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Based on the research questions, the thesis develops two hypotheses as
follows:
- Elderly people still continue to show a certain position and role when
participating about marriage, production/business activities, care and
education of children and grandchildren, and ancestor worship beliefs of
family. The elderly no longer play the main decision-making role on marriage
and production/business of their descendants as in traditional society, but only
contribute ideas for young people to consult. Elderly people still participate in
production/business activities to support themselves and other family
members. In some other activities such as taking care of and educating their
children and grandchildren, ancestor worship, the elderly still retain their role,
which is important because their knowledge and experience is more than that
of young people.
- The two most significant factors affecting the role of the elderly in
family are changes in socio-economic condition and traditional family values. But
these two factors seem to work in opposite directions. While the process of
industrialization, modernization and globalization is a factor that makes the
knowledge and experience of the elderly become obsolete, the position and
role of the elderly have decreased compared to youngsters, the good values of
the tradition of respecting old people, being grateful to parents, honoring
ancestors, etc. help the elderly continue to have a significant position and role
in the relationship with their children and grandchildren. In addition, the group
of individual characteristics (gender, age, education level, ethnicity) and family
(living standard, region and living model) also make many differences in the
correlation assessment on the role of the elderly in family in Thanh Hoa.
4. Methodology and research methods of the thesis
The thesis uses the research methodology of the topic. This
methodological basis allows the study to pose research questions and develop
research hypotheses to test them in practice through the results of sociological
investigations and surveys.
The thesis mainly uses a number of sociological research methods to
identify, analyze and evaluate the role of the elderly in the family today (Case
studies in Thanh Hoa province), including: analytic documents methods,
questionnaire method, in-depth interview method. In which, questionnaire and
in-depth interview are the main methods used to measure new quantitative and
qualitative information of the study. In particularly:
