BOOK REVIEWS
167
these statements of how the study was done, one is always faced with the possibility of laying open to question important segments of the findings because one cannot evaluate the sources of the data. I write this in the belief that this requirement should be common to all social scientists.
8
For example, Baker discusses the problem of worshipping at graves, when the graves are located in the territory of another lineage. First he notes that "the old men of Sheung Shui denied that their procession (to the grave) had ever been interfered with" which is a clear enough statement, apparently made by more than one respondent. Baker then proceeds to contradict his respondents and contends that indeed there had been interference. Minimally, the methodological point must be clear --- in any study of this kind one must have "rules of evidence"; rules by which respondents' views are accepted or rejected. If, in fact, Baker had earlier stipulated that some minimum number of people agreeing to a piece of testimony makes it accepted and less than that number makes it doubtful, then this problem could not arise. But one cannot have it both ways. An author cannot accept interviews as authoritative at one point and literature at another point without first setting up guide-lines for himself and the reader so that what he is doing can be assessed and evaluated. Complex studies, such as this one, frequently require sophisticated methodological solutions.
Similarly Baker has not chosen to make his theoretical orientation clear and to analyze that orientation in the light of the data which he has gathered. There can be no real question that his orientation is structural-functional and this writer feels that implicit in Baker's work is the possibility of a major creative contribution to the literature of functionalism, particularly its structural aspect. Perhaps it clearly is asking too much to include this in an empirical monograph, but Baker most assuredly must have materials with which to make important comments on the analytic use of functionalism in field research,
Baker's work will hopefully introduce a new sequence of competent and problem-oriented studies. In analyzing the lineage, Baker has provided highly significant data on the formal organization of a wealthy and powerful village. In essence, he has
8 Ibid., p. 191-2.
BOOK REVIEWS
167
these statements of how the study was done, one is always faced with the possibility of laying open to question important segments of the findings because one cannot evaluate the sources of the data. I write this in the belief that this requirement should be common to all social scientists.
8
For example, Baker discusses the problem of worshipping at graves, when the graves are located in the territory of another lineage. Fist he notes that "the old men of Sheung Shui denied that their procession (to the grave) had ever been interfered with" which is a clear enough statement, apparently made by more than one respondent. Baker then proceeds to contradict his respon- dents and contends that indeed there had been interference. Minimally, the methodological point must be clear --- in any study of this kind one must have "rules of evidence"; rules by which respondents' views are accepted or rejected. If, in fact, Baker had earlier stipulated that some minimum number of people agreeing to a piece of testimony makes it accepted and less than that number makes it doubtful, then this problem could not arise. But one cannot have it both ways. An author cannot accept in- terviews as authoritative at one point and literature at another point without first setting up guide-lines for himself and the reader so that what he is doing can be assessed and evaluated. Complex studies, such as this one, frequently require sophisticated methodological solutions.
Similarly Baker has not chosen to make his theoretical orienta- tion clear and to analyze that orientation in the light of the data which he has gathered. There can be no real question that his orientation is structural-functional and this writer feels that implicit in Baker's work is the possibility of a major creative con- tribution to the literature of functionalism, particularly its struc- tural aspect. Perhaps it clearly is asking too much to include this in an empirical monograph, but Baker most assuredly must have materials with which to make important comments on the analytic use of functionalism in field research,
Baker's work will hopefully introduce a new sequence of competent and problem-oriented studies. In analyzing the lineage, Baker has provided highly significant data on the formal organiza- tion of a wealthy and powerful village. In essence, he has con-
8 lbid., p. 191-2.
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