Cross-Cultural Research

This paper presents a description and interpretation of the similarities of the precontact technologies (represented by 172 technological variables) of twenty-eight Indian groups on the Northwest Coast of North America. It is shown that relative proximity will "account for" much of the overall pattern of technological similarities as revealed by a Smallest Space Analysis of the matrix of similarity coefficients of the twenty-eight groups. Environ mental characteristics seem to account for most of the deviations from similarities based on proximity. The relations among the groups for seven subcategories of technology are also briefly examined.

Findings from previous research in highland Chiapas, Mexico, are re viewed for correlations of name type with social structure, societal functions, phase of directed acculturation, and cultural complexity. Fifty-two lists of names recorded by inhabitants in the township of Oxchuc, at events oc curring between 1958 and 1971, are analyzed. Effects on naming of the federal government and Protestantism since 1948 are examined, and cor responding processes of cultural change and stability are identified.

This paper provides a critical evaluation of the procedure that Naroll has suggested for using partial correlation to control for the effects of diffusion on estimates of functional relationships. An examination of par tial correlation and Naroll's formula shows that they are not consistent. Hypothetical data are used to demonstrate that Naroll's formula does not provide good estimates of the true functional relationships.

This paper supports Loftin's conclusion that first order partials as cur rently used in linked pair tests are inappropriate. It points out that for each cross-cultural correlation there are not one but at least two control traits: namely one constructed from each substantive variable. This sug gests that not first but second order partials are appropriate diffusion control measures. The paper applies this suggestion to Loftin's hypothetical data and discusses the results.