Cross-Cultural Correlates of the Ownership of Private Property: A Look from Another Data Base

Anthropologica • Vol/Iss. 34(1) • Canadian Anthropology Society • Vancouver, CA • Published In • Pages: 71-88 •
By Rudmin, Floyd Webster

Abstract

The present study builds upon Rudmin's 1992a publication by using a second data base to replicate and evaluate analyses on the cross-cultural correlates of private property ownership. Rudmin seeks to assess the reliability of Swanson's (1966) data base of 39 variables coded on 50 cultures. To do so, Swanson's data was evaluated against matching societies and variables from Murdock's (1967) Ethnographic Atlas. Swanson's reliable variables are tested against three measures of property ownership, one from Swanson and two from Murdock. Rudmin discusses results and speculates why certain clusters of societal variables correlate with private property ownership.

Note

This article is second in a series of four: Rudmin, 1992a; Rudmin, 1992b; Rudmin, 1995; Rudmin, 1996.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)by other researchersEA cases matching those of Swanson's were used (n=49)
Swanson (1966)by other researchers50 societies originally sampled and coded

Hypotheses (2)

HypothesisSupported
Swanson's measure of private property will be significantly correlated (in the same direction) with Murdock's measures of private property.Supported
Certain characteristics of societies will be significantly correlated in the same direction with both Swanson's (1966) and Murdock's (1967) measures of private property ownership.Support for 10 of the 32 variables - see note for directions
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: emily.pitek  dmccloskey103