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Kenyon Stanley

Comm 602

Dr. Zachary White

December 14, 2010

Discussion Leader Questions

Summary

J.D. Duckworth & P.M. Buzzanell conducted semi-structured interviews of 18 fathers in hopes

of finding how they construct work-life balance. The goal of the study was to see if there were

any reoccurring themes among the fathers. The researchers found that the fathers in the study

viewed their roles at work as central to their role as fathers. Additionally, fathers viewed

fatherhood as problem solving amidst a a network of responsibilities. Lastly, while the fathers

indicated that their families come first, across the board the fathers negotiated family needs

around work needs.

I. Purpose of study

A. The purpose of the study was simply to identify reoccurring themes regarding

fatherhood and work life balance from a small cohort of fathers.

II. The article was very easy to read and understand. Conversational in tone, the authors

used a conversational voice and limited the jargon to areas where only necessaryin this

case, the literature review and methodology section.

A. The participants were from a broad sample of everyday Americans. Differing insocioeconomic and age, the results were bound in some instances across

socioeconomic and generational lines.

a. Fathers who didnt have status at work also had little flexibility in theirschedulestherefore these fathers stated that they had no alternative but to

navigate family needs around work needs.

III. Data was collected by transcribing answers to four basic research questions designed to

examine how fathers negotiate work life balance. What an ideal situation would look like?

What changes could be made to work and life and finally what would the interviewee like theinterviewer to know about the interviewee?

A. Answers were recorded and transcribed by students. Afterword, the transcriptionswere examined by researchers and the aforementioned reoccurring themes emerged.

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Conclusions

I found this article both insightful as a father and helpful in designing my own research

proposal. As a father, I endeavor to dedicate myself to my family over work. However, I can

understand that if I didnt have the workplace status I currently do have, the situation could be

very different. While I am thankful for the blessings I have, I grieve for others who (for the sakeof work), cannot be the fathers they want to be. The semantics of the article were extremely

helpful to me as I drafted my research proposal. Both of our works are qualitative in nature and

the Buzzanell interviews highlight the conversational voice of the researchers as well as the

voices of the fathers. When my research is completed (as I know it will be someday), I hope

readers will understand my results as easily as I understood the results in the Buzzanell

interviews.