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Sociology Terms

Ideal Types

Last Updated

19th June, 2026

Date Published

19th June, 2026

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  • a conceptual tool, or mental model, used by researchers to identify, compare, and analyze social phenomena.
  • Coined by German sociologist Max Weber, an ideal type is not meant to represent a moral standard, perfection, or an average reality; rather, it is a deliberate exaggeration of certain key traits of a social phenomenon to act as a conceptual yardstick.