Over the history of outreach FLE there has been some evolution in the dissemination of scientific knowledge about families. What is the nature of this change? How would you distinguish a trickle-down approach from a community-collaborative approach?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The nature of the change has been from a trickle-down approach to family life education, where researchers impart to practitioners who then teach the masses, to a collaborative effort among all parties, including the public, realizing that all have something to contribute to addressing pressing family problems. A trickle-down approach goes from top (researchers) to bottom (the masses) through the practitioners (family life educators), whereas a community-collaborative approach involves a team effort. Concerns that need research may actually be generated by the masses. The collaborative approach recognizes the collective experience of the masses and incorporates lived experience into the educational enterprise. It is just as vital as the research findings a FLE brings to the table.