Current Research
Recent and ongoing areas of research and associated projects:
Since the 1980’s I have been conducting research that focuses on intergenerational relationships and development across a variety of contexts. While most of the research has focused on various aspects of father-child relationships, understanding the contexts and consequences of fathering for men and their families has led to research and theory development regarding factors influencing father involvement, including birth attendance and bonding, masculinity, femininity, androgyny and other personality factors, different patterns of transitions to parenthood, work patterns and career development, gender equity in division of labor, the effects of timing on father involvement, fathering and religious faith, and men’s perceptions of midlife development as they are effected by fathering, work and marriage. Ongoing research projects inform my teaching and community service, which, in turn, pose new research questions and theoretical considerations.
Transitions within fatherhood.
Theoretical writing and development of papers beginning in 2004. Presentation at the 2005 National Council on Family Relations Theory Construction and Research Methodology Preconference with Glen Palm of St. Cloud State University, and subsequent manuscript development and submission. Ongoing investigations of turning points within fathering have occurred through analysis of Fragile Families Data and Life History Interviews. Various papers and presentations have grown out of these empirical projects done in collaboration with Jay Fagan of Temple University, Kevin Roy of the University of Maryland, Danielle Farrie of Temple, and Damian Waters of the University of Maryland. Manuscripts published, forthcoming, under review, and in preparation.
Characteristics of resilient fathers in difficult circumstances.
Qualitative investigations of rich Life History Interviews, Quantitative analyses of the Fragile Families Data Set and Mixed methods research across contexts has been conducted in collaboration with Jay Fagan of Temple University, Kevin Roy of the University of Maryland, Danielle Farrie of Temple, and Damian Waters of the University of Maryland. The work has been supported by the Small Grants Program at the National Poverty Center, Gerald R. Ford Center for Policy at the University of Michigan. Manuscripts published, forthcoming, under review, and in preparation.
Effects of parental gender differences on child development outcomes.
I am currently conducting a meta-analytic review of parent-child interaction literature with an eye toward understanding the relationships between parental gender differences and child well-being and development. Parental gender differences in behavioral, affective and cognitive domains are being considered as contextually pervasive influences on children’s development. Developmental theories and research literature will be organized to synthesize different patterns of child development effects in bio-psycho-social-spiritual realms across time. The timing, dose and duration of parental gender differences will be considered as influencing the interactive processes, and contexts of the family microsystem and subsequent developmental outcomes in child characteristics. The review will focus on conditions associated with child well-being and facilitating positive developmental outcomes. It is recognized that gender differences in parental behavior and socio-emotional regulation and expression are associated with children’s emotional regulation and expression, health, educational attainment, career selection, aggression, attachment, morality, cognitive style, peer relationships and developmental variability in gender role socialization. This represents a preliminary and non-exhaustive list. Published empirical and theoretical literature is being searched and organized to create categories of outcome measures so that it is possible to evaluate gender roles and behaviors of parents as they relate to specific child characteristics. It is anticipated that meta-analyses will reveal patterns of covariation between gendered parenting and child attributes in specific clusters of outcome measures. Appropriate studies will be synthesized, evaluated and interpreted to bring an applied perspective to understanding the developmental implications of gendered parenting across time. A specific goal of the review is to identify and describe the contexts and processes of development that yield documentable differences in child well-being as they relate to gendered parenting. Presentations and manuscripts in preparation.
Religion and Fatherhood among Korean Immigrant Men in the U.S.
In a collaborative project with Principal Investigator, Seongeun Kim of Pennsylvania State University, we are beginning qualitative analyses of interviews regarding the ways in which Korean immigrant men who participated in the Korean evangelical fatherhood program construct their evangelical fatherhood identity. This study postulates that the fatherhood program is an important vehicle through which Korean immigrant men’s crisis over their masculinity is articulated, and that evangelical masculinity is instituted as an alternative model for these men. The aims of the study are to understand how the Korean religious movement influences Korean immigrant men’s construction of masculine identity, and why the evangelical movement appeals to these men. Data collection under way.