Conceptualization and Hypothesis, Essay Example

Topic: Divorce and Its Impact on the Development of Juvenile Delinquency Cases

Concepts

For this study, it is the primary aim of the researcher to find the underlying connection between the occurrence of divorce in some families and the development of children growing up in such homes into running into cases of juvenile delinquency. To be able to find out the specific connection between these factors, several concepts of relationship shall be examined through this proposed survey approach. The consideration over the issue of divorce occurrences among parents and the impact that it has upon the behavioural development of the children who have come from such families shall be measured through the condition from which the survey participants have developed into maturity.

First among the concepts that are to be examined in this study is the sense of attachment theory. This theory is somewhat the base of how the children respond to the separation of their parents. Since the participants are already matured enough from the state of being a child [at least aged 23-28], they are to be asked to at least recall their past experiences and the possible attachment that they have with their parents when they were still children. This shall be in the basis of their response to the questions directed to such points of assessment. Considerably, the utilization of attachment theory in this aspect of the study shall provide a more constructive foundation that shall further explain why children of divorced couples resort to certain degrading solutions.

From the base of the attachment theory [which is more concerned on the internal factors that impact the children], the survey responses shall also be analyzed in consideration with the external elements that could contribute to the behavioural development of the participants; the society or the community that they lived with during the time. Relatively, children develop a sense of attachment which is a natural connection between them and their parents. When that attachment is destructed due to family issues and the likely separation of parents, children tend to seek attachment from other members of their family, when that attachment is not available; the society remains to be the primary source of such factor of connection that they could satisfy their needs. In this case, the participants shall be asked regarding the kind of society they were brought up in. This factor shall include community environment, school environment and possible extended family environments. These environments are likely to have had an impact on the process by which the participants have realized their years of maturity.

The difference of behavioural response of the participants shall be the basis of the comparison of proofs for this study. It is assumed that the participants shall be a mixture of individuals who have had the same backgrounds [coming from broken families] but had different ways of responding to the situation. At least fifty to fifty five percent of the participants are to be noted to have juvenile delinquency records, while the other fifty percent of the participants are expected to have less to no-record of juvenile delinquency cases.

This separation of the participants and their current status in life specifically hopes to create a presentation of proof comparison hence retaining the objectivity of the study. From here, the opinions of the participants regarding how they believe their broken family background affected their being shall be analyzed further. This shall strengthen the process by which this study is to pursue the desire of making a good definition on how the reality of the increase of reports of juvenile delinquency could be related to the relatively heightened reports of couples undergoing divorce cases every year.

Hypothesis

In relation to the investigation that is to be pursued in line with the survey method being imposed for this study, it is expected that the researcher would be able to see how much the behaviour of the participants who had been involved in juvenile delinquent cases in the past have been affected by their family backgrounds. Considerably, this shall indicate a more refined indication on how much separation of parents’ impact the thinking and the decisions of the younger members of the family. In relation to the comparative aspect of this study, it is expected that the other half of the participants [who had less to none delinquency-related cases] would yield different reasons as to why they were able to avoid circumstances of committing unlawful acts at an early age. The examination of their external environments differentiated from the other participants of the survey is expected to reveal a well-defined reason behind the difference of the response they considered apart from the others. From this point, it is assumed that this study shall be able to make a responsive definition on what elements actually affect the behaviour of juvenile delinquents and what percentage do divorced parents impact the being of the individuals considered. Believably, with this approach, the reliable and objective value of this study is further assured.

References:

Akiba, Motoko. (2002). Student Victimization: National and School System Effects on School Violence in 37 Nations. American Educational Research Journal Winter 2002, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 829–853. http://web.missouri.edu/akibam/html/pdf/Student%20Victimization.pdf. (Retrieved on January 28, 2012).

Lawrence, Sharmila. (2002). Domestic Violence and Welfare Policy: Research Findings That Can Inform Policies on Marriage and Child Well-Being. http://www.researchforum.org/media/DomVio.pdf. (Retrieved on January 28, 2012).

Wasserman, et al. (2003). Risk and Protective Factors of Child Delinquency. US Department of Justice. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/193409.pdf. (Retrieved on January 28, 2012).

Walter, et al. (2004). Separation/divorce sexual assault: The current state of socialscientific knowledge. Pergamon: Journal of Aggression and Violent Behavior. http://www.ncdsv.org/images/Separationdivorcesexualassault.pdf. (retrieved on January 28, 2012).