Catherine B. McNamee

Capturing the Complexity of Families Using Innovative Methods

Studying families poses unique challenges to researchers including the development and use of innovative methods, such as those outlined in this volume, to capture the complexity of family dynamics. Family research requires methods that capture family interactions and reciprocal influences among family members and between families and their environments. Rapid demographic changes require researchers to find new ways to define the family unit. In this concluding chapter, we review five related themes that emerged across the chapters in this volume: defining families, assessing variation and change in context, overcoming challenges, capturing the big picture, and conducting research with a translational and public health impact. We end by discussing the implications of new methods for the field of family studies. We argue that innovative methods are valuable tools in furthering our understanding of family dynamics, provided that researchers remain thoughtful in implementing methods best suited for answering meaningful theoretical questions.