FROM : Disrupting Post-Separation Parental Conflict: The Role of Critical Reflection in Conflict Resolution

 

Response to first reviewer

 

Thank you. We have added the following to the abstract:

“The data for this research is drawn from the analysis of critical incidents - narrative accounts provided by practitioners reflecting on significant events.”

Thank you. We have revised the final introductory paragraph to concisely elaborate on our rationale and avoid redundancies, while migrating portions to the methodology section.

Thank you. This has now been expanded upon under the newly added “Approach” heading, as below guidance advised to remove repetition.

Thank you. We have amended the introductory section to reflect this suggestion and migrated portions to a new section.

Thank you. We have included this recommendation in our Persistent Interparental Conflict section and added the reference.

Thank you. We have divided the sections as recommended and added the following to the methodology section:

“The primary author employs the critical incident method outlined by Fook (2023), as a

 

research method (see Morley, 2008) in his Honor’s research to disrupt the persistent conflict he was engaged within and transform his co-parenting relationship. The second author supervised the research, facilitated and prompted reflective questioning, identified emergent themes, and guided discussions on the findings and contributions to social work knowledge and practice, thereby providing “a more comprehensive and holistic analysis given that critical reflection relies to some degree on the generation of multiple perspectives” (Morley, 2008, p.272). This collaborative process ensured that the analysis remained rigorous and critically reflective.”

 

Thank you. We have amended the section as follows:

“A limitation of employing critical reflection as a methodology is its inherently subjective nature and its reliance on the specific contexts in which it is applied. The findings of this research are deeply rooted in my own experiences as a divorced father navigating post-separation co-parenting challenges. These insights, while valuable, are not universally applicable or easily replicable by other researchers. Therefore, this study does not aim to produce a generalized “how-to” guide for practice within family law contexts.”

 

Thank you. We have added the following to the introduction:

“Amidst these dynamics, and despite evidence that fathers independently contribute to their child(ren)’s wellbeing and development, their roles are often underrepresented in parenting research, as Cabrera et al. (2018) highlight. As those authors note, this underrepresentation is also pronounced in post-separation literature, where a focus on mothers as primary caregivers, and fathers as economic providers sideline their contributions.”

 

Thank you. We have added:

“At the time of writing, I did not have any pre-formed analysis in mind. The reflective process involved revisiting the experience withoutpreconceived interpretations, allowing the deconstruction phase to shape my understanding. This ensured transparency, as the analysis emerged organically through the deconstruction, rather than being influenced by prior conclusions.”

Thank you. Critical reflection sits within the critical post-structural realm and the theories we draw on are identified in the methodology. The analysing process is now identified as inductive in “Approach” headed paragraph.

 

Thank you. We identified some of the issues in the literature review, so we are seeking alternatives to the traditional way that currently exists. It is expected there will be many alternatives to the current single way.

 

Thank you. We have added the following:

“Ultimately, the value of this research lies in its demonstration of how critical reflection can disrupt persistent interparental conflict by addressing underlying legal, gendered, and discursive influences that exacerbate conflict and disempower parents. It highlights the limitations of traditional conflict resolution approaches and advocates for restorative practices that focus on healing and collaboration, rather than legal entanglement. For conflict to reach its generative potential, it requires us to engage in critical reflection.”

Thank you. We have changed the wording so that this section is easier to understand and relevant to the paper.

 

 

Response to second reviewer

Thank you. We have amended the manuscript by removing references to behaviour and emotive aspects. We hope this will be satisfactory, but we would appreciate any specific guidance if further adjustments are needed.