Use of the Prep Method for Strengthening Marriage and Avoiding Divorce

This assignment is entirely my own work except where I have duly acknowledged other sources in the text and listed those sources. The word count for this assignment meets the requirements as described in the Task Description. I have not previously submitted this work to the HCT. I understand that I may be orally examined on my submission.

Title: Fighting for your marriage a deluxe revised edition of the classic best seller for enhancing marriage and preventing divorce

Abstract:

The study was done to assess the effective use of the PREP method for strengthening marriage and avoiding divorce. The book focuses on marriage enhancement and divorce prevention, featuring the latest research and changes of heart in our culture and society in general. The book mainly puts more focus on the PREP method approach (prevention and relationship enhancement program). Experts have pointed out that couples can use the strategies outlined in the PREP approach to handling conflicts in marriages more effectively. The author of the book states that couples can use this approach to solving marriage conflicts more constructively, protecting their source of happiness in their marriage, and reducing the general chances of breaking up.

References

Markman, H., Stanley, S., & Blumberg, S. (2010). Fighting for your marriage a deluxe revised edition of the classic best seller for enhancing marriage and preventing divorce. San Francisco: John Wiley.

Section 3

Population

The book study approach was based on more than twenty years of university research exploring the best ways on how to apply the PREP (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement program) to any marriage. The approach explains to couples how they can talk more and fight less, working on different ways of deepening and protecting their friendship as well s keeping the fun alive in the marriage. The study reveals what it takes for couples to have a more intimate, sensual relationship and how they can seek clarity while acting on priorities. The authors have included a variety of methods and down-to-earth guidance techniques for all couples who seek to promote greater character and pleasure in their long-term relationships.

Research approach

A qualitative approach was used in the study as the results of the study were not presented in a numerical manner. The authors of the book took more than three decades to research on the union of marriage, in the end concluding that what makes a marriage is the ability of the couples to handle differences that they may have while being together. What destroys most marriages is that couples focus more on the differences that they have instead of focusing on how they could handle the differences. The results show how the PREP method is effective when used to prevent divorces in marriages. The authors of the book used some techniques to explain the effectiveness of the PREP method while at the same time assisting the reader on how to promote greater character and pleasure in their long-term relationships with their partners.

Results

The book explains that most Marriages unions today do require more skills to be used in communication, managing conflicts and negotiation between partners than ever before. The author continues to explain that couples engage in negotiations while in marriage because they can see the positive part of the process. The book also explains that couples have a lot of expectations from each other. The author challenges couples to engage themselves in active behaviors, even if they are not happening naturally in the relationship. The author also explains that couples can use the power of negatives to defeat the negatives that creep into a marriage and destroy it. The authors of the book concluded that most divorces and marital unhappiness can be prevented if only couples learn to work together to build and protect their relationship.

Ranking: best

The findings of the article show that most marriages lead to divorce because couples focus more on their differences instead of focusing on how to handle each other's differences. The book also explains in detail on how to enhance marriage and preventing divorce. The book is also useful as it explains to couples on how engaging in positive behaviors changes their marriages for the better, especially when the positive behaviors are not happening naturally in the marriage. By helping couples focus more on their positives than their negatives, the author helps them in learning how to use positives to defeat negatives. The author goes on to explain that both the husband and the wife should view a marriage union as a team, arguing that most conflicts in a marriage result from couples taking a "me against you stance," a practice that creates conflicts among couples.

Article 3

Section 1

Source: HCT Libraries page>databases> general research/ multidiscipline

Search terms: Drug abuse

Section 2

Title: Drug abuse: opposing viewpoints /

Abstract

The book studies the lives of American drug users and concludes that the use of illegal drugs in American costs the country billions of shillings while leading to a lot of suffering. One type of suffering that is brought by drug abuse is divorce which occurs in marriages whereby one or both spouses is addicted to drugs. Drug abuse is addictive and in most cases after divorce, the partner who is abusing drugs is denied the custody of the children.

References

Roleff, T. L. (2005). Drug abuse: opposing viewpoints . Farmington Hills: Greenhaven press.

Section 3

Population

The book generally took the American population as a sample, analyzing how the population has been affected by the effects of drug abuse. The book also discusses various causes of drug abuse and addiction, drug testing, and drug treatment. The book goes on to explain the effects of drug abuse, focusing on divorces in marriages were partners are addicted to drugs.

Research approach

The book uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches, but mainly dwells on the side of quantitative research. Qualitative research is not used much since the research does not contain any values that need to be presented in a numerical way. The data obtained showed that as many as 19 million Americans abuse drugs and that it has led to a lot of suffering among the general population. The suffering affected people who were also not abusing drugs but they had close people who were doing so. For example in a marriage, when one spouse abuses drugs it means that the other spouse will be affected even though they are not using drugs. Children also fall victims because their parents are abusing drugs.

Results

The results of the research showed that 19 million Americans abuse drugs and the phenomenon have caused many of them to suffer dire consequences. The authors of the research point out that divorce in marriages that had drug related issues were prevalent, with 9 out of 10 marriages failing in the end and the couples getting a divorce. Couples who were interviewed revealed that they would divorce their life partners if one day they realized that they were abusing drugs.

Participant selection

The book uses the entire American population to research about the effects of drug abuse on the American population, and found out that most divorces in marriages were as a result of one spouse or both of them abusing drugs.

Ranking: Medium

The book findings are clearly analyzed and discussed as the author uses different cases and scenarios to show how drug abuse is causing suffering. The only disadvantage with the article is that the author used a large sample to conduct the research meaning that they did not get to the core of the matter. It would have been better if the author had used a small sample of the population, such as a town or small portion of an urban area. The advantage with using a large sample means that the results are not biased as the entire population sample is covered.

Article 3

Section 1

Source: HCT Libraries page>databases> general research/ multidiscipline

Search terms: retirement planning

Section 2

Title: Essentials of retirement planning: a holistic review of personal retirement planning issues and employer-sponsored plans /

Abstract

The book provides some discussions no how a reader can understand the financial side o=f the retirement planning. Retirement planning is very important if couples want to have a better and happy life after they retire from active duty. The article conducted the research and found out that of all the marriages that break after the age of retirement, retirement has something to do with it. Planning for retirement is essential as it has a direct impact on the type of life that couples want to have in the future.

References

Robbins, E. (2015). Essentials of retirement planning: a holistic review of personal retirement planning issues and employer-sponsored plans / . Business Expert Press, 375-380.

Population

The research used population of about ten retired couples and five couple who are about to retire. The ten retired couples were meant to share their experiences regarding how life of finances is after retirement and how they made their plans before retiring. The other five couples are meant to show what plans couple make when they are heading towards retirement.

Research approach

The research approach used in the research is not clear whether it is a structured (qualitative) or semi structured (quantitative) approach, it interviews couples to show how they are making plans for retirement, or they made those plans before. The research approach used does not cover the whole data that is needed because it is not structured and also the qualitative research does not have a qualitative approach in the whole research.

Results

The research explains the information one needs to understand when they are planning for retirement and not only the financial side of it. The book details about the different retirement plans that are available to employees, whether they are in employment or businesses. The book also explains to readers the benefits of planning their retirement early. The authors also detail how readers can choose the most effective retirement plans and chose them wisely.

Ranking: Medium

The book provides research that is very useful to readers for them to understand the various retirement plans that are available and how they can go about them. Despite this, the research fails to point out the exact benefits of early retirement plans, shying away from providing the reader with a comprehensive investment advice. The book leaves a lot of information that could have been otherwise very useful to the reader who wants to make an in investment choice.