The Formation of Egalitarian Orientations Among The Working Class and\nNonworking Class: A Differential Socialization Process Approach

Abstract

由於社經背景不同美國勞工階級與非勞工階級對重要的社會態度，如公平主義傾向(Egalitarian orientations)之形成受到不同程度的大眾媒體和人際傳播的影響。這種差別社會化的過程是本研究探討的中心議題。依據社會學家Wright所建構的客觀社會階級指標，作者將534位接受電話訪問的美國民眾分成勞工階級與非勞工階級兩組，就其媒體使用行為和人際傳播情形以及對兩個層次的公平主義傾向－－主觀認知的不平等和對公平主義經濟改革政策的態度做一跨組比較。本研究採用線性結構關係(LISREL)共變量分析法來驗證因果結構模式中所列的各項假設。在選擇跨組比較的策略時，作者捨棄了傳統以Ｔ檢定法來比較兩組平均數差異，而改用多指標測量變項，結構方程式模式，和兩組同時比較策略。作者期望能在比較兩組的自變項與依變項間的關係是否有差異的同時也考慮到跨組測量指標是否具有對等性(measurement comparability)的問題。由研究結果顯示：美國勞工階段與非勞工階級在形成其社會態度時媒體和人際傳播的影響力差異頗大，此外在各組內受訪者的教育程度，收入，和主觀的社會階級歸屬感也對其社會態度和傳播行為有不同程度的影響力。

A simultaneous multi-group comparison was made between the working class and the non-working class, as defined by Wright`s operationalization of class, with regard to their formation of egalitarian orientations. Survey data from a two-wave panel study was analyzed so as to ascertain the direction of the causal linkage between mass media exposure and interpersonal discussion in relation to individual egalitarian attitudes. Compatibility of the measurement structure across groups was examined and discussed before comparing the structural relationships across groups. The data suggested thatthe non-working class seemed to have a more consistent belief system than their working class counterpart. Working class was found to be more susceptible to the influences from interpersonal discussions than from mass media in forming their attitudes toward egalitarian aspects. Both subjective social class and education showed different effects on the formation of egalitarian orientations between the two groups.\n