The use of secondary data in the study of living arrangements of households : a case of the October household survey-'96 (OHS) : Western Cape Province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was aimed at using secondary data to conduct an investigation into the relationshipbetween macro-economic factors on one hand and aspects of household life on the other hand.On the basis of the results thereof, an assessment was to be made of how such a relationshipreflected on the living arrangements of households in contemporary South African society.The basis of the analysis was secondary data from the October Household Survey (OHS-96)data set, which is rich in specific information encompassing various aspects of human life,like demographic details and household variables as well as health, education andemployment variables.As expected, the results showed that the current state of living arrangements of households ischaracterised by positive relationships between income levels on the one hand and householdsvariables like type of dwelling and dwelling ownership on the other hand. However, the samefindings further revealed a surprising outcome that unlike expected, there is no clearrelationship between income and another significant household variable i.e. household size(members). However, our findings lead us to a conclusion that on the whole, there is ahypothesised relationship between macro-economic conditions of a country on one hand, andpatterns in living arrangements of households on the other hand.The results further revealed that as expected, the factors of magisterial district andrace/population groups have an effect on this relationship that reflect our legacy of social andeconomic development policies of the apartheid era which gave rise to urban (metropolitan)and racial bias in the socio-economic development of households. The results thereof are thatAfrican households in particular, and urban poor black households in general, have becomethe least prosperous in terms of material or economic living conditions. The implications ofthese findings for theory and policy are highlighted.At the level of methodology, the valuable experience of this study served to further highlightthe worth of secondary data analysis, not only in general economic terms, but also asinvaluable educational or teaching tool for students which recommends its increased use byall practitioners or institutions of social research methods.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University