Kelly Raley

Professor — Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison

Curriculum Vitae

Contact

E-mail: kelly.raley@mail.utexas.edu
Phone: 232-6333
Office: CLA 2.072E
Office Hours: By appointment
Campus Mail Code: G1800

Biography

R. Kelly Raley is Professor of Sociology and Training Director at the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Her research investigates family trends, the social determinants of family formation, and the impact of family change on social stratification. As part of a larger agenda examining the economic, social, and cultural contributors to marriage disparities in the United States, she has recently completed a project investigating the influence of social contextual factors on adolescent relationship formation. Much of her work in this area has addressed racial and ethnic differences in marriage and cohabitation, but her current line of inquiry focuses on educational variation in family formation.

NIH Biosketch

WGS 393 • Family & Household Demography

47990 • Fall 2013
Meets M 1200pm-300pm CLA 0.124
(also listed as SOC 389K )

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Description:

This seminar offers you the opportunity to learn more about trends in behavior, theories about family change, and analytical techniques for studying families and households.

Course requirements:

Class participation (30%). To help you get the most out of this seminar, you and your peers will lead class discussion. I will provide a reading list, some (hopefully) thought provoking questions, and occasionally a question or comment during class. Obviously, this means that coming to class prepared (having completed assigned readings and considered how they are interrelated) is essential, even for those not leading the class discussion. Skimming the articles 1 or 2 hours before class does not constitute preparation. Weekly attendance is required. I will provide students feedback on their participation at the midpoint of the semester.

Research Proposal (60%). In addition to class participation, you will complete a proposal for research in the broadly defined area of family demography. Data analysis is not required for this assignment, but a description of how you will empirically investigate your research question is necessary. The hope is that this will serve as a start to a publishable paper and/or the acquisition of outside funding. You will present your proposal to the class at the end of the semester.

Final (10%). Towards the end of the semester, I will administer a 1 hour exam worth 10% of your grade. This exam will ask basic questions about family demography (e.g. What are 3 explanations for the decline in marriage? Name one sociologist who has provided evidence for or against each explanation.) I will use this exam primarily to evaluate the course strengths and weaknesses. Students who keep up with class and keep good notes should not spend more than an hour or two preparing for this exam.

Readings:

There will be readings (about 5-6 per week) which will come from a variety of journals.

Publications

Augustine, Jennifer March and R. Kelly Raley. Forthcoming. “Multigenerational Households and the School Readiness of Children Born to Unmarried Mothers.” Journal of Family Issues.

Sullivan, M. Kate, R. Kelly Raley, Robert A. Hummer, and Emily Schiefelbein. Forthcoming. The Potential Contribution of Marital-Cohabitation Status to Racial, Ethnic, and Nativity Differentials in Birth Outcomes in Texas.” Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Raley, R. Kelly. 2011. In Booth et al (Eds). “I just want your kiss? Sexual Relationships in Young Adulthood” Early Adulthood in a Family Context. New York. Springer

Raley, R. Kelly. 2011. “Family and Household Composition of the Population”. In M. Anderson, C. Citro, and J. Salvo (Eds) Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census: Second Edition. Washington D.C.: CQ Press.

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