Reference no: EM131081619

Reflect on the dissertation topic and problem statement you posted in the Week 1 Discussion-and perhaps have since revised based on peer or Instructor feedback. Then, review the Dissertation Prospectus Guide found on the "Office of Student Research Administration: Ph.D. Dissertation Program" webpage in this week's Learning Resources, focusing on the Quality Indicators. Finally, evaluate your topic and problem statement through the lens of Indicators 2 and 3.

Post your evaluation of the significance of your research topic and problem statement with regard to Quality Indicators 2 and 3. Explain whether your topic and problem statement meet those Indicators and why. If your topic and problem statement do not meet Quality Indicators 2 and 3, explain how you could modify them so that the Indicators might be met.

Quality Indicators

Nine key indicators have been identified to assure the overall quality of the dissertation project at this point in its development. Supervisory committee members will use these indicators to give ongoing feedback and to document their final evaluation of the Dissertation Prospectus in MyDR. Students should use these indicators to guide development of prospectus. Dissertation Prospectus Rubric
A Dissertation Prospectus shows the potential of leading to a doctoral-quality dissertation only if the answer to all of the following standards is "Met" on the rubric.

1. Complete?
Does the prospectus contain all the required elements? Refer to the annotated outline to see the required parts of the Dissertation Prospectus document.

2. Meaningful?
Has a meaningful problem or gap in the research literature been identified? In other words, is addressing this problem the logical next step, given the previous exploratory and confirmatory research (or lack thereof) on this topic? It is not acceptable to simply replicate previous research for a PhD degree.

3. Justified?
Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the discipline and/or professional field? The prospectus should provide relevant statistics and evidence, documentable discrepancies, and other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the problem. The problem must be an authentic "puzzle" that needs solving, not merely a topic that the researcher finds interesting.

4. Grounded?

Is the problem framed to enable the researcher to either build on or counter the previously published findings on the topic? For most fields, grounding involves articulating the problem within the context of a theoretical base or conceptual framework. Although many approaches can ground a study in the scientific literature, the essential requirement is that the problem is framed such that the new findings will have implications for the previous findings.

5. Original?
Does this project have potential to make an original contribution? Addressing the problem should result in an original contribution to the field or discipline.

6. Impact?

Does this project have potential to affect positive social change? As described in the Significance section (see annotated outline), the anticipated findings should have potential to support the mission of the University to promote positive social change.

7. Feasible?
Can a systematic method of inquiry be used to address the problem? The tentative methodology demonstrates that the researcher has considered the options for inquiry, selected an approach that has potential to address the problem, and considered potential risks and burdens placed on research participants.

8. Aligned?
Do the various aspects of the prospectus align overall? The nature of the study should align with the problem, research questions, and tentative approaches to inquiry.

9. Objective?

Is the topic approached in an objective manner? The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present a foregone conclusion. Even if the researcher has a strong opinion on the expected findings, he or she must maximize scholarly objectivity by framing the problem in the context of a systematic inquiry that permits multiple possible conclusions.

Here is my paper
Positive Experience of African American Teenage Motherhood from 15 through 18 Years of Age: A Qualitative Study

Introduction

Motherhood is viewed as a desirable aspect of the society; it leads to the creation and nurturing of life. However, many challenges surround this desirable aspect of human nature. There are many physical, emotional and psychological changes that result as a consequence of motherhood. These experiences may be both positive and negative, and are majorly determined by the circumstances of the motherhood. Women who have past the adolescence age are capable of conceiving and bearing children, but the same cannot be said of them becoming successful mothers. Thus, there are bound to be numerous challenges, as well some advantages, of becoming a teenage mother.

Teenage describes the adolescence age between 13 years through to nineteen years. Teenage pregnancy in the United States remains high, despite recording a decrease. The general age of mothers of newborns has increased from the statistics of 1990, where the teens recorded the highest proportion of new births (13%) compared to 9% of new births by older women older than 35 years. In the 2008 statistics, teenagers accounted for 10% of the births while older women aged above 35 years recorded 14% of the births. In the year 2014, adolescent females accounted for 24.2 births for every 1000 adolescent females between the ages for 15 and 19 years (Livingstone & Cohn, 2010).

The rates of adolescence motherhood vary widely across different populations. For instance, the highest number of adolescent births is recorded between the ages of 18 and 19 years. Moreover, adolescents from the Hispanic and the African-American backgrounds are more likely to become mothers with 38 and 34.9 births for every 1000 adolescent female. Teenage motherhood has been reported to contend with a myriad of challenges at personal levels, their children and society levels. The children of adolescent mothers are less likely to acquire a quality education, have a higher likelihood of poor health and have the likelihood of poor behaviors compared to children born to older parents (Spear & Lock, 2003).

The research on teenage mothers has majorly focused on the negative aspects, detailing the detriments that result in the individual mother, her family, the child and the society (Seamark & Lings, 2004; Lisa, 2009). However, studies aiming at detailing positive outcomes are limited (Seamark & Lings, 2004). This paper aims at establishing the positive experiences that are attributed to teenage motherhood at the age of 15-18 years of age. The study will focus on the African-American population, which has been found to record high percentage of adolescence motherhood.

Problem Statement

Teenage motherhood in the United States remains high. The rates of teenage motherhood differ according to populations, characterized by age, race, geographical, and socioeconomic differences (Spear & Lock, 2003). The African American and the Hispanic populations are the most affected, with twice the rate of teenage pregnancy of the white teenagers (Livingstone & Cohn, 2010; Wiltz, 2015). Teenage motherhood is curbed by a myriad of challenges. As such, it is justifiable that most of the previous literature has focused on the negative implications of teenage motherhood (Lisa, 2009). In a report, a researcher quipped that stereotypes have labeled teenage mothers as poor, ignorant, immoral and dysfunctional, and as people who engage in casual sex are not backed by any research evidence (Lisa, 2009). Thus, there is a need to explore some of the positive outcomes of teenage motherhood. This research aims at establishing the positive experiences that African American mothers have derived from their roles as mothers. This research also hopes to explore some of the areas where the support for the teenage mothers could be directed, to improve their experiences as mothers. Moreover, the research aims to develop some themes that could help curb some social stereotypes associated with teenage motherhood.

