This major study examines the increasing significance of inheritance for life in ordinary families. It considers questions of individual choice versus family responsibilities, the internal dynamics of families, and broader implications for social change. This book is intended for undergraduates and postgraduates on courses in the sociology of the family, social policy, gender studies and social anthropology, as well as students and researchers within socio-legal studies and family law.

This major study examines the increasing significance of inheritance for life in ordinary families. It considers questions of individual choice versus family responsibilities, the internal dynamics of families, and broader implications for social change. This book is intended for undergraduates and postgraduates on courses in the sociology of the family, social policy, gender studies and social anthropology, as well as students and researchers within socio-legal studies and family law.

Negotiating Family Responsibilities provides a major new insight into contemporary family life, particularly kin relationships outside the nuclear family. While many people believe that the real meaning of 'family' has shrunk to the nuclear family household, there is considerable evidence to suggest that relationships with the wider kin group remain an important part of most people's lives. Based on the findings of a major study of kinship, and including lively verbatim accounts of conversations with family members concepts of responsibility and obligation within family life are examined and the authors expand theories on the nature of assistance within families and argue that it is negotiated over time rather than given automatically.

For some time access to publicly provided services has been shrinking and governments have been emphasizing the family as the first line of support, but how far do such policies accord with what people will provide for their relatives, and with contemporary ideas about what it is proper to expect from family members? This book examines patterns of support, both practical and financial, between adult members of family and kin groups, and focuses upon ideas about responsibility, duty and obligation within families and how far these underpin the support actually given. This text provides an insight into contemporary family life, particularly kin relationships outside the nuclear family. While many people believe that the real meaning of "family" has shrunk to the nuclear family household, there is considerable evidence to suggest that relationships with the wider kin group remain an important part of most people's lives. Based on the findings of a major study of kinship, and including lively verbatim accounts of conversations with family members, concepts of responsibility and obligation within family life are examined.

The third edition of this best-selling text guides students and researchers through the process of doing qualitative research, clearly explaining how different theoretical approaches inform what you do in practice. The text bridges the gap between 'cookbook' and more abstract approaches to qualitative research, by posing 'difficult questions' that researchers should be asking themselves . The book invites researchers to engage in a creative and critical practice in how they draw insights, interpret a range of types of data and craft knowledge from qualitative research. Fully revised and updated, with three new chapters, this edition: * Covers the full research process, with new material on analysing and interpreting data and research ethics * Engages with exciting new developments in the field through challenging qualitative researchers to be creative with how they research and with what they find. * Examines the potential of qualitatively-led approaches to mixed methods, and their implications for research design, research practice and the production of convincing arguments. A theoretically engaged, grounded approach to qualitative researching, this remains the ideal text to guide students to become thoughtful, creative and effective qualitative researchers.

How we distribute our assets after death is no longer a question for a small wealthy section of society: increasing numbers of people must now decide how to structure wills and to bequeath money and possessions across generations: not only to family and kin but to charities and institutions also. This path-breaking study offers an empirical study of 800 English wills and uses the material to reflect upon what they tell us of contemporary family and kin relationships. It will be of great interest to lawyers, anthropologists, sociologists and social historians.