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The various studies on the existence of national differences in "sense of humor" reported in this paper all serve to emphasize the point that the agreement found between different nationals is far more striking than are the differences. In fact, no indisputably national differences were discovered in the appreciation of humor, in judgments of the origin of humorous items, or in the analysis of humorous papers from diverse countries. This negative finding suggests that perhaps studies of this kind are premature, and that we should rather attempt to find out first how and to what extent the appreciation of humor is determined by intelligence, by education, by social class; how it varies with age or with temperamental changes. Until the determiners of humor appreciation are known, the difficulties in securing two groups really equal in all respects except in nationality would appear insurmountable. Even then, however, it may perhaps be suggested, national differences are quite likely to appear less important than they are commonly assumed to be. As usual, small differences are apt to strike the observers far more than considerable agreement, and to be magnified out of all proportion to their actual importance. If the results of the present studies prove anything, they prove that quite probably that is what has happened in the field of national differences in "sense of humor." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm family fertility in five areas selected on the basis of nationality and religion has shown a differential decline in the period from 1875 to 1940. In this paper no effort was made to explain the over-all decline in farm family fertility. German Lutherans showed the greatest decline, namely 65 per cent, followed by the Norwegian's 58 per cent and the German Catholic's 40 per cent. Nationality coupled with religion are obviously factors explaining some of this differential decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the effects of the nationality of occupants of managerial roles on the level of commitment to, and satisfaction with, industrial employment in Nigeria. Presentation of some of the characteristics of the sample workers and the factories they work for; Relationship between work commitment index and some objective variables; Effect of the control variables on the relationship between management nationality and work commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural sociologists have pioneered in the development of a public policy discussion emphasis within the Agricultural Extension Service. They encouraged it as an educational method for coping with many of the problems of an increasingly complex society, as a means of citizen involvement and of increasing citizenship participation in public affairs, and as a way of dealing with many social and economic problems of a rather highly controversial nature. The importance of this emphasis is now officially recognized in the Extension Services Statement of Scope and Responsibility. Because of this recognition it is now doubly important that rural sociologists take a fresh look at the situation, lest the use of the discussion method become generally accepted as just another method of communication or be limited to areas of economic concern. Public policy discussion is one of those terms that has different meanings to different people. Professional workers at the national or state level, who are encouraging this emphasis, undoubtedly view it as a means of encouraging large numbers of people to acquaint themselves with national and state issues.

The association of eight independent variables with the dependent variable--school attendance of 16- to 17-year-old farm youth--was tested. County figures were used. Five factors were found to be significantly correlated with school attendance. A multiple correlation analysis with the five factors indicated that nationality background was the most important factor influencing school attendance. A partial correlation analysis confirmed this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article focuses on generalizations regarding maintenance of churches which is based on data collected in three eastern Nebraska counties. The principal sources of data are denominational records, records of individual churches, local histories, newspapers, and personal interviews. The data cover two well defined periods. Fourteen denominations are represented in the 34 communities included in this study. These were classed into two groups by the investigator, nine being placed in one and five in the other. These will hereafter be referred to as Group A and Group B. The basis of distinguishing them was twofold: the first referred to the denomination's policy toward membership; the second grew out of the nationality composition. Denominations represented in Group A were, during the pioneer period, primarily concerned with individual salvation; their members were almost entirely recruited from pioneer American stock. Denominations in Group B did riot use the revival technique, either in converting new members or retaining the old ones. On the other hand, they placed great emphasis on Christian nurture; they denied the validity of an individual's interpretation of the scriptures.