Sourcebook of Family Theory and Research

This is a book about the process of research about families. Its focus is on epistemology in family studies - the origin, nature, and limits of knowledge about families - an on how we can develop more effective theories and methods to advance that knowledge. The book is caled "sourcebook" because the authors hope readers will use this volume as a companion while they develop their own studies of families and familylike relationships. The primary objectiv for this Sourcebook is inclusivness. Thefore the ideas and backgrounds of the authors vary by race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, seniority, religion, and professional affilation, as well as byond North American contributors, involving European and Asian family scholars as well. The volume include also the most salient theorizing beeing done today on as wide a variety of family issues as possible. The second objective was to engage the readers in interaction - both with the text and with the volume's companion Web site. There are lists of additional readings, exercises, and most of the chapters feature a "Spotligth on Theory" and a "Spotlight on Methods" in which scholars present important insights from their ongoing research. Most chapters also include at least one case study that illustrates the experiences of one researcher or team in regard to research associated with the capter's topic. Third, the authors wanted to focus on the process rather than the outcome of theory. So the authors focus on the process of theory building and methods development rather than on summarizing existing findings to date on family issues. Fourth, the volume mix methods and theory in as many chapters as possible, emphasizing specialy the multimethod approaches in family research, breaking down some of the artificail barriers between qualitative and quantitative methods.