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This paper reports the development and application or a method for evaluating the methodology of social science research. In this study, 11 social scientists rated the methodology of 126 federally sponsored, social science research projects. Written documentation from each research project was divided into three packets, representing three stages of the research process proposal, interim report, and completed research. Each project was independently rated at each of the three stages by two different reviewers, using a comprehensive methodology review instrument created for this purpose. A series of factor analyses of the ratings for 7.5 evaluative methodological features reveals a multidimensional structure underlying the evaluations This structure appears to become more elaborate as research progresses toward completion. The implications of the structuring of methodological assessments are discussed for research funding procedures, research monitoring, the conduct of research, and the training of social scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents abstracts of various selected articles related to the field of family psychology, previously published in various issues of several journals. The abstract of the article, "Psychological Patterning in Marriage," which was published in the March 1963 issue of the journal "Psychological Bulletin" refers to a scientific research focusing on the issue of mate similarity or dissimilarity, that is, homogamy or heterogamy. It describes four overlapping areas concerned with family psychoanalysis: interpersonal perception, identification, complementarity needs, and role theory. An abstract of the article, "Relation of Factors Derived From Parent- Interview Ratings to Behavior Problems of Five-Year-Olds," which was published in the September 1962 issue of the journal "Child Development" summarizes the report presenting measure variables in parent behavior which may be critical in the development of the child. Another abstract of the article, "Net Income of Employed Wives With Husband Present," which was published in an issue of the journal "Studies in Economics and Business" presents the report of personal interview of 171 Texas employed, white collar, married women to analyze socioeconomic conflicts and problems of families.

This article presents brief summaries of various articles, related to family life and marriage, previously published in several periodicals. One article presents a report of preliminary descriptive findings from a Ford Foundation-supported survey of fertility and its control in Israel. The authors report the extent of contraception and induced abortion practices of 3006 Jewish women who gave birth in one of 23 Israeli hospitals sometime during the period from August, 1959 through March 1960. Most births to Jewish mothers take place in these hospitals. An interview questionnaire was administered by nurses to the women, usually during the three-four days following delivery. The author, a caseworker, offers her professional advice on treating "marital role reversal" and discusses a successfully treated case. Recent marked social changes particularly in family life require child welfare agencies to reexamine the nature of the children under their care, available foster homes, and the community role they play in treating and placing children. Adoptive families are subjected to certain pressures in their efforts to meet the needs of their adopted children. In addition, foster parents have special needs of their own which have led them to consult an adoption agency. In particular many seem to feel some need to deny the differences of adoptive and biological parenthood.