Comparisons of Australian Occupational Prestige Scales1

Abstract

Despite the unresolved controversy over the validity of using occupational prestige scales to provide a measure of 'social class', or position in the social structure, researches continue to use such scales for this purpose. The objective of this paper is to assist such researchers in selecting an appropriate scale for their data by outlining the construction and uses made of those scales developed in Australia. It also provides a comparison of the two most recently developed scales, in terms of their methodological and practical advantages and disadvantages, based on the findings of the application of these scales to father's occupation obtained from a random sample of children's birth records. Selection of an appropriate scale is discussed further in relation to the objectives of a study and the type of data available.