Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-160). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis--Ph. D., University of Hong Kong, 1987.

In a semi-longitudinal exploratory study using observational and in-depth interviewing methods the following questions were explored through an intensive analysis of 10 families involving 17 allegedly abused children. / 1. What are the factors to which social work practitioners in different organisational settings (a hospital based child abuse service and a statutory child protection service) give salience in their assessment of alleged child abuse cases and what is the nature of their observed models of practice? / 2. What is the nature of the interaction between different organisations, and in particular between the core organisations (the hospital, police and child protection services) in cases of alleged child abuse? / 3. How do parents perceive their experiences related to the alleged abuse of their children, and how do they perceive their interactions with core organisations? / Professionals were interviewed about their unfolding perceptions throughout the life of each case, with a total of 134 interviews being conducted with practitioners (an average of 13.4 per case). A total of 46 practice episodes were also observed (an average of 4.6 per case), including office interviews, home visits, groups sessions, meetings, case conferences and a court hearing. For all but one of the ten families it was also possible to conduct lengthy, in-depth home interviews with the parents about their experiences relating to the alleged abuse and their contact with services, thus bringing the combined total of professionals' and parents' in-depth interviews to 143. / A content analysis of the field notes yielded a number of themes and key findings. In relation to the first question, it was found that social workers in both the hospital and the child protection service gave salience to quite different variables and both groups attended to a much narrower range of variables than the framework of psycho-social assessment traditionally taught in professional social work education. / In relation to the second question, it was found that a pattern of marked tensions was evident in the relationship between the child protection service and both the hospital and the police. This mirrored the inter-organisational tensions which existed at a broader political level between these organisations. The tensions at the service delivery level were conceptualised as gate keeping disputes, dispositional disputes and domain disputes.

The importance of parenting behaviour as a risk factor for the development and persistence of externalising behaviour problems, and as a focus for early interventions, has led to a desire for the accurate measurement of parenting attitudes and practices. Several methods of measuring parenting behaviour have been employed in theoretical research and program evaluation, including self-report and observational measures. Both of these methods have advantages and limitations, but a systematic comparison of self-reports and observations of parenting behaviour has not been conducted. This study compared self- reports and observations of parental responsiveness and control in a sample of 68 parents of preschool children in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. Videotaped observations of parents interacting with their children in four set tasks (free play, drawing, pack-up and no distraction) were interval-sampled using behavioural items that paralleled self- report items on the Parenting Scale and the Child-Rearing Practices Questionnaire. In addition, parents completed questionnaires about their child's behaviour and temperament, and factors associated with parenting behaviour including parental psychopathology, social support, marital adjustment, disagreements about child-rearing and demographic characteristics. Reports of children's behaviour at preschool were also obtained from teachers. When the correlations between corresponding behaviour domains on the self-report and observational measures were compared, the only significant correlation was for parental warmth. Observations of parental control practices (such as permissiveness, inconsistency and overreactivity) were not significantly associated with self-reports of these behaviours. The observational system used in this study yielded observations of permissive and inconsistent parenting that had good validity and reliability, whereas self-reports of harsh and overreactive parenting practices were more validly and reliably assessed using self-report methods. Self-reports and observations of responsive parenting practices demonstrated results that are more equivocal. Possible explanations for these results and the implications for the use of self-report and observational measures in parenting research are discussed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Psychiatry, 2005.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 194-207.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-159). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of Western Sydney, 2003. / "A portfolio submitted in the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education at University of Western Sydney." Includes bibliography and appendices.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 170-208.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2005. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Bibliography: leaves 239-257.