UDAY PAREEK SCALE FOR RURAL AREAS
1. Name of the Village Address
2. Name 3. Age / Sex ____________
II. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS :
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4. Head of
household____ 9. Land
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(head of
household) 10. Housing
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(head of 11. Farm Power
household)
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7. Education 12. Material
(head of possessions
household) (check all items)
8. Social
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(head of type
household)
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15. Distinctive feature of family (specify)
16. Total Score 17. SES
INTRODUCTION
The growing importance of quantification and rationalisation in social sciences has led to the formulation of scales for the measurement of social phenomena. Among social variables, socio-economic status is an important one. Social economic status is generally considered an important variable, both in the planning of development programmes and in researches in the field of education, sociology, psychology, community development, agricultural extension etc. Several studies have shown how socio-economic status influences values and norms of behaviour, social participation, pattern of leadership, motivation for improvement and communication in a community. Knowledge of this kind of relationship can be utilized in better planning of programmes.
The need to formulate a standard device to measure this important variable in rural families has assumed special significances with growing importance of rural development programmes. A major concern in India today is about methods of increasing the vertical social mobility of individual communities. In order to understand and help this mobility, measures of social rank are usually in terms of socio-economic status and indices.
Among the scales standardised in America, those of Chaplin (5) and Sewell (20) are well known. The latter scale has been widely used and re standardised (2, 3, 21).
Among the scales prepared in India, the Socio-Economic Status Scale for Urban Families by Kuppuswamy (10, 11, 12) is a systematically prepared scale. It has the additional merit of simplicity. It makes use of 3 variables-education, occupation and income. Differential weights are assigned to the seven items on each scale. Social classes are grouped under 5 categories. The published scale contains a manual two information blanks and a score card.
Another scale for urban families is by Varma (25). Details of information regarding the composition of families, educational levels of members, particularly female members, source of income, relatives and their social position, were worked out and items prepared. Some items were constructed to reflect the family attitude towards socio-cultural practices. The item covering these areas were garbed in a few direct but largely indirect question forms. Further, multiple but forced choice items were constructed into these indirect questions. The items of different areas were spread haphazardly over the scheduled. The arrangement was such that the scheduled could be numerical variations. Each of the items in the securable part of the scheduled could be indicative of an individual’s position on a five point scale: very high, average, below average and low, 1 being the position of very high and 5 of low.
Lewis and Bhillon (13) evolved a scale for classifying the village families according to their socio-economic status. The seven factors used in developing this scale were; Land owned (irrigated and non-irrigated), land mortgaged, amount of credit and debt, type house structure, income from non-agricultural occupation and ownership of livestock and bullock-cart. A point scale was developed for each item after filling but its frequency distribution among the families. Each household was thus, scored for each of these items. A total score was obtained for each family on the bases of which the families were grouped in to seven socio-economic groups. It may, however, be noted that the socio-economic point-scale was developed arbitrarily according to the villagers notion of the relative economic position and prestige of the family.
Rahudkar (19) devised a socio-economic status scale which was employed for socio-economic rating of farms families of Nagpur Extension Block. Empirical Evidence of its reliability is not available.
With a view to test the general hypothesis that adoption of new practices (home and agriculture) was positively correlated with family’s economic status. Freeman (8) measured the economic status of families in three villages in Uttar Pradesh. Information on material possessions was used in regard to economic status.
The choice of the items and the Weights assigned to each were slightly revised during re-analysis, in order to include certain items (e.g. watch, torch) which helped to distinguish between high and low economic groups and to exclude items of rare occurrences (such as gun and insecticide dusters). The families were divided into quartiles on the basis of overall scores, and only and lowest quartiles. Weights were assigned to each item. The items finally chosen for the scale with Weights in the brackets are land (1per bigha), house (2 each), type of dwelling house ( kucha 0, mixed 2, and pucca 4), animals (large such as cows, bullocks, horse (2 each), and small such as calf (1 each), bullock-cart (2 each) and watch (1 each), cycle (2 each), torch (1 each), chaff cutter (2 each) and iron plough (2 each). The choice items and the assignment of weights in Freeman’s study, however, remained arbitrary and this fact as well as the absence of any tests of significance to ensure the discriminatory power of high and low status determinants seem to be the major limitation of the scale.
