Indiana University conducting Indian American Family Study

Looking for first- and second-generation Indian Americans to learn about their views and experiences of family life

Indiana University is conducting an Indian American Family Study (IAFS) to investigate Indian Americans’ views and experiences of family life with a focus on marriage, childbearing, and intergenerational relationships.

The study currently features semi-structured interviews with first- and second-generation Indian Americans. Participants include individuals born in India and currently living in the United States, as well as those born in the United States whose parents were born in India.

The study is run through the Sociological Research Practicum and supported by funding from the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University.

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The study is being conducted by a team of researchers at Indiana University- Bloomington. The Principal Investigator is Keera Allendorf, an Associate Professor of Sociology, who studies how family life varies and changes over time, mainly in India and Nepal.

Dr Allendorf’s publications have appeared in the American Journal of Sociology, Demography, and the Journal of Marriage and Family.

The university is looking for Indian Americans from September 2022 through July 2023 to participate in interviews about their views and experiences of family life.

The interview will last about one to two hours and be conducted online via Zoom. One may choose to participate in the online interview anywhere with private access to a computer, such as one’s home or office.

Interviews will be recorded and later transcribed. For those living in Bloomington, Indiana or in the Indianapolis area, the interview can be conducted in person at a location of their choice, such as their home, a park, or the researcher’s office.

Participants may skip any questions they may be uncomfortable in answering during the interview. They may also enjoy talking about their views and experiences of family life, as well as contributing to knowledge about Indian Americans.

All participants will receive a token of appreciation to thank them for their participation. There is no cost to participate in the study.

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The University has assured it will protect participants information and make every effort to keep personal information confidential, but says it cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality.

No information which could possibly identify a participant will be shared in reports and publications about this study, it said.

Files containing identifiable data will be stored securely on password protected storage platforms at Indian University and will be accessible only to the research team, the University said.

Audio recordings from interviews may also be temporarily shared with an external transcribing company to help create written transcripts.

For questions about the study or a problem with the study, one may contact Study Director Emily Meanwell at (812) 855-6661 or iafs@indiana.edu.

More information about the research team and the Indian American Family Study (IAFS) may be found at http://iafs.indiana.edu.