Critique of The adoption of Indian Children by Norwegian parent

This paper is a critical review of Groza and Chenot 2004’s journal, The adoption of Indian children by Norwegian Parents, published by Case Western Reserve University, retrieved from http://msass.case.edu/downloads/vgroza/Final_Report_Norway_adoptions.pdf. This paper discusses the journal’s strength and weaknesses, accuracy of the presented information, and writing styles as used by the two scholars. The paper summarizes by presenting my opinion on the effectiveness of the journal in contributing a new idea to the field, and outlines the sections of the journal that need improvements.

In summary, the journal outlines advantages and drawbacks of child adoption through analysis of child adoption by Norwegian parents. The journal focuses on Indian child. The journal records that child adoption is as a result of various reasons. According to Groza and Chenot 2004 journal, some parents adopt children to help them, some due to sympathy, others due to homelessness as a result of parent’s death, and yet other due to infertility. In India, as the journal records, most children are adopted after they are left due to poverty, and disagreements between parents for example, when one partner becomes too demanding.

Researchers and reference materials

The journal’s heavily referenced literature review (with more than 190 journals) adds to its credibility. Most of the cited authors have experience in research the journal’s author himself, Victor Groza, has published more than eight peer reviewed journals. The other example is Tizard B., whose three books feature in this research. The study commences by reviewing the existing literature on international adoptions in Norway and India to set the stage for the research. This gives the researcher a wider perspective and various ideas of what is required and how possible the correct data should be collected. The fact that this journal has been reviewed by various specialists and published on Case Western Reserve University’s website indicates that it is acceptable, accurate, and credible.

Research design

The central theme of the journal is to illuminate how Norwegian parents adopt children in India. The journal transitions from the issues Norwegian parents face in connection to child adoption before and during adoption to issues faced after adoption. The research observed that there were few concerns regarding children’s health, education and some children felt lonely in Norwegian parents’ hands. In this sense, the journal covers prior to post adoption stage. This ensures that the whole adoption period by Norwegian parents is thoroughly covered and fully explored. The primary data collection technique employed in the journal ensures that the primary experience of adopting children and Norwegian parents are noted and hence contributing to research credibility.

The other strength of the journal is the research organizations. The study is organized as the authors started by carrying out a pilot test, prior to actual data collection. All the errors noted during the pilot study were corrected thereafter. The primary data collection method employed ensured that respective Norwegian families and adopted children were directly reached minimizing reliance on secondary data when making conclusions. The high number of the sampled respondents (276) was a measure to ensure that the collected data was a correct representation of the entire area and so the information could be generalized to the entire area as a general experience. Apart from allowing the respondents to freely fill the questionnaires, the two researchers sent reminders to ensure that most participants filled the questionnaire. The questionnaires, since there was no probing the respondents filled the information freely and openly without push and so the information collected were free from the researcher’s opinions and assumptions. The collected data is accurate and conclusions made are credible.

192 children from 142 families returned the filled questionnaires, and this represented 52% as the response rate. According to the researcher’s this was considered good for different reasons. The low response rate as noted by other researchers affects the research outcome. This is one of the weaknesses of this research.

Data Analysis and Result

On the result and analysis, the two researchers make a mistake by using the same questionnaire used in the United States when conducting similar research. This is contrary to various scholars’ arguments that each research is distinct in its objectives and target population. This rules out that the pre-assumption made by Groza and Chenot that the same questionnaire could be fully applicable to India as well the United States. This is one weakness of this study (Groza and the Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra Research Team, 2002).

The study employed very high rated techniques for instance Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Behavioral and Emotional Rating scale (BERS) and the Parenting Scale. These standards have been used in various success surveys and research and could yield accurate results in this study.

Summary

In summary, though there were few mistakes and made by the researchers and drawbacks experienced, the research was complete and successful. The researchers do not only have great experience but also employed various research techniques to see the research was reliable, credible and information presented therein was accurate. This journal is effective in contributing a new idea to the field.

Works Cited

Groza, V., and Chenot, D., 2003. The Adoption of Indian Children by Norwegian Parents. Case Western Reserve University.

Groza, V. and the Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra Research Team. (2002). A Study of Indian Families Adopting Indian Children. Prepared for Holt International Children’s Services, Eugene, Oregon and Pune, India.

Tizard, B., & Rees, J. (1974). A comparison of the effects of adoption, restoration to the natural mother, and continued institutionalization on the cognitive development of four year old children. Child Development, 45, 92-99.