二十世紀後期起，生態觀點成為家庭研究的新典範。適應是生態理論的基要觀點；生態理論強調個體與族群間的互動關係及有機體與環境間的交互作用，均發生在不斷改變的場域中。在研究方法論上，生態理論主張任何現象的研究，必須由多個不同的分析層面來加以檢視。本文以文獻分析法闡述生態理論之概念架構、生態理論針對家庭系統所提出之基本假設及其在父母教養研究上的應用與貢獻，再根據理論建構之規準加以批判。

Ecological approach has become a new paradigm on family study since the late twentieth century. The most basic notion in the ecological theory is adaptation. The interrelationship between individual and population as well as the interaction between organism and environment were considered in a changing context. Ecologists urged that a phenomenon should be explored concerning different levels of examination. A theoretical analysis was used to interpret the concepts and propositions postulated by ecological theorists. The research findings were illustrated and the criticisms directed at the logic of the explanation were discussed.