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Individuals and Social Structure

Author

Listed:
  • Lutz Erbring

    (University of Michigan)

  • Alice A. Young

    (Carnegie-Mellon University)

Abstract

Treatments of contextual effects in the social science literature have traditionally focused on statistical phenomena more than on social processes. Typically, the existence of contextual processes has been inferred on the basis of "group-level" effects (as contrasted with "individual-level" effects). This article seeks to redress that imbalance by focusing on underlying processes through which social structure and social interaction may impinge upon individuals. Four alternative generating mechanisms for contextual effects are discussed, along with their implications for model specification and estimation; only one of these, however, is found to be compatible with the notion of modeling individual outcomes as a result of group processes (endogenous feedback). Methods for consistent parameter estimation in endogenous feedback models are presented, based on maximum likelihood estimators for models with lattice autoregressive structure and their extension to models with lattice autocorrelated error structures. Moreover, since the latter often arise by failure to specify contextual processes explicitly, conventional statistical definitions of contextual effects are shown to be confounded with the resulting specification bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutz Erbring & Alice A. Young, 1979. "Individuals and Social Structure," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 7(4), pages 396-430, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:7:y:1979:i:4:p:396-430
    DOI: 10.1177/004912417900700404
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mitchell, Edward J., 1969. "Some Econometrics of the Huk Rebellion," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 63(4), pages 1159-1171, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luis Fernando Aguado Quintero & Alexei Arbona Estrada & Ana Maria Osorio Mejia & Jaime Rodrigo Ahumada Castro & Marylin Guerrero Jimenez, 2007. "Index of Childhood Rights in Colombia. A Regional Prospect," Working Papers 2, Faculty of Economics and Management, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali.
    2. Luis Eduardo Giron Cruz & Ana Maria Osorio Mejia & Luis Miguel Tovar Cuevas & Jaime Rodrigo Ahumada Castro & Luis Fernando Aguado Quintero, 2006. "Determining Factors of the Use of Maternal Health Services in the Colombian Pacific Coast," Working Papers 1, Faculty of Economics and Management, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali.

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