Parenting Experts: Their Advice, the Research, and Getting It Right : Praeger : 9780275976781 : 0275976785 : 30 Oct 2005 : Most parents lack the time, training, and other resources needed to consult the extensive research on parenting that has been produced by scientific study. Instead, many rely on advice from a few well-known authorities cited in popular books, newspaper columns, and other media. Dr. Rankin takes a critical look at the advice of five of these experts? Benjamin Spock, T. Berry Brazelton, James Dobson, Penelope Leach and John Rosemond?then compares it with the findings of hundreds of empirical studies on children and parents. The focus is on major parenting problems, including persistent infant crying, toilet training, early day care, discipline, adolescent sexuality education, substance abuse, and the influence of television and other electronic media. A final chapter summarizes the accuracy of each expert's advice compared with research findings, points out the commo