Iranian Journal of Sociology

Abstract The formation and acceleration of social relations may persuade people to do special social behaviors that cannot be done in a situation free of such relations. The migration is one of such behaviors. Having a family member or friend in destination can facilitate the decision for migration. This paper aims to examine the size and type of migrant social networks in destination place for migration waves from East- Azerbaijan province to Tehran province. The sample consists of 530 migrants. Findings show that most migrants have some sort of social networks (kinship, familial, friendship, and neighborhood) in proposed destinations. The origin and age of migrants can specify the type of such networks. Besides, the size of the networks is relatively small and the majority of them are connected to a social network in destination through kinship and friendship relationships. The frequency of the networks for potential migrants from Sarab, Miyaneh, and Hashtrood in comparison to the other cities of the province, there are more migration networks. Migrants from low socioeconomic status use larger networks for migration.

Abstract The dominant theoretical approach in historical sociology of Iran- regarding the image of Iranian society in which the absolute power and despotism prevented the development of associations, guilds, social classes or entirely any independent forces- inevitably has led to the "absence of society" as "social forces" that had an effective role in the development of Iranian society. Using the historical institutionalism approach, this article provides an alternative narrative of the traditional Iranian society that acknowledges the role of the multiple social forces, institutions and agencies. According to this alternative narrative, the institutional configuration of the Qajar era, was based on a complex network of interactions between the four main institutions of central government, the clergy, tribes and market, resulting in relatively stable institutional balance between the institutions. This institutional balance is not based on the domination of one institution to the others but it is based on the balance of power between those institutions .This institutional balance, rooted in the formation of Safavid government which itself was a combination of tribal forces and ideological power.

Abstract This is a methodological paper which addresses advantages and limitations of three survey methods, including online, cluster online and offline methods in a study of Facebook users in Iran.  This paper indicates that regardless of online or offline methods the analytical results will be the same.  The evidence for such claim has been provided by a study that was conducted among Facebook users in Tehran during 2011 and 2012.besides, the paper claims that applying either one of these three methods for collecting data will result in similar findings.  This will also not undermine the validity and reliability of the measuring tools.   We have used Strauss’s approach to social research where he and Corbin urge the researchers to use methods to their discretion.  We used various methods to collect data and analyze it and we came to the conclusion that if a reverse sampling method is used in online survey, its results will be similar to the result of offline and cluster sampling research methods.

Abstract The present research intends to examine and compare the social participation of the young in Iran and Tajikistan. With the use of multi-stage cluster sampling in Tehran and Dushanbe , we selected 768 people from the young aged 20-29. Then we designed a questionnaire to collect the data. To evaluate validity indices, formal content validity was used and to evaluate reliability indices, we used Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The research findings indicate that there were not significant differences between those two societies. Besides, there were significant relationships between social trust, the orientation of social action, social interaction, social values, socialization, social anomie, alienation, relative deprivation, soci-economic status, marital status, employment status- as independent variables- and social participation of the young in both societies. In total, 54% of the variance of social participation was explained by those independent variables.

Abstract Being indifferent to socio-political participation, social responsibilities, altruistic behavior and civil activities in social problems shows that we live in a problematic society. Our objectives in this article are to explain social apathy and its prevalence and to evaluate the influential factors on it. The random sample, which is comprised 384, has drawn from Dezfuli citizens aged 18 an over in 2013. The relationships between independent variables such as socio-economic status, alienation, empathy, insecurity sensation and social capital with social apathy as the dependent variable were meaningful. According to the results of regression analysis, 30 percent of changes in social apathy can be explained by those five independent variables.

Abstract The present research, investigates the relation between family social capital and religious participations with teenagers' religious identity. Based on Coleman's theory about family social capital, Jenkins, Durkheim, Taleban's theories about religious participation and Tajfel, Jenkins, Fini's theories about religious identity we develop our theoretical framework of research. With the use of probability proportionate to size sampling, we choose 367 teenagers and 367 patents. To collect the data, we distribute a questionnaire among twelfth graders in the city of Qom. The bivariate analysis results indicate that there is a meaningful and direct relation between family social capital and religious participation with teenagers' religious identity. In addition, the results of multivariate regression analysis demonstrate that the effects of social capital in a family and teenagers' religious participation is significant and the teenagers' religious participation variable is the most important factor in explaining teenagers'  religious identity.

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