The Classification of Social Class in Sociological Research

Bibliographic Data

ID5633103
AuthorsSheelagh Drudy (corresponding author)
Year1991
Volume42
Issue1
Pages21
Publication date1991-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1315 • E-ISSN: 1468-4446
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/590833
OpenAlexW2317963093
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited1

The problem of the classification of social class has long been a thorny one in sociological research. This is particularly so where there is any attempt to make empirical research reflect theoretical debates. In particular, the use of census classifications and social class scales has been fraught with difficulties. Is there, then, any sense, or indeed any circumstances, in which such classifications can be used as an indication of class in an empirical investigation? Indeed, how much difference does it make what scales are used? These problems are the central preoccupation of this paper. The discussion begins with a brief review of the theoretical approaches to the topic of class to be found in sociological theory. Then a number of commonly used occupational classifications are outlined. Finally, the results of a case study of school-leavers, and their occupational choices, are used to illustrate the use of four scales derived from different theoretical perspectives

Class (philosophy · Epistemology · Political science · Social class · Social science · Sociological research · Sociology · Law · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Philosophy · Rural development and sustainability · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub