Toward a Unified Theory of Ancestor Worship: A Cross-Cultural Study

Social Forces • Vol/Iss. 54(2) • Oxford University Press • • Published In • Pages: 427-440 •
By Sheils, Dean

Hypothesis

There will be an association between agricultural level and descent type. Cognatic descent will be more customary among hunter-gatherers and advanced agrarians than amid simple agrarians and simple and advanced horticulturalists.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Chi-squareSupportedp = .01C = .40UNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Descent TypeDependentRule Of Descent
Agricultural Level IndependentAgriculture, Tillage

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Sheils, DeanThere will be an association between agricultural level and polygyny. The incidence of polygyny will be most common amid simple agrarians, simple horticulturalists, and advanced horticulturalists than among hunter-gatherers and advanced agrarians.
Sheils, DeanThere will be an association between agricultural level and conjugal formation. Advanced horticulturalists will have more complex conjugal formation than hunter-gatherers, simple horticulturalists, simple agrarians, and advanced agrarians.
Nolan, Patrick D.Subsistence types with higher technology levels (advanced horticulture, agrarian) will have more warfare than those with lower technology levels (simple horticulture, hunting and gathering) (28).
Paige, Jeffery M.Circumcision is positively associated with dichotomized 'high-value' (agricultural, pastoral, & advanced horticultural) vs. 'low-value' (hunting-gathering, fishing, mounted hunting, & simple horticultural) subsistence strategies (76).
Paige, Jeffery M.Fraternal interest group strength is positively associated with dichotomized 'high-value' (agricultural, pastoral, & advanced horticultural) vs. 'low-value' (hunting-gathering, fishing, mounted hunting, & simple horticultural) subsistence strategies (76).