There are three periods in sociological studies of the family in the last fifty years. The first twenty years beginning with 1895 were devoted to the evolution of the family and an appraisal of institutional trends. A greater concern with the present than with the past and more scientific methods characterize the next decade. The last period is marked by the emergence of the social psychology of the family and the use of case studies in addition to quantitative methods. Some recent developments are the use of vital statistics and studies of the formation of personality in the parental family, marriage adjustment, and family disorganization.
