2019 Volume 23 Issue 3

Alan Reifman, Jacki Fitzpatrick, Sylvia Niehuis, Jennifer K. Chapman, C. Rebecca Oldham, Jean Pearson Scott, Dan Fang, Shu Yuan, Miriam Lieway, Desiree N. Walisky, Leah Gregersen

ABSTRACT. Rankings of departments’ research productivity and professional accomplishments within an academic discipline can help prospective graduate students who are deciding where to apply, new professionals who are weighing job offers, and department chairs and other administrators who are assessing departments’ progress and developing strategic plans. The field of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) has long lacked a multifaceted ranking system based on metrics of faculty research productivity and other departmental achievements. We introduce such a system to rank the 50 Ph.D.-granting HDFS departments in North America, using faculty members’ publication and citation rates (h scores), grant receipts, and editorial-board memberships, along with departments’ success in placing their Ph.D. graduates. These measures correlated well with one another and with previous peer-expert ratings of HDFS departments. However, some departments fared better under quantitative productivity measures than they did under peer ratings, and vice-versa. We discuss pros and cons of various ranking approaches.

Amanda E. Barnett, Krysti Deines, Jamie Fredrickson, Amanda Schield, Bethany Tennison

ABSTRACT: Despite significant aging within the United States population, there is a concern that research on aging has not developed at a similar pace. In this content analysis we examine the extent to which National Council on Family Relations’ (NCFR) publications address aging and older adults’ family relationships over the last 20 years. On average, 9% of NCFR articles are on aging and family life issues with variations by year and type of publication. Most articles address the internal dynamics of older persons’ family relationships; fewer articles consider the bidirectional relationship between older persons and other social institutions. Older adults or family members are primary sources of information on aging and family ties in NCFR publications. The study proposes critical next steps toward increasing the presence of older adults and their family relationships in NCFR publications.

Amanda Savitt, Yue “Gurt” Ge

ABSTRACT: Being able to predict how families will respond to disasters, including whether they will evacuate and what factors will influence their decision, can help government officials protect people from harm. There is a great deal of literature concerning how individuals and households make these protective action decisions, but this literature largely fails to capture how differences among or between families affect decision-making. In this paper, we explore how previously disconnected bodies of literature from disciplines including emergency management, family science, transportation logistics and others, can be synthesized to address this gap in the research. Primarily using family science models, we propose an updated Protective Action Decision Model that includes previously neglected intra-family factors.

J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Whitney Whittecar, Rebecca L. Koltz, JennieLynn Stanley

ABSTRACT: To strengthen integration of diversity issues within college courses, the authors implemented the Diversity Analysis Project (DAP) within a Gender, Race, Class, and Family Diversity course. The DAP used a book club format and integrated mainstream literature (including non-fiction and realistic fiction books) into the learning experience. Books were selected to help students apply diversity concepts more thoroughly. A qualitative evaluation approach was used for understanding experiences of the DAP for 18 students in the course. Results of the study indicated three themes: structure of the DAP, perceived learning and personal outcomes, and shared group dynamics in the group book club. Along with these themes, the authors provide an in depth case study of one participant. Future implementation of DAP and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Alyssa D. McElwain

ABSTRACT: This paper illuminates the utility of service learning in teaching family life education (FLE) methodology, discusses its challenges, and shares lessons learned using this approach. The assignment described here indicates that several major course objectives of a senior level capstone Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) course were met by completion of a FLE workshop assignment. Student reflections suggested that although the assignment was challenging, it helped them learn about FLE methodology, collaboration, and professionalism. Their reflections also illuminate areas where there is a need for additional scaffolding and for improvement in this type of assignment. Adaptations to traditional course formatting are suggested as a possible solution to the need for scaffolding during a large service learning
assignment. Overall, results indicate service learning can be an important tool for preparing students for future professional roles.

Alan Reifman, Jacki Fitzpatrick, Sylvia Niehuis, Jennifer K. Chapman, C. Rebecca Oldham, Jean Pearson Scott, Dan Fang, Shu Yuan, Miriam Lieway, Desiree N. Walisky, Leah Gregersen

ABSTRACT: This Professional Development and Reflection Corner (PDRC) article accompanies our research article on ranking Ph.D.- granting Human Development and Family Studies departments. Rankings of departments, universities, and other organizations can be helpful to many people, such as faculty members mentoring promising undergraduates on where to attend graduate school. However, there are also concerns over rating systems. One involves whether they use meaningful criteria, highly accurate data, and transparency in their methods. Another concern, coming from critical literature on “performativity,” questions whether heavy reliance on rating and ranking systems creates undesirable incentives and diminishes scholars’ intrinsic motivation. We discuss our journey to mitigate concerns over data quality and reflect on our research in light of possible unintended consequences of ratings. Finally, we offer tips and recommendations for department chairs, deans, and others considering how best to measure academic departments’ productivity and achievements.