Research

Forming Habit(us): A Video-Ethnography of Everyday Interactions Inside 21 American Families

Funded by the National Science Foundation–Sociology (2022-24), Grant #2214309, Vanderbilt University Discovery Grant, Vanderbilt University Seeding Success Grant, Peabody College Small Grants for Research, American Sociological Association Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline 

 

The goal of this project is to examine through in-home video footage how families from different social class backgrounds develop early-life skills, attitudes, and expectations in their children. There is overwhelming evidence of the importance of children’s earliest years and the power of parenting in shaping young children’s skill development. Each year, the United States invests billions of dollars into programs to support parents including through parent education classes, parenting supports, and home visitation programs. Developing parenting initiatives that better address families’ daily needs and reflect their knowledge and expertise requires a deeper understanding of the circumstances of children’s lives. This in-home video study of parent-child interactions is an unprecedented examination of how families support their children’s early learning.