Record Details

Going it Alone, 1966-1971

Harvard Dataverse (Africa Rice Center, Bioversity International, CCAFS, CIAT, IFPRI, IRRI and WorldFish)

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Field Value
 
Title Going it Alone, 1966-1971
 
Identifier https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/ILYPJG
 
Creator Weiss, Robert S.
 
Publisher Harvard Dataverse
 
Description
This study was designed to increase the understanding of single parenthood. It investigated the ways in which the structure and function of the lives of a small sample of single parents differ from parents with partners who share parenting responsibilities. The researchers hoped that by forming a clearer picture of the everyday lives of single parents, their findings could be used by government or private agencies to better serve this population.



The study was an in-depth examination of the lives of women who had sole responsibility for the care of their children. A small sample of married couples with children and another of divorced or separated men who were noncustodial parents were interviewed to provide comparative data. The study concentrated on two general aspects of the respondents' lives: 1) their relationships and contacts with other people; and 2) their problems and concerns. By focusing on the respondents' social ties, the researchers could examine the relationships of single parents, the roles these relationships play in their lives, and how these relationships may or may not help them cope with the challenges they face.




The sample consisted of 46 parents, all of whom were part of a longitudinal study of social ties among low-income parents. Among the single women in the low-income parents study was a subsample of 10 British women who were single mothers.



All parents participated in a series of loosely-structured, face-to-face interviews covering a range of topics, including: household composition, children and other family members, social contacts, paid employment, formal relationships, and financial issues.



The Murray Research Archive holds all interview transcripts.
 
Subject Social Sciences
 
Type field study