What’s Missing in Introductory Family Science Textbooks? Where is the Theory, Methods, and Application?

One of the central purposes of an introductory family science textbook is to introduce students to the theory and research methods that are commonly used in the discipline and to the applications of research to practical issues confronting families. We examined seventeen textbooks published between 2012-2019 regarding the amount of content devoted to theory, research methods, and application. The authors systematically coded content in the textbooks based on an examination of the Tables of Contents and the Subject Index. The results indicate that most introductory textbooks include limited content about theory and research methods. Also, despite the emphasis of the profession on the translation of research, introductory textbooks did not include much information about family life education or family therapy. There was more coverage of family policy, but the authors rarely included a discussion of the policy process or how research can inform policy. These results can assist instructors in selecting textbooks for courses and assist authors in the development of future textbooks.