HOW TO USE THE SCALE
The present scale can be used to measure socio-economic status of rural families. Although the scale was primarily statndardized in the villages near Delhi, it has been slightly modified to make suitable for use in most parts of the country.
The scale consists of 9 main items. These were found to be significant in indicating socio-economic status of rural families. The items included in the scale are such that information can be easily collected about these. The items on which it would be difficult to collect information, like the item of income, expenditures etc. were not included in the scale. So, the data collected with the scale may be more valid.
Thus scale has added advantage – its simplicity of administration. Only such items are included on which quantitative information can be objectively collected. Thus little subjective judgement of the investigator is involved in the collection of the data.
The scale calls for information about a rural family on important aspects of socio-economic status of the family – the occupation, education and social participation of the head of the family, the caste of the family, their land, house, farm, powers and material possessions, and the general nature of the family. Any investigator who can interview villagers can collect data on the scale. Simple interview is involved.
The items on the scale relate to both the head of the family and the family itself. Out of the 9 main items, the first 4 items are more or less related to the head of the family. Other items: 5, 6, 7 & 8 are related to the family.
There is another basis of the arrangement of the items in the scale. The first seven items are of graded scale type. This mean the each item is scaled from the lowest to the highest each sub-item representing a point on the scale. This also means that only one of the sub-item is to be checked for a particular respondent under each of the first seven items. On the other hand, items 8 and 9 are additive in nature. In item 9 either of the sub-items in both (a) and (b) has to be checked, in addition to (c), total check being three.
This part gives some details about using the scale. These will be found useful by investigators who are using such as scale for the first time.
The time taken in collecting information on the items of the scale was found to range form 5 minutes to 15 minutes. An investigator may take about 7 to 10 minutes for each family.
Some necessary technical information about the scale and the development is given in the next part. Those who are not interested in such information and are primarily concerned with using the scale need not read the third part of the manual.
COLLECTING INFORMATION
The information needed for checking on the scale can be collected by simple interview. Since most of the villagers are illiterate or semiliterate, self-administration of the scale may not be possible. Attention of the investigators is especially invited to the following points.
- The information should preferably be collected from the head of the family or from any other adult member of the family, but not from anybody outside the family.
- Information can be collected through simple interview.
- The information on items 2, 3, 4 relates exclusively to the head of the family.
- The information on items 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 relates to both the head of the family and the family.
- Item 9 relates exclusively to the family.
- Only one sub-item is to be checked in each of the items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for each respondent.
- All the five sub-items are to be checked in item 8.
- The three sub-items are to be checked in item 9.
- After getting information from the respondent, the sub-items are to be checked as suggested above (4-8) by putting a ‘?’ in the circle on the left hand of the sub-item concerned.
- The corresponding scores shown on the right hand of the sub-items checked are to be circled.
- Any other information collected through the interview can be noted in the margin of the form, like exact number of livestock, number of material possession, number of family members, particulars of distinctive feature of family, name of organization of which he is a member or office holder, name of the office held etc.
- Any significant observation during the interview about the respondent’s behaviour, time taken in giving replies etc., should also be noted at the end of the interview.
- As far as possible, the information should be collected when the respondent is alone.
EXPLANATION OF THE ITEMS
The following explanations may be helpful in clarifying the scope of the various items on which information is to be collected on the scale.
1. Caste: The caste of the family may be written down in the margin. The corresponding sub-item may then be checked.
The scheduled castes have the lowest social prestige. These would include caste like Bhangi, Chamar, Dom etc. in the North Indian villages.
The lower castes include those castes which have very low prestige but are not included in the group would be Jhimar, Dhobi, Nai, Badi.
