Methods: A purposive sample of 54 mothers in low-level retail occupations each completed 1.5-4 hour interviews. The sample is diverse racially/ethnically (one-fifth Latino, one-fifth Caucasian, and 60% African-American), by household type (1/3 married, 1/3 single, 1/3 extended), and 90% have a child under 5. The interview schedule provided a systematic set of questions, but interviewers had flexibility with question order and probing. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Coding included iterative textual analysis of a priori and emergent themes with attention to preferences, information, and enabling and constraining factors related to child care decisions. Cross-case analyses of questions related to childcare searches were conducted, unit-by-topic matrices constructed, and tentative findings from matrix-based analyses compared back to full transcripts (Ryan and Bernard, 2000).
Results: Results reveal three primary pathways into care: “it's what we do”, “it wasn't my decision”, and “more-or-less active searching.” The first two categories reflect participants who do not conduct a search at all. Rather, in the first case, family norms compelled the arrangement. Consistent with a heuristics model, participants described a tacitly understood agreement that someone (usually mother, always family) would provide care. In the second case, the decision was not in the control of the participant, but rather her mother or child's father. This pathway illustrates the social control pressures that network members can exert on decisions. The third category included individuals who describe some active search, although under considerable constraints and with different degrees of agency and resources. Most in this group had abbreviated searches, accepting the first or second alternative. Short searches reflected the notion of “satisficing,” as described by a heuristics framework and also illustrated constrained information, primarily from networks. Several active searches were unsuccessful, and participants reported ultimately “falling into care”, that is, using an arrangement that presented itself serendipitously.
Conclusions: Pathways are diverse, and shaped by norms, networks, context, and preferences. Findings suggest that policies that emphasize individual choice (e.g., vouchers) might be more effective when coupled with policies designed to reduce constraints and increase supply. Moreover, capitalizing on networks as information channels would help spread knowledge about available care alternatives.
