Rethinking the Panel in Family Studies

Experiences in the Katsunuma Family Study Project

Abstract

This paper explores the effectiveness and the shortcomings of utilizing a panel as a method in the study of the family. The conclusions of this paper were derived from the examination of materials from a longitudinal research project conducted five times between 1966 and 1992 in Katsunuma town, Yamanashi prefecture. Though a panel is the most effective method in revealing the actual processes of family change, it has some shortcomings. Moreover, it has become obvious that an ever-increasing body of data necessitates that statistical techniques are needed for analyzing this large amount of research. The author contends that when efforts are made to minimize the defects and to develop statistical techniques, the panel method will demonstrate its true effectivenss.