Doctoral Dissertation Research: Evaluating Explanatory Theories of the Demographic Transition in Otavalo Ecuador

理解人口转变-从高人口增长率向低人口增长率的转变-一段时间以来在人口和人类学研究中一直很重要。本论文的研究在文化人类学测试三种不同的理论解释人类生育决策（体现资本理论，道德经济生育理论和扩散理论），因为它们适用于人口增长在奥塔瓦洛，厄瓜多尔。该研究旨在了解男性生殖决策的因素;分析个人属性，经济条件和社会规范之间的复杂关系，因为它们涉及生殖决策;并测试有关影响家庭状况，健康，教育和财富的变量相互作用的假设。数据将来自对40名奥塔瓦洛居民的随机抽样的开放式访谈;两组28份受访者拥有的儿童费用和声望项目的免费清单;以及对200名受访者的调查;和焦点小组，以测试对数据的不同解释。这项研究的更广泛影响包括将提供关于生育决策的新信息，这对关注厄瓜多尔人口和资源的规划者和决策者很重要。在南美洲人口密度最高的国家，适当的人口和经济政策至关重要。了解影响生育决定的因素有助于厄瓜多尔在地方和国家两级设计和实施家庭和经济方案。此外，这项研究将产生信息，以推进一般理论，并将是一个年轻的社会科学家的教育的重要因素。

Understanding the demographic transition -the shift from high population growth rates to low rates--has been important in demographic and anthropological research for some time. This dissertation research in cultural anthropology tests three different theoretical explanations of human fertility decisions (the embodied capital theory, the moral economy of childbearing theory, and diffusion theory) as they apply to population growth in Otavalo, Ecuador. The study seeks to understand factors in male reproductive decisions; analyzes the complex relationship between individual attributes, economic conditions and social norms as they pertain to reproductive decisions; and tests hypotheses regarding the interaction of variables that affect the status, health, education, and wealth of families. Data will be drawn from open ended interviews with a random sample of 40 Otavalo residents; two sets of 28 free lists of the expense of children and prestige items owned by respondents; and a survey of 200 respondents; and focus groups to test diverse interpretations of the data. The broader impacts of the study include the new information about fertility decision-making to be provided, which will be important for planners and decision makers concerned with Ecuador's population and resources. In a country that has the highest population density in South America, appropriate population and economic policy is crucial. Understanding what influences fertility decisions is useful for the design and implementation of family and economic programs in Ecuador, both at the local and national levels. In addition the study will generate information to advance general theory and will be an important factor in the education of a young social scientist.