Behavioral relations for components of recent preindustrial modernization: quantitative assessment

Abstract

Murdock and Provost (1973) designed their scale to measure recent preindustrial modernization, not cultural complexity. However, they gave no conceptual definition of modernization or any ontology for it. A conceptual definition of what their scale measures is given in such a way as to encompass both preindustrial and contemporary modernization. Conceptual and empirical evidence validating the definition is given. Using Spearman partial correlations and confirmatory factor analysis, steps are taken toward an ontology of behavioral relations interconnecting Murdock and Provost's (1973) 10 subscales. The causes and consequences of the 10 subscales are examined. For data on recent preindustrial societies the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample is used. For data on contemporary countries World Bank World Development Indicators are employed. A variety of implications are clarified, including unilinear evolution within a probabilistic framework, contemporary development as modernization, and suggestions for the conceptual lexicon of archaeologists.