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I thought I would mention a couple of things about the research controversy.....One of the things that seems to be imperfectly understood is that even in well- constructed studies, the samplings are too limited, and inadequately randomized, to make any bold statements. Thus, reproducibility with a variety of subjects is of extreme importance. Second, most studies of these kind depend heavily on self- reporting, which is perilous. A few years ago, a study was done on the issue of self- reporting, comparing refuse with peoples assertions about their eating habits. It was, unsurprisingly, discovered that people under- reported their consumption of things commonly believed to be bad for one, like sugary snacks, and over- reported things commonly believed to be "virtuous", like eating fruits. And this was not by a trivial percentage, but by double or triple the actual amounts. Thus, wherever there may be bias in the reporting, one should view with special skepticism. If a parent may under- report the incidence of spanking, for example, a child may over- report it, especially if it has been linked to providing scapegoating for his problems. Third, most studies establish correlations, but the explanation of mechanism remains a matter of speculation. Additionally, the correlations are usually comparatively weak. Thus, at best one can say that the children of divorce are "at risk", most of them survive with minor problems, although a higher proportion have serious problems than children in intact families. Of course, having established the correlation, it may be that the dysfunctionality leading to divorce planted the seeds that caused the later problems. Later studies will try to address such issues, but it is very difficult to untangle in many instances. For example, in households with a higher incidence of spanking, it may be that the children are willful, or that the parents have poor impulse control, or that spanking is a "first resort", all of which may influence results. These strictures apply to well- constructed studies, which is one reason that some people are skeptical of such studies tout court. I myself think that extensive research may be valuable, but one should be cautious about claims made....... |
