Research Recruitment for Questionnaire (Meaningful R'ships)

[EveT]

Did you experience shared care parenting arrangements when you were 13-18?
Help us find out what having a “meaningful relationship” with your parents actually mean!

If you are an 18-25 years old Australian citizen or permanent resident, who has OR has not experienced shared care parenting arrangements when you were 13-18, we are interested to hear what you have to say!

I am Evelyn Tan, a Master of Counselling Psychology student at La Trobe University. The recent amendment to the Family Law Act 1975 states that in determining the child’s best interests in a case of parental separation, one of the primary considerations is “the benefit to the child of having a meaningful relationship with both of the child’s parents” (Section 60CC 2(a)). The phrase ‘meaningful relationship’ is yet to be defined. As such, I am conducting research on how young adults understand this phrase. Findings of this research may help to improve the understanding of this phrase, such that it aids professionals and separated parents in their decision-making about parenting arrangements.

Participation in this research will involve the completion of a 20-minute online questionnaire. You will be eligible to go into a draw to win a pair of movie tickets. Participation is voluntary and your information will remain anonymous. This project has been approved by La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee.

If you would like to participate in this research, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/meaningfulrships. Please feel free to contact me at Evelyn.sytan(at)gmail.com if you have any questions. Please note that you have to have English as your first language to be able to participate.
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With permission from Cas Bitton.

[Mearehear]

God damn! Isn't it enough that I get harassed by people wanting my information, or my money, each time I walk through the local shopping centre without ever even entering an actual shop (we all know that awkward feeling of trying to avoid eye contact with them so we can slip by without having to reject them), let alone having to browse through my normal forums and be confronted with it too.

Regardless of permission being granted, this is highly unwelcome as a forum reader. Just as the dodgy salesmen and charity collectors that dot the walkways of the shopping centres are highly unwelcome by the people just trying to go about their own business.

No matter how valiant a cause may be, when we have them shoved in our faces one after the other, the messages will get lost in an air of disdain.

[Mekon]

Dude... you do realise you can just NOT READ the post? It certainly would have been easier than being compelled to type a vitriolic reply.

Do you wander up to said hawkers/charity-spruikers at shopping centres and give them a piece of your mind as well? Apparently not, given your comments regarding avoiding eye contact. How is this any different? There's not even any guilt involved in ignoring it.

Sheesh.

edit: On topic, I should have read the OP a little better. It wasn't until I started the survey that I realised it was for 18-25 year olds only.

[EveT]

God damn! Isn't it enough that I get harassed by people wanting my information, or my money, each time I walk through the local shopping centre without ever even entering an actual shop (we all know that awkward feeling of trying to avoid eye contact with them so we can slip by without having to reject them), let alone having to browse through my normal forums and be confronted with it too.

Regardless of permission being granted, this is highly unwelcome as a forum reader. Just as the dodgy salesmen and charity collectors that dot the walkways of the shopping centres are highly unwelcome by the people just trying to go about their own business.

No matter how valiant a cause may be, when we have them shoved in our faces one after the other, the messages will get lost in an air of disdain.

My sincerest apologies if this has upset you, Mearehear, and I do get what you mean. It's perfectly fine if you don't want to participate, feel free to skip ahead, but I'm just hoping someone else on this forum might be interested.

I'm a fellow gamer myself (although I haven't actually posted much in this forum), and whenever Blizzard servers are down, I have to focus on my research project. So, I'm just hoping that other gamers on here would be able to help me out because I desperately do need research participants (just like I desperately need Blizzard to clean up their act).

[EveT]

edit: On topic, I should have read the OP a little better. It wasn't until I started the survey that I realised it was for 18-25 year olds only.

Oh no! Bummer! That's alright... thanks for trying though, really appreciate it!

[Mekon]

No worries - I'll get my son to fill it out in 9 years time!

[EveT]

No worries - I'll get my son to fill it out in 9 years time!

Hah! If only I had that long to collect data! (But then again, dragging out a Masters course for 9 years... maaaaaaybe not!)

[Cas Bitton]

Like I said, once one is allowed who can then say any other is any less deserving of access to the userbase

The exact same people who approved it, I appreciate that EveT contacted us beforehand instead of blindly making the topic.

It's certainly not a green light for everyone with a cause, I wouldn't make the assumption. We are more then happy to assist any game developers, students or members with their studies if they have a reasonable request .

for their research/cause/product.

This is not the first time

Most recent example I've got on hand:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=191286

[Gotrek1966]

Sorry Eve, wayyyyyyyy past 25 years so cant help. Good luck anyway.

[EveT]

Sorry Eve, wayyyyyyyy past 25 years so cant help. Good luck anyway.

That's alright, Gotrek, thanks for the interest anyway! If you know of anyone who's in the age range, I'd really appreciate it if you can pass on the message.

[Makena]

Woo La Trobe University represent!

I'm also over 25 so can't partake, hopefully some of the youngsters around take part though!

[MrGood]

What's the end goal of the study? To the best of my knowledge there is no legislation or common law that takes the definition of a term from a study conducted. Won't the meaning have to be determined by a superior court?

Is this for the benefit of a masters degree or for the benefit of a definition of a term at law?

(N.B. I've done absolutely no research and I don't mean there to be bias in my question, I'm legitimately asking)

[Fireslide]

Would love to help out fellow researcher but I lie just outside your ideal demographic. Best of luck with it

[EveT]

What's the end goal of the study? To the best of my knowledge there is no legislation or common law that takes the definition of a term from a study conducted. Won't the meaning have to be determined by a superior court?

Is this for the benefit of a masters degree or for the benefit of a definition of a term at law?

(N.B. I've done absolutely no research and I don't mean there to be bias in my question, I'm legitimately asking)

Hi MrGood, the law I'm referring to is the Family Law Act 1975 (accessible here: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2012C00404), and as quoted in my original post, Section 60CC, which is on page 139. And the phrase 'meaningful relationship' is taken from point 2(a). Hopefully that's a bit clearer now.

I'm conducting this study because at the moment, it appears that the court, lawyers and parents are interpreting the term 'meaningful relationship' as they deem fit, and often without consulting what children think a 'meaningful relationship' with their parent is. It has only been in recent years when child-focused evaluations have been introduced and emphasized. This has taken the form of child-focused (and even child-inclusive) family dispute resolution. I won't go into too much detail because I don't want to bore people here, but essentially, no one has yet looked at how children understand a 'meaningful relationship' with their parent. As such, I think it's important to explore this, particularly because parenting arrangements are supposed to be based on the child's best interests, and according to the Family Law Act, the primary considerations in determining a child's best interest is the benefit of a child of having a meaningful relationship with both parents, as well as the need to protect the child from physical or psychological harm from being subjected to, or exposed to, abuse, neglect or family violence.

I hope this answers your question! If it doesn't, I'd be more than happy to continue a conversation via PM?

(Edit: Oh, also, it's for the benefit of better understanding of the law.)

Would love to help out fellow researcher but I lie just outside your ideal demographic. Best of luck with it

Thanks Fireslide for the interest! If you know anyone who is eligible, I'd really appreciate it if you can pass the message on!