Undergraduate Student Marriage: A Compilation of Research Findings

Abstract

A REVIEW of the literature on undergraduate student marriage was originally undertaken by one of the writers in order to ascertain whether or not the data on undergraduate student marriage could serve as a body of data to test a hypothesis regarding family developmental tasks.1 After the material was abstracted, it became clear that sampling procedures and other methodological problems of the data precluded its use for the original purpose intended. The data were then synthesized in table form for the use of other investigators, who would find it informative and illustrative. Other writers, e.g., Hobbs and Sussman,2 have clearly and concisely pointed out what are some of the impediments to family research. These include lack of adequate theoretical formulations, weaknesses in basic designs, and procedural problems related to participation of subjects. The research on undergraduate student marriage regrettably illustrates the cogency of these remarks, particularly in the areas of lack of adequate theoretical formulations and weaknesses in basic design. It is not the intention of the writers to illustrate in detail these points; however, even a quick perusal of the following tables will serve to demonstrate the incomparability of the data because of reported sampling problems, lack of control of relevant variables, and/or other weaknesses of research design.