Presents the Dyadic Interaction Scoring Code (DISC) as a marital observation system designed to be compatible with the Datamyte 900 Data Collector. Its derivation from existing coding systems and its contributions are discussed. Data on marital interaction provide a research example of its usage. (JAC)

In this paper the nature of adult sibling solidarity is considered, and two features of our kinship system that help explain its form are examined: (1) the fact that kinship operates as a social network; and (2) the element of personal choice permitted. (Author)

This paper reports a methodological study in which live communication between young married spouses was compared with a self-reporting of their communication processes. Results support the use of observational research as a methodological tool in the search for an understanding of marital communication patterns. (Author)

Four basic determinants of parental authority are suggested. Hypotheses are tested using questionnaire data from 3,641 sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students. Acceptance of parental authority is associated most strongly with offspring's perceptions of parental expertise and benefits received from parents. (Author)

This study assumes that companionship among married couples varies according to the social status of the wife. It is predicted that a couple's mutual participation increases as socioeconomic status and urban background increase, but that it decreases with age and length of marriage. (Author)

A statewide sample of 234 individuals, 70 years of age or older, was employed to assess the nature and prominence of intimate friendships in the social world of aged men and women. There was little sexual differentiation in the characteristics of intimate friendships in late life. (Author)

Bytheway discusses the problems of representation and sampling methodology found in the Three Generation Family Study directed by Hill at the University of Minnesota. Hill responds to this criticism and challenges Bytheway to provide a better sampling design. (Author/HLM)

The contradiction between the family's lowly position in Soviet social science and the great popular and governmental interest in the family is likely to continue to exist for some time to come. (Author)

Bivariate analyses, based on a national cross-sectional sample of college students, demonstrate weak relationships between socioeconomic background measures and two indicators of sexual permissiveness. Salient predictors of permissiveness are political preference, religion, and region of location for women or cognitive achievement for men. (Author)

It is proposed that a high degree of psychological father presence, when incongruent with reality and if persistent over time, is negatively related to family functionality. Correlational analysis reveals significant covariance between family functionality and psychological father presence, operating in a negative direction, as proposed. (Author)

The interactions of 10 maritally adjusted and 10 maladjusted couples were compared using a coding system based on the Leary circumplex. Major findings are (1) adjusted couples communicated more affection and submission than did maladjusted ones, (2) all couples were more likely to show complementary sequencing patterns with some interesting…

A total of 440 adult couples were observed in eight different kinds of public places. Couples with children were observed to touch, talk, and smile less at one another. But children are disruptive of adult touching and talking, which means that couples with children experience reduced reward levels and less adequate communication. (Author)

Examined the differential effect of kinship and friendship relationships on the life satisfaction of older people. The data indicated the relatively greater importance of friends over grandchildren for maintaining morale in old age. (Author)

Studies involving couples focused on the development of a Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI). Correlational analyses confirm that measures of communication are the best single predictors of global marital satisfaction. Profile analyses demonstrate the ability of the MSI to discriminate between couples in therapy and a matched control group.…

The relationship between television watching and family tension was studied. Higher tension levels were found in families with high levels of television watching. Findings suggest television set operation is used to prevent tense interaction, particularly in households that are so crowded that people cannot easily use spatial separation to control…