Typology for family policy research

Gerald W. McDonald, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Co-director of Interdivisional Doctoral Program in Marriage and Family, Florida State University, Tallahassee. A version of this article was presented at the Society for the Study of Social Problems, San Francisco, California, 1978. As the United States has increaspublic policy often has unintended as ingly taken on the characteristics of a well as intended consequences not welfare society, it has used the legisonly for the individuals and social sys lation of public policy and the develterns addressed, but for related social opment of related social programs as systems. This awareness has resulted its major approach to confronting and in attempts to obtain ( 1 ) a clearer pic alleviating social problems (Romanyture, at the time policy is being de shyn, 1971). Until recently, however, veloped, of the actual condition of most decision-making groups in the the social system to which policy is area of social policy seemed to hold directed, (2) an empirical assessment, the simplistic notion that if programs during the period a policy or program were implemented accurately, followis functioning, of its consequences ing stated guidelines of quality con(whether anticipated or actual, in trol, policy goals could be determined tended or unintended) in relation to and met in a straightforward fashion. that social system, and (3) an evalua This approach has too often been tion of the impact that the changing based on at least three faulty assumpsocial system has upon the functioning tions: (1) that the information availand development of policies and pro able to policymakers concerning the grams. individuals or social systems toward Policymakers have taken a particu which their efforts are directed is comlar interest recently in the family so prehensive enough to allow the develcial system, which is affected in a opment of informed public policies, variety of ways by decisions in the (2) that policies and their resultant area of public policy. Although most program goals are, or can be, formupublic policy is directed toward indi lated in a manner that is sufficiently viduals, it affects not only individuals clear and concise to allow implemenbut the families to which they belong, tation of the programs and the achieveThis emphasis upon the relationship of ment of goals, and (3) that the develpublic policy to the structure and opment of policies or programs will processes of the family has created a automatically result in the achievenew area of study known as family ment of goals and the alleviation of policy research, particular social problems. Family policy, or the lack thereof, Since the 1960s, the nation has had has been under discussion in the the painful experience of expending United States for several decades large quantities of money and re(Frank, 1948; Schorr, 1962; Moyni sources on unsuccessful public policies han, 1965; Cohen and Connery, 1967; and social programs. In many cases, Schottland, 1967; Winston, 1969; and programs have resulted in the escalaSussman, 1971). However, the strong tion of the social problems they were est expression of the need for scholars intended to alleviate. As a result, poland researchers who specialize in the icymakers and others contributing to family to contribute to the policymak decisions in this field have increasing process was made by Urie Bronfen ingly been held accountable for the brenner, Margaret Mead, and Edward relative success or failure of programs. Zigler during the 1973 hearings of the Therefore, social planners have begun U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Chil to recognize the necessity of taking dren and Youth (American Families, more care in formulating, implement1974). The subcommittee was pre ing, and evaluating public policy. As sided over by Senator Walter Mon a result of this need to assess the effecdale, who later repeatedly stressed the tiveness as well as the efficiency of theme of the hearings. After Mondale public policies and programs, there became the vice-presidential candidate has been an increase in attempts to in 1976, Jimmy Carter began to em develop sophisticated methodological phasize this theme in his presidential and statistical techniques for conductcampaign and has continued to stress ing such analyses. the issue since being elected. An ex Another major reason for this conample of this interest is the Family cern is the growing awareness that Impact Seminar, which is being con