This paper describes research strategy for evaluating mother-child intervention programs for black infants in three Chicago low-income housing projects. Mothers were observed with their infants in pre- and post-testing sessions in a room with magazines, children's books, and a television. Analysis of the data is intended to show: (1) the extent to which intervention programs encourage families to change their life styles, (2) the relationship of the mother's personality and self-concept to her overall conception of life in her own family, and (3) the reciprocal relationship already existing between the mother and her 18-24 month-old child before any intervention. There were approximately 40 family participants from each of three housing projects varying greatly in structural arrangements. Two different parent programs, modeled after those of Levenstein and Badger, were used in each housing project. A third group of children at each site served as controls. (BRT)