The Basic Concepts of Sociology

In sixteen representative monographs and textbooks in sociology and cultural anthropology published since 1930, despite great confusion in terminology there is agreement on the basic concepts of sociology. Most definitions of "social interaction," "social relationship," "social group," "social norm," "status," "role," "attitude," "value," "function," and "culture" may be restated so as to be generally acceptable. Each concept must be critically appraised before being admitted to that uniform conceptual scheme whose attainment would attest the scientific maturity of sociology.