Studying Best Practices in Listening for Families

Dr. Bruce Kuiper, professor of communication at Dordt University, and Heather Van Engen, a junior psychology and communication studies major from Sioux Center, Iowa, are spending the summer exploring best-practice strategies for families seeking to develop better communication skills, particularly around listening.

Kuiper says that the importance of listening is undisputed, as there are many resources across disciplines that show how crucial listening is in just about every aspect of life. “So .͏͏ . . listening’s importance is well-established and even has seen a renewed focus in the last few years in response to modern technology. What has not been focused on is how listening impacts families,” he said.

So far this summer, Van Engen has conducted research into expert opinion regarding listening and is in the process of designing questions for a series of interviews that will be conducted with 15 professionals in family counseling. “Following that, we’ll look at quantitative approach in terms of a survey to widen the net for more objective responses regarding what professionals see as best listening practices,” said Kuiper.

Van Engen is eager to engage in this research project and hopes that what she discovers will give her an even deeper appreciation for those who listen well. In addition, she said, family is essential in shaping who we are and how we view the world, “so it’s important that we realize just how much a family setting can impact us throughout all areas of life. We need healthy family dynamics that have open communication, but that isn’t possible if the family members aren’t listening to one another. I’d like to provide families with realistic solutions so that they can be the supportive system that their members need.”

The final report will include a poster presentation and a research paper that therapists and other researchers can utilize. Kuiper hopes that the research will culminate into a published journal article or conference presentation in the coming year.

“Heather has been excellent to work with,” added Kuiper. “She is focused, asks great questions, and has shown impressive skills in terms of research. She originally came up with this research proposal, so she gets the directional credit here. She’s taken on a lot of ownership for the project, which I think shows both her ability and her heart in one go.”

Van Engen said she appreciates Kuiper’s extensive experience and knowledge of the field of interpersonal communication. And “by letting me take the lead in this project, he is helping me to gain experience for future research I might do in graduate school,” she added.

Van Engen said she plans eventually to pursue a career in mental-health therapy. “One of the best things I can do for my patients is to help them feel heard, and I can’t do that if I don’t value listening,” she said. “And if I have my own family one day, my goal would be to create a healthy, supportive environment for them, and I believe this knowledge of family listening would help me achieve that.”