Social stratification

All the papers in the first volume of Sociological Studies are centred round the theme of social stratification. Four of the contributions are particularly concerned to take a fresh look at some of the terms which are used to describe stratification. These include class, status, power, deference, privilege, prestige., The papers show how these terms have many variations of meaning and conceal interesting and important facets of the problem.

Having determined what is meant by social stratification, the next five papers go on to emphasize the study of aspects of social strati fication in particular societies, and include reports on recent empirical research in this field.

The paper by Dr Mark Abrams comments. on empirical methods of stratifying society with particular application to market research. The paper by Professor Fürstenburg is a re port on a study of chemical workers in a number of West German factories and dis cusses the importance of occupational status in the work situation. One of the features re marked is the importance that work has on an individual's perception of the society in which he lives and his own place in it. It is also particularly important in relation to technological and social change and the effects that this may have on traditional class solidarity.

The next paper, by two Polish sociologists, includes a report on a study of three cities in contemporary Poland. Australia, representing a society with many interesting structural features and conse quently raising questions about the way in which social class is determined and defined, is the subject of the last paper-an analysis and empirical study of social class.

An editorial introduction discusses develop ments in the literature on this subject and provides a background against which the other papers are set.