Initial Reaction to the UK SAHD Study
Posted on 19. Nov, 2007 by Brian Reid in General
So one of the first people I e-mailed about the UK study that raises red flags about the sons of at-home dads was Aaron Rochlen, the University of Texas prof who has done some serious work lately in trying to get to the bottom of at-home fatherhood and what makes SAHDs happy.
Dr. Rochlen wasn’t impressed either, and he’s reached out to the author of the study, Elizabeth Washbrook of Bristol University, to get some answers, and he was kind enough to share some of those thoughts with me:
… I feel quite confident that the conclusions are WAY too strong given the procedures, measures, etc. Also, with so many things measured and calculated, as I hope you know, it is almost inevitable for there to be NO findings. In other words, a study like this is destined to find some significant results and yet this project has highlighted (and completely blown out of proportion) a few small findings and made the link “dads with boys = academic problems.” …My question is essentially, do you really think you are generating fair and reasonable conclusions given your measures, sample, etc.? Further, do you really think that you are at a stage to communicate these strong findings to the media who is even less sophisticated about how such conclusions can be made?
He’ll get no argument from me …
Amy
20. Nov, 2007
Hi - thanks for unearthing this ‘gem’. Marc and I read through a lot of the study and then blogged about it over on our site. I can absolutely tell you the data are not about SAHDs (or equally sharing parents). And that’s just the beginning of our analysis. We’re not sociologists, but it was pretty easy to come up with a few good points against the conclusions in the media.
Steve Cunningham
30. Nov, 2007
Hello Gentlemen,
I am a first time writer and honestly know very little about blogging or stay at home dads, but I have specifically sought you out in hopes of gaining some valuable feedback. If this writing, however, doesn’t get posted I will understand. This may appear to be an exercise in “shameless marketing”, but to the contrary Im seeking feedback as stay at home dads your perceptions, purchasing habits and feelings towards greeting cards. My company has produced a collection of Father-to-Son cards on various subjects. I knew in advance of starting the business that men represented a very small segment of the greeting card industry, but I candidly don’t know why and am anxious to gain your feedback on the following:
- How you view greeting cards as men and fathers
- Do you purchase cards now and for whom
-How often and for what occasion/s
- Would you give a card/s to your son if it contained the right message
- Do you think greeting cards are a good way to communicate
Assuming that I have been posted I want to thank you for your thoughtful consideration and input. If you have a need and interest in communicating from time to time with your son, or daughter, Id like to know that. If you think Father-to-Son and Father-to-Daughter cards are unimportant and a waste of time, I would like to know that too. Thank you again of you consideration. Steve