The South African Journal of Sociology during the eighties: An analysis of theoretical and empirical contributions

Abstract

Abstract This review of research published in the SAJS over the past 10 years includes analyses of theoretical versus review conlributions, populations, methods of sample selection, some aspects of sample composition, types of research design employed and statistical techniques used. Altogether 181 articles were reviewed. In comparison with the substantial number of review type articles which were published few articles dealt with theory development or concentrated on original empirical research. Accessible populations were defined in 6.5% of the contributions, but in only 17% of the studies were useful descriptions of these populations provided. Only 24% of the studies made use of randomized sample selection procedures while 24% did not explain the procedure used to select their samples. Explicit recognition of population and sample limitations in drawing conclusions was respectively found in only 11% and 15% of the studies. Seventy-seven percent of the studies w...