All conference proposals must be submitted online between January 1 -March 3, 2008.

If you have any questions, contact NCFR toll free at 888-781-9331.
You MUST adhere to the format given.

The Theme: "Lenses on Family "

The lenses through which we view family affect what is seen and unseen, as well as how our research findings are understood. The theme of this year's conference encompasses how families are defined, which family processes are presumed to be adaptive, and how our research findings are interpreted in the public arena.

Putting on diverse lenses (cross-culturally, methodologically, disciplinarily, pedagogically, ideologically, and in other ways) allows us to expand our vision of possibilities for family relationships.

• Cross-cultural work shows varieties of family experiences; for example, transnational families (in which family members live in different countries) illuminate how family is defined and maintained in the face of geographic, political, and financial barriers.
• Complementary and contrasting methodological approaches on similar content areas are encouraged in order to survey the field from multiple vantage points.
• Family studies has always been interdisciplinary, but scholarship from disciplines not ordinarily associated with family studies provides new focus on family life, in particular by demonstrating how family members work, play, and communicate with one another.
• Pedagogy is enhanced by putting on different lenses, which can mean teaching from an experiential viewpoint, incorporating service learning, and other innovations. Innovative pedagogical techniques push students and faculty to expand their understandings of family relationships.
• In the public arena, the concept of family is often referred to in order to put a lens on issues that are commonly understood, but what types of families are considered and how does this lens obscure what is seen?

NCFR as a group of family professionals is particularly appropriate to address these issues. The topic cuts across research and applied fields, and programs.

Tips for Presenting at the NCFR Annual Conference (PDF document)
Preparation and tips for presenting at the NCFR Conference: papers, posters, symposia, workshops, and round tables. Tips are also given for discussants, presiders, and recorders.