The Determinants of Children’s and Adults’ Behavioral Processes in Home and Center Based Child Care

Dedication To my children v Acknowledgments It would have been impossible for me to write this dissertation without the generosity, patience, and enthusiasm of my family, friends and colleagues. I must first acknowledge the support of my husband, David, a man to whom the words " terminal degree " sound like sweet music. This degree, like the ones before, has meant a phenomenal commitment to modest living and enduring a somewhat distracted wife for most of the years of our marriage. I'm so grateful for your patience and support and that I had the good sense to marry someone who is unafraid not only to support my goals but to follow his own dreams as well. The best is yet to come. I must also acknowledge my mother, whose unflagging support and willingness to provide child care, drive carpools, sew Halloween costumes, and spend endless hours entertaining " the little people " has made this process much easier on everyone; no one could ever dispute your status as parent emeritus. I'm sure you've earned several honorary degrees at this point. Thank you to my dear Katie, Max and Grace. From the very first moments that I met each of you, you have each given me a sense of peacefulness and joy that no other accomplishment or creative endeavor could ever match. I hope you will always have the passion and the opportunity to follow your dreams. I must also recognize all of the members of my graduate school cohort (and dear friends) in HDFS, especially the boundless energy and support of my favorite graduate school " study buddy, " Allison Caplovitz. It has been a pleasure to attend classes, wrestle vi with ideas and assignments with you and now, finally, to finish these many years together as friends and colleagues. I also give many, many thanks to my committee members, particularly Rob Crosnoe and Ed Anderson, for their support, confidence and encouragement. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with both of you; each of you inspires me to continue to earn my place as one of your colleagues. I am especially grateful to Debby Jacobvitz for her efforts to keep me funded over the last year and for our " middle of the hallway " conversations that have really expanded my thinking on a number of theoretical issues. I am also particularly grateful to Aletha Huston …