Leisure and cultural complexity

Cross-Cultural Research • Vol/Iss. 45 • Published In • Pages: 59-81 •
By Chick, Garry, Shen, Xiangyou Sharon

Abstract

There is disagreement between existing theories on the relationship between leisure time and cultural complexity. This study tests Chick's (1986) hypothesis that simple and complex societies have more free time than those of moderate complexity. The relationship between cultural complexity and the economic productivity of children is also examined.

Note

Authors mention the lack of industrial societies and the presence of colonial-era data as limitations to their sample.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Probability Sample Files (PSF)Researchers Own
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Other ResearchersOverlap between SCCS and PSF
OtherResearchers OwnCross-Cultural Series in Time Allocation

Hypotheses (3)

HypothesisSupported
There is a curvilinear relationship between cultural complexity and average hours spent in productive work per day (pp 62, 65).Not Supported
There is a curvilinear relationship between cultural complexity and the average number of children born per female (pp 63, 66).Supported
There is a curvilinear relationship between cultural complexity and the average age at which children become economically productive (pp 63, 67).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Jessie Cohen  Amelia Piazza