conduct of order. Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order–that is, ensuring instructions are carried out–is often regulated through some type of punishment. Definition of SpankingSpanking is the act of striking the buttocks of another person to cause temporary pain without producing physical injury.

It generally involves one person striking the buttocks of another person with an open hand. When an open hand is used, spanking is referred to in some countries as slapping or smacking. More severe forms of spanking, such as switching, paddling, belting, caning, whipping, and birching, involve the use of an implement instead of a hand.Corporal punishment It is most commonly used to discipline an infant, a child, or a teenager. It generally involves an adult – typically a parent, guardian, or teacher – striking the childs buttocks as punishment for unacceptable behavior.

Some countries have outlawed the spanking of children in every setting, but many allow it at least when administered by a parent or guardian. Research QuestionsSome of the questions I gave to parents were #1: What method of discipline to you administer to your child? Have you ever hit your child? If so, how old was the child when you began using this method of discipline? Have you ever had parenting classes? Have you ever lost your temper and gotten out of control when disciplining your child?

What other means of discipline have you tried? Was it more or less effective? Were you ever hit as a child? How did that make you feel?Some of the questions I asked the children were, what form of discipline do your parents use when you misbehave? Do you like being hit when you have misbehaved? How did that make you feel? Does your parent or parents explain to you before the punishment happens? These are the central questions of the study. I no doubt will add more questions as I proceed through the research process.

The focus will be on the children themselves, and each question or concern I have will be examined from their perspectives.Literature ReviewA number of qualitative researchers have affirmed the importance of the perspective of the subjects and how they view their opinions on this subject (Bogdan & Taylor, 2002; Blumer, 1999; Mezirow, Darkenwald, & Knox, 1995; Rock, 1999; Rockhill, 2003; Smith, 2000). It is anticipated from the review of literature I have completed thus far that I will learn much.

I believe this study should examine if corporal punishment is effective or not effective, including the long term effects of both means of punishment. In the United States, spanking as punishment has shown a long-term decline. In the 1950s, ninety-nine percent of parents supported the use of corporal punishment of children. In recent years that number has fallen. Surveys generally report about fifty percent of parents supporting its use. Studies show that a majority of parents who use corporal punishment feel badly about it, and do not think it works to improve behavior.

Taylor et al. (2010) studied the impact of mothers’ spanking on three year old children. The population of the study was large enough, that is, 2461 participants belonging to 20 cities. They found that the children who were punished by their mothers through spanking were more aggressive when they reached five years of age, than those who did not undergo any spanking. They state: “Despite American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to the contrary, most parents in the United States approve of and have used CP as a form of child discipline” (p.e1057). Oates (2011) states in his research that physical punishment of children is inter-generational.

He has come to the same conclusion that physical punishment leads to aggression in children, which goes into adult life. He has mentioned in his research that physical punishment is being discouraged in many countries, by the implementation of different laws against it. Gage and Silvestre (2010) conducted a very interesting study, in which they studied whether those mothers who have experienced violence are more prone to physically punish their children. They surveyed 12,601 mothers, who had children 0-17 years of age.

The researchers found that those mothers, who experienced violence in their childhood by their parents or experienced emotional or physical abuse in their marital lives, were more involved in corporal punishment of children, than those who had no or negligible experiences of violence. This refers to the fact that maternal experience of violence is directly related to maternal involvement in corporal punishment of children. Parents who support spanking often use one of the following arguments: Spanking is an effective way to manage behavior.

I got hit when I was a kid and I turned out OK. If we don’t spank children, they’ll grow up rotten. The Bible says, “Spare the rod and spoil the child” Looking at the facts:Center for Effective Discipline ResourceSpanking argument #1 - “Spanking is an effective way to manage behavior”Hitting a small child will usually stop misbehavior temporarily. However, other ways of discipline such as verbal correction, reasoning, and time-out work as well and do not have the potential for harm that hitting does.

Hitting children may actually increase misbehavior. One large study showed that the more parents spanked children for antisocial behavior, the more the antisocial behavior increased (Straus, Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997). The more children are hit, the more likely they are to hit others including peers and siblings and, as adults, they are more likely to hit their spouses (Straus and Gelles, 1990; Wolfe, 1987). Hitting children teaches them that it is acceptable to hit others who are smaller and weaker.

“Im going to hit you because you hit your sister” is a hypocrisy not lost on children.Spanking argument #2 - “I got hit when I was a kid and I turned out OK” Center for Effective Discipline ResourceBeing spanked is an emotional event. Adults often remember with crystal clarity times they were paddled or spanked as children. Many adults look back on corporal punishment in childhood with great anger and sadness, and resentfulness. It is hard for us to believe that people who loved us would intentionally hurt us.

Studies show that even a few instances of being hit as children are associated with more depressive symptoms as adults (Strauss, 1994, Strassberg, Dodge, Pettit & Bates, 1994). A landmark meta-analysis of 88 corporal punishment research studies of over six decades showed that corporal punishment of children was associated with negative outcomes including increased delinquent and antisocial behavior, increased risk of child abuse and spousal abuse, increased risk of child aggression and adult aggression, decreased child mental health and decreased adult mental health (Gershoff, 2002).

