¶ … goal of this research is to identify interventions that can reduce the risk of negative outcomes for at-risk youth. The basis for the analysis will rely on prior literature on parenting styles, co-parenting conflicts, and also child pre-disposition to violence. A literature review is the initial research design, with the goal of explaining the nature of the problem and the variables involved (Blakstad, n.d.). The research may progress into two further stages, including an exploratory and primarily qualitative phase. Subsequent to the exploratory research, a pilot study with longitudinal design may be warranted, but experimental designs are not indicated in a project of this nature. Because the research is currently exploratory in nature, as it is in the early stages, several descriptive research designs would be highly appropriate. Three of the descriptive research designs that would be appropriate to this dissertation in particular include Case Study and Descriptive Research. Later stages of the research would build on the exploratory and descriptive design, and may include a pilot study with a longitudinal focus (DeVaus, 2006).

A case study research design may be one of the most appropriate types of methodology for this current dissertation. Case studies allow for the testing of pre-determined models or interventions, and encourage in-depth description of observable changes and results. Because we are dealing with individual lives, it would be irresponsible to reduce...

Therefore, case studies permit a holistic enquiry rooted in qualitative research methodology. The drawbacks to case study are clear and include a lack of external validity and also the potential for researcher bias. Yet social scientists must rely on case studies, which can have a "strong impact" on policy and other results-oriented research (Shuttleworth, n.d., p. 1).
Methods of conducting a case study would be to apply specific intervention programs, such as positive parenting classes, on selected research participants in the target population. Thorough and naturalistic observations will allow the researcher to study the detailed nuances of the intervention effects, and also trace the results of the intervention over a long period of time. A case study is also flexible in that it allows the researcher to simultaneously conduct other types of research designs using methods such as surveys.

The case study can be combined with other types of descriptive research examining the results of specific interventions in at-risk youth and their families. The advantages of descriptive research designs include the ability for the researcher to remain detached and naturalistic, thereby reducing the potential for bias. Using a cohort research design, the researcher foc uses on the at-risk communities of interest. Narrowing the participant population according to demographics would allow the researcher to make some conclusions as to…