Janet Melby Janet Nieuwsma Melby
Director, Observational Coding Unit & Scientist, Institute for Social & Behavioral Research Adjunct Associate Professor, Human Development & Family Studies

Education:
Ph.D. Iowa State University, 1988
M.S. North Dakota State University, 1974
B.S./B.A. North Dakota State University, 1972

Office: Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, 2625 North Loop Drive
Phone:(515) 294-8144
Email: jmelby@iastate.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests:

  • Observational research methodology
  • Family processes
  • Parent-child interaction
  • Development of instrumental competence
  • Educational attainment
  • Substance use and abuse
  • Emerging adulthood
  • Life-span development

Special skills:

  • Observational research techniques.

Teaching Responsibilities:

  • Parent Education

Professional Organizations:

  • Society for Research on Adolescence
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • National Council on Family Relations
  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • American Psychological Association

Certifications:

  • Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)
  • Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS)

Recent Presentations and Selected Publications:

Granberg, E. M., Simons, R. L., & Melby, J. N. (in press). The relationship between body weight and depressed mood: Findings from a sample of African American middle-school Girls. Youth & Society.

Melby , J. N., Conger, R. D., Fang, S. A., Wickrama, K.A.S., & Conger, K. J. (in press). Adolescent family experiences and educational attainment during early adulthood. Developmental Psychology.

Davenport , B. R., Hegland, S. & Melby, J. N. (2008). Parent behaviors in free-play and problem-solving interactions in relation to problem behaviors in preschool boys.

Early Child Development and Care, 178 (6), 589–607.

Lorenz, F. O., Melby, J. N., Xu, X. & Conger, R. D. (2007). The effects of context on the correspondence between observational ratings and questionnaire reports of hostile behavior: a MTMM approach. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 498-509.

Cui, M., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R. D., Melby, J. N., & Bryant, C. M. (2005). Observer, Self, and Partner Reports of Hostile Behaviors in Romantic Relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 1169-1181.

Cutrona, C. E., Russell, D. W., Abraham, W. T., Gardner, K. A., Melby, J. N., & Conger, R. D. (2003).  Neighborhood context and financial strain as predictors of marital outcomes and mental health in African American couples.  Journal of Personal Relationships, 10, 389-409.

Melby , J. N., Hoyt, W. T., & Bryant, C. M. (2003).  A generalizability approach to assessing the effects of ethnicity and training on observer ratings of family interactions.  Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20, 171-191.

Melby , J. N., & Conger, R. D. (2001).  The Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scales: Instrument summary.  In Patricia Kerig and Kristin Lindahl (Eds.), Family observational coding systems: Resources for systematic research (pp. 33-58). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Lorenz, F. O. & Melby, J. N. (2007, November). Observer and Spousal Assessments of Behaviors: Links to Relationship Quality. Working paper presented as part of J. N. Melby (symposium organizer), As Good as it Gets: Factors Impacting the Generalizability of Assessments, Theory Construction Workshop, National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburgh, PA.

Melby , J. N. (organizer). (2007, November). As Good as it Gets: Factors Impacting the Generalizability of Assessments. Symposium presented at Theory Construction Workshop, National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburgh, PA.

Melby , J. N. (2007, November).   Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scales: Overview and Application to Family. Workshop presented at Theory Construction Workshop, National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburgh, PA.

Melby , J. N. & Abraham, W. T. (2007, November). Demographic similarity and identification: Effects on assessment consistency. Working paper presented as part of J. N. Melby (symposium organizer), As Good as it Gets: Factors Impacting the Generalizability of Assessments, Theory Construction Workshop, National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburgh, PA.

Melby , J. N., & Russell, D. W. (2006, November). Model of assessment consistency among perceptions of interpersonal processes in diverse populations. Presented at the National Council on Family Relations Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop, Minneapolis, MN.

Pridham, K., Schroeder, M., Melby, J., Streit, J., & Brown, R. (2006, June). The contribution of infant biological condition and family environment to mothers' competency in feeding their very low birth-weight infants. Presented at the International Society for Infant Studies Meeting in Kyoto, Japan.

Melby , J. N., Russell, D. (co-chairs), Abraham, T., McGinnis, W., & Randall, B. (2006, March). Assessing regional bias in observer ratings. Presented at the biennial meetings of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.