ASSESSMENT OF FAMILIES

The investigation of family interaction presents several challenges. F amilies present methodologic problems because they are an unusual unit for analysis. Most researchers examine the individual as the central unit of analysis, but studies of the family must focus on larger units , such as the dyad, the triad, and the entire family system. Although important efforts have been made to classify these relationships and t he individual tendencies in them, much more theoretic and empiric work remains to be done.