Expanding knowledge about the implementation and observational-evaluation tools for a coparenting research-intervention program

• Grant number: 19/11637-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 09, 2019
• End date: January 20, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Joan Barham
• Grantee: Lívia Lira de Lima Guerra
• Supervisor: Mark Ethan Feinberg
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Pennsylvania State University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/26295-8 - Intervention program on coparenting for couples during the transition to parenthood, BP.DR

Abstract

The overall objective of the proposed research internship is to participate in an international research program in the coparenting area, to significantly improve the quality of the execution of my doctoral research project, in Brazil. This internship will allow me to expand my knowledge concerning longitudinal intervention-study procedures, observational techniques, quantitative data-analysis methods, and the implementation of a high-quality coparenting intervention program. Coparenting refers to the relationship between parents, or other parental figures, to deal with the demands involved in raising a child. This relationship is an important focus for the development of intervention programs, considering evidence that indicates positive impacts of a constructive coparenting relationship on family functioning and child development. Furthermore, based on a systematic review of evaluation research on coparenting programs, the Family Foundations program emerges as one of the best coparenting programs currently in use. One of the few opportunities to gain first-hand experience in conducting research-intervention programs on coparenting is offered at the Pennsylvania State University, where the Family Foundations program was developed and continues to be evaluated. In addition to the intervention program itself, it is also important to gain experience in working with the observational instruments that are being used to evaluate the coparenting relationship. To meet my overall goal, the specific aims of this internship project are to: (a) accompany a research-intervention program focused on coparenting during the transition to parenthood, involving both pre-natal and post-natal sessions, (b) learn how to work with the observational and self-report data collection tools being used to evaluate the effects of the Family Foundations program, (c) learn about logistical issues of this research center, that enable them to conduct transversal and longitudinal studies to evaluate the effects of the Family Foundations intervention program on the quality of coparenting interactions, (d) write an article in collaboration with my supervisors and other members of the Family Foundations research group.