Web site launched to track experiences, thoughts of military families during deployment

By Samantha Lucy
Military Family Research Institute

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. April 29, 2003 – In an effort to learn as much as possible from military families, their stories will be collected via a Deployment Diary discussion board on the Military Family Research Institute Web site. The launch of the online diary represents an effort to gather information from military families that will guide the development of upcoming research projects.

“We want to develop projects that examine issues military families are facing right now,” says Shelley MacDermid, co-director of MFRI and professor of child development and family studies. “This Web site allows families to share with us what they are experiencing as they experience it, which enables us to incorporate current family issues into our projects in a timely manner.”

The Web site is designed as a message board that allows users to anonymously log in to read and post comments regarding their family’s deployment experiences. The goal is to generate a virtual dialogue between military families and the MFRI research team in order for common themes among military families to emerge. The discussion board is lightly moderated to filter out any sensitive information families may inadvertently share.

According to Howard Weiss, co-director of MFRI and professor of psychological sciences, this type of family input allows research teams to understand the different ways deployment affects military families. In addition to shaping the future of research projects at MFRI, the board also enables users to connect their experiences to those of other families in similar situations.

“In addition to impacting the development of our research projects, the online deployment diaries also demonstrate to military families that they aren’t alone,” Weiss says. “During times of deployment, military families benefit from all forms of support; this discussion board is one way for families to relate with others in similar circumstances.”

The Military Family Research Institute is a cross-departmental research program housed at Purdue University and funded by the Department of Defense, Office of Military Community and Family Policy. The mission of MFRI is to conduct interdisciplinary, multilevel research that provides insight into the impact of quality of life factors on military members and their families. Of particular interest are satisfaction, retention, readiness, and performance. The goal of MFRI is to use this research to enhance military policies and practices focused on improving military quality of life.

To visit the MFRI Deployment Diary, go to http://www.mfri.purdue.edu/pages/military/board.html. For further information on the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University or its related projects, contact Samantha Lucy, communications coordinator, at slucy@purdue.edu or (765) 423-2266.