Sociologists study all aspects and levels of society. Level of analysis refers to the scale of the analysis, ranging from individuals to societies. We tend to talk about this concept in terms of micro-level analysis (microsociology) and macro-level analysis (macrosociology). Figure 1.17 illustrates the main focal point of each level of analysis.

Sociologists working at the micro level study small groups and individual interactions. Micro-level analysis, or microsociology, places a strong emphasis on context, meaning-making, and interactions. It involves analyzing “what people do, say, and think in the actual flow of momentary experience” (Collins 1981:984). For example, a micro-level study might look at the accepted rules of conversation in various groups such as among teenagers or business professionals. You will learn more about this type of interaction in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5.

Sociologists who use macro-level analysis, or macrosociology, look at trends among and between institutions and societies. A macro-level analysis emphasizes the influence of structures, institutions, and systems. It examines the aspects of the society that are larger scale and exist over extended periods of time (Collins 1981). In contrast to a micro-level analysis, a macro-level analysis might research how one institution impacts another, such as how religion influences politics.

Structure, Institutions, and Agency

In the social sciences, we examine the relationship between structure and agency and their influence on human behavior. Structure, sometimes called social structure, refers to a set of long-lasting social relationships, practices, and institutions that can be difficult to see at work in our daily lives. They are intangible social relations. These patterned arrangements both limit and create opportunities for some individuals. In the United States, we typically see more opportunities for people who share similarities with those in positions of power.

Our social structure is made up of several institutions. Institutions, or social institutions, are mechanisms or patterns of social order focused on meeting social needs. Government, economy, education, family, healthcare, and religion are all examples of social institutions. Our institutions are often interconnected; for example, the economy, family, and education are separate social institutions that regularly intersect. The availability of employment opportunities depends on the state of the economy and individuals’ access to education. Family arrangements and socioeconomic status may create or limit opportunities to pursue higher education. You will learn more about social institutions that you encounter daily as we explore social inequalities in the chapters of this text that examine social class and stratification, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Additional information on education, religion, and health/medicine as social institutions can be found in Inequality and Interdependence: Social Problems and Social Justice.

Social structures and institutions have rules and norms that are semi-durable, meaning they tend to be consistent and somewhat stable. However, