RESEARCH AND THEORY CHAPTER 2 * RESEARCHMeans to study thoroughly through the process of scholarly or scientific inquiry. Social science research studiesHuman societyRelationships SCIENTIFIC METHODFormulate questions (hypotheses) Seek answers (studies)QuantitativeCount, measureQualitativeVerbal, written 8 STEPS IN THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Topic Question Conceptualization Definitions Method Population Data Apply 1. Choosing the research topicVariable:Characteristic measured in a study(Independent vs dependent)Correlations:Show relationships between variables in a studyIMPORTANT: CORRELATIONS DO NOT PROVE CAUSE AND EFFECT 2. Creating the research question/ THE HYPOTHESISLiterature ReviewHYPOTHESIS:A speculative statement about a variable or the relationship between variables 3. ConceptualizationList of all the concepts (or constructs) under investigation Can put abstract concepts into concrete terms 4. Using operational/empirical definitionsDescription of the concept/construct being studied 5. Choosing the research method: Four Common in Family Research 1. SURVEYSSample—Group of peopleResponse RateValidity 2. OBSERVATIONS 3. CASE STUDIES 4. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Experimental Group Control Group 6. Population and samplingPopulation=Whole groupSample=Selected group out of whole groupProbability/randomNon-probability/not randomRepresentativenessSample size 7. Data: Collecting, processing, analyzing Ask about sample size and representativeness Response rate 50%+ adequateAsk about “confounding variables” 8. Applying research findingsConferenceJournal—professional, peer reviewedInform policy developmentInform program development RESEARCH ETHICSInstitutional Review Board (Human Subjects Committee)SafetyInformed consentPrivacy/confidentialityResearch integrity--truth Family Research PerspectiveStructural FunctionalismInstrumental RolesExpressive RolesStructures-patterns of role arrangementsFocused on nuclear familyGrandfather of family theories THEORYA general principle that is used to understand or to explain events SOME THEORIES USED IN FAMILY RESEARCH Ecological Family Development Conflict Family Systems Symbolic Interaction Social Exchange 1. Ecological Theory Covered in Chapter 1 2. Family Development Theory PHASES/STAGESDEVELOPMENTAL TASKSOn-timeOff-timeHEALTHY FAMILIES ADAPT OVER TIME 3. Conflict Theory Conflict normal and predictableUnderstand sources of conflictUnderstand sources of power 4. Family Systems TheoryIs application of the General Systems Theory to families Wholeness: Must look at whole family Interconnections: Interactions between family members Behaviors affected by others in familyMORE IN CHAPTER 3 5. Symbolic Interaction TheoryCONTINUOUS OBSERVATION AND REACTIONS TO OTHERSFocus on communicationVerbal and non-verbalMORE IN CHAPTER 3 6. Social Exchange TheoryCosts vs. RewardsDrawn to relationships that are rewardingAvoid relationsh ...

1. RESEARCH
AND
THEORY
CHAPTER 2
*
RESEARCHMeans to study thoroughly through the process of
scholarly or scientific inquiry.
Social science research studiesHuman societyRelationships
SCIENTIFIC METHODFormulate questions (hypotheses)
Seek answers (studies)QuantitativeCount,
measureQualitativeVerbal, written
8 STEPS IN THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Topic
Question

2. Conceptualization
Definitions
Method
Population
Data
Apply
1. Choosing the research topicVariable:Characteristic measured
in a study(Independent vs dependent)Correlations:Show
relationships between variables in a studyIMPORTANT:
CORRELATIONS DO NOT PROVE CAUSE AND EFFECT
2. Creating the research question/ THE HYPOTHESISLiterature
ReviewHYPOTHESIS:A speculative statement about a variable
or the relationship between variables
3. ConceptualizationList of all the concepts (or constructs)
under investigation
Can put abstract concepts into concrete terms
4. Using operational/empirical definitionsDescription of the
concept/construct being studied
5. Choosing the research method:
Four Common in Family Research

3. 1. SURVEYSSample—Group of peopleResponse RateValidity
2. OBSERVATIONS
3. CASE STUDIES
4. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Experimental Group Control Group
6. Population and samplingPopulation=Whole
groupSample=Selected group out of whole
groupProbability/randomNon-probability/not
randomRepresentativenessSample size
7. Data: Collecting, processing, analyzing
Ask about sample size and representativeness Response rate
50%+ adequateAsk about “confounding variables”
8. Applying research findingsConferenceJournal—professional,
peer reviewedInform policy developmentInform program
development
RESEARCH ETHICSInstitutional Review Board (Human
Subjects Committee)SafetyInformed
consentPrivacy/confidentialityResearch integrity--truth

