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Presents letters to the editor related to the language of sociology. Benefits of the awareness of critical sociology; Criticism of the book "The Reference Other Orientation: An Extension of the Reference Group Concept in Contemporary Sociology"; Problems of contradiction in sociological theorizing.

This paper reports on specific methods that were used in a longitudinal Study in which 94% of the subjects cooperated at the time or at recontact after a two-year interval The probable factors responsible for this success are described, including details regarding the preparation prior to the study, approaching the subject, establishing rapport at initial contact, and the maintenance of rapport throughout the study. It is hoped this description will encourage others to provide similar reports on their methods and be helpful to those pursuing comparable research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the author Raymond L. Schmitt's observations from a social informal group, which supports sociologist George C. Homans hypotheses. Homans' two significant hypotheses concerning the existence of direct relationships between rank and the tendency to originate interaction, and rank and conformity to the group norms were upheld by Schmitt's observations. Schmit's first elaboration concerns Homans' hypothesized direct relationship between rank and range of interactions. His second elaboration involves the relationship of the subgroup to the total group. The author, Schmit observed the activities of an informal group of three men. They had worked with one another at one time on the same job. Although they were now working at different locations, they still interacted with one another outside of working hours. The author established that the group possessed a leadership structure. Interestingly, the leader had completely dominated the situation when he was present.