Citation

Wical K, Doherty W. Fathering 2005; 3(1): 81-91.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Men's Studies Press)

DOI

10.3149/fth.0301.81

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Family researchers have long recognized the value of having multiple informants when studying families. However, the reliability of fathers' reports, especially on their level of involvement with their children, has sometimes been questioned. Using time diary data from a sample of White, well-educated, first-time parents (N = 52 couples), this study moves beyond a simple comparison of father and mother reports of father involvement by using a method that corrects for the times mothers are not able to observe fathers' level of involvement. Results indicate father and mother reports of father involvement are highly similar. This finding suggests that fathers are reliable reporters of their own involvement with their young children via time diaries. Previously reported differences between father and mother reports of father involvement may be due to methodological issues more than the gender of the reporter.

Language: en