Family Research Quantitative Methods

What quantitative research methods are useful for family systems theory research questions?

Do available quantitative methods help us advance family research based on systems theories? Which methods are particularly useful when theory suggests systems and subsystems are mutually influencing? If cultural, economic, and social systems, as well as family interaction patterns, are mutually influencing, what do we take as our unit of analysis?

Resources on system theory:

Rosenblatt, P.C. Metaphors of Family Systems Theory, 1994
Sameroff, A. J. Developmental Systems: Contexts and Evolution, Handbook on Child Development, Theoretical Models of Human Development, 4th edition.
Principia Cybernetica Web

Or, for a brief definition of systems theory see more...

Systems theories often involve interdisciplinary approaches that seek to understand elements in relation. They emphasize self-organizing properties of elements and subsystems in hierarchical systems. They are based on many different metaphors. A few key assumptions may include:
1. Wholeness or the sum is more than the parts. In order to understand a system it is necessary to look at relationships between parts. Systems thinkers might say, "properties emerge at the systems level."
2. Systems are self-regulating. Systems maintain and/or adapt to internal or environmental stimuli. A system requires some stability to exist.
3. System hierarchy: systems with sufficient stability often develop more complex hierarchies, potentially increasing their stability.

Systemic metaphors can jolt us out of our every day thinking about families and relationships. Every theory contains linguistic metaphor. Language and culture are inextricably linked and when we explore a new system metaphor we also explore how theory is rooted in culture. System theory can help us understand how we organize our thinking and how we might reorganize our thinking to gain insight.