Durkheim's comparative sociology

Durkheim's comparative sociology was structured primarily within the contexts of the division of labor and religion (Smelser, 1976, pp. 95-113). With respect to the division of labor, Durkheim posited that four sets of closely correlated variables must be assessed in a comparative methodology investigating the social phenomenon (p. 95). These variable sets are social structure, the degree of similarity and dissimilarity, type of solidarity, and type of legal code. Durkheim's analysis of the division of labor was dichotic in character. As an example, Durkheim conceptualized two variations of solidarity and two variations of legal code. These conceptualizations were extended to posit that two variations of social structure exist that correspond to the variations in solidarity and legal code. Durkheim, thus, tended to characterize societal types as polar opposites (primitive and advanced), as opposed to a more complex type of society that encompassed some of each variation in type. Durkheim contended that greater similarity among people was present in primitive societies, while greater dissimilarity among people was present in advanced societies. When considering comparative suicide rates among different social groups, Durkheim incorporate the use of intervening variables into his comparative methodology. Durkheim, however, tended to use intervening variables only when their use supported his own preconceived conceptualizat

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less of how high the negative coefficient may be. Consistency is highly prized and necessary in the conduct of research. Therefore, higher reliability coefficients will likely be demanded than is true of validity coefficients, where a precise relationship between measured characteristics and actual characteristics is often more difficult to obtain than is a precise relationship between two sets of measurements made with the same instrument. A second reason for demanding higher reliability coefficients than validity coefficients is related to the loss of predictive power which is associated with lower reliability coefficients. Reliability errors can more easily and more quickly result in a degradation of the value of measurements made by an instrument than can validity errors. Therefore, although it is desirable for both the validity and the reliability coefficients of an instrument to be as high as is both possible and feasible, validity coefficients of a lower magnitude than corresponding reliability coefficients will be accepted in most instances. Certainly, however, the validity of a measurement procedure is of greater overall significance than is the reliability of a such a measuring procedure. If a measuring procedure
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