Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Advance Family Responsive

Initiatives

Stephen SweetIthaca College

Judi CaseyBoston College

2008 National Council on Family Relations

November 7, 2008

4:00-5:30pm

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

About the NetworkAbout the Network

• The Alfred P. Sloan Work and Family Research Network is the premier online destination for information about work and family.  The Network serves a global community interested in work and family research by providing resources and building knowledge. Current, credible, and comprehensive, the Network targets the information needs of academics and researchers, workplace practitioners, state public policy makers, and interested individuals.  It’s the place to find high quality research and reports, easy-to-read summary sheets and briefs, as well as work and family topic pages – all in one location.

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Introductions and needs….

• What best describes your role(s)?– Researcher– Teacher– Workplace practitioner– Policy maker– Advocate– Counselor– Other?

• What best describes the types of information you need?– Access to scholarly research– Quick references to statistics,

definitions– Detailed summaries of the state of

knowledge– Class/workshop activities– Teaching materials/readings– Guidance on locating experts– Case examples to establish

prospects for returns on investment

– Access to laws and state policy– Updates on meetings,

publications, and funding opportunities

– Other?

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Access Scholarly Research,

Statistics, and Detailed Summaries

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Orienting Work-Family Inquiry: The Work and Family Encyclopedia

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Quick Means to Locate Facts

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Blazing Paths: A Source of Comprehensive Understanding

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Helping Students Frame Their Research and Analyses

Margaret Usdansky uses Topics Pages and Literature Database to guide student projects

From Margaret’s syllabus…..

Assignment 1, Identifying and Defining Your Topic and Main Argument: The Topics Pages on the Sloan Work-Family site are a useful source for selecting a topic and formulating a main argument. Take a look at the site before you begin. You are not limited to the topics identified by Sloan but are free to draw on them. To begin, peruse the Topics Pages or other sections of the Sloan web site to come up with ideas for your paper topic. Once you’ve identified a likely topic, search the Sloan data base or other data bases discussed in class to identify two scholarly empirical articles relevant to your topic. Avoid topics for which you have trouble identifying relevant empirical articles as you will ultimately need 10 articles for the completed paper……

Margaret Usdansky (Syracuse University)

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Portal to Work-Family Research: The Literature Database

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Advance Teaching and Learning

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Pedagogical Challenges

• Breadth and Scope of Area of Study

– Diversities of families, workers, and workplaces

– Multi-disciplinary perspectives– Wide-ranging methodologies– Vistas of policy initiatives

• Complexity– Linkages between institutions,

history, and policy– Global comparative concerns

• Students’ Limited “Real Life” Experience

– Of family and work roles, demands, resources, and constraints

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1970 1980 1990 2000

socioabs

econlit

psychinfo

historicalabstracts

Tracking Journal Articles on Work-Family: 1970-2000

Source: Pitt-Catsouphes, Ernst Kossek and Sweet. 2005. Work and Family Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Mahwah, NJ.

Programming, Curricular and Pedagogical Programming, Curricular and Pedagogical ChallengesChallenges

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Curriculum Task Force of the Sloan Work and Family Research Network

• 2005-2007• Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes

– Boston College• Ellen Ernst Kossek

– Michigan State University • Carrie Leana

– University of Pittsburgh• Shelley MacDermid

– Purdue University• Patricia Raskin

– Teachers College at Columbia University

• Mary Secret– Virginia Commonwealth University

• Stephen Sweet– Ithaca College

• 2007-2009• Christopher Morett

– Fordham University• Susan Lambert

– University of Chicago• Lonnie Golden

– Penn State, Abington• Stephen Sweet

– Ithaca College• Margaret Usdansky

– Syracuse University

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Resource for Instruction and Course Design: Syllabi

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Resource for Class Activities

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Resource for Course Components: Work and Family Modules

Modules currently available

1. Overview of Work-Family Issues in the United States

2. Work-Life Issues in the Workplace

3. Work-Family Policy in the United States

4. Surveying the “Best of the Best”: A Seminar Based on Research Articles Nominated for the Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Work-Family Research

Modules in development

5. Engaging Students in the Sloan Work and Family Research Network

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Module: Overview of Work and Family in the United States

Class 1: Fundamental concepts in work and family

Class 2: Historical overview of work-family: Changes from pre-industrial to industrial arrangements

Key Concepts

• Definitions of families

• Diversity of employment and family contexts

• Institutional interfaces, spillover, crossover, conflict, and enhancement

• Multidisciplinary perspectives

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Module: Surveying the “Best of the Best”

A Seminar Based on Research Articles Nominated for the Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Work-Family Research

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Locate Experts and Establish the

“Business Case” for Family Responsive Policy

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Link To Social Networks

Should you be listed among the “who’s who” of work-family leaders? Inquire to Judi Casey <caseyjt@bc.edu>

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Means to Locate Organizational Practices and Case Studies

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Establishing the Business Case With Students

• Susan Lambert assigns her students to engage in field work, interview workers, and link their analyses to case studies of workplace flexibility presented on the Sloan Work and Family Research Network

Susan Lambert (University of Chicago)

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Access Laws and State Policy

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Source For State Policy information

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Using the Sloan Work and Family Research Network to Keep Updated

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

A Means to Find News and Upcoming Events

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

The Work and Family Blog

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202 Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Becoming Part of the Sloan Work and Family Research Network Community

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

Opportunities to Contribute to the Sloan Work and Family Research Network

• Compose - entries for the Sloan Work and Family Encyclopedia

• Submit - syllabi to the Teaching Resources• Share - teaching activities and exercises

through Teaching Resources• Become – A Work-Family Leader

Contacts Judi Casey - caseyjt@bc.edu

Stephen Sweet – ssweet@ithaca.edu

Online: www.bc.edu/wfnetwork E-mail: wfnetwork@bc.edu Phone: 617-552-1708 Fax: 617-552-9202

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recently added to the Literature Database• announcements for conferences and calls

for papersA discounted subscription to:

• Community, Work and FamilyAccess to selected full-text articles in our research Literature Database (with password)