Chapter 2

Exploring Relationships and

Families

Chapter Outline

Science: Transcending Personal

Experience

Theoretical Perspectives on the Family

Science: Transcending

Personal Experience

The Blinders of Personal Experience

Personal experience must be combined with

scientific inquiry.

The Blinders of Personal

Experience

Personal experience provides a certain way to

“know” family.

However, it can also act as blinders.

Personal experiences and assumptions

regarding family may limit the ability to study

and understand fairly the experience of family.

Science provides norms for transcending the

blinders of personal experience.

The Blinders of Personal

Experience

The central aim of scientific investigation is to

find out what is actually going on, as opposed to

what we assume is happening.

Science can be defined as “a logical system

that bases knowledge on…systematic

observation” and on empirical evidence--facts

we can verify with our senses.

The central purpose of the scientific method is

to overcome researchers’ blinders, or biases.

Scientific Investigation:

Removing Blinders

Scientific norms govern the process of research

and help scientists transcend personal bias:

Researchers must be honest.

Scientists should publish their research.

Publishers ensure validity of research, via

“blind” submissions and peer review.

Publishing allows continued inquiry and

cumulative understanding.

Objectivity is a key norm.

Theoretical Perspectives on

The Family The Family Ecology Perspective

The Family Life Course Development Perspective

The Structure-Functional Perspective

The Interaction-Constructionist Perspective

Exchange Theory

Family Systems Theory

Conflict and Feminist Theory

The Biosocial Perspective

Attachment Theory

Family Ecology Perspective

on the Family

Theme The ecological context of the family affects

family life and children’s outcomes.

Key

Concepts

Natural physical-biological environment;

Human-built environment; Social-cultural

environment

Current

Research Family policy; Neighborhood effects

The Family Ecology

Perspective

Family Life Course

Development Framework

Theme Families experience predictable changes

over time.

Key Concepts Family life cycle; Developmental tasks;

“On-time” transitions; Role sequencing

Current

Research

Transition to adulthood; Marriage and

parenthood; Pathways to family formation

Structure-Functional

Perspective on the Family

Theme The family performs essential functions for

society.

Key

Concepts

Social institution; Family structure; Family

functions; Functional alternatives

Current

Research

Cross-cultural and historical comparisons;

Analysis of emerging family structures;

Critique of contemporary family

Interaction-Constructionist

Perspective on the Family

Theme The internal dynamics of a group of

interacting individuals construct the family.

Key

Concepts

Interaction; Symbol; Meaning; Role making;

Social Construction of Reality;

Deconstruction; Postmodernism

Current

Research

Family rituals; Meanings assigned to

domestic work; Deconstruction of reified

categories

Exchange Theory Perspective

on the Family

Theme

The resources that individuals bring to a

relationship or family affect formation,

continuation, nature of a relationship, and

power dynamics of a relationship.

Key

Concepts

Resources; Rewards and costs; Family

power; Social networks; Social support

Current

Research

Family power; Entry and exit from marriage;

Family violence; Network-derived social

support

Family Systems Theory

Theme The family as a whole is more than the

sum of its parts.

Key Concepts System; Equilibrium; Boundaries; Family

therapy

Current

Research

Family efficacy and crisis management;

Family boundaries

Conflict and Feminist

Perspective on the Family

Theme

Gender is central to the analysis of

family; male dominance in family and

society is oppressive of women.

Key

Concepts

Male dominance; Power and

inequality; Sex/gender systems

Current

Research

Work and family; Domestic violence;

Family power; Advocacy of women’s

issues

Biosocial Perspective on the

Family

Theme

Evolution has put in place certain biological

endowments that shape and limit family

choices.

Key

Concepts

Evolutionary heritage; Genes; Inclusive

fitness

Current

Research

Correlations between biological markers and

family behavior; Evolutionary explanations for

gender differences and sexuality

Attachment Theory

Perspective on the Family

Theme

Attachment style is established at a young

age, and continues to influence one’s adult

relationships

Key

Concepts

Secure, insecure/anxious, and avoidant

attachment styles

Current

Research

Impact of personality upon relationship

choices; Impact of parenting upon attachment

Theoretical Perspectives:

Waiting for Medical Attention

Family ecologists might speculate about the family’s home and neighborhood and how it affects their health.

The family development perspective might note that the woman is in the child-rearing stage of the family life cycle.

Theoretical Perspectives:

Waiting for Medical Attention

Structure functionalists

might note the child-

raising function(s) the

woman is performing for

society.

Interactionists might

explore the mother’s

body language: What is

she saying nonverbally to

the child? What is he

saying to her?

Theoretical Perspectives:

Waiting for Medical Attention

Exchange theorists might speculate about the woman’s power and resources relative to others in her family.

Family system theorists might point out that the mother and child are part of a family system: Should one leave the family, relationships would change and adapt.

Theoretical Perspectives:

Waiting for Medical Attention

Conflict theorists would compare this clinic with the doctors’ offices that provide health care to the middle and upper classes and demand change.

Feminist theorists might point out that typically mothers are responsible for children’s health and ask why.

The answer from a biosocial perspective would be that women have evolved a stronger nurturing capacity.

Facts about Families: How Family Researchers Study Religion from

Various Theoretical Perspectives

Family Ecological Perspective: Religion is personally

internalized and should not be understood only as a

component in a family’s sociocultural environment.

Family Life Course Development Framework: Early

childhood religious exposure later influenced

childbearing attitudes.

Structure-Functional Perspective: Parents’ use and

modeling of religiously based copying skills, along with

family attendance at religious or spiritual programs was

functional in enhancing children’s health, social skills,

and overall behavior.

Facts about Families: How Family Researchers Study Religion from

Various Theoretical Perspectives

Interaction-Constructionist Perspective: The creative

interpretation of religion’s proscription against birth

control while using it.

Exchange/Network Theory: Participation in religious

congregations increases the likelihood that family

members will benefit from sharing a network.

Family Systems Theory: God seen as a third party in an

otherwise dyadic family system.

Feminist Theory: Women’s oppression originates not in

religion itself but in the exploitation of religion.

Facts about Families: How Family Researchers Study Religion from

Various Theoretical Perspectives

Biosocial Perspective: Humans have evolved as “the

moral animal,” a situation that facilitates our species’

cooperation toward the goal of survival.

Attachment Theory: A seminarian’s early childhood

attachment to his mother to be a key influence in the

degree of his attachment to a personal God.

Facts about Families: How Family Researchers Study Religion from

Various Theoretical Perspectives

Critical Thinking:

Think of a family-related topic and consider how you

might study it.

What theoretical perspective would you use to help

frame your research questions?

What research methods and data-gathering

techniques would you use?

The Relationship Between

Theory and Research

Theory directs research questions and

suggests useful concepts.

Theoretical perspectives help interpret data and

explain facts.

Subsequent understanding from research can

be used to modify, support, or challenge

existing theory.

Designing a Scientific Study:

Some Basic Principles

Cross-sectional versus Longitudinal Data

Deductive versus Inductive Reasoning

Quantitative versus Qualitative Research

Defining Terms

Samples and Generalization

Designing a Scientific Study:

Data Collection Techniques

Interviews and Questionnaires

Naturalistic Observation

Focus Groups

Experiments and Laboratory Observation

Clinician’s Case Studies

The Ethics of Research on

Families

Researchers must have their plans reviewed by

an institutional review board (IRB).

The IRB scrutinizes research proposals for

adherence to professional ethical standards. Informed Consent

Lack of coercion

Protection from harm

Confidentiality

Compensation of participants

Sharing of research results with participants and

other appropriate audiences