Dykeman Article Evaluation - Essay Example

Dykeman Article Evaluation The essay aims to address a two-fold objective to wit to interpret and explain the research findings; and (2) to critique the statistical analysis and limitations of the research. Dykeman Article Evaluation Interpretation of Findings Findings were interpreted using different statistical analysis. A .05 level of significance was used to test the proposed null hypothesis which is, “family conflict resolution has no significant effect on children’s classroom behavior.

” Results of the findings with p-value < .01 have led the proposed hypothesis to be rejected because p-value is less than the level of significance thus, family conflict resolution has significant effect on children’s classroom behavior. The results of the statistical analysis indicate that the verbal reasoning of the child has improved and use of verbal aggression has decreased during the time of parent-child conflict resolution. In addition, a child’s physical aggression was not significantly affected during family-conflict resolution, as reflected in the statistical results.

Aside from the observed children’s behaviors, teachers were also asked to give an objective view of the children’s behavior since they participated in the treatment (Dykeman, 2003, 43). The same results were obtained indicating that a child has significantly improved classroom behavior due to the increased use of reasoning and reduced use of verbal aggression. Significance of Findings Findings of the study are significant in the pre-interventions of acting out behaviors in children, family conflict dissolution, determining the need for a community counselor, and application of conflict theory.

Dykeman findings reduced the number of children placed into special education for acting out behaviors as the recognition of the pre-referral interventions in children coming from a recent parenteral separation were emphasized. Findings of the study identified the usefulness of conflict theory in treating the effect of parenteral separation or conflict to classroom behavior. Findings of the study suggest that unresolved conflict may negatively affect a child’s behavior in school and that emphasis should be given on how to resolve family conflicts.

If issues in the family were solved, children will demonstrate improved behaviors in school characterized by increased use of rational problem solving skills, fewer incidents of verbal aggression, and reduced incidence of acting out behaviors (Dykeman, 2003, 43). Findings of the study are also significant in determining the need for a community agency counselor to help schools in assisting children with familial conflicts. Findings of the study suggest that a family-system approach and psychotherapy treatments could help children resolve behavioral conflicts in school.

These are the functions of a community agency counselor, thus, their presence in the school will help reduced the incidences of children’s acting out behaviors. It has also been found out the with community agency counselor, school district can implement pre-referral interventions program for treating and reducing special education placement among children. Lastly, findings of the study are significant in family conflict dissolution. With experimental treatments done by Dykeman, parents, counselors, and teachers can apply, modify, or reinforced pre-referral interventions to address the internal or personal conflict encountered by children coming from a parental separation.

In this way, family conflicts are dissolved and are directed to improved children’s behaviors. Critique of Statistical Analysis The author of the article had provided a strong statistical analysis of using the two-tailed test. Some studies believe that two-tailed tests are useful in healthcare research because of ethical and cost-efficiency reasons, especially in Dykeman’s article where randomized trial are implemented and interventions were controlled to determine if family conflict have effect on a child’s classroom behavior.

Dykeman’s selection of the .05 level of significance is a conventional option and was not an easy task for most of the researchers because the lower the level of significance, the stronger is the evidence; however, a larger sample is required. The statistical analysis of p-value has provided interpretation separately for verbal reasoning, verbal aggression, and physical aggression. Dykeman’s article also limits marginal error by using a standard deviation. The use of chi-square was also effective in accepting or refuting the hypothesis and providing contrast.

Limitations and Assumptions in Relation to Statistical Test In general, the statistical analysis used is appropriately only for a small-sized sample and future research involving a larger sample must include values above what Dykeman used (for instance, p-value) to facilitate a strong research based on strong evidences. In addition, despite used of standard deviation to rule out marginal error, it cannot be avoided as the study of Dykeman utilized a self-reported conflict resolution between parents and children.

A researcher cannot ensure that what has been reported are all true; thus, results and statistical analysis are only limited to the reports of parents, children, and teachers. References Dykeman, B.F. (2003). The effects of family conflict resolution on children's classroom behavior. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30: 41-46.