While most of us who were spanked “turned out OK”, it is likely that not being spanked would have helped us turn out to be healthier (Gershoff, 2002).Spanking Argument #3 - “If we dont spank children, theyll grow up rotten”Children in more than twenty countries are growing up without being hit in homes, in daycare or in schools. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Finland and other countries that have banned corporal punishment of children in general have low rates of interpersonal violence compared to the United States.

Critics predicted that Swedish youth would grow up more unruly after parents stopped spanking because of the l979 corporal punishment ban. Dr. Joan Durrant who studied effects of the ban for l5 years reported that this did not happen. Her studies indicate youth did not become more unruly, under socialized or self-destructive following the ban. In fact, she said most measures demonstrated a substantial improvement in youth well-being (Durrant, 2000). Professor Adrienne Haeuser who studied these educational laws in Europe in 1981 and 1991 said “Children are receiving more discipline since the law in Sweden passed.

Parents think twice and tend to rely more on verbal conflict resolution to manage their children”. Discipline is important. Discipline means “to teach”. We need more discipline of children such as explaining and reasoning, establishing rules and consequences, praising good behavior in children and being good models for or children. Such methods develop a childs conscience and self-control. Children who experience teaching discipline are less likely to misbehave and more likely to become self-disciplined adults.

Spanking Argument #4 - “The bible says Spare the rod and spoil the child and I must obey God”Spanking is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the United States. The bible is often used to support, even perhaps to require, that parents use corporal punishment on children. Many clergy today are speaking out against that interpretation of scripture. The Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf, retired Methodist Minister, says the following “I can find no sanction in the teaching of Jesus or the witness of the New Testament to encourage the practice of corporal punishment at home, school or anywhere else.

A number of popular voices take a different view, often quoting Old Testament scriptures to prove their point. Those who subscribe to this argument misunderstand and misuse scripture. Nature of the StudyThe proposed study follows a qualitative research approach, involving the use of the semi-structured interview as the primary method. It involves a preliminary descriptive examination of the perceptions and experiences of adult full-time undergraduates. MethodologyThe intent of the proposed study is to learn about the long term effects of spanking your child versus using other disciplinary methods.

The focus will be on ages of the child from birth to the early teen years. I compiled a list of questions to survey parents of young children to get their overall opinion of what they thought about the topic. I also gave another survey to children in the elementary ages to complete. Design The goal of this project will be to study these children for several years with respect to the factors which affect the outcome of their behaviors from a small child until they reach puberty. A convenience sample of no more than 25 students, and 25 parents, will be obtained by placing an ad in the school newspaper describing the research and requesting parents and children to participate.

Each person who agrees to complete the survey will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form prior to participating and promised their complete anonymity. It is anticipated that up to 25 interviews and any necessary follow-up interviews will be conducted during a four year period. After the first year, follow-up interviews will be conducted with at least a dozen of these students during the second academic year after I have completed some data analysis and obtained a beginning understanding of the findings.

All surveys will be type written, and, given out each academic year for four years. I will also tape record children and parents throughout the research.I will write field notes in conjunction with the interviews, follow-up interviews, observations, and casual encounters with subjects. Memoranda also will be written while listening to taped interviews, typing transcripts, and reflecting upon a particular interviews and surveys. In addition to the interviews and follow-up interviews, I expect to obtain other data throughout the study, such as comments from administrative and teaching colleagues, papers or other materials subjects care to give to me, and ongoing literature review.

I anticipate that ongoing data analysis will take place throughout the study. All of the taped interviews, memoranda, and field notes will be entered into computer files. This information will be stored on a flash drive for easy access. Limitations of the StudyIt will be limited to no more than 30 subjects at one four-year college because of the time constraints involved in interviewing and subsequent data analysis. Reason for Qualitative ResearchThe data collected in a qualitative study includes more than words; attitudes, feelings, vocal and facial expressions, and other behaviors are also involved.

The data which may consist of interview transcripts, field notes from observations, a wide variety of records and historical documents, and memoranda, are treated to rigorous ongoing analysis. Three processes are blended throughout the study: collection, coding, and analysis of data (Glaser & Strauss, 1967): This approach encourages the kind of flexibility so important to the qualitative researcher who can change a line of inquiry and move in new directions, as more information and a better understanding of what are relevant data are acquired (Blumer, 1999).

ReferencesGage, A.J., & Silvestre, E.A. (2010). Maternal Violence, Victimization, and Child Physical Punishment in Peru. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, 34(7), pp. 523-533. Oates, K. (2011). Physical punishment of children: Can we continue to accept the status quo? Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 47(8), pp. 505-507. Taylor, C.A., Manganello, J.A., Lee, S.J., & Rice, J.C. (2010). Mothers spanking of 3-year-old children and subsequent risk of childrens aggressive behavior.

Pediatrics, 125(1), pp. e1057-e1065.