Locus of control and problem-solving interaction in families with adolescents

The focus of this study is on further development and refinement of a classification system of family problem-solving interaction in families with adolescents. A rigorous qualitative analysis was conducted on the video-taped problem-solving sessions of 38 families which consisted of a father, mother and their adolescent son or daughter. The analysis concentrated on how families engaged the problem situations, how solutions were generated and evaluated, communication patterns, and how affect was managed. It was discovered through the analysis that family problem-solving interaction could be classified based on a concept the researchers call family locus of control (F-LOC). Four types of F-LOC were described: individualistic, collaborative, authoritarian and external. Internal classification reliability was assessed by three independent raters who were able to accurately classify 95% of the problem-solving sessions by F-LOC. Discussion focuses on comparing the classification system with previously developed classification systems.