EXPLORING MARRIAGES AND FAMILY, 2 ND EDITION Karen Seccombe © 2015, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 1 Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships? Special Topic: An Inside View of Research

Three Themes of the Text Linking the micro-level and macro-level perspectives on families Families are always changing The importance of social science theory and research Let’s explore the third theme…. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Experiential Reality” Most of us think of ourselves as experts on family relationships – we all come from some type of family, so what’s not to know? © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Experiential Reality” We have our own opinions and beliefs based on: –our own personal experience –what others have told us (Mom, Dad, teachers, etc.) –what we have witnessed –what we read or hear about in the media –common sense © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Experiential Reality” For example: –I will pay you $100 if you can guess the color of my wedding dress. Naturally, you know my wedding dress could be any color….red, black, or pink with blue stripes. –However, if you want to try to win $100, you would probably guess white…. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Experiential Reality” You would be relying on personal experience, what you have witnessed, what you have seen in the media, etc. Sometimes common sense or personal experience can help us “know” or “understand” our social world. But sometimes they cannot. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Experiential Reality” –e.g., What are the financial consequences of teenage pregnancy? How common is welfare fraud? What have been the consequences of the recession? Consequently, we rely on science, which uses an empirical approach (i.e., answers questions through a systematic collection and analysis of data). © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Common Research Methods Used to Study Families and Relationships Survey In-depth interview Experiment Focus group Observational study Secondary analysis © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What Are the Consequences of the Recession? Let’s review research conducted by the Pew Research Center designed to answer the question, “What have been the consequences of the recession?” © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Research Method Used to Answer the Question Telephone survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,967 people age 18 and over living in the continental U.S. Used landline and cellular random digit dialing (RDD) Interviews conducted May 11-31, 2010 © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Research Method Used to Answer the Question Eight questions were used to gauge the impact of the recession. Based on the answers, the respondents were divided into two groups: –“Held Their Own” (those who experienced limited or no serious hardship) –“Lost Ground” (those who experienced serious hardship) © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent of Respondents Who Fell into Each Group © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Who Fell into the Two Groups? Whites, older adults, the better educated and more affluent were significantly less likely to suffer recession-related hardships and were significantly more likely to have “held their own.” Minorities, younger people, those with a high school education or less, and those earning lower incomes were significantly more likely to have “lost ground.” © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent of Each Group Who Lost Ground © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent of Each Group Who Lost Ground © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent of Each Group Who Lost Ground © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Results The different recession experiences of the groups is underscored when members are asked to say what has been the single biggest way the recession has changed their lives. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent Who Said Each Was the Biggest Impact on Their Lives © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Workplace Experiences Among the currently employed, those who “lost ground” during the recession are far more likely to say: –their pay was cut –they were forced to take unpaid time off –their work hours were reduced –they had to switch from full-time to part-time work © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent Who Say This Has Happened to Them During the Recession © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Home Values The housing slump has affected nearly all American homeowners, but those who “lost ground” are more likely to say: –their home declined in value –they owe more than the home is worth –they believe that it will take longer than five years for their home to recover © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Percent in Each Group Who Say… © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conclusion from Research The recession has divided America into two groups. –The number of people who have lost ground is larger than the number who have held their own. The two groups differ in their demographic makeup. The two groups have experienced very different economic downturns. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conclusion What does this empirical research by the Pew Research Center add to personal experience, what we have witnessed, what others tell us, what we hear in the media, and common sense? © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References Morin, R “One Recession, Two Americas.” Pew Research Center. Online: recession-two-americas/ September 24, recession-two-americas/ © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.