role of father evaluation

• longitudinal studies - Grossman et all
• weakness - longitudinal studies
• weakness - conflicting evidence

  • fathers have an important and distinct role
  • children growing up with single mother/lesbian parents will grow up and act different
• weakness - conflicting evidence

  • McCallum and Golombrok (2002)
  • show that children do not develop differently
• strength - real world application - can give advice to parents
• strength - research can be used to show that fathers can be quite capable to becoming primary caregivers

  • mothers no longer pressured into staying home to look after the baby