Microsoft Word - sociology_body.doc

may never know each other. However, gradually, a
meaningful social grouping can grow out of a category.
Examples of a social category include: all female
students in higher learning institutions in Ethiopia; all
female engineers in Ethiopia; all students from rural
background, HIV positive persons, etc.

Table 4.1. Summary of types of groups

Type of group Basic features Examples

1. Primary social
   groups

Face-to-face interaction;

informal an personal

interaction;

Small size;

An end in itself

Common values, norms and

belie system;

Feeling of unity

A family; a peer

group; a dormitory

of students; etc

2. Secondary
   social groups

Relatively large group size;

impersonal and formal social

interaction; a means to an

end; bureaucratic structure;

An anti-AIDS club;

a university; a

hospital; etc