Use of Clustering Techniques in a Social Stratification System
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Date
1968
Authors
Stockard, Jean
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In The Conduct of Inquiry Abraham Kaplan states that “what makes a concept significant is that the classification it institutes is one into which things fall as it were of themselves.” It is common to hear people speak of social class as though the distinctions between the groups were as clear as Kaplan’s significant concepts. Respondents to questionnaires are often asked to check one of three to five social classes of which they consider themselves a member. And in everyday conversations we glibly toss around phrases such as “middle class” or “lower class closed quotes as descriptive categories representing distinct value systems, economic groups, or ways of life. We seem to assume a stratification system which embodies discrete classes characterized by unique socioeconomic attributes and lifestyles. Several social scientists feel this conception of discrete groups is valid and have supported their contentions with various studies, of which the work of Lloyd Warner is perhaps the most famous. On the other hand, some sociologists have suggested continuum theories of social class defined by Cuber and Kenkel the “idea that there are several privileged, power, and status ranges, more or less continuous from top to bottom with no clear lines of demarcation.” They claimed that acceptance of this concept provides A sounder theoretical ground for social science. One piece of research supporting this theoretical perspective is Lenski’s study of a New England village.
Description
This entry includes six separate PDF files: "Main article" 11 pages, "Proposal" 6 pages, "Progress report" 1 page, "Letter to advisor" 1 page, "Presentation note cards" 8 pages, and "Notes" 26 pages.
Keywords
The Conduct of Inquiry, class systems, sociology, socio-economic status (SES)