Family Studies

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Professor Fiona Tasker
• Assessment: a two-hour written examination (95%) and a group essay plan presentation (5%)

In this module we introduce you to systemic approaches to the development of family relationships and evaluate the evidence from research on family relationships within different types of families. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in verbal and written presentations through small group work, class exercises and individual essay writing.

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• list the general themes that have been covered in the module
• list the main theories or ideas covered in each of the lecture topics
• critically evaluate each of the theories in relation to rival theories citing research evidence to support or refute each idea
• review the family life cycle with reference to cultural diversity
• discuss the relative importance of family structure and family processes
• evaluate the strength of research evidence in family studies
• present an essay plan individually or with a group.