The artisan castes are those that pursue some carfts as their means of livelihood. For example: Lohar (Blacksmith), Kumahar (Potter), Darji (Tailor), Sonor (Goldsmith), Julaha (Weaver) etc.
The agricultural caste includes those that have farming as their main occupation. In case an agricultural caste is a dominant caste, it may not be included in this category. In some area Jats may be included in this category, while in some other areas (as in Delhi villages) they are to be included in the category of the dominant caste.
The prestige caste are next in importance to the dominant caste. Brahmins in may areas (where they are not a dominant caste) would come in this category.
The last group is the dominant caste, the caste which dominates in a village, Jats in villages near Delhi, Rajputs in some villages of U.P. and Bihar, Bhumihars in some parts of Bihar are examples of Dominant castes.
Classification of some castes in different parts of the country appears in the Appendix. The classification is only suggestive and not exhaustive. The investigator should for himself find out these castes for the village (s) in which he is working.
2. Occupation: The item of occupation relates to the primary occupation of the head of the family. Generally this also signified the primary occupation of the family, as the main source of livelihood.
Labourers are those who are engaged by others on wages, or who are casual labourers. Usually they get wages on daily basis and maintain their families with the wages.
Artisans are those who follow their caste occupations e.g. tailor, blacksmith, carpenter, washer man, potter, barber etc.
Traders maintain shops and are engaged in small business and trade activities.
Petty employees include persons who are in employment not carrying big social status. In this will be included what are called “class IV employees” in the Government and other organizations, employees at lower levels like V.L. and employees in shops etc.
Cultivators are those who own land and are engaged in agricultural operations on their land as a means of livelihood.
The highest social status is for professions like medical, legal and engineering professions and for employment involving administrative responsibilities. In this category people like headmaster, officers in Government and other employment, supervisory personnel etc will be included.
3. Education: The educational level of the head of the family should be ascertained. This relates to his formal education.
4. Social participation: There are four levels of social participation: membership of one organization, membership of more than one organization, holding office in one or more organization, and exercising wider leadership. One of those is to be checked in the case of each respondent.
All these relate to the head of the family
If the head of the family is a member of any social, political, caste or voluntary organization, it should be noted down, and the category should be checked accordingly.
Multiple memberships, i.e. membership of more than one organization are given higher score.
If the respondent holds any office in one or more organizations (like Pradhan of a Panchayat) it should be noted down and scored accordingly.
If the respondent exercises wider leadership, he is given the highest score for this. For example: he may be a Member of Parliament or State legislature or Municipal or corporation or may hold such other high position that his status may be in a wider area beyond his own village.
5. Land: It means the total area owned or cultivated by the family. The categories (sub-items) mentioned indicate the range. The first sub-item is for land less than 1 acre. The second sub-item would be checked for those who have land of 1 acre or more up to 5 acres. Any person who has 5 acres would be put in this category. A person owning land more than 5 acres (e.g. 5.1 or 5.2 acres etc) and up to (including) 10 acres will be in the third category, and so on.
The information can be obtained in terms of bighas and changed to acres. The actual acreage may be mentioned in the margin of the form for its possible future use.
6. House: The information about the house is significant in terms of the type of the house the respondent has. Of course there is no score for not possessing a house.
The lowest score is for a hut. A hut is usually a one-room construction of mud walls with a thatched roof.
The construction with more than one room and using the mud walls and a thatch may be put under the category of kutcha house.
The houses in which some cement or mortar plastering, ot flooring or roofing is used may be classified as the mixed house.
A pucca house is one which is built with a foundation, using stone or bricks with mortar and cement, and having a concrete or a stone laid roof.
A mansion is an unusually large house, containing more than 5 rooms and having more than one storey.
This information in this category should relate to the main house where the family resides.
7. Farm Power: Amongst livestock, the drought animals (usually bullocks) are the main source of farm power. In some areas some animals are prestige animals (like camel, elephant, horse etc.). Possession of such animal(s) may be given due weight age. Of course, the tractor occupies that most important item in this category.
