| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 第5-10页 |
| ABSTRACT | 第10页 |
| 摘要 | 第12-16页 |
| Chapter 1:Research Problem and Justification | 第16-26页 |
| 1.1 Introduction | 第16-20页 |
| 1.2 Problem Statement | 第20-21页 |
| 1.3 Justification of the Study | 第21-23页 |
| 1.4 Objectives | 第23页 |
| 1.4.1 Main Objective of the Study | 第23页 |
| 1.5 Research Questions | 第23-24页 |
| 1.5.1 Main Question | 第23页 |
| 1.5.2 Supporting Questions | 第23-24页 |
| 1.6 Hypothesis Predictions | 第24页 |
| 1.6.1 Trivers-Willard Hypothesis Predictions | 第24页 |
| 1.6.2 Local Resource Hypothesis Prediction | 第24页 |
| 1.7 Thesis Structure | 第24-26页 |
| Chapter 2:Literature Review | 第26-36页 |
| 2.1 Trivers-Willard Hypothesis(TWH) | 第26-30页 |
| 2.2 Local Resource Hypothesis(LRH)/Local Resource Competition Enhancement Hypothesis(LRCEH) | 第30-32页 |
| 2.3 Comparative Trivers-Willard & Local Resource Hypotheses in Humans | 第32-34页 |
| 2.4 Infant Mortality in Malawi | 第34-36页 |
| Chapter 3:Theory and Measurement | 第36-47页 |
| 3.1 Evolution by Natural Selection by Charies Darwin | 第36-37页 |
| 3.2 Fisher's Sex Ratio Principle(Theory) | 第37-39页 |
| 3.3 Max Weber Social Stratification Theory | 第39-40页 |
| 3.4 Adam Smith and David Ricardo Cost of Production Theory of Value | 第40页 |
| 3.5 Conceptual Framework of the Study | 第40-42页 |
| 3.6 Variables,Conceptualization and Operationalization | 第42-45页 |
| 3.6.1 Trivers-Willard Hypothesis Variables,Conceptualization and Operationalization | 第42-43页 |
| 3.6.2 Local Resource Hypothesis Variables Conceptualization & Operationalization | 第43-45页 |
| 3.7 Other concepts | 第45-47页 |
| Chapter 4:Methodology | 第47-55页 |
| 4.1 Study Area & Population | 第47-51页 |
| 4.2 Sample Size & Sampling Procedure | 第51-52页 |
| 4.3 Data Collection | 第52-53页 |
| 4.4 Data Entry | 第53页 |
| 4.5 Data Analysis/Processing | 第53-54页 |
| 4.6 Ethical Consideration | 第54-55页 |
| Chapter 5:Data Analysis,Results and Discussion | 第55-79页 |
| 5.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents | 第55-56页 |
| 5.2 Descriptive Statistics for Main Variables | 第56-57页 |
| 5.3 Trivers-Willard Hypothesis | 第57-70页 |
| 5.3.1 Sex Ratio Prediction of TWH(Biological Parental Investment):Higher Social Status Parents have more Sons than Daughters | 第58-61页 |
| 5.3.2 Parental Investment Prediction of TWH(Non-biological parental investment): Higher Social Status Parents Invest more in Sons than Daughters | 第61-70页 |
| 5.4 Local Resource Hypothesis (LRH) | 第70-75页 |
| 5.4.1 Sex Ratio Prediction of Local Resource Hypothesis (LRH):Parents over produce the less costly sons than daughters | 第71-73页 |
| 5.4.2 Parental Investment Prediction of Local Resource Hypothesis (LRH):Parents Invest more in less Costly Sons than Daughters | 第73-75页 |
| 5.5 Summary of Results/Findings | 第75-79页 |
| Chapter 6:Conclusion and Implication of Findings | 第79-86页 |
| 6.1 Summary of the Study and its Findings | 第79-83页 |
| 6.2 Implications of the Study Findings and Recommendations | 第83-85页 |
| 6.3 Possible Areas of Further Study | 第85页 |
| 6.4 Limitations of the Study | 第85-86页 |
| Bibliography | 第86-91页 |
| Appendix | 第91-95页 |
| Appendix A:Structured Questionnaire | 第91-94页 |
| Appendix B:In-depth Interview Guide | 第94-95页 |
