Nonresident Father Involvement: Do Mothers and Fathers See Eye-to-Eye. An Investigation of the Impact of Reporting Discrepancies

摘要

This research examines the implications of using mother-reported data to evaluate the relationship between nonresident fathers and the well-being of their children. It is intended to be of interest to three groups of people. First, it presents findings about data use and quality that have important implications for researchers who use or consider using proxy reports. In addition, the finding that 'who you listen to matters' is important for practitioners and policymakers concerned with child and family policy. All three groups - researchers, practitioners, and policymakers - should find it noteworthy that the data tell different stories about nonresident father involvement and child well-being depending on whose reports are used. The purpose of this research is not to identify 'the truthful parent.' It is not to imply that mothers or fathers are not telling the truth about nonresident fathers' characteristics or behavior. Rather it is to explore the possibility that mothers and fathers experience parenting and the interparental relationship differently, and that failure to incorporate both parties' perspectives may lead to inaccurate, inappropriate, or underdeveloped conclusions, policies, and programs. My aim has been to investigate the hotly debated issue of the nonresident father's perspective in a systematic manner using the tools of policy analysis.