差序格局,“差”、“序”几何?——针对差序格局经验测量的一项探索性研究

How Differential Is the Differential Mode of Association? An Empirical Measure

差序格局是理解中国社会人际交往模式的重要本土概念。过去十几年学界的理论研究极大拓展了对于该概念内涵的理解。但是,如何基于理论思辨建构操作变量,以勾连差序格局的理论洞见与社会学的经验探索却鲜有研究。差序格局中的"差"关注的是个体社会网络的"差等"结构,而"序"则强调了在此结构下个体行为或态度的"级序性"。利用项目反应理论和线性回归模型分析针对不同类型对象的信任问题题器,可以"厘差定序",建构个人层面上差序程度的测量。通过考察当代中国社会个体差序程度的社会学-人口学特征,以及差序程度如何影响个体的养老主体选择模式两个经验示例可以看出,这种测量方案具有经验的适用性和解释力,能够为经验研究提供新的方法论工具。

The differential mode of association is an important construct for understanding the interpersonal interaction pattern in China. The theoretical discussions on this concept have deepened our understanding of the meaning of the differential mode of association. However, how to construct an operational concept and link theoretical insights to empirical research is understudied. This article sets its foundation on the different meanings of cha and xu, analyzes the survey items pertaining to trust of various referents using the item response theory and linear regression model, and constructs an individual--level measure of the differential mode of association. By virtue of empirical examples, we show the differential mode of association＇s socio--de- mographic characteristics, as well as its nexus with the pattern of eldercare responsibility allocation. It is suggested that our constructed measure has adequate empirical applicability and explanatory power, serving as a new tool for empirical sociologists.