| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 3
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Brasil
[2] Universidade Federal da Paraíba - Brasil
[3] Universidade de São Paulo - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Revista Brasileira de Ciências Sociais; v. 39, 2025-03-14. |
| Abstract | |
Abstract Set against the backdrop of the relationship between empiricism and social theory, this article examines the construction of the structured questionnaire and its role in research aimed at empirically identifying possible homologies between social class and distinction. It begins with an analysis of the same instrument used in Distinction by Pierre Bourdieu. Drawing on an extensive bibliography, the article explores both the strengths and limitations of this tool in the French author's work and proposes ways for enhancing its application. To this end, the discussion reflects on the development of the questionnaire for the research project “Beyond Distinction: Tastes, Cultural Practices, and Class in São Paulo.” It reaffirms key elements of Bourdieu’s approach, particularly his multidimensional and relational concept of social class, the necessity of constructing both social and symbolic spaces, and the importance of testing the hypothesis of homology between these spaces. Simultaneously, the article argues that research linking social class and distinction should employ the questionnaire within a mixed-methods framework featuring sequential phases. Initial stages should help mitigate the effects of “problematic imposition” during the questionnaire’s design, with methods such as focus groups and documentary analysis being critical to this process. The article underscores the questionnaire’s essential role in constructing social and symbolic spaces but emphasizes that it should be complemented by qualitative methods, such as interviews and observation. These methods enable a deeper understanding of the mechanism’s individuals use to construct social boundaries and, ultimately, the “reality” of social classes. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 18/20074-2 - Beyond distinction: tastes, cultural practices and class in São Paulo City |
| Grantee: | Renato José Pinto Ortiz |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |