Notes on the Measurement of Values
Historians frequently use values to explain behavior. Since their studies focus on the behavior, they have neglected to measure values and change in values. The current practices of historians of values will not yield conclusions usable in the history of behavior.
Premarital Pregnancy in America 1640–1971: An Overview and Interpretation
Premarital pregnancy is defined as the conception before marriage of the 1st postmaritally born child. Reasons for using premarital pregnancy as an index of change in sexual behavior are discussed. The cyclical pattern in the white American premarital pregnancy record is explained. Historical periods which had similar rates of premarital pregnancy are discussed together. Periods with a high proportion of women engaging in premarital coitus are distinguished by comparing differentials in premarital pregnancy between groups. The strikingly dissimilar social relationships underlying similar premarital pregnancy levels are discussed. Eras with low proportions of women engaging in premarital coitus are assessed by focusing on differences in the social control of sexuality. Transitions between periods of high and low premarital pregnancy are then discussed as are their social implications. The analysis of the transitions concentrates on the changing relationships between sexual behavior and the social mechanisms controlling it. A summary discusses the importance of the discontinuity of the premarital pregnancy record and the relationship of the premarital pregnancy cycle to 2 models of the discontinuities of modern American history. Specualtions are made on what the future of premarital pregnancy and sexuality will be. Appendices show the data used in this paper.
Counter Culture and Dominant Culture Values: A Cross National Analysis of the Under ground Press and Dominant Culture Magazines.
A content analysis of values in dominant culture magazines in the United States, Canada and Great Britain during 1957-59, 1967-69 and 1970-72 indicated a priority on instrumentalism and little shifting in overall value preference over time. This appears to be contrary to predictions made by counterculture observers that Western society was changing rapidly toward a countercultural ideology. A similar analysis of the underground press in the same countries during 1967-69 and 1970-72 revealed a marked shift from expressive priorities during the earlier period to political priorities during the later period. These findings and their implications are discussed.