Introduction

Recent years have seen concerns expressed about the nature of transformations in family and community relationships, including how they are affected by and affect social and economic developments. But how can we think about and assess the nature of the present in relation to the past, and vice versa? What are the methodologies involved in enabling such assessments? This edited volume highlights an important area where knowledge can be contradictory and uncertain, in terms of the concepts employed to guide research and perspectives shaping understanding of family, community and generational change. Further, new methodologies are emerging alongside established ones in researching the topic.