Social scientists use several models and methods to study family development, including family development theory, family life cycle theory, and family life course model. Researchers employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods like experiments, surveys, observations, case studies, and ethnographies to study families scientifically while adhering to ethical standards. Theories like functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism provide frameworks to understand marriages and families. Researchers can study their own families using methods like a family worksheet.

1. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 2:
How to Study Marriage & the
Family

2. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
What Models & Methods Do Social Scientists Use in Assessing
the Development of Families?
Family Development Theory
• Proposes that families proceed through common,
identifiable stages
• Family Life Cycle
• a theory that identifies 8 specific stages for families
beginning after marriage
• Stratification – a division into similar layers or groups

3. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

4. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

5. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

6. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Family Life Course
– A model that focuses on how families integrate
changes over time & the meanings that individual
family members give to those changes
• Family Career
– The family experience of an individual over a
lifetime
– 4 Subcareers
– Marital subcareer
– Sexual Experience subcareer
– Parent-Child subcareer
– Marital Partners subcareer

7. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
Family Stressors

8. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Family Strengths
• Family Narrative – made up of family stories that are
told & retold to help define family history & character
• Common Factors in Strong Families across Cultures
– Micro-Social Perspective – focuses on individuals &
single family groups
– Macro-Social Perspective – focuses on groups of
families in the community or cultural level

9. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

10. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

11. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

12. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

13. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• The Scientific Method
• Hypothesis – a proposed
explanation of behavior
that is not proven but can
be tested
• Scientific Method – a
systematic approach to
observing phenomena,
drawing conclusions, &
testing hypotheses

14. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
– Uses the scientific method to test a specifically defined
hypothesis
– Uses numbers to describe & explain the issues being
studied
– Experiment
○ Independent Variable – the factor that is
manipulated by the researcher
○ Dependent Variable – the factor that is affected by
the independent variable
○ Control Variable – factors that remain constant
across experimental subjects & through
experimental trials

15. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods Continued
• Quantitative Research Methods Continued
– Surveys
○ Usually involve closed questions
– Observations
○ Must serve a specific research purpose
○ Must be planned systematically
○ Must be recorded systematically
○ Must be related to general principles rather
than specific examples
○ Must be checked for reliability & validity

16. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods Continued
• Quantitative Research Methods Continued
– Observations Continued
Longitudinal Study – subjects are observed over a long period of time
○ Cross-Cultural Study – subjects from two or more
cultures are studied
– Secondary Data Analysis
○ Uses studies that have already been completed &
analyzes the data in ways not originally planned

17. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods Continued
• Qualitative Research Methods
– Examines & interprets an issue to discover
underlying meanings or patterns of relationships
– Uses words, pictures, or objects to describe the
issues being studied
– Case Study
○ An intensive study of a single case or a small
number of cases that share common
characteristics
○ May be exploratory, explanatory, or descriptive

18. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods Continued
• Qualitative Research Methods Continued
– Ethnography
○ Attempts to understand a group from the point
of view of its member
– Focus Group
○ Small group brought together by a researcher
to discuss a particular subject

19. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Get the Topic
• Research Methods Continued
• Ethical: Act without conflict to the accepted principles
of right and wrong that govern the behavior of a
profession
– Code of Ethics
○ Professional competence
○ Integrity
○ Professional and scientific responsibility
○ Respect for people’s rights, dignity, and
diversity
○ Social responsibility

20. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

21. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Think Marriages & Families
What Theories Guide Researchers in Studying Marriages &
Families?
• Functionalism
• Emphasis on the relationship between families &
society
• Conflict Theory
• Emphasis on conflicts created by inequalities & power
relationships
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Emphasis on ways family interaction change &
meanings

22. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

23. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

24. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.

25. Copyright 2013 Pearson All Rights Reserved.
Discover Marriages & Families in Action
What Research Can You Do in Your Own Family?
• A Family Worksheet