Social and Structural Differentiation

Conceptualization and Measurement

Bibliographic Data

ID7738352
AuthorsTrevor Denton (Brandon University, corresponding author)
Year1998
Volume32
Issue1
Pages37-78
Publication date1998-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCross-Cultural Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1069-3971 • E-ISSN: 1552-3578
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/106939719803200102
OpenAlexW1993132109
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited18

The purpose of this article is to define a theoretical construct of social differentiation. Social differentiation is defined as the number of different structured roles in a relatively self-sufficient system of interdependent structured roles that, directly or indirectly, enable individuals in the system to meet their basic biological needs for food, shelter, clothing, safety, mobility, and so on. System is opera tionalized as an autonomous territorial political unit. A ratio measure isomorphic to this definition is constructed and may be applied uniformly to all societies ranging from the simplest to the most complex. A theoretical construct and measure of structural differentiation are also defined to measure how systems (autonomous political units) differ in the structure of their differentiation. Although much work remains to be done, this article is intended as one step in a direction that may illuminate an important subject matter

Conceptualization · Construct (python library · Differentiation · Epistemology · Interdependence · Measure (data warehouse · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Unit (ring theory · Computer Science · Economic Theory and Institutions · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Organic Food and Agriculture · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence

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