Research Approach

This research will undertake a qualitative approach to deal with the research objectives. The data collection methods that will be employed in the course of this research include in-depth interviews and practical observation analysis. The aim of this research is establishing the positive outcomes of teenage motherhood, between the ages of 15-18 years, which makes qualitative research design the most appropriate. Qualitative research elicits views and concerns that are often missed by quantitative research (Spear & Lock, 2003). The research will depend on the teenage mother's experiences with motherhood. The study setting will be a suburban neighborhood. The study population will be African American teenage mothers in the neighborhood who agree to participate in the study. The recruitment of participants will be restricted to women who became mothers between the ages of 15-18 years. The participants will also have to be above the minority age, but not older than 21 years, so that the information remains relevant to the context. The data will be analyzed for popular themes. Computer software such as Microsoft Excel will be used to group the data, and thus in its analysis. The research will ensure to keep participants anonymous, ensure confidentiality of their responses and brief them for the purpose of the research.

Research Topic

Teenage pregnancy is on the decline in the United States, but remains relatively high. The plight of teenage mothers has been stereotyped to be desperate and undesirable (Lisa, 2009). However, research focusing on the positive aspects of teenage motherhood is limited. Lisa (2009) argues that research pertaining teenage mothers has only emerged with negative themes, which has been used to label the situation as a matter of public health concern.

Teenage motherhood differs according to several factors, including age (18 and 19 years, having the highest rates), race (Black and Hispanic teenage females are twice as likely to be mothers compared to white teenage females), and socioeconomic factors (females from poor backgrounds have a higher risk) (Livingstone & Cohn, 2010; Wiltz, 2015).

Despite the wide literature pertaining the drawbacks of teenage motherhood, research has shown that the situation is associated with some positive experiences (Seamark & Lings, 2004; Lisa, 2009; Anwar & Staninstreet, 2015; Watt et al., 2015). In their research, Anwar and Stanistreet (2015) conducted interviews with teenage mothers in England to explore their experiences and aspirations for the future. The study found that teenage mothers found the experience positive, which accorded them a significant role in the society, they expressed receiving support from the communities they lived in and that motherhood had changed their perceptions towards education and employment positively. Watt et al. (2015) evaluated the general experiences of African, Australian teenage mothers. The research found that teenage motherhood among the African, Australian teens resulted in an increased sense of responsibility, the mother gained social recognition and developed a sense of purpose. The mothers faced challenges such as coping with the increased responsibilities, and hardships in managing school, work and taking care of their baby (Watt et al., 2015).

Thus, teenage motherhood does not spell doom. Literature has shown that several positive experiences have been experienced elsewhere in the world as a result of teenage motherhood. In the United States, this research seeks to explore whether the same themes exist among the African American mothers between the ages of 15-18 years.

Importance of the Research

Teenage motherhood in the United States remains high, despite a significant decrease (Livingstone & Cohn, 2010; Wiltz, 2015). The situation is associated with many negative implications, at the individual, family, social and national levels (Spear & Lock, 2003). African American teenagers have been found to be twice as likely to be victims of teenage motherhood compared to White Americans (Wiltz, 2015). Literature has displayed that teenage pregnancy is overwhelmingly dominated by negative views, which have been used to inform public health policies such as labeling teenage motherhood a public health concern (Lisa, 2009). However, research has shown that teenage pregnancy is not purely a negative phenomenon, and can result in several positive outcomes (Seamark & Lings, 2004; Lisa, 2009; Anwar & Staninstreet, 2015; Watt et al., 2015).
Thus, this research seeks to explore the positive experiences of African American teenage mothers. The literature exploring the positive experiences is based in different geographical locations and on different ethnicities. This research will seek to confirm whether the outcomes observed in the literature concerning positive outcomes are replicated in African American families. Moreover, there is need to change the basis of studies from the negative aspects of teenage motherhood and explore the positive aspects of the same. Understanding the positive implication of teenage motherhood will inform, support for the mothers.

References

Anwar, E., & Stanistreet, D. (2015). It has not ruined my life,it has made my life better: A qualitative investigation of the experiences and future aspirations of young mothers from the North West England. Journal of Public Health, 37(2), 269-76.

Gentleman, A. (2010, February 12). Teenage pregnancy more opportunity than catastrophe, study says. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/12/teenage-pregnancy-study/

Lisa, A. (2009). What a difference a decade makes: Rethinking teenage pregnancy as a problem. Journal of Social Policy & Society, 8(2), 171-183.

Livingstone, G., & Cohn, D. (2010). The new demography of American motherhood. PewResearchCenter.

Seamark, C., & Lings, P. (2004). Positive experiences of teenage motherhood: A qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice, 2004(54), 813-818.

Spear, H., & Lock, S. (2003). Qualitative Research on adolescent pregnancy: A descriptive review and analysis. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 18(6), 397-408.

U.S Dept of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Office of Adolescent Health. Retrieved from Reproductive Health: https://www.hrs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/index.html/
Watt et al. (2015). Early motherhood: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of African Australian teenage mothers in greator Melbourne, Australia. BMC Public Health, 15(873).

Wiltz, T. (2015). Racial and ethnic disparities persist in teen pregnancy rates. The Pew Charitable Trusts.