2.3 Research Methods and Applications to Studying Families
2.3 Research Methods and Applications to Studying Families
Elizabeth B. Pearce
Much of what we know about families and kinship comes from research, systematic investigations into a particular topic which examinines materials, sources, and/or behaviors, conducted in the United States and in other countries. In order to be a critical consumer of research, it is helpful to understand what methodologies are used, and what their strengths and limitations are. In addition, it is useful to be aware that there are myths and beliefs that we hold because society has created and reinforced them. When learning new information we must be prepared to question our own long-held beliefs in order to incorporate greater understanding.
Sound research is an essential tool for understanding families. Families are complex because there are multiple ways that families form and function. Every family is composed of unique individuals. Studies about families seek to learn about how families interact internally as well as with the greater social world. What are the effects of actions and environments on families? How do families treat each other within their structures? For example, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted individuals and families in multiple ways, changing most people’s health, social, work, school, and home environments. But how do we understand and quantify those changes? What impacts, dynamics, consequences, and solutions have families experienced?
The table in figure 2.2 briefly describes the major ways scholars gather information, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and a narrative of each method follows.
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Many people can be included. If given to a random sample of the population, a survey’s results can be generalized to the population. | Large surveys are expensive and time consuming. Although much information is gathered, this information is relatively superficial. |
| Experiments | If random assignment is used, experiments provide fairly convincing data on cause and effect. | Because experiments do not involve random samples of the population and most often involve college students, their results cannot readily be generalized to the population. |
| Observation (Field Research) | Observational studies may provide rich, detailed information about the people who are observed. | Because observation studies do not involve random samples of the population, their results cannot readily be generalized to the population. |
| Existing Data | Because existing data have already been gathered, the researcher does not have to spend time and money to gather data. | The dataset being analyzed may not contain data on all the variables in which a sociologist is interested, or it may contain data on variables that are not measured in ways the sociologist prefers. |
Surveys
The survey is the most common method by which sociologists gather their data. The Gallup poll is perhaps the most well-known example of