Study of the Young Family Interaction Coding System

(This study received initial funding from NCEDL, however it is being completed by Martha Cox. Email her for more information.)

Investigators: Martha Cox (Martha_Cox@unc.edu)

Project staff: Blair Paley, Korrel Kanoy

Research questions/goals: There are no existing observational measures that capture whole family interactions with young children and capture interactions relevant to cognitive, language and emotional development. This measure was developed and tested and a chapter published on its validity.

We have findings highlighting the importance of examining the linkages between early socio-emotional and cognitive development, particularly within the context of mother-child storybook interaction. We have little research that gets at what happens when all family members are together, but most of a young child's time at home in intact families is spent with both mother and father. Work with this measure will allow us to say more about how mothers and fathers work in partnership to provide the supports for the development of young children.

We need to understand better how whole families function and the role of fathers in their children's lives. This research has important implications for prevention, intervention, and policy.

Publication:

Paley, B., Cox, M. J., & Kanoy, K. W. (2000). The Young Family Interaction Coding System. In Kerig, P.K. & Lindahl, K.M. (Eds.) Family observational coding systems: Resources for systemic research (pp. 273-288). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.