Reference no: EM132929000

RESEARCH PAPER: FAMILY ISSUES ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW
Discerning and clarifying your research interests and knowing how to locate and evaluate scholarly sources of information are important skills for Marriage and Family Therapists. This assignment will encourage you to think about Marriage and Family topics and select and refine one that is of interest to you. You will also gain experience locating and selecting scholarly sources, an important skill for Marriage and Family Therapists.

INSTRUCTIONS
The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide (Dobson, 2000) identifies multiple challenges that marriages and families could face. You will choose 2 of these topics to explore in this course via the explore the issue papers. For each topic that you choose, you will complete the following:

1. Identify and briefly provide your initial thoughts on the topic. This section will not require source material. The purpose for this section is simply to identify what you currently know about this topic. You may discuss facts, a biblical perspective, the moral dilemma involved in the topic, or just your thoughts around this topic. This section must be 1 page in length.

2. Look at the research that has been done on the topic. This section must be well-organized with headings and subheadings and must include at least 4 empirical sources. This section must be 2-3 pages in length. For this section check some of what you know against what research has to say on the topic and consider how this might impact a marriage or family. What might be some benefits and consequences of approach this topic and working through it within a marriage or family unit?

3. Compare the psychological and theological perspectives on the topic. The point here is to compare what the research says about the topic to what the Bible says about the topic. Not all of the topics from The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide (Dobson, 2000) are directly mentioned in the Bible. However, you may use biblical principles and discuss similarities and discrepancies found between these 2 perspectives. This section must be 1-2 pages in length.

4. The conclusion of this paper must include a good summary of the information provided in the preceding 3 sections. You must also provide an idea for future study of the topic. What further information could be provided in relation to this topic? For example, what are some variables that play a part of depression in marriage? Is depression within marriage easier to work through if the depression is a result of a mood disorder or of circumstances outside of the marriage?

5. Correct current APA formatting must be implemented throughout this paper, including avoiding first person and using properly formatted citations and headings. At least 4 scholarly sources are required. A title page and references page must be included; however, an abstract will NOT be necessary for this assignment. Assignment instructions and grading rubric must be carefully reviewed to ensure that all assignment criteria are met.