Evaluation

• What is one limitation of the research into the role of fathers?

  The lack of clarity over the question being asked:

  • "What is the role of the father?"; much more complicated than it sounds
  • Some researchers want to understand the role of the father as secondary attachment figures - tend to see fathers as behaving differently from mothers and having a distinct role
  • Others more concerned with primary attachment figures - found that fathers can take on a 'maternal' role
• What is a further limitation of the research into the role of fathers?

  The findings vary according to the methodology used:

  • Longitudinal studies (e.g. Grossman et al) suggest that as secondary attachment figures, fathers have an important and distinct role in the child's development
  • However, if fathers have a distinctive and important role we would expect that children in single-mother and lesbian-parent families would turn out different to those in hetero-sexual families
  • In fact, studies (e.g. McCallum and Golombok) consistently show that these children do not develop differently
• What is a counterpoint to conflicting evidence?

  The research may not be in conflict:

  • It may be that fathers typically take on distinctive roles in two-parent heterosexual families, but parents in single-mother and lesbian-parent families simply adapt to accommodate the role played by fathers
  • This means that fathers DO have a distinctive role, but families can adapt to not having a father
• What is the real-world application of research into the role of the father?

  It can be used to offer advice to parents.

  • Parents sometimes agonise over decisions like who should take on the primary caregiver role - mothers may feel pressured to stay at home and fathers may feel pressured to focus on work because of stereotypical views of their roles
  • Research can be used to give reassuring advice to parents
• What is one piece of research supporting the role of the father?

  Geiger 1996:

  • The role of the father is more 'playmate' rather than primary caregiver
  • Fathers' play is more exciting. Mothers' play is more affectionate
• What is one study supporting research on the role of the father?

  Belsky et al:

  • Fathers can form secure attachments with children if they are in an intimate marriage
  • Males with higher levels of marital intimacy displayed secure father-infant attachment