8. Material Possession: Material style of life, which is important for socio-economic status, has also been found to be associated with material possessions. Among them bullock-cart, cycle, radio, chairs and improved agricultural implements have been found significant. Possession of each should be ascertained and scored accordingly.
9. Family: This item has three sub-items type of the family, size and distinctive features.
The type refers to the family being single or joint. Single family is one which is composed of the husband, the wife, the minor children and direct dependent. A joint family is composed of two or more couple and their children, including older persons related to them.
The number of family members indicates the size of a family. The total number in a family should be ascertained and the relevant category scored accordingly. The actual size may also be noted down in the margin.
Any distinguishing feature of the family concerning education, occupation, social participation should be ascertained. For example: if any member of the family (other than the head of the family) is a graduate or above or whose occupation is a major supplementary source of socio-economic status or whose participation in the social activities raises the status of the family, these will be considered in the sub-category of distinctive features. If any one or more of such information is available, a score of 2, as indicated in the form should be given. The details of such features should be noted in the margin.
CATEGORIZATION
After all the information about a rural family or a villager on the different nine categories has been collected and scored, it is easy to calculate the total score received by the family or the person concerned. The score shown against the sub-items score for the family or the person indicating his overall socio-economic status. This should be entered on the form in the box at the upper right hand corner.
The overall score is not much meaningful unless it can be interpreted in terms of the class to which he belongs. For a more precise interpretation the norms are more useful. But for usual purpose the broad categories is more meaningful.
The category should be entered in the box at the upper right hand corner of the form. The category can be indicated by putting A,B,C, D or E.
The explanation of the different categories is given below.
Symbol Category Scores on the Scale
A Upper Class Above 43
B Upper-middle Class 33-42
C Middle Class 24-32
D Lower-middle Class 13-23
E Lower Class Below 13
The categories suggested here were developed empirically by administering the scale to over 500 rural families in the villages around Delhi. The model value was used as the central point for categorization and the standard deviation as the interval unit. The rationale of categorization along with the description of the various categories can be seen in a separate publication (23).
Use of Norms
For more precise interpretation and comparison and for research purposes the use of norms is recommended. The norms given here were developed on the data collected from Delhi villages (17). Norms for other areas of the country are being developed. These norms can be used in comparable areas.
In whatever form the norms are expressed, these are meaningful with reference to the particular normative population form which these are derived. The norms are calculated from the scores obtained by the subjects constituting the standardization sample. The norms may therefore, be used specifically only in the population for which these are reported. However, for research purposes these can be used with other population as well.
Norms can be quite useful in finding out the relative position of an individual on particular variable. The categories will be found useful for ordinary purposes. But sometimes it is necessary to find out the exact position of an individual. The various kinds of norms reported here may be helpful in that regard.
Percentile Norms: A percentile indicates an individual’s relative position in the standardized sample. Percentiles are also to be regarded as a rank in a group of 100 when we begin counting from the bottom, so that the lower the percentile, the lower the individual’s status. Table 1 gives the percentile norm for Delhi villages. The percentiles can be useful in comparing the individual’s score on other scales, such as socials participation scales, adoption scale and so on.
TABLE 1
Percentile Scores
Percentage Number Scores Remarks
of Persons of persons
1 5.12 5.412
5 25.60 7.06
10 51.20 2.93
15 76.80 10.87
20 102.40 12.37
25 128.00 15.88 Q1 (check)
30 153.60 15.68
35 179.20 18.05
40 204.80 20.105
45 230.40 21.61
50 256.00 23.11 Q2 (check)
Medium
55 281.60 24.62
60 307.20 25.902
65 352.80 27.11
70 358.40 28.32
75 384.00 29.52 Q3 (check)
80 409.60 30.85
85 435.20 32.82
90 460.80 34.57
95 486.40 38.20
100 512.00 50.00
Standard Score Norms: Two types of standard scores were calculated.
Details of different categories:
Symbol Category Scores on the Scale
A Upper Class Above 43
B Upper-middle Class 33-42
C Middle Class 24-32
D Lower-middle Class 13-23
E Lower Class Below 13
