SOWK791- Qualitative Article Critique Form

Name:
Article Reference-APA Style: Hock, R.M., Timm, T. M., & Ramisch, J. L. (2012). Parenting children with autism spectrum disorders: A crucible for
couple relationships. Child and Family Social Work,17, 406-415. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2011.00794.x

ARTICLE CRITIQUE PART I

Describe the overall purpose of the research in your own words (discuss it as if you were talking to someone who had no idea what you
read). Limit your response to a maximum of 5 sentences.

To explore and better understand the ways in which parenting a child with ASD influences the parents’ relationship over time.

Introduction
Yes No Justification
Does the introduction describe the importance of the problem The incidence of autism spectrum disorders continues to increase,
under investigation? but very little is known about the impact that parenting a child with
ASD impacts a couple’s relationship. The existing research is
X O mostly quantitative and seems limited primarily to mothers; overall,
little is known about how parenting a child with ASD affects fathers.

Does the introduction utilize theory to inform the research If yes, provide the name(s):
question and/or hypotheses? If yes, which theory/theories?
O X
N/A

Research Questions
State the research questions explored in this study.
How does parenting a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affect the parents' relationship as a couple?

Intervention
If applicable, describe the interventions(or program/treatment) and any control conditions:
Not applicable. No interventions were tested in this article.
Methodology
What were the eligibility (inclusion/exclusion) criteria for subjects/participants?
Couples needed to be married and parenting a child with ASD (based on parents’ report of autism or Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis).

What were the major demographic characteristics of participants?

Average age of participants: 48 (range 37-60). Average length of marriage=14.4 (range 7-37). Average age of child with ASD: 12.2 years (2-29)
All respondents reported household incomes > $75K. All participants had completed some college: 10 with bachelor’s degree and 6 with
advanced graduate degrees. 18 identified as white; 1 as Asian/Pacific Islander. The majority of the children with ASD were male and all were the
biological children of the respondents. Most respondents were employed (at least part-time); 4 respondents were unemployed but not currently
looking for work. All but one couple resided in a suburban community setting.

What procedures were used to select participants into the study (describe the sampling approach)?
Purposive sampling – researcher contacted leaders of parent support organizations who sent information about the study to their list serves.
Snowball sampling – study participants were asked to provide information about the study to other families.
Couples who responded participated in a screening interview (via phone) to determine if met study criteria (as described above).

What was the actual sample size (provide number): 19 individuals from 10 families (9 couples and 1 wife)

Yes No Justification
Were IRB agreements obtained? Author states that “all procedures were reviewed and approved by the university
X O
institutional review board” (p.407).
Were any incentives used? If yes, state incentives: Authors did not mention any use of incentives.
O X
What were the variables under study, and how were they defined?
Because this is a qualitative study, it is not unusual that the variables are not as clearly defined (conceptualized) as they would be in a quantitative
study. The main idea being studied are: (a) couples’ relationship quality and (b) strengths and challenges associated with parenting a child with
ASD.

If applicable, list the measure(s) for each variable and their respective validity and reliability (if applicable).
Not applicable, as no measurement instruments were used.

How were the data collected? (Include methods, by whom, how often and the duration/length of data collection)
Data were collected through a series of 10 semi-structured interviews: one interview was conducted with each couple. Interviews were conducted
by the study authors who are both clinical social workers. Interviews lasted between 1-2 hours. Husband and wife couples were interviewed
together whenever possible. In one case, only the wife was interviewed. The husband did not participate in the study.

Where were the data collected?

Interviews were conducted in either the respondents’ home (n=8) or at the authors’ university office (n=2).

Data Analysis
What data analysis technique(s) were used in this study?
Authors’ used a grounded theory approach that included open coding, axial coding, and selective coding and use of the constant comparative
method (repeating coding, sorting and comparing codes) [NOTE: the authors provide the following description of their coding process. Open
coding: identify categories or codes; axial coding: relate codes to each other- how are some codes related to others? In what context do some
things happen with others? What are the consequences?; selective coding: final stage – what are overall themes that can be used to tell the story
of the data?]

What data analysis software was/were used for data analysis? If applicable, also state any statistical software package was used.
NVivo 7 was used to organize transcripts, to save codes and to save researchers’ memos, annotations of transcripts.

Discussion
Describe the overall findings of the study in your own words (discuss it as if you were talking to someone who had no idea what you read). Aim
for a maximum of 5-7sentences.

