Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families: Workshop Report

Excerpt

The purpose of The Science of Research on Families: A Workshop, held in Washington, DC, on July 13-14, 2010, was to examine the broad array of methodologies used to understand the impact of families on children's health and development. It sought to explore individual disciplinary contributions and the ways in which different methodologies and disciplinary perspectives could be combined in the study of families. Specifically, the workshop was designed to investigate:

1. Recent research studies that offer significant contributions to understanding the social determinants of child health and developmental outcomes and health disparities.

2. Illustrations of quantitative and qualitative methods and approaches associated with research on the diverse structure and dynamic qualities of family environments.

3. The relative contributions of selected study approaches and methodologies, including studies of marriage and family structure; life-course research studies; studies of human development; methodological research involving experimental, quasi-experimental, longitudinal, observational, survey, and time-use studies; and studies of selected cultural, ethnic, or immigrant populations.

4. Opportunities for collaboration among federal agencies to improve the quality of research and training in this field and the application of this knowledge base to understanding interactions among family environments and children's health outcomes.