Interpreting Modal Frequencies To Measure Social Norms

Abstract

The empirical study of social norms has been hampered b y a lack of standardized quantitative measures and criteria for the interpretation of research data. Two such criteria are suggested, both of them derived from the modal proportion of responses. The first, pk1rep , signifies a modal proportion large enough to represent a population norm The second criterian, pk1prom, is less stringent and indicates the presence of a prominent norm. Minority norms and plurality norms are also quantitatively defined. Two empirical examples are given to illustrate the utility of the suggested criteria.