Class and Status in Family Research

This paper reviews family research practice in operationalizing social position and outlines the theoretical and methodological implications of using a variety of class and status indicators. It is argued that alternative indices embody competing theoretical conceptualizations and that researchers are ill-advised to employ specific measures without endorsing the underlying theoretical rationale. The class-status distinction is examined in some detail. It is proposed that adopting the refined conceptualizations and operationalizations that have developed in the occupational prestige approach to social stratification will facilitate building a cumulative literature of family theory and research involving social stratification variables.