Chapter 3, Exploring the...
Transcript of Chapter 3, Exploring the...
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
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