Abstract
For some time, the incorporation of family therapy in adolescent residential settings has been found to be related to improved outcomes. Nevertheless, there is an insufficient amount of research focusing specifically on the family therapy realm of residential treatment for adolescents. In an effort to address the problem of limited research within the field, this paper provides descriptions of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods that can be used in these settings. This paper takes the position that a scientist-practitioner approach may be most useful for expanding the literature on the subject. Furthermore, research questions that could be addressed are outlined, and studies that could be conducted to strengthen the place of family therapy in adolescent residential treatment are described. One of the difficulties associated with conducting such research is the diverse types of programs available. This paper offers a common language that can be used to describe each of the different types of settings. Throughout the paper, these descriptions facilitate the depiction of how research methods can be applied.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bandoroff, S., & Scherer, D. G. (1994). Wilderness family therapy: An innovative treatment approach for problem youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 3, 175–191.
Behrens E., & Satterfield, K. (2006). Report of findings from a multi-center study of youth outcomes in private residential treatment. In Proceedings of the annual convention of the American Psychological Association (pp. 1–21). New Orleans, LA: American Psychological Association.
Bryk, A. S., & Weisberg, H. I. (1977). Use of the nonequivalent control group design when subjects are growing. Psychological Bulletin, 84(5), 950. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.84.5.950.
Callaghan, R. C., Hathaway, A., Cunningham, J. A., Vettese, L. C., Wyatt, S., & Taylor, L. (2005). Does stage-of-change predict dropout in a culturally diverse sample of adolescents admitted to inpatient substance-abuse treatment? A test of the Transtheoretical Model. Addictive Behaviors, 30(9), 1834–1847.
Christenson, J. D., & Crane, D. R. (2014). Integrating costs into marriage and family therapy research. In R. B. Miller & L. N. Johnson (Eds.), Advanced methods in family therapy research: A focus on validity and change (pp. 420–436). New York: Routledge.
Crane, D. R., & Christenson, J. D. (2014). A summary report of cost-effectiveness: Recognizing the value of family therapy in health care. In J. Hodgson, A. Lamson, T. Mendenhall, & D. R. Crane (Eds.), Medical family therapy: Advanced applications (pp. 419–436). New York: Springer.
Crane, D. R., Wampler, K. S., Sprenkle, D. H., Sandberg, J. G., & Hovestadt, A. J. (2002). The scientist-practitioner model in marriage and family therapy doctoral programs: Current status. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28(1), 75–83. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2002.tb01175.
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Dalkey, N. (1969). An experimental study of group opinion: the Delphi method. Futures, 1(5), 408–426. doi:10.1016/S0016-3287(69)80025.
Dalkey, N., & Helmer, O. (1963). An experimental application of the Delphi method to the use of experts. Management Science, 9(3), 458–467.
Demmitt, A. D., & Joanning, H. (1998). A parent-based description of residential treatment. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 9(1), 47–66. doi:10.1300/J085V09N01_04.
Francis, G., & Hart, K. J. (1992). Depression and suicide. In V. B. Van Hasselt & D. J. Kolko (Eds.), Inpatient behavior therapy for children and adolescents (pp. 93–111). New York: Plenum Press.
Government Accountability Office. (2008). Residential facilities: State and federal oversight gaps may increase risk to youth well-being: Testimony before the committee of education and labor. Washington, D.C.: U.S. House of Representatives.
Grizenko, N., & Papineau, D. (1992). A comparison of the cost-effectiveness of day treatment and residential treatment for children with severe behaviour problems. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 37(6), 393–400.
Hair, H. J. (2005). Outcomes for children and adolescents after residential treatment: A review of research from 1993 to 2003. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 14(4), 551–575. doi:10.1007/s10826-005-7188-9.
Hambridge, K. (2000). Action research. Professional Nurse, 15, 598–601.
Harper, N. J., & Russell, K. C. (2008). Family involvement and outcome in adolescent wilderness treatment: A mixed-methods evaluation. International Journal of Child & Family Welfare, 1, 19–36.
Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of emergent methods. New York: Guilford Press.
Hockenberry, S., Sickmund, M., & Sladky, A. (2009). Juvenile residential facility census, 2006: Selected findings. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Hsu, C. C., & Sandford, B. A. (2007). The Delphi technique: Making sense of consensus. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 12(10), 1–8.
Jenkins, D. A., & Smith, T. E. (1994). Applying Delphi methodology in family therapy research. Contemporary Family Therapy, 16(5), 411–430. doi:10.1007/BF02197902.
