Cumulative Problem Solving in Family Sociology

Abstract

This article analyzes why, in family sociology, the development of problems for theorizing and research has not led to many cumulative solutions. Cumulative solutions require serial progressions to problem development that are not much evident in family sociology. Problem development has a serial progression when the very framing of a question for research is conditional on the results of previous research. The program of research on mate selection is reviewed in terms of its pattern of problem development. I conclude that the scientific significance of the problem of mate selection has not been established by its research literature. The literature on mate selection is taken to be representative of the way in which programs of research in family sociology have shown incremental but not cumulative growth. Implications for theorizing in family sociology are discussed.