Research Findings: This within-group exploratory sequential
mixed-methods investigation sought to identify how ethnically diverse,
urban-residing, low-income Black families conceptualize positive parenting. During
the item development phase 119 primary caregivers from Head Start programs
participated in focus groups and interviews. These qualitative data were content
analyzed using a 3-stage ... read moreiterative process that resulted in the development of a
final set of 72 items for a paper-and-pencil measure. In the measure validation
phase of the study initial construct validity of the 72-item measure was assessed
with an independent sample of 665 respondents. Common factor analyses revealed 5
dimensions of positive parenting on the Black Parenting Strengths in Context scale
that related in expected ways with other parent self-report measures. Practice or
Policy: Black Parenting Strengths in Context dimensions provide initial support
for a more nuanced operationalization of positive parenting than currently exists
in any single scale for use with this group and hold promise for better honoring
the culture- and context-specific parenting goals and practices that low-income
Black parents subjectively view as important for producing healthy developmental
outcomes for their children.read less
Christine M. McWayne, Jacqueline S. Mattis, Linnie E. Green Wright, Maria Cristina Limlingan & Elise Harris (2017) An Emic, Mixed-Methods Approach to Defining and Measuring Positive Parenting Among Low-Income Black Families, Early Education and Development, 28:2, 182-206, DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2016.1208601.