Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/691

 LE PLAY METHOD OF SOCIAL OBSERVATION 675

part of it. They are placed under the following title and sub- titles : Divers elements of the social constitution, (i) Important facts of social organization. (2) Remarkable particulars. (3) General estimations. (4) Conclusions.

The thoroughgoing and systematic study of family life which the Le Play method proposes will, it is hoped, throw light on the solution of many vexed social questions. Among the principal questions which its authors believe the method of family monographs will help in solving are the following:

1. The influence of religion upon individual well-being and upon social relations.

2. The conciliation of family bonds and paternal authority with individual freedom.

3. The influence of the fecundity and of the systematic ster- ility of marriages.

4. The influence of laws of inheritance.

5. The influence of a communistic regime and of individual action upon work and upon production.

6. The organization of the home and of the family from the point of view of stability.

7. Customs relative to marriage.

Upon all of these questions and many more it is believed that every carefully compiled family monograph will throw some light.

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

I. Title. The title should always indicate : ( i ) the occupation of the laborer ; (2) the population of which he forms a part 1(3) the nature of the contract {engagement) under which he obtained employment; (4) the position which he holds in the social organization characterized by this sort of contract. Thus one would say: "Peasant soapmakerof la Basse-Provence (France). Proprietor and day-laborer in a system of voluntary permanent contracts." "Cutler in an urban factory, Sheffield (England), piece-worker in a system of temporary contract." Contracts (engagements) are of three principal kinds: forced contracts, where the laborer is bound to the soil ; voluntary permanent