The Davis-Moore Theory of Stratification: A Further Examination and Extension

With data for 267 occupational positions, several propositions from the Davis-Moore functional theory of stratification were derived and tested. Although the theory has been debated for decades, some of the propositions have not been examined previously. Income and prestige were chosen as the occupational rewards. Positional characteristics presumed to effect occupational rewards were required talent (a job's functional complexity), disagreeability (e.g., physical labor), training, and perceived functional importance. In general, the data supported Davis and Moore's basic propositions. The theory was extended by considering some implied interactions and offering a tentative causal model for positional determinants. The model included a reciprocal relationship between income and prestige.