調査の概要

抄録

　The aim of this study is to make clear the structure and chnges therein of the family, kinship organization (dozoku,shinrui) and social network in a Japanese village undergoing rapid social change caused dy urbanization and industrialization. Shiratsuchi was chosen as representative of long established villages in the Yamato plain.
　The authors tried to construct the following frame of reference to analyse changes in kinship organization including not only dozoku and shinrui, but also family. In our view, the kinship structure is a consepuence of two components -- kinship norms and the situation(external factor), both of which affect kinship behavior. A structual change in kinship is understood to be a change in each coponent and a change in the relationships between them as a consequence of the intial change in each component. Changes in the norms which prescribe kinship behavior relate to the transition from the traditonal to the modern norm. It is assumed that this transition occurs on a continuum between the two poles. The traditional norm reflects the dominance of ie, dozoku,and shinrui (prescriptive kindred); whereas the modern norm is marked by the institutional dominance of the conjugal family and optioal kindred. Situational changes which alter kinship behavior is largely a function of changes in the external societal environment, especially economic and industrial conditions.