Grant proposal for IST 120

1. HaroldSowards
Ist 120
Grant Proposal Outline
Intro
The researchprojectwill focusonthe relationshipsbuiltbystepparentsandchildrenfrom
anotherpartnerwhile still buildingthe relationshipwiththeirownkids.Thisstudyfocusesonfamilies
that have childrenandhave gottenremarriedtosomeone else whoalsohaschildren.
The Test
There will be 50 differentfamiliesinvolvedforthisstudy.There will be aquestionnairefirstfor
each memberof the family,startingwiththe childrenaskinghow theyfeltabouttheirparent’s
relationshipwiththembefore whenwiththeirotherpartnerandthenwiththeirnew partnernow.
There alsowill be questionsabouthowtheyfeel aboutthe new partner’sinvolvementwiththemand
howtheyfeel abouttheirnewstepsiblings.Forthe youngerchildren,insteadof awrittenquestionnaire,
whichisgiventothe olderchildreninvolved,theywillbe givenaverbal questionnaire regardingthe
same type of questions.Forthe parents,theywill be givenasetof questionsrevolvingaroundhowthey
feel abouttheirrelationshipwiththeirchildandhow ithas beenimprovedordiminishedsince taking
the newrelationship.Thentheywill alsoanswerquestionsabouthow the relationshipwiththeir
stepchildrenisgoingandhowtheyfeel towardsthem, how theythinkthe child feelstowardsthem,and
thenif theywantto have more childrenwiththe new partnersometime downthe road.
Whenreviewingthese resultswell buildacorrelationchartto see how eachperson’sresults
relate tothe other.If theyare all positive,the correlationwillbe highandthe familyhasa greatbond

2. and are matchedupperfectlyforeachother.However,if all the resultsare negativeandhave no
matches,thenthe correlationwill be low andcounselingwill be recommendtohelpimprove the
relationship,sothere isnostressor straininvolved. However,if there ismixedresults,whichwould
resultinmixedcorrelations,there will be avoluntarysitinmeetingwithone of the people who
administersthe survey.
The problemwiththistype of experimenthoweveristhatitall goingto be enteredintoa
computerprogramto findthe correlationandthe persontypingthe informationmaymake mistakes
regardingthe information.
My populationsample will be chosenatrandombasedoff of informationregardingremarriages
withchildreninvolvedonbothsides.The issuesaroundthiswill be the sample maybe toosmall andthe
50 slotsmay notbe filledupif people don’twanttoparticipate.Also,there maynotbe manyfamilies
that have multiple stepchildreninvolvedinanew marriage.
Reviewing the relevant literature
WhenlookingatGlennClingempeel’sresume forone of the sources,there isverylittle
qualificationsastowhyhe wrote an article.Hisprimaryfieldsare biologyandbiomedical sciences,not
psychology. However,hisco-authorSionSegal hasalotof reasonstowrite the paperconsideringhis
phD inpsychology.
EmilyMartin’sarticle forthe Universityof Missouri waswell abitbrief andwas all basedof
testimonyfromLarryGanong and MarilynColeman.Theyare professorsinthe College of Human
Environmental Sciencesatthe Universityof Missouri.So,they’ve probablydone alotof researchonthe
informationthattheyare providing.
Dr. Phil’sinformationonthe role of a stepparentisprettymuchgoodinformation.He isatalk
showhostthat helpspeople getovertheirproblems.So,the factthathe made a bookto getthe point
across wasa goodidea.

3. Lisa Cohn’sarticle onfamily.comhelpsexplainthe ideasof stepsiblingsandwhattheycouldbe.
Since,thiswebsiteissponsoredbyDisney,the assumptionisthatthisisa good article thatinvolves
helpful parentingadvice toparentsof youngchildren.
The SiblingsRelationshiparticle doesn’tlistanauthor.So,the validityof thismightnotbe that
high.However,itstill hasalot of good pointsinit.
Ethics
Consideringthe ideathatthe questionsinthe surveyare goingtoprobe intothe relationships
builtintothe family,the ethical sideof thishastostrictlybe enforced.There isnoreasonto expose all
of the feelingseachside hasif theyrefuse totake the counselingoffered,because itwouldcontinue to
cause a strainon the developmentof theirrelationships.
The associationwhoneedtoapprove of thissurveywouldprobablybe anassociationfocusing
on psychological orfamilydevelopmentissues.So,groupslike SRA (Social ResearchAssociation),PREC
(PsychologyResearchEthicsCommittee),andpossiblythe U.S.Departmentof HealthandHuman
Services.

4. Sources
Clingempeel,G.andSegal,S. Stepparent-stepchild relationshipsand thepsychologicaladjustmentof
children in stepmotherand stepfatherfamilies. Retrievedfrom:
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1130602?uid=28983&uid=3739968&uid=2&uid=3&uid=
28979&uid=67&uid=62&uid=3739256&sid=21104042068063
Martin, E. (March 2011) Stepchildren Relate to StepparentsBased on Perceived Benefits,Stepparents’
Behaviors,MU ResearchersFind. Retrievedfrom:http://munews.missouri.edu/news-
releases/2011/0329-stepchildren-relate-to-stepparents-based-on-perceived-benefits-
stepparents%E2%80%99-behaviors-mu-researchers-find/
Dr. Phil.Familyfirst: Yourstep-by-step plan forcreating a phenomenalfamily. Retrievedfrom:
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/243
Cohn,L. Living with stepsiblings:Howto clarify and establish boundariesbetween stepsiblings.Retrieved
from: http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-teen/article-781284-living-with-stepsiblings-t/
Sibling relationships:Guidelinesfor parents. Retrievedfrom:
https://www.sebpmg.com/educational_topics/Sibling_Relationships.pdf