Pathways to Social Class: A Qualitative Approach to Social Mobility - Hardcover

Bertaux, Daniel; Thompson, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198279310 ISBN 13: 9780198279310

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1997

Synopsis

Calling for a newer and broader approach to social mobility research, Daniel Bertaux and Paul Thompson--with contributions from several able researchers--move beyond pure statistics to employ qualitative techniques, such as life stories and family case studies, to examine more closely the dynamics of mobility and explore more thoroughly the fundamental questions of sociology.

Until now, the extensive sociological literature on mobility has been largely based on the survey method. So, although we have enjoyed access to an abundance of statistical data, there has been little information available on why and how people follow particular life paths.

This book combines the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research methods to address such questions as:

What exactly is transmitted between generations in a given social class--is it wealth or land, occupational models or skills, social networks, or values and orientations?

What kinds of assets can immigrants draw on?

How can a social elite survive the upheaval of a popular revolution?

How does marriage change the social mobility of men and women?

To what extent can one locality (or house or home) shape mobility paths and aspirations?

In what way(s) do dreams of mobility matter?

About this title

About the Author

Daniel Bertaux is Director of Research at Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France. Paul Thompson is Founder of the National Life Story Collection and Research Professor at The University of Essex.

From the Back Cover

Calling for a broader, new approach to social mobility research, Daniel Bertaux and Paul Thompson here move beyond pure statistics to use qualitative techniques - such as life stories and family case studies - to examine more closely the dynamics of mobility and address more fundamental sociological questions. Up to now, the extensive sociological literature on mobility has been based around the survey method. As a result, we have access to abundant statistical data, but there is little information available to explain how and why people follow particular life paths. To overcome these limitations, the authors have developed an alternative, complementary approach using life stories, case histories of whole families over several generations, or case studies of local communities. Employing the case-study approach does not prevent the identification of structural trends; on the contrary, it allows us to analyse those collective processes through their local effects, restoring the links with the classics of sociological thought.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198279310
• ISBN 13: 9780198279310
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 344