The respondents describe their child's diagnosis of ASD as a "crucible" for their relationship, that is, an extraordinary stressor which tested of
strength of the couple's relationship. This stress caused changes in the nature and quality of their relationship over time. Over time, couples
seemed to move through two relationship phases in response to the test of the crucible: (a) Tag Team - a phase in which the way the couple
interacted shifted to meet the needs of their child and (b) Deeper intimacy and commitment - a phase that allowed couples to give greater
attention to nurturing their relationship and allowed a renewed intimacy and connection between the couples. These phases aren't necessarily
linear, some couples describe moving back and forth between the phases.
ARTICLE CRITIQUE PART II

1. Describe the strengths and limitations of study with respect to trustworthiness based on the following:

Credibility (degree to which study’s findings and interpretations are authentic and represent the meaning of participants. Assess efforts
to control research reactivity and researcher bias)
Strengths: Used analyst triangulation: all three researchers participating in coding the data. Followed an established data analysis tradition of
grounded theory analysis (open, axial, selective coding).

Limitations:
- Short-term engagement with participants (no prolonged exposure) and a data collection method that could not be especially inconspicuous (face
to face interviewing and videotaping) means there may be some concern about research reactivity.
- No discussion or indication of reflexivity; no info on the authors’ positions/backgrounds and how that might influence their interpretation of
data.
- No evidence of member checking.
- Findings propose a model of changing relationships over time, but data were all collected at one time and rely on recollection.
- In most cases, couples were interviewed together, so may have had some respondent bias if one of the spouses did not feel safe to accurately or
completely speak his/her mind.

Transferability (degree to which findings are applicable or useful to theory, practice, and/or future research; degree to which findings
might fit situations outside the study)
Strengths:
Authors provided detailed information on several demographic variables to give context. Authors gave a detailed accounting of the limitations of
the methods and sample as it relates to transferability. Findings most likely to transfer to white, middle-class married heterosexual couples who
participate in ASD support groups. Authors describe how findings might relate to practice.

Limitations: Given the population of interest (parents of children with ASD) and sample, findings might be transferable/applicable to other parents
of children with ASD but study’s findings might not transfer well to urban, rural, low-income, or less well educated couples. Also may not
transfer well to parents in same-sex relationships or from other racial/cultural groups, or those couples who do not stay married.
Auditability (degree to which research procedures are documented, allowing an outside person to follow and critique the process)
Strengths:
Interviews were semi-structured, videotaped and transcribed
Authors describe creating an audit trail that included research notes, analytic memos and process recordings.
Peer debriefing: asked a qualitative researcher (not involved in the study) to review codes and discuss emerging hypothesis
The analytic process was clearly described in the article

Limitations: No major limitations were identified.

Confirmability (ability of others to confirm or corroborate the findings; demonstrate the findings/conclusions and data are clearly linked)
Strengths:
Audi trail including research notes, analytic memos and process recordings.
Described searching for confirming and disconfirming examples in the transcripts/codes (negative case analysis).
Peer debriefing: asked a qualitative researcher (not involved in the study) to review codes and discuss emerging hypothesis
Description of findings clearly links the data (participants actual words, e.g., “sink or swim” “make or break”) to the analytic process and findings

Limitations:
- No evidence of member checking.

2. A. Describe the new knowledge you gained from this article related to social work practice (i.e. What might you do differently and/or think about
in your own social work practice having read this article?)

Answers here will vary. Possible answers might related to: impact of stressors on a couple's relationship; impact of an ASD diagnosis on the
family unit; importance of providing support for couples when receiving an ASD diagnosis for their child; need for parent support
interventions/support networks; importance of assessing for couple's relationship quality when working with ASD families. Many other answers
are possible!

B. Comment on the overall quality of the study and its applicability to social work practice.

The study’s questions and methods are well grounded and the authors employed many techniques to increase the trustworthiness of the
research. The study is very applicable to social work practice as it involves a vulnerable population and social workers practice in the area of
ASD and couples therapy. The article provides information that could help practitioners normalize the change in relationship quality for
couples who are experiencing this life stressor.

[NOTE TO THE CLASS: QUESTIONS #3 AND #4 REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE A JUDGMENT AND JUSTIFY IT. THE KEY IS NOT IN FINDING
“WHAT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER” BUT RATHER, IN BEING ABLE TO JUSTIFY YOUR ASSESSMENT. REFER TO THE NAM & TOLMAN
CRITIQUE FOR AN EXAMPLE OF HOW I WOULD COMPLETE THIS SECTION.]

3. Overall, how would you assess the extent to which the study addressed issues of …

Not At All To a Very Little Extent To Some Extent To a Great Extent

a. Social justice O O O O
b. Cultural competence O O O O
c. Protection of human subjects O O O O
d. Social work ethics O O O O
4. Provide a justification and evidence to support your assessment for each of the four areas assessed above:

a. Social Justice:

b. Cultural Competence:

c. Protection of Human Subjects:

d. Social Work Ethics: