Table Of ContentFamily Life Education:
Principles and
Practices for Effective
Outreach (Second
Edition)
Stephen F Duncan
Copyright © 2011 by SAGE Publications, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Duncan, Stephen F.
Family life education : principles and practices for effective outreach /
Stephen F. Duncan, H. Wallace Goddard. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4129-7908-5 (pbk.)
1. Family life education. I. Goddard, H. Wallace. II. Title.
HQ10.D853 2011
306.850973—dc22 2010033454
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
10 11 12 13 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Acquisitions Editor: Kassie Graves
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Copy Editor: Gillian Dickens
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Proofreader: Ellen Brink
Indexer: Gloria Tierney
Cover Designer: Gail Buschman
CONTENTS
Preface xvii
PART I. FOUNDATIONS OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION 1
1. Historical and Philosophical Perspectives 3
Defining Family Life Education 4
A Brief History of Outreach Family Life Education 5
Early Roots 5
The American Land Grant University System 6
Cooperative Extension 7
Other University-Based Outreach Efforts 8
Community Movements 9
Reaching Diverse Audiences 11
Professional Associations and Professionalization
of Family Life Education 12
Web-Based Family Life Education 13
Evolution in the Dissemination of
Scientific Knowledge About Families 13
Varied Approaches or “Roles” in Family Life Education 15
The Expert Approach 15
The Facilitator Approach 16
The Critical Inquirer Approach 17
The Collaborator Approach 18
The Interventionist Approach 18
The Eclectic Approach 19
Developing a Working Philosophy for Outreach
Family Life Education 20
Beliefs About the Family and the Nature and
Quality of Family Life 21
Beliefs About the Purpose of Family Life Education 21
Beliefs About the Content of Family Life Education 22
Beliefs About the Process of Learning for Families
and Individuals Within Families 23
Conclusion 23
Explorations 24
PART II. DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY LIFE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS 25
2. Designing Comprehensive Family Life
Education Prevention Programs 27
The Science and Profession of Prevention 28
Prevention Education Models in FLE 29
A Comprehensive Model for the Design of
Family Life Prevention Programs 31
Stage 1: Problem Analysis 31
Stage 2: Program Design 38
Stage 3: Pilot Testing 44
Stage 4: Advanced Testing 45
Stage 5: Dissemination 46
Assessing Elements of Program Quality in Existing Programs 49
Characteristics of Strong, Sustainable Family
Life Education Programs 49
Conclusion 54
Explorations 54
3. Principles of Program Evaluation 55
Evaluation as Friend and Foe: Stereotypes and Opportunities 55
Establishing the Target: Vision and Goals 56
Developing a Vision 56
Getting Specific: Program Goals and Objectives 58
An Example of an Evaluation Framework in
Parenting Education 59
Matching the Parts 59
Defining the Kind of Information Needed:
The Evaluation Questions 63
The Five-Tiered Approach to Program Evaluation 64
The Logic Model Approach to Evaluation 67
Innovations in Evaluation 69
Transformative Learning 69
Results Mapping 70
Posttest First Methods 71
Using Evaluation Data 73
Conclusion 73
Explorations 74
PART III. IMPLEMENTING FAMILY LIFE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS 77
4. Designing Effective Instruction 79
Component Display Theory 80
Using Stories That Teach the Principle 81
Helping Learners Take the Principles Home 83
Finding Instructional Balance 84
Instruction Outside a Classroom 84
Mixing the Elements of Instruction 85
First Principles of Instruction 85
Instruction Addresses Real Problems 86
Activating Existing Knowledge 87
The Power of Demonstration 88
Applying New Knowledge 90
New Knowledge Integrated Into the Learner’s World 91
Conclusion 91
Explorations 91
5. Engaging an Audience 93
The Art of Teaching 93
A Formula for Engaging an Audience 94
Engaging the Adult Learner With Family Life Education 95
What Changes People? Challenging Ideas From
Personality Theories 96
Comparing the Personality Theories 98
Relationships as the Basis for Helping 99
Prelude to Effective Education 99
The Boundary Between Therapy and
Family Life Education 101
A Specific Method for Capitalizing on
Emotion in Family Life Education 102
Practical Applications 105
Drawing the Best Out of Your Participants:
Some Practical Tips 105
Application to Print 107
Conclusion 108
Explorations 108
6. Teaching Skills and Tools in Family Life Education 110
Select Methods for Family Life Education 110
Leading Group Discussions 111
Fish Bowl 112
Buzz Groups 113
Personal Narrative: Stories of Life 114
Skill Training 116
Family Councils/Meetings 117
Role-Playing 118
Movie and Television Clips 119
Educational Videos 120
Music and Pictures 120
Books, Plays, and Short Stories 123
Comic Strips and Cartoons 123
Games 124
Object Lessons 124
Homework Assignments and Learning Contracts 125
Idea Reinforcers 126
Myth Versus Reality 126
Conclusion 127
Explorations 128
7. Working With Diverse Audiences 129
Sensitizing to Differences 130
Diversity of Learning Styles 131
Ethnicity and Values 131
The Individual 132
Communication Standards 132
Action Orientation 132
Time Orientation 133
Work Ethic 133
Family Structure 133
Skilled Dialogue 134
Group FLE Examples 136
Programming for Diversity 137
Know Your Audience 138
Know Yourself 138
Explore Your Limits 139
Evaluate Program Material for Diversity 139
Be Flexible 141
Conclusion 141
Explorations 141
PART IV. CONTENT AND CONTEXTS FOR FAMILY
LIFE EDUCATION 143
8. Education for Personal Well-Being: Flourishing People
Make Better Family Members 145
Models of Well-Being 146
The Self-Esteem Era 146
The New Positive Psychology 148
Limits of Human Objectivity 149
The Practical Messages of Positive Psychology 151
Understanding Well-Being 152
Savoring 153
Using Your Strengths 156
Serving 158
Educational Frameworks 160
Conclusion 161
Explorations 161
9. Marriage and Relationship Education 164
Stephen F. Duncan, Alan J. Hawkins, and H. Wallace Goddard
Early Beginnings of Marriage and Relationship Education 165
Current Theoretical and Empirical Foundations and
Models for Practice 166
Examples of the Three Emphases: Foundational Processes for
Enduring Marriages 167
Educational Frameworks 172
Programs and Approaches 177
Effectiveness of Marriage and Relationship Education 180
Extension Service Programs and Results 182
Creating Your Own Marriage and Relationship Education Program 182
Challenges for the Future and Future Directions 185
Target 185
Timing 185
Setting 186
Content 186
Methods 187
Dosage 188
Bright Prospects and Real Challenges 188
Conclusion 189
Explorations 189
