FSHD 237 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I. Define marriage and family in the perspective of an individual versus societyII. Functions of marriage and familyOutline of Current Lecture III. Examine how family researchers attempt to explore issuesIV. Explain and illustrate how we learn the information about relationships and families Current LectureQuestion:- What we know in the field of Family Studies is based on __________?o Research using the scientific method- The major FSHD is very science based- There are several different ways in which we develop knowledgeo A lot of which, is based on what we have seen- Family Studies is constantly developing overtime and can be very similar or different to our “common sense.” Using and Evaluating Research- The knowledge of marriage and family is derived from research-based studies- Why is that important?o Because research uses the scientific method to answer questions- Researchers do NOT use anecdotal evidence or “common sense” to develop knowledge of marriage and familyAnecdotal Evidence- Is only based on a few people not a large population - Each person will have their own experience but their experience may not fit for the “general” population - Example: o “My uncle smoked three packs of cigarettes a day and lived to be 95, so smokingcan’t be all bad for you.”These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Problem: This result derived from this scenario is only based on one or two examples and is based on personal experience not scientifically proven Common Sense- The knowledge and experience which many people “in common” have - Good or sound judgment not based on specialized knowledge Problems with Common Sense- Different people have different ideas about what constitutes “common sense” - Ideas that “make sense” are not always completely valid or the best choice- Example: o Any decision made by emotion rather than a logical standpoint Even though emotional decisions may make more sense it may not be the most logical decision - Compared to research, the following are poor sources of accurate and reliable information aboutfamilies: o Tradition: the way it has always been or thought to beo Authority Figures: Expertise we trust, knowledge we accept o Media Sources: (Un)reality television, radio, etc.Researching the Family - Objectivity: “Suspend the beliefs, biases, or prejudices we have about a subject until we understand what is being said,” (Cohen & Strong, 35) - Value Judgments (also called objective statements): “usually include words such as “should and imply an orientation (good or bad),” (Cohen & Strong, 35) o Successful families, family lifestyles - Example: o “Everyone should get married.” Is that statement based on a belief or the scientific method? - There is an implied orientation o “If you’re married you should have children.” - Belief or scientific method? - Opinion, bias, and stereotypes are ways of thinking that lack objectivity- Opinion: “based on experiences or ways of thinking,” (Cohen & Strong, 37) - Bias: “Strong opinion that creates barriers to hearing anything contrary to your opinion,” (Cohen & Strong, 37) - Stereotype: “set of simplistic, rigidly held, and overgeneralized beliefs about the personal characteristics od a group of people,” (Cohen & Strong, 37)- Fallacies errors in reasoning (believing that our way is the right way)o Two types: Egocentric fallacies Ethnocentric fallacies Marriages and Families Research - The research family scientists do uses the scientific method and is shared in specialized journals or in book form - Most of the information contained in your text originally appeared in scholarly journals, government reports, or books Types of Research: - Deductive Research - Inductive Research Scientific Method- Well established procedures used to collect and analyze information about family experiences - Model or process designed to promote objectivity- Systematic pursuit of knowledgeo Follows specific, systematic processSystematic Process- Formulate research questions- Select Participantso Who are we going to study?- Collect datao What methods/procedures best answers the research question? - Report results Ways to conduct Research on Families- Surveyso Questionnaires- Interviews- Diary or beeper method- Observationo Naturalistic and Laboratory- Experimental o Cannot always be done because one can’t randomly assign participants - It is common for researchers to engage in triangulation, the use of multiple methods or sources of data, to overcome limitations of a specific method.Important Concepts to Remember: - There are always going to be expectations to any pattern of findings- Rather than dismiss research findings that don't fit your experience, try to account for WHY your experience departs from more general observed patterns - Use critical thinking skills to evaluate the information you receive about