PROPOSITIONS FOR A SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY OF AGEING AND THE FAMILY.

This article attempts to bring out major points of similarity in findings of research on relations of old people to their family of procreation, and in particular on the problem of intergenerational cohesion. If theories are understood as conceptual models closely connected with generalizations of empirical data, then theory formation should proceed only when sufficient results have been collected. Social gerontology has now reached a stage when such theory formation becomes possible. During recent years, gerontological research both in the United States and in European countries has grown rapidly and enough data have already accumulated from different national and regional cultures to attempt the development of preliminary theoretical propositions on the basis of generalizations stemming from research. According to the conception of theory formation in sociology, theoretical propositions presuppose systematic, coherent material with conclusions that may be integrated and transformed into such a proposition.