An instrument for naturalistic observation in the childbirth environment is presented. Observable features of the parturient woman's physical state, stimulus contact she experiences, and themes of conversations with the woman are recorded using a system of categories to time-sample in cycles of 30 seconds for observing followed by 30 seconds for…

A comparison of the social structuring of birth and death in modern American society is proposed as a new area of study: cosmic status passage. The author compares the two events as cosmic, universal transformations. The similarities of the experiences are explored in six categories. First, the role of the birthing or dying individual is…

Recent literature on the topic of pregnancy resolution among unmarried adolescent women investigates differences between women choosing abortions and those not so choosing, and is organized into studies dealing with social correlates of pregnancy resolution and research centering on psychological variables. The social correlate studies address…

This study of women college graduates in the United States and Great Britain analyzes the effect of social origins and familial factors on educational attainment. The sample consisted of 1,435 American and 1,805 British females who graduated in 1961 and 1960 respectively. Longitudinal data were drawn from the National Opinion Research Center and a…

In 1960, Project TALENT gathered demographic, cognitive, and socio-psychological data from a nationwide sample of high school students (N=375,000). An investigation of the antecedents and consequences of adolescent childbearing for young parents was conducted with all adolescent childbearers in the ninth and twelfth grade cohorts for whom 5-…

This report presents the childbearing experience and fertility expectations of American women based on data collected in the June, 1976, Current Population Survey. Survey findings include the birth expectations of young single women who, as they marry, will contribute a major portion of the births in the United States within a few years. An…

This Bulletin explores the implications of a population with essentially zero growth and an unchanging, or stationary, age-sex structure--a likely prospect for at least the approximately 26 countries, containing a quarter of the world's population, who were at or below replacement level fertility by early 1978. The only certain demographic…

This study investigates decision-making among women with unplanned and unwanted conceptions. Subjects were females younger than 18 years old, who were unmarried at the time that they became pregnant (N=432). Data were obtained by means of questionnaires given to subjects prior to abortion or delivery. Questions concerned involvements of mother,…

There is great public concern about illegitimate births among adolescents. The consequences of this early illegitimate childbirth have been treated in a simplistic manner to date. Several causes of the problems are: (1) young adolescents fail to prevent pregnancy when they feel there is little future or reward for them in society; (2) teenagers…

This congressional hearing presents testimony regarding H.R. 5055 and H.R. 6075, which would prohibit sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. Testimony from various representatives of business and industry is included, as well as a number of prepared statements and letters. Arguments are presented on both sides, focusing on issues such as…

This article discusses the move toward greater equality of educational opportunity in Scandinavia with particular emphasis on early childhood education. The increasing demand for preschool education in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden is related to low birth rates together with increased employment of women and the general demand for equality…

The material in this report was developed primarily as a basis for better planning and allocation of limited resources in a district experiencing a declining enrollment for the foreseeable future. The charts were developed on the basis of historical enrollment information by grade level, and forecasts were based on a standard regression formula…

While the majority of society has continued to decrease in family size, historically the Mexican American population has continued to maintain an extraordinary fertility and a resulting large family size. This study examined fertility patterns among the Spanish speaking population through a comparative demographic analysis of the 1950-1970…

The OISE Educational Planning Department launched a research program to determine the current patterns of fertility and migration of the Ontario population, with a view to subsequent investigations into the interrelationships between population growth and shift and education. Demographers and educators engaged in demographic research related to…

Population changes which have occurred within the black, Anglo, and Spanish surnamed populations in Texas from 1950 to 1970 were analyzed. This 20-year time span was selected because of the availability of the comparable census information for these groups. Three aspects of population dynamics examined were: growth, components of growth, and…