The distinction: statistical addendum

The aim of this study is twofold: first, to assess the statistical significance of the data used by Pierre Bourdieu in Distinction; second, to test the hypothesis that the volume of capital (i.e., the global amount of capital) allows for a finer discrimination of dispositional differences than the composition of capital (i.e., the respective weight of the different types of capital in the global amount of capital). To these ends, five data samples were submitted to bilateral between-proportion comparison tests. The findings (1) reveal that about two-thirds of the differences reported by P. Bourdieu are significant and (2) support the view that the volume of capital prevails over its composition. Cette etude poursuit deux objectifs : etablir, d'une part, la significativite statistique des donnees ayant servi de base empirique au modele que Pierre Bourdieu propose dans La distinction ; mettre a l'epreuve, d'autre part, l'hypothese selon laquelle le volume de capital (i.e. la quantite globale de capital) constitue, en matiere de differenciation dispositionnelle, une variable plus determinante que la structure du capital (i.e. le poids respectif des differents types de capital au sein du volume global de capital). cette double fin, les donnees relatives a cinq echantillons sont soumises a des tests de comparaison bilaterale de proportions independantes. Les resultats obtenus (1) revelent que pres des deux tiers des differences observees par P. Bourdieu sont significatives et (2) soutiennent l'hypothese de la preponderance du volume de capital sur sa structure.