Some Recent Trends in Family Research

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Abstract
This paper first reviews the evaluations of family research made in 1947–8 by Professors Burgess, Cottrell, and Nimkoff. Second, it describes family research in the period 1947–61 in terms of changes in statistical techniques, samples, hypotheses, orientation to prior research, data gathering technique, and the variables studied. Finally, three general problems are posed with respect to current research: failure to employ individual research competence to the maximum, inadequate communication between researchers, and too little attention to methodological research, per se. Special attention is given to the use of theory, measurement techniques, and the control and manipulation of variables. It is concluded that the principal need in family research is not a larger volume or attention to particular substantive areas but to the improvement of methodology broadly conceived to include the entire process from conception of the problem to the implication of the findings.

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