Artificiality in Experimental Sociology*

Les auteurs démontrent que la critique du caractère artificiel de l'approche expéri-mentale en sociologie est fondée sur une fausse compréhension des buts de ce type de recherche. A la lumière des objectifs de la recherche expérimentale, l'article examine sous tous ses angles l'objection de ? l'artificialité?. L'avancé fondamental repose sur le fait que le laboratoire est un cadre d'observation parmi plusieurs autres ou la theorie abstraite peut etre mise à l'epreuve empiriquement. Les avantages et désavantages que ce cadre comporte sont reliés à l'objectif de l'en-quete. On discute les consequences qui découlent de cette prise de position. The criticism that sociological laboratory experiments are artificial, we argue, is based upon a misunderstanding of the purposes of this type of research. This paper is an examination of the “artificiality objection,” in terms of the goals of experimental research. The basic point is that the laboratory is one setting among many in which abstract theory may be tested empirically, and that the advantages and disadvantages of the setting are dependent upon the goal of research. Some consequences of this position are discussed.     

Dynamics of an enclosed population of pine mice,Microtus pinetorum

Summary Enclosed populations of pine mice were studied over a 28-month period and compared with populations in surrounding natural areas. The enclosed populations reached densities far greater than any observed in surrounding natural areas. It is suggested that the restriction placed on dispersal by the enclosure walls and the addition of food in the form of trap bait could have allowed the enclosed populations to reach higher densities than normally observed at SRP.     

Shopping center location and retail store mix in metropolitan areas

Retail sales in 1963 in 116 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA’s) are related to SMSA size in 1960. Nucleated sales occur in the Central Business District (CBD) and in Major Retail Centers (MRC’s). As SMSA’s grow, the proportion of sales in MRC’s increases and that in the CBD decreases. The ratio of nucleated sales to dispersed sales remains constant. The laws of economic location operate to place shopping goods primarily in the CBD and in MRC’s whereas convenience and other types of stores disperse throughout the SMSA. Plotting the straight line distance of every MRC relative to the CBD and computing the mix of trade types in MRC’s reveals that, with some modifications, most MRC’s have a mix of store types similar to the CBD. Convenience stores are somewhat more important and all other stores less so than they are in the CBD. The findings support the Harris-Ullman multiple nuclei hypothesis.     

A Self-Consistency Approach to Prisonization*

A theoretical model is developed in which prisonization is determined by the self-concepts which inmates bring to the prison. This model was substantively tested using a Likert-type scale of Inmate Reference Group Identification as an index of prisonization. Self-concept was measured by the Twenty Statements Test and scores were trichotomized to form groups having legitimate, low and deviant social anchorage. The sample consisted of 257 male inmates from two adult prisons. The data were gathered by questionnaire in groups of 15–45 using a cross-sectional design. Four hypotheses were tested relating prisonization to type of social anchorage according to three institutional career phases. Using analysis of variance and contrasts it was found that prisonization was the greatest and increased in a linear fashion during successive career phases among those with deviant social anchorage. Those with low social anchorage showed an increase in prisonization during the middle phase and a decrease during the late phase. No change in prisonization according to career phase was found among those with legitimate social anchorage. The results suggest that self-concept plays a crucial role in defining both the likelihood and form of attitude change following imprisonment.