Looking Backward, Around, and Forward: Family Science Has Always Been Translational Science

• Author: Joseph G. Grzywacz,Wendy Middlemiss
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12280
• Published date: 01 October 2017
• Date: 01 October 2017

J G. G Florida State University

W M University of North Texas

Looking Backward, Around, and Forward: Family

Science Has Always Been Translational Science

Family science is at a turning point in its devel-

opment. For some this turning point is part of a

broader cycle, whereas others characterize it as

a “code red” call to arms to save family science

before it becomes dismantled and lost (Gavazzi,

Wilson, Ganong, & Zvonkovic, 2014). As

cogently described in a 2014 Family Relations

special collection, family science is character-

ized as lacking a common nomenclature and

identity, and family scientists lament underap-

preciation of the broader scientic community

and policymakers (Hamon & Smith, 2014;

Hans, 2014). A commonly occurring thread

across diverse recommendations for moving the

eld forward was the creation of a framework

and associated strategies for establishing family

science’s unique features relative to other elds

in which family is a topic of study (Gavazzi

et al., 2014). Some recommendations involved

building identity on substantive grounds, such

as clearly differentiating family-focused sci-

ence from family-related science, and others

suggested focusing on how family science is

conducted rather than the focus of our science.

The goal of this special issue was to cod-

ify a framework and associated strategies for

advancing the unique identity of family science.

To achieve this goal, we followed Zvonkovic’s

(Gavazzi et al., 2014) vision of building from

the zeitgeist of translational science. More

Department of Family and Child Sciences, 225 Sandels

Building, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

32306-1491 (jgrzywacz@fsu.edu).

specically, this special issue was designed

to (a) demonstrate the utility of the transla-

tional science framework for advancing family

science’s unique identity and relevance, (b)

illustrate exemplary family science at each stage

in the translational science continuum, and

(c) articulate implications of key translational

science concepts and models and associated

actions for training the next generation of family

scientists. This special issue is the outworking

of this lofty goal and subsidiary aims.

Translational science taps into a fundamental

core identity of family science. Even a casual

review of departmental overviews or mission

statements for those units bearing family studies

or family science in their program label reveals

a clear and cogent commitment to making a

positive difference in human lives. The primary

or focal population for making a difference

(e.g., children and adolescents in the context

of families; impoverished families) varies from

program to program based on institutional

history, interests of faculty, or developed infras-

tructure. Nevertheless, the vast majority shares

a common goal of improving quality of life.

Moreover, virtually every program bearing

family studies or family science in its pro-

gram name, particularly those with graduate

programs, explicitly state a commitment to

building the scientic foundations needed to

solve problems affecting quality of life. Again,

the problems of focus (e.g., quality of mar-

riages, parenting practices, navigating everyday

work and family life) vary widely depend-

ing on the program’s academic forerunners,

Family Relations 66 (October 2017): 547–549 547

DOI:10.1111/fare.12280