VERBAL DISCUSSION VERSUS NOTE PASSING TASKS IN THE STUDY OF FAMILY ROLE STRUCTURE

This study compares two methods of eliciting family interaction—verbal discussion (discussion tasks) and note passing in a Commmunication network (communication network tasks). It asks whether role structure obtained by the communication network technique can be used as a substitute representation for family role structure obtained in verbal discussion tasks. A small sample of white, middle-class families consisting of other,father and adolescent child performed eight tasks in which they had to reach a single final decision on family relevant problems; four discussion tasks and four similar communication network tasks were used. Interaction of family members was scored for instrumental acts and volume of communication using a scheme modified from Bales IPA(1). Analysis of data showed that the communication network medium yielded 1) a significantly more equal influence and equal communication family role structure, 2) an influence structure which was more unusual or less expected than the role structure on discussion tasks, and 3) an influence structure which correlated significantly less well with the competence structure perceived by all family members. These results support the contention that the communication network cannot be substituted for the representation of role structure obtained from verbal discussion tasks. However, the purposes of family experiments are re-examined, and suggestions are made for alternative uses of the communication technique in the study of role structure, for example, as a way to manipulate the conditions under which a given role structure will maintain itself.