Jenson, J. M., & Whittaker, J. K. (1987). Parental involvement in children’s residential treatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 9, 81–100. doi:10.1016/0190-7409(87)90011-9.
Kemp, C. J. (1971). Family therapy within the milieu of a residential treatment center. Child Welfare, 50, 229–235.
Klietz, S. J. (2007). Cost-benefit analysis of multisystemic therapy with serious and violent juvenile offenders (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Columbia, MO: University of Missouri.
Klietz, S. J., Borduin, C. M., & Schaeffer, C. M. (2010). Cost–benefit analysis of multisystemic therapy with serious and violent juvenile offenders. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(5), 657.
Koret, S. (1973). Family therapy as a therapeutic technique in residential treatment. Child Welfare, 52, 235–246.
Lakin, B. L., Brambila, A. D., & Sigda, K. B. (2004). Parental involvement as a factor in the readmission to a residential treatment center. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 22(2), 37–52. doi:10.1300/J007v22n02_03.
Lee, B. R. (2008). Defining residential treatment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 17(5), 689–692. doi:10.1007/s10826-007-9182-x.
Lee, B. R., & Barth, R. P. (2011). Defining group care programs: An index of reporting standards. Child & Youth Care Forum, 40, 253–266. doi:10.1007/s10566-011-9143-9.
Leichtman, M., Leichtman, M. L., Barber, C. C., & Neese, D. T. (2001). Effectiveness of intensive short-term residential treatment with severely disturbed adolescents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71(2), 227. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.71.2.227.
Lewin, K. (1958). Group decision and social change. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
Lyman, R. D., & Campbell, N. R. (1996). Treating children and adolescents in residential and inpatient settings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Lyons, J. S., Terry, P., Martinovich, Z., Peterson, J., & Bouska, B. (2001). Outcome trajectories for adolescents in residential treatment: A statewide evaluation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 10(3), 333–345. doi:10.1023/A:1012576826136.
McLendon, T., McLendon, D., & Hatch, L. (2012). Engaging families in the residential treatment process utilizing family-directed structural therapy. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 29, 66–77. doi:10.1080/0886571X.2012.643679.
Mendenhal, T. J., & Doherty, W. J. (2005). Action research methods in family therapy. In D. H. Sprenkle & F. P. Piercy (Eds.), Research methods in family therapy (2nd ed., pp. 100–118). New York: Guilford Press.
Mendenhall, T. J., Pratt, K., Phelps, K., Baird, M., & Younkin, F. (2014). Advancing medical family therapy through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. In J. Hodgson, A. Lamson, T. Mendenhall, & D. R. Crane (Eds.), Medical family therapy: Advanced applications (pp. 241–258). New York: Springer.
National Alliance of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (n.d.). Program definitions. Retrieved 24 September 2015. http://www.natsap.org/for-parents/programdefinitions/.
Ouimette, P. C., Finney, J. W., & Moos, R. H. (1997). Twelve-step and cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance abuse: A comparison of treatment effectiveness. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(2), 230.
Schoenwald, S. K., Ward, D. M., Henggeler, S. W., Pickrel, S. G., & Patel, H. (1996). Multisystemic therapy treatment of substance abusing or dependent adolescent offenders: Costs of reducing incarceration, inpatient, and residential placement. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 5(4), 431–444. doi:10.1007/BF02233864.
Spencer, S., & Powell, J. Y. (2000). Family-centered practice in residential treatment settings: A parent’s perspective. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 17(3), 33–43. doi:10.1300/J007v17n03_06.
Sprenkle, D. H., & Piercy, F. P. (2005). Research methods in family therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Springer, A. K., & Stahmann, R. F. (1998). Parent perception of the value of telephone family therapy when adolescents are in residential treatment. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 26(2), 169–176. doi:10.1080/01926189808251096.
Stage, S. A. (1999). Predicting adolescents’ discharge status following residential treatment. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 16(3), 37–56. doi:10.1300/J007v16n03_03.
Vaughn, C. F. (2005). Residential treatment centers: Not a solution for children with mental health needs. Clearinghouse Review Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, 39(3–4), 274.
Whittaker, J., & Pecora, P. (1984). A research agenda for residential care. In T. Philpot (Ed.), Group care practice: The challenge of the next decade (pp. 71–86). Surrey: Business Press International.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Christenson, J.D., Gutierrez, D.M. Using Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Research to Promote Family Therapy with Adolescents in Residential Settings. Contemp Fam Ther 38, 52–61 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-016-9374-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-016-9374-x