Work, Family, Children, and Public Policy

Concept Maps of the Interdisciplinary Domain

The intersection of work, family, children and public policy is multidisciplinary with research theory and applications crossing the traditional academic domains. As a way of organizing discussions about the many complex, interrelated topics that fall under this broad rubric, a diverse panel of experts met over two days to map the knowledge domain for the interdisciplinary area of work, family, children and public policy. The participants represent psychology, economics, business, public policy, family studies, sociology, industrial/organizational psychology, women's studies, adulthood and aging, and government. Dr. David Eccles, from the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, led us in generating and producing shared Concept Maps of this area.

Concept maps are a spatial array of information, which represent organized knowledge that helps to answer "focus questions." This knowledge is comprised of concepts that are labeled with symbols and words, which are connected by linking words to form propositions. The concepts and propositions are hierarchically structured, created by experts, to show interrelationships between different map segments (description from the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition website)

The concept maps that follow are a representation of ideas surrounding the Work, Family, Children and Public Policy Domain.

Different links are attached to each concept within the maps. When a user clicks on an icon under a concept, links to various resources such as videos, websites, scales used in research on the concept, and references appear. One can also navigate the different maps simply by clicking the icon under the concept containing headers for different maps.

We began with a focus question:

Work Family Domain:
"What can we tell policy makers, employers, and the public about the work-personal/family life interaction?"

Concept maps and information have been developed by the Berger Institute to view these concept maps please click here.

Taskforce Members

Dr. Tammy Allen
University of South Florida

Dr. Stephan Desrochers
Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children
Claremont McKenna College

Ms. Beth Donaghey
Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children
Claremont McKenna College

Dr. David Eccles
Institute for Human and Machine Cognition

Dr. Barbara Gault
Institute for Women's Policy Research

Dr. Diane F. Halpern
Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children
Claremont McKenna College

Dr. Leslie Hammer
Portland State University

Dr. E. Jeffery Hill
Brigham Young University

Dr. Gwndolyn Keita
American Psychological Association

Ms. Donna Klein
Corporate Voices for Working Families

Ms. Sara Link
Goldman Sachs

Dr. Pat Raskin
Teachers College, Columbia University

Dr. Heidi Riggio
Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children
Claremont McKenna College

Dr. Harvey Sterns
University of Akron