The Family and Relationships Research Network of Missouri (FARR-net) is composed of scholars affiliated with the University of Missouri and engaged in work that promotes Missouri families’ quality of life, economic outlook, and social resources.
Interdisciplinary scholarship and collaboration
Using an interdisciplinary approach, FARR-net advances the science of family and relational dynamics – factors that shape health and functioning in daily family life. Scholars are housed in numerous departments and schools across the four campuses, including Psychology, Communication, Human Development & Family Science, Family Health & Medicine, Education, Public Policy, and Nursing. FARR-net facilitates collaborative research across a system-wide infrastructure to aid in conducting resource-intensive family and relationships research, outreach, and interventions more effectively and efficiently. Our vision is to foster research synergies that grow multidisciplinary scholarly contributions and increase competitiveness for associated external funding opportunities. These collaborations will also aid in mentorship for junior colleagues, which will lead to publications, external funding, and higher rates of promotion, tenure, and retention. This is key, as FARR-Net members are predominantly women and Scholars of Color, two groups historically underrepresented at that level.
Creating a family participant database
We are building a research database of Missouri families across the lifespan interested in participating in relationship research. This database will help overcome one of the most challenging obstacles to conducting research in this area – access to families. It will also facilitate collaboration and synergistic work among UM researchers on data collection efforts while minimizing “over-burdening” specific family forms and life stages.
Facilitating open and shared science
We encourage within-network data sharing and establishing an Institutional Open Science Network web tool to promote transparency and resource-sharing practices that are rapidly becoming standard in public health and social science.
Student-centered training opportunities
FARR-net improves student experiences through engagement, training, and mentoring. Family and relationship scholars are formalized around student-centered collaborations such as cross-listing courses, serving on graduate committees across departments and campuses, supporting assistantships, and research training opportunities, such as our current NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) on the Scientific Study of Interpersonal Relationships Across the Lifespan.