Social structure

Social structure refers to a sociological classification of human societies according to their social characteristics, especially its social stratification. The analysis of social structure makes based on different theories of the scientific study and classification of social structure, while the population sciences ( demography ) recorded stock numbers and numerical changes in a society. To segmentary societies differ with similar and of equal populations of stratified or clustered companies.

The term social structure was introduced in 1905 by German sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies and philosophers; generally it refers to the grouping of social relationship structure of a society as a whole according to similarities and differences in several dimensions. Structuring groups shall find, for example, social class, class, caste, social status, social milieu, lifestyle, or historically the caste system. Depending on sociological perspectives and research interests are divided these in detail in the important for each dimension features to recognize the lasting social interactions of these groups with each other and explain.

Standard Socio-demographic characteristics to describe the social structure

Subpopulation structure is understood in the demographics and statistics, the composition of a population sub-groups. Socio-demographics, is a common in empirical social research term that describes the population characteristics at the individual level (micro level), according to which the members of a sample or target group are described. From such socio-demographic information is aggregate data can form that can be used to describe the population structure.

At most frequently requested information is also called the standard socio-demographics. The most common socio-demographic data includes the following features:

Similar standard features are collected in empirical social research to companies, businesses and organizations ( meso level) and regions or countries (macro level).

Other scientific studies collect socio-demographic data. In market research, socio-demographic data will be collected, for example, to better tailor products to the specific target groups or to evaluate in which population group the product is consumed the most in order to draw conclusions on the design of the marketing strategy.

Scientific analysis - analysis of social structures

Analysis of social structure is the empirical- sociological analysis of the social structure of societies. Objectives of the analysis of social structure, the specification of social structures and processes, the explanation of socio-structural contexts and policy advice.

Studies of the social structure on the one interested in social change, so for the change in the social structure of a society over time, and on the other to compare the social structures of several companies and associated factors. As a means of exploring qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical social research are used. In addition, the structure theory for the characterization of the individual structural elements. Each researcher is this other priorities. The language of science is not always compatible.

Social structure of individual countries

Demographics of Germany
Social structure of the Austrian population
Demographics of Switzerland