4. Family Research PerspectiveStructural
FunctionalismInstrumental RolesExpressive RolesStructures-
patterns of role arrangementsFocused on nuclear
familyGrandfather of family theories
THEORYA general principle that is used to understand or to
explain events
SOME THEORIES USED IN FAMILY RESEARCH
Ecological
Family Development
Conflict
Family Systems
Symbolic Interaction
Social Exchange
1. Ecological Theory
Covered in Chapter 1
2. Family Development Theory
PHASES/STAGESDEVELOPMENTAL TASKSOn-timeOff-
timeHEALTHY FAMILIES ADAPT OVER TIME

5. 3. Conflict Theory
Conflict normal and predictableUnderstand sources of
conflictUnderstand sources of power
4. Family Systems TheoryIs application of the General Systems
Theory to families
Wholeness: Must look at whole family
Interconnections: Interactions between family members
Behaviors affected by others in familyMORE IN CHAPTER 3
5. Symbolic Interaction TheoryCONTINUOUS OBSERVATION
AND REACTIONS TO OTHERSFocus on communicationVerbal
and non-verbalMORE IN CHAPTER 3
6. Social Exchange TheoryCosts vs. RewardsDrawn to
relationships that are rewardingAvoid relationships that are
costly
WOMEN’S STUDIES (Feminist)
Marxist: Oppression of women Radical: Patriarchy causes
oppression and violence
against womenLiberal: Inequality focusLesbian:
Oppression of lesbians focusWomen of Color: Sexism,
classism, racism

6. MEN’S STUDIESShifting view of masculinityMen’s/Fathers’
RightsDomestic ViolenceWar effectsTrauma effects
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Infancy 0-2WalkTalkTrust: form emotional bonds
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Early Childhood 2-6The Play YearsLearn
skillsPHYSICALCOGNITIVESOCIALEMOTIONAL
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Middle Childhood 7-12The School YearsFriendsAchievement
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Adolescence 13-21IdentityPeers
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Early Adulthood 22-34

7. Emotionally mature, adult relationshipsChildren
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Middle Adulthood 35-60ActivelyRaising childrenHaving careers
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Late Middle Age 60-74Passing the torchRetirement
HUMAN LIFE CYCLE
Late Adulthood 75+LegacyLimitations
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
Pairing Fusing as a couple
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
ChildbearingCreation
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE

8. School Age parenting Nurturing
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
Families with Adolescents Boundary setting
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
Family as Launching GroundLetting go
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
Middle Years ReviewingReappraising
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
Aging Facing mortality
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATIONSTUDY
OFMARRIAGEFAMILYINTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
First one：
DIRECTIONS:
· Use references to the text.
· Include a Reference Page citation at the end of each post.

9. · Use APA format to cite the text and do so several times in
both your original post and your responses to other students.
· You must have an original post and at least one response post
to be considered for full points.
· Proofread for basic grammar and clarity.
· The best posts will apply the class material throughout.
(Your response posts should be closer in length to your original
posts, not drastically shorter. Avoid evaluative statements
such as "I liked your post" and focus on details from the post
explaining how it relates to chapter material.)
PROMPT:
After you have thoroughly read and studied the material in the
text and listened to the recorded lecture, develop your own idea
for a topic for research in the field of family development. You
can look through the text for some ideas or come up with your
own. You will then take that topic through the 8 steps in the
scientific method. First explain the step using text information,
then describe how it will apply to the topic you suggested to be
researched. Take great care to be as clear as you can so that
other students will understand what you wish to research and
how. When you respond to other students, you will comment
upon their research topic and describe how you think it is
similar or different from your own using details from the 8
steps.
Click on BB #1 Posting and then Create Thread to get started.
Second One:
Compare and contrast the six theories used in family research
that are described in the text, slides and recorded lecture by
putting text material into your own words (or if you use a direct
quote, use an appropriate APA citation to the text). The highest
points for this essay will go to those who go above and beyond
just summarizing the text and continue by synthesizing the
material adding thoughts and examples of their own.