Project on Occupational Cognition : Sociological Aspects of Subjective Occupational Structures, 1973-1975

UKDA study number:222

Principal Investigators

Coxon, A.P.M.
University of Wales College of Cardiff
Jones, C.L.
McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario)

Sponsor

Economic and Social Research Council

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

Bibliographic Citation

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Coxon, A.P.M. and Jones, C.L., Project on Occupational Cognition : Sociological Aspects of Subjective Occupational Structures, 1973-1975 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], 1975. SN: 222.

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222 . Project on Occupational Cognition : Sociological Aspects of Subjective Occupational Structures, 1973-1975

Depositor:

Coxon, A.P.M. , University of Wales College of Cardiff

Principal Investigators:

Coxon, A.P.M. , University of Wales College of Cardiff

Jones, C.L. , McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario)

Sponsor:

Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract:

To investigate occupational cognition, focusing upon how occupations (considered as complex social objects) are perceived, compared, represented, and are given meaning. In addition, the content and structure of beliefs about occupations are examined, looking especially at the degree to which the processes involved are socially shared. Subjects were sampled from a fourfold typology of occupations defined by the factors of `socio-economic status' and `people orientation'.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions
None of the techniques used was variable-oriented. The datasets on the tape include:
1. Pairwise Similarities
Pairs of occupational titles are presented to the subject, and he is asked to assess how similar each pair is.
2. and 3. Rankings and Ratings of Occupational Titles
Ranking and rating have been the routine and standard methods of investigating the perception of occupations in general, and occupational prestige in particular. Rating was either 'Direct', e.g., marks out of 100, or by sorting into ordered categories.
4. Sentence Frame Data
Respondents were asked to fit each of 25 occupational titles into 15 sentence frames forming a set of 375 statements. For each statement the subject was to tell how often it held true (always, usually, seldom or never).
5. Summary Data on Individual Pairwise Similarities Matrices
6. Triadic Similarities Data
In the method of triads, the subject is presented with subsets of three occupational titles and asked to make a specified judgement about them.
7. Hierarchical Clustering Data
This method stems from Rapoport and Fillenbaum. A 'tree' is an undirected connected graph without cycles; the subject is asked to construct trees of naturally belonging and increasingly general, sets of occupational titles, finally joining them up into one single group.
8. Free Sorting of 32 Occupational Titles
Respondents were asked to group 32 cards in any way that seemed natural to them.
9. Free sorting of 50 Occupational Predicates
To find out some elementary properties of the ways in which people divide up the occupational world (differentiation) and categorise their experience of it (classification).
Background Variables
Age, sex, present occupation or course of study, father's occupation.

Coverage:

Dates of Fieldwork: March 1973 - March 1975
Country: Scotland
Geography: Edinburgh
Spatial Units: No information recorded
Observation Units: Individuals; Groups

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: Subnational
Population: a) All subjects except those coded S and Y were contacted through professional organisations, at the place of work or through training establishments b) Subjects coded S and Y were contacted through the `combing' of Edinburgh enumeration districts 160 and 161

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: A probability sampling procedure was not used. The aim was to contact balanced subsets of subjects in each of four contrasting quadrants of occupations defined by the dichotomies high/low education and high/low amount of interaction with people
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of First Release:

1975

File last updated:

8 September 2005