The configurational perspective on families stems from various influences, among which the contribution of Norbert Elias is central. The focus on identification with the family as a group and the set of various interdependencies (e.g. emotional, financial, practical, symbolic) among a potentially large number of family members makes it necessary to ask specific research questions and use alternative data collection methods rather than standard surveys and mainstream qualitative approaches. This chapter makes some methodological suggestions that can be applied to advance the understanding of family configurations (i.e., networks of functional interdependences existing among large sets of actors). The importance of using dilemmas to uncover the balance of power and tensions behind family identification and functional interdependences among family members is emphasized.