Question

Jim is meeting with some classmates to discuss a class project. What type of social group is this?

Answer 1

Answer: Secondary group

This is an example of a secondary group. Secondary groups are a type of social group that usually have impersonal, short term connections. These are the type of groups that are found at work and school, and that typically are only formed in order to achieve a particular goal. More importantly, these connections exist only in a limited context.

Answer 2

The answer is that in fact social groups have the following types:

A group that meets to discuss a class project would be a primary group on the basis of contact.

This is based on contact (C.H. Cooley)

- Primary group

- Secondary group

A group that meets to discuss a class project would be an in-group on the basis of identification.

This is based on Identification (W.G. Sumner)

- In-group

- Out-group

A group that meets to discuss a class project would be either a formal group or an informal group on the basis of rules and regulations depending on how strict the rules are but a study group is most likely an informal group.

This is based on rules and regulation.

- Formal group

- Informal group

A group that meets to discuss a class project would either be a voluntary group on the basis of structure.

This is based on structure (Dwight Sanderson)

- Voluntary group

- Involuntary group

- Delegate group

A group that meets to discuss a class project would be a pro-social group on the basis of relation to society.

This is based on relation to society (George Hassen)

- Un-social group

- Pseudo-social group

- Anti-social group

- Pro-social group