Question

2.5. explain how sociologists use existing sources for research and identify this methods key strengths and weaknesses.
peter stearns (2004) consulted various existing sources for his book anxious parents: a history of modern childrearing in america. what did he find?
being held responsible for their childrens protection from endless sources of harm, many parents experienced a sense of empowerment that increased steadily over the course of the twentieth century.
while children were once viewed as self - sufficient mini adults, beginning in the late 1800s children were seen as particularly vulnerable.
stearns work may have predicted the advent of todays \deadbeat dads,\ fathers who are not involved in their childrens lives.
meanings of childhood have remained relatively stable over time.

Explanation:

Peter Stearns' work in Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America analyzed historical and existing sources. The key points from the provided text are:

• Parental Empowerment: Parents felt more empowered over the 20th century due to their responsibility for protecting children from harm.
• Changing View of Children: From seeing children as self - sufficient mini - adults (pre - late 1800s) to viewing them as vulnerable (late 1800s onwards).

Answer:

Peter Stearns found that parents experienced increased empowerment over the 20th century as they were held responsible for protecting children from harm, and that children's perception changed from being seen as self - sufficient mini - adults (before the late 1800s) to being vulnerable (from the late 1800s).