One Question Leads to Another

 

Question: Because of their greater needs for labor, did households of substantial farmers tend to have larger numbers of  residing children than households of other occupational groups.

To get an answer, we can calculate the mean number of residing children by specific
occupational groups and compare the means.

Conclusion: As the following table and graph show, the hunch is borne out by the descriptive
statistics. 

  • Compared to other groups in the village, substantial farmers had, as a rule, a larger number
    of residing children. 
  • This reflected the greater need for labor within these families as well as the economic
    ability to feed more mouths at the table.
  • In thissense, Edme Rétif was an a typical example of a common situation among
    substantial farmers.

Summary Table of Means for the Tart Villages in 1836

Occupational Group

Number of Residing Children
  No. in category Means Std.Dev.

Officials [mayor, school master, priest, assistant mayor]

 3 1.67 2.89

Small peasants [manoeuvriers and vignerons—land poor or landless peasants, including vine tenders]

 89 2.02 1.61

Farmers [cultivateurs--landowning peasants engaged in agriculture)

 29 2.79 1.78

Artisans [blacksmiths, barrel makers, harness makers, etc.]

 27 1.93 1.11

Service Workers [forest guards, washer women, farm servants, etc.]

 9 2.00 1.22

Petty Merchants [inn keepers, millers, butchers, etc.]

 8 2.25 .707

Wage Workers [journaliers—day laboreres]

 21 1.52 1.57

Proprietors [land owners not directly engaged in agriculture]

 13 1.62 1.71

All Groups

 199 2.04 1.57

 

 

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