Trajectories Research in Family Communication: Toward the Identification of Alternative Pathways for Inquiry

Abstract

This essay concerns the state of research that identifies patterns of relationship change within familial contexts (i.e., trajectories). Overall, studies have produced interesting and practical information, and the trajectories are relatively consistent across studies. After reviewing the history and substance of this research, I advocate family communication scholars continue inquire in the area. Researchers should identify varied trajectories for processes (e.g., health-related decisions) and within yet unexplored family relationships (e.g., transnational families). Future studies that shift from identifying trajectories of familial relationships to identifying discourses of family time and change would enrich this area of research, as well. Specifically, Baxter's (2011) current iteration of relational dialectics theory, which focuses on identifying discourses in relationship talk, would take trajectories and family communication research in productive directions by including notions of history and culture that move beyond the immediate relationships under study.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author sincerely thanks Loreen Olson for her invitation to write this article and appreciates her guidance in developing the final version.