Week 5, Assignment 2

Every day, as I move along this class, I can say that I feel more empowered.  The information provided on CH. 5 on "How to Empirical Research" can help you get information on a subject was very helpful.  I learned that “keywords” are different from “controlled vocabularies” especially when the same words are used for searching.  It is useful to know, how databases are designed to give the results we are looking for.  This week, I wanted to use this information to expand my knowledge on my research topic and was pleased to find over 66 new articles.  All these new information will be used in preparation for my final paper for my other class.  Even though, at times it seems like a lot of time invested on putting knew knowledge to practice, I feel confident I can successfully apply what  have learned.  

Week 4, Assignment 2

This week’s research project was very helpful. I didn’t realize the immense amount of information available and right at our disposal. There were several articles giving useful information regarding different techniques on family therapy.  Even though Stair was one of the pioneers on family therapy, her techniques are now outdated. The techniques used by Satir were ground breaking, unfortunately they were designed for “intact families” where fathers worked and the mothers were homemakers. Moms took care of children while fathers worked and were the bread winners.  As time changed, do did the methods to provide therapy;  they have to adjust to the new "family" concept; the article I found talks about this new family concepts. Children having behavioral issues due to “blended families” where mom and dad don't form part of it any more and the adjustment children have to deal with as they become part of a new family circle.  

After reading chapter 5, I found it a lot easier to search for peer reviewed articles. I think as we move along in this class, we will learn many new techniques when search for useful information and it will cost us a fragment of the time that before.  Last week’s book search was a little more challenging and took me a lot more time that this week’s assignment.  I am feeling more confident as I move along in the class.  I am looking to find more information on my topic and present a well written paper.  I know now that in order to present a good project, it will take a good amount of time and therefore more effort on my part. 

Week 3, Assignment 2: Blog Post

This week, I selected two books, one from the iLLiad library and the other one from Chapman library's e-books.  My biggest challenge was going through the Leatherby libraries, not because it was difficult to search the book catalog, but because I was not able to sign in with my name and my student ID.  I finally was able to request the book I chose through iLLiad.   

The book I selected for my research paper is “Step by Step Guide to Creating Change in Families by Virginia Satir and michelle Baldwin.  My original search for my research topic “Human Validation Therapy” did not provide a lot of hits, however, once I type “Satir”, pioneer on this type of therapy, the search provided good book selection.  I was not aware that Virginia Satir wrote 14 books in topics related to family therapy.  Once I was able to search by keywords (Satir), it was easier to search for e-books.  One of the books on my search result was what I think is a good resource; “Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Oriented Approach”.  This book offers interviews from well-known therapists and their utilization of Satir’s approach throughout their therapy sessions.  My hope is to get sufficient knowledge to be able to write a great research report on my topic.