Social Science Research Methods: Children of Imprisoned Mothers Study

This assignment delves into the effects of maternal imprisonment on children, exploring a key research question: the impact of imprisonment on children's social lives, including potential discrimination, bullying, and involvement in crime. The research methodology involves complying with regulations for data collection from inmates and their families, utilizing prisons and family homes as research sites. Data collection includes discussions with inmates about their prison life and family connections, and interviews with family members to determine the impact of imprisonment on their lives and the children's upbringing. The assignment emphasizes data validation through triangulation, cross-checking data from various sources, and considering ethical issues like the potential impact on children and families' privacy. The research also addresses the importance of moderator effectiveness and aims to provide solutions to mitigate the negative effects of maternal imprisonment on children. Confidentiality of the subjects is maintained, and the study seeks to understand the children's perspectives and offer counseling to prevent them from engaging in criminal activities.

Running head: SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS
Social Science Research Methods
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Question: 1
One of the key research questions that are being arise with various report on the
motherhood of the imprisoned mothers is the effect of their imprisonment on their children.
According to Hagan, and Foster (2012), children having their mothers imprisoned are mostly
having negative effects. They are facing social discrimination, bullying and sexual assaults.
These are having serious implications on their normal childhood. They are attracting towards
crime and dark world from their early childhood. In the current situation, this question is having
significance due to the reason that in the majority of the cases, the future of the children of the
inmates is not being considered during the imprisonment of their mothers (Arditti, 2012). Thus,
this question will enable to identify and determine the effects on the children from the
imprisonment of their mothers and concluding on the probable solutions to reduce the extent of
the negative effects.
Question: 2
Majority of the countries including Singapore is having specific rules and regulations in
meeting with inmates and collecting data for the research purpose. Hence, the first duty of the
researchers is to comply with the regulations in meeting the inmates. It will be the most effective
and legal process to meet the inmates. Research sites should be the prisons and the family of the
inmates (Deschenes, Owen & Crow, 2012). The first step to gather data will be to discuss with
the inmates about their lifestyle in the prison and the extent of their access with their family
members. This will help to determine the level of connection and influence that the inmates have
with their family members outside. The next step is to meet their family members to determine

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the impact of the imprisonment on their family. It will help to identify the approach of them
towards their imprisoned family members and how the children are being raised by them.
Matching the data received from the inmates themselves and from their families will help
to determine the impact of the imprisonment on the children. The more effective will be the
family in rising the children, the less will be the adverse impact on the children. The family
members will also be asked about the differences in the attitude and personality of the children
before and after the imprisonment of their mothers. It will help to determine the effect of the
imprisonment on the mind of the children (Rakt, Murray & Nieuwbeerta, 2012). Moreover, the
data collected from the family members will also help to determine the attitude of them towards
the children after the imprisonment of their mothers. It will help to evaluate the social impact of
the imprisonment on the children. In terms of the exit of the field, it is been recommended that
the data being collected should be attested by the authorities to prove its authenticity and can be
used for future evidence of adhering with the legislations.
Question: 3
As discussed earlier, the data being collected from the inmates will be attested by the
authorities, which will validate the data collected (Sargent, 2013). Moreover, the collected data
from the family members of the inmates will further be cross checked by consulting with the
children. However, it will be considered that if the age of the children is favorable for
consultation, then only they will be consulted. Otherwise, their mothers or the inmates will be
consulted to match the similarity of the opinions between them and their family members. The
validation of the report will be more if the opinions from both ways can get matched. The
research will be done on the basis of Triangulation (Torrance, 2012). It will help to initiate the

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research process by having different approaches. The respondents will be interviewed across
various situations and by different researchers to determine the similarities in their opinion
repeatedly.
Moreover, the report conclusion will be shown to them in order to determine their
opinion about the result. The more they will agree with the research report, the more will be the
validation of the qualitative data. It will also be checked that to what extent the result or the
response from the respondents are getting matched with one another (Sargent, 2013). This is due
to the reason that if the response is bee seen that a trend is being followed then it can be assumed
that the data are reliable and valid, otherwise the data should be rechecked. One of the key
considerations for having valid data is the role and effectiveness of the moderator. The validation
of the research is very much dependent on the quality of the researcher and his way of
conducting the research. This is due to the reason that, the type and approach of the questions
being asked by them also influence in generating the valid response from the respondents.
Question: 4
There are various ethical issues that can arise from the field studies. One of the key
ethical issues is the potential impact of this study on the children (Powell et al., 2012). This is
due to the reason the reason that children will be consulted in collecting the data and asking them
question regarding the imprisonment of their mothers may have negative impact on their mind.
Moreover, the families of the inmates can also face social discrimination if the report is being
publicized (Liebling & Maruna, 2013). This is due to the reason that most of the families try to
keep secret about the imprisonment of their family members from the society. Thus, they also
may have negative implications. The data collection for the report may act as mental torture for

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them. However, it will be considered during the data collection and the ethical issues will be
addressed as much as possible. The name of the inmates and their family members will be kept
confidential in order to protect their privacy. In addition, the children will asked about their
opinion to determine their own way of leading life rather than the negative effect of the
imprisonment. Further, they will be counseled in order to prevent them from entering or
committing any crime.

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Reference
Arditti, J. A. (2012). Parental incarceration and the family: Psychological and social effects of
imprisonment on children, parents, and caregivers. NYU Press.
Deschenes, E. P., Owen, B., & Crow, J. (2012). Recidivism among female prisoners: Secondary
analysis of the 1994 BJS recidivism data set. BiblioGov.
Hagan, J., & Foster, H. (2012). Children of the American prison generation: Student and school
spillover effects of incarcerating mothers. Law & Society Review, 46(1), 37-69.
Liebling, A., & Maruna, S. (Eds.). (2013). The effects of imprisonment.
Powell, M. A., Fitzgerald, R. M., Taylor, N., & Graham, A. (2012). International literature
review: Ethical issues in undertaking research with children and young people.
Rakt, M. V. D., Murray, J., & Nieuwbeerta, P. (2012). The long-term effects of paternal
imprisonment on criminal trajectories of children. Journal of Research in Crime and
Delinquency, 49(1), 81-108.
Sargent, R. G. (2013). Verification and validation of simulation models. Journal of simulation,
7(1), 12-24.
Torrance, H. (2012). Triangulation, respondent validation, and democratic participation in mixed
methods research. Journal of mixed methods research, 6(2), 111-123.