Family Worlds and Qualitative Family Research

Abstract

This article elaborates upon the importance of whole-family methodologies for family studies. Drawing upon Family Worlds, a seminal work in whole-family methodology, this essay shows by example and analysis the capacity of this approach to deepen and broaden understandings of diverse family experiences. Not only does whole-family methodology contribute to theory development, but it also has the capacity to help researchers construct the rich, complex, and sometimes fragmented experiences of ‘‘post-modern’’ families.