© 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27, 5, November 2003, pp395–405 395 Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKIJCInternational Journal of Consumer Studies1470-6431Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 200327 5395405Original ArticleA research framework for family resource managementS. McGregor and M. Bateman Ellison Correspondence Sue McGregor, Department of Education, Coordinator Peace and Conflict Studies Program, Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS, Canada B3M 2J6. E-mail: sue.mcgregor@msvu.ca A new research framework for family resource management applied to financial preparedness of mid-life working couples a Sue McGregor 1 and Margaret Bateman Ellison 2 1 Department of Education, Coordinator Peace and Conflict Studies Program, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada 2 Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada Abstract In order to continue to move forward, the field of family resource management needs rich research programmes based on holistic, synergetic approaches. To this end, this paper presents a multi-perspective research framework for designing family resource management research pro- grammes using insights from five existing perspectives to understand families: life cycle stages, life spiral across gen- erations, unplanned life transitions, the historical context of the course of one’s life, and the different levels of influence on daily life ranging from the cosmos to the unknown (spheres of influence perspective). A modernization of the life cycle perspective is proposed as well to accommodate the gap between the full nest and the empty nest. We then use this new research framework to shape the development of a programme targeting retirement preparedness of mid- life working couples with dependents (children and aged or infirm adults). We anticipate that deeper, more holistic insights into family resource management strategies can be gained from using this new research framework. Keywords Resource management, financial preparedness, mid-life working couples, research framework, life cycle, life course. Family resource management is an established field of study with a long, progressive history. 1 Goldsmith and McGregor 2 recognized an evolution occurring within the discipline (formerly called home management) such that practitioners are challenged to keep abreast of the rapidly changing relationships between families and their environments. This paper tenders a multi- perspective research framework for family resource management (Table 1) that strives to accommodate the changing nature of families, the changing nature of their external life environment (especially policies within government and the labour market) and the two-way relationship between families and their changing life context as they procure, manage and dispose of resources to fulfil their day-to-day and intergenera- tional needs. In more detail, the authors assume that deeper insights into family resource management strategies can be gained from integrating four life development, evo- lution and transition frameworks with the spheres of influence perspective into a new family resource man- agement research framework. These five perspectives include: (a) the family life cycle perspective, (b) the life spiral perspective, (c) the life transition perspective, (d) the life course perspective, b and (e) the spheres of influ- ence perspective. Each perspective will be discussed with comments on how each accommodates particular parts of the resource management puzzle but not the entire phenomena. A modernization of the life cycle perspective is also suggested. By way of application, the discussion ends with an example of how using this multi- perspective research framework provides guidelines for developing a long-term research programme or strategy for studying family resource management and retire- a A much earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1998 Interna- tional Household and Family Research Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 31 May-3 June. b By way of clarification, Aldous 11 suggested that neither life cycle or life course merit the status of a theory yet so each will be referred to as a perspective in this discussion.