A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations

dc.contributor.authorBrandt, R
dc.contributor.authorDawes, A
dc.contributor.authorAfrica, A
dc.contributor.authorSwartz, L
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-05T09:12:58Z
dc.date.available2017-04-05T09:12:58Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.date.updated2016-01-08T07:58:19Z
dc.description.abstractThe key objective of this study was to examine empirically the substantive issues that inform psychologists' decision-making in custody evaluations. The study draws on a relatively small convenience sample of 39 reports from eight different psychologists who represented key informants in the field in Cape Town. Jameson, Ehrenberg and Hunter's (1997) Best Interests of the Child Assessment model was revised and used as a template for a thematic content analysis. The results of the study indicate that psychologists tend to adopt a child-centred approach, with the child's basic and developmentally related needs ranked as the most commonly employed criterion (reflected in 95% of reports). The child's rights and wishes were reflected in 54% of the reports, and socio-economic resources were the lowest-ranked criterion, reflected in only 18% of the reports. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the need to formulate the implications of a child rights orientation, to negotiate referral questions and to adapt report writing styles to the legal-judicial context. Further, the implications of the findings for future research and professional practice are discussed and recommendations made.
dc.identifier.apacitationBrandt, R., Dawes, A., Africa, A., & Swartz, L. (2004). A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations. <i>South African Journal of Psychology</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24159en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBrandt, R, A Dawes, A Africa, and L Swartz "A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations." <i>South African Journal of Psychology</i> (2004) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24159en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBrandt, R., Dawes, A., Africa, A., & Swartz, L. (2004). A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations. South African Journal of Psychology, 34(2), 259-282.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Brandt, R AU - Dawes, A AU - Africa, A AU - Swartz, L AB - The key objective of this study was to examine empirically the substantive issues that inform psychologists' decision-making in custody evaluations. The study draws on a relatively small convenience sample of 39 reports from eight different psychologists who represented key informants in the field in Cape Town. Jameson, Ehrenberg and Hunter's (1997) Best Interests of the Child Assessment model was revised and used as a template for a thematic content analysis. The results of the study indicate that psychologists tend to adopt a child-centred approach, with the child's basic and developmentally related needs ranked as the most commonly employed criterion (reflected in 95% of reports). The child's rights and wishes were reflected in 54% of the reports, and socio-economic resources were the lowest-ranked criterion, reflected in only 18% of the reports. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the need to formulate the implications of a child rights orientation, to negotiate referral questions and to adapt report writing styles to the legal-judicial context. Further, the implications of the findings for future research and professional practice are discussed and recommendations made. DA - 2004 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1177/008124630403400206 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Journal of Psychology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2004 T1 - A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations TI - A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24159 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24159
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1177/008124630403400206
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBrandt R, Dawes A, Africa A, Swartz L. A thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations. South African Journal of Psychology. 2004; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24159.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Psychology
dc.source.urihttps://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/afr/south-african-journal-of-psychology/journal202212
dc.titleA thematic content analysis of psychologists' reports in child custody evaluations
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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