Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--Rhodes University, 2002. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 5, 2006). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 22, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

M.A. / The aim of this research is to gain insight into the unemployed father’s experience of disciplining his children. The motivation for this research is multifaceted. Research trends, nationally and internationally, have shown an increased focus on the fathers’ role in the lives of their children (Burbach, Fox & Nicholson, 2004; Goldberg, Tan & Thorsen, 2009; Smit, 2004). Research examining the father is on the up rise as the value of understanding the father, his role and his impact on his children has come to the forefront. Paternal discipline appears to influence the child and the child’s behaviour, while contextual factors such as poverty or unemployment appear to have an impact on the father. It is therefore useful to develop insight and understanding into the unemployed father’s experience of disciplining his child. The researcher asks a single research question “how does the unemployed father experience disciplining his children?” The researcher chose a single broad question with the hope that the interviews would guide the process and several smaller questions would arise during the research process. Knowledge of the father’s own sense of his role, perception, knowledge and understanding will aid policy makers and service providers. To the researcher’s knowledge there is currently no South African study that examines the unemployed father’s perceptions and experience of disciplining his children. For this reason a phenomenological method, in particular, Merleau-Ponty’s method, is used. This method allows an exploration of the father’s perceptions and experience, eliciting understanding and developing insight. Additionally, this research aims to generate questions and issues for further research. The research is introduced with a brief look at the philosophical aspects of phenomenology, outlining the main characteristics of Merleau-Ponty’s approach. Following this, the approach and its application to the research are discussed. Scientific rigour is important in any research project. This research study attempts to demonstrate rigour through credibility, dependability and transferability. Bracketing is also an essential component of phenomenological research which has been included to ensure scientific rigour and reduce researcher bias. Nevertheless, the existential phenomenological approach follows the proposition that the researcher can never be truly removed from the research. It is therefore important for the researcher’s process to be explicated throughout the research process. The researcher kept a research journal in order to bracket and rigorously reflect on the entire research process, and promote rigour.

No description available.

Single-parent households are on the increase in our society and especially single-father households where fathers are fulfilling the role of both parents in rearing their children. In this qualitative study, three single fathers who are primary caregivers were interviewed regarding their experience of primary caregiving, adjusting and coping with the transition to primary caregiving and their needs and concerns for their children's future. This study utilised a phenomenological approach to look at single fathers as the best and most informed individuals to explore and describe their lived experiences of being primary caregivers. The rationale for using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) is that it is concerned with individuals' subjective reports and assumes that participants seek to interpret their experiences into some form that is understandable to them. The researcher utilised three semi-structured, in depth, face-to-face interviews as a method of data collection. Each interview focused on eliciting different sets of data, firstly the researcher look at identifying the participants' experience of primary care giving, then moved onto their adjusting and coping with the transition and finally focused on the primary needs and concerns of participants with regards to primary care giving. The sub-themes that emerged from the study include the loss of a partner, shifts in the role the fathers play as parent, dealing with children's reaction to the "loss" of a mother in the home, good parenting: biology vs upbringing, social construction of men and woman, the value of self-care for single fathers, where self-care incorporates both physical and mental care, internal support from family or friends, external support from the community, relationship between fathers and children and sibling relationships. These led to the various super-ordinate themes. The super-ordinate themes and categories that resulted from the analysis of the material include: (1) The transition to being a single-parent and primary caregiver was difficult, (2) Parenting is not biological it is cultural and fathers can fulfil the role, (3) Self-care is important, (4) Support comes from family and friends but social support is rare, (5) Close family relationships are formed

This study utilized a phenomenological approach to examine adult children's views of how their fathers connected with them as children. Participants consisted of 10 men and 12 women between the ages of 30 and 60 who were interviewed about connection experiences with their fathers. Participants completed interviews related to their perspectives on being fathered, experiences as a son or daughter, and what they experienced in connecting with their fathers. Findings indicated that fathers connect with children through a variety of contexts that include memorable occasions, activities, personal interactions, routines, events, and other means. Also. obstacles to connection between fathers and children were explored. Study findings and their implications for theory, research, and practical application are discussed.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 96-99).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-251).

The relationship between fathers' and mothers' gender-role ideas and fathers' level of participation in general housework has been well documented. Data from a study in 1998 were used to explore specific aspects of this relationship. In particular, fathers' and mothers' genderrole ideas with regard to childcare (childcare ideas) was examined to see whether these ideas influence paternal childcare participation. Specifically, what impact they had on performance of childcare tasks and the time fathers spent with their children. The responses of 38 couples (76 individuals) were analyzed. No statistically significant relationships were found between the variables. The distribution of the data suggests that even though most fathers claimed to have nontraditional childcare ideas, most mothers still performed the great majority of childcare tasks.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The absence of a father in family life is an occurrence which is experienced in almost every family. The absent-father refers to the father who, as a result of certain circumstances, cannot properly fulfill his role as father in the family circle. It appears that this phenomenon is gradually on the increase and it is apparent that parents increasingly feel the necessity to obtain guidance in respect of this particular problem. Several factors contribute towards the phenomenon of father-absence. The most general reason for this occurrence is the father's responsibility towards his occupation. The absent-father could also create the image of a father being physically present yet being psychologically absent. In this script an endeavour has been made to grasp the phenomenon of fatherly absence and the influence it could possibly have on a child. The purpose of this study is to determine, in the light of certain studies of literature and empirical research, the influence the fatherly absence has on a child. The purpose of this exercise is dual. Firstly it entails a literature study and secondly an empirical research. A relevant critical survey has been conducted in respect of the role the father plays in the family and in particular with special reference to the differential role of the father in the life of the son and daughter. The study of relevant literature further entails a critical study of fatherly absence and the influence it could have on the son and daughter.