Skip to main content

Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families Workshop Report (2011) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

7 Final Observations
Pages 85-88

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 85...
... The seven themes that emerged from this discussion fall into two categories, with the first three themes derived from prior studies and the following four themes looking toward the future. LESSONS FOR THEORY AND METHOD FROM PRIOR STUDIES Theme 1: The need for interdisciplinary and problem-oriented research on families creates challenges for theory and measurement that can help to integrate diverse areas of inquiry.
Read the entire page →
From page 86...
... Theme 2: The increasing variety and complexity of family structure, couples' living arrangements, and life experiences require new measurement tools and terminology that can capture the richness of important variations across multiple racial and ethnic groups. With the changing demography of American families, new measurement tools and terminology will become increasingly important in both quantitative surveys (such as those resulting in census data)
Read the entire page →
From page 87...
... Theme 5: Advances in the field of family research will require approaches that can move beyond problem-oriented studies to identify positive family strengths and functioning that contribute to the wellbeing of family members, especially during times of social disruption and adversity. Much of the current knowledge of family structure, processes, and relationships is tightly linked to studies of adversity, risk, and psychopathology or disease, but existing studies often focus on these experiences in specific racial or ethnic groups during particular historical periods.
Read the entire page →
From page 88...
... These newer technologies, combined with traditional quantitative and qualitative studies and research on fundamental biological and behavioral processes, can contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics associated with family influences and family environments. FINAL NOTE The rapidly changing demographics of American families are currently accompanied by an explosion of new methods, technologies, and understandings in the science of family research.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • family structure
  • journal articles
  • american families
  • research studies
  • qualitative studies

  • studies offer
  • fragile families
  • families study
  • family processes
  • studies theme

  • approaches require
  • specific racial
  • family environments
  • study resulted
  • workshop highlighted

  • quantitative studies
  • living arrangements
  • categorize family
  • complex dynamics
  • multimethod studies

  • grant proposals
  • creates challenges
  • deeper understanding
  • future directions
  • articles similarly

  • intensive learning
  • interactions raise
  • traditional quantitative
  • tive findings
  • family influences


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.