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Related Experiment Videos

Effective family problem solving.

E A Blechman, M J McEnroe

    Child Development
    |April 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    Effective family problem solving relies on observed group interactions, not just family traits. This study analyzed how cooperation, competition, and task type impact family problem-solving success.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychology
    • Family Studies
    • Social Sciences

    Background:

    • Understanding effective family problem-solving is crucial for child development.
    • Previous research often focused on family characteristics rather than observed interactions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate factors influencing effective family problem solving in families with elementary-school-aged children.
    • To compare the validity of definitions based on observed interactions versus family characteristics.

    Main Methods:

    • Studied 97 families using definite-solution tasks (Tower Building, 20 Questions) and an indefinite-solution task (Plan-Something-Together).
    • Manipulated incentives (cooperation/competition) and task independence (solo/joint) in counterbalanced conditions.
    • Assessed problem-solving strategies, deliberation time, and agreement satisfaction.

    Main Results:

    • Solo performance surpassed joint performance on the 20 Questions task.
    • Competition negatively impacted joint performance on the Tower Building task.
    • Effective families utilized more strategies, deliberated longer, and reached better agreements on the Plan-Something-Together task.

    Conclusions:

    • Observed group interaction measures are more valid indicators of family problem-solving effectiveness than family characteristics.
    • Parental participation moderately predicted effectiveness, while education and child competence were weaker predictors.

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