Posted by Tina Garfield and Suzanne Edward
The level of this thesis is macro level analysis It deals with social progress in the Muslim Nations. Its absract: Yahya Hasan A. Qader. Comparative Analysis of Social Change in the Muslim Nations, U-M-I Dissertation Information Center. (1991)
Abstract: The main purpose of this research was to study aspects of social changing education, housing, health, labor force composition, and participation in Muslim nations in two periods: 1975 and 1985. Further, the researcher compared the extent of change among Muslim countries in these aspects, and tested hypotheses concerning relationships between infant mortality (as the endogenous variable) and adult literacy, women’s participation in the labor force, access to piped water, population density, and GNP per capita (as exogenous variables).
Thirty-six nations constituted the study sample. Using secondary data, t-test, multiple regression, analysis of variance, path analysis, and correlations were used as statistical techniques in analyzing the data.
Results of the t-test showed that a significant change had occurred between 1985 and 1975 in the education, health, housing, labor force composition, and political participation areas, whereas no significant difference was observed in female enrollment in schools and citizen participation indicators.
Results of the analysis of variance showed that both significant differences were found in geographic location, ethnic background, political type, and oil production. Significant differences were found between Asian and African nations in women’s participation in the labor force and adult literacy. Between Arab and non-Arab Muslim nations, the null hypotheses concerning infant mortality, women’s participation in the labor force, and GNP per capita were rejected. The null hypotheses concerning republican and non republican nations in infant mortality, access to piped water, and GNP per capita were rejected. The null hypotheses concerning oil and non oil-producing nations was rejected only on GNP per capita.
Path analysis results showed that 9 out of 11 hypotheses were in congruity with expectations. However, hypotheses concerning the relationships between women’s participation in the labor force, and between adult literacy and population density, were opposite to expectations, having a negative rather than positive sign. The findings suggest that change had occurred in certain areas but not others in these countries’ transition from the traditional to the modern. The implications of social change theory are highly desirable area for further research, especially using historical comparative analysis and path-analysis techniques. @Copywright, 1991, Hasan A. Yahya. All rights reserved. (388 words)