"Sociology of Christmas Cards"

Focus:

• Semi-serious presentation of the research process
• Question- what influences taken-for-granted behavior of sending Christmas cards?
• Not really utilization of scientific method, but still interesting results- (could lead to more formalized research)
• Focus on socially relevant categories: Socio-Economic Status (SES)- Social Class
• Christmas card sending appears to be influence by the SES of sender and recipient.
• Cards tend to be sent "upward" ("non-reciprocal")
• "Reciprocal cards" sent between equals
• Middle Class, due to its concern with mobility and a certain ambiguity as to status, appear to be the "classic senders"

Method:

• Non-random sampling- looks at friends and associates.
• Content analysis: Focus on type of card sent. Symbolic Interaction.
  1. Again social class appears relevant
  2. Compartmentalization: business vs. Friends
  3. "Powerful" professors- small, "museum" cards
• Important executives: Big cards
• Artistic cards from male professors who (think) they have artistic wives
• "Socially aware" people demonstrate their convictions
• New children, new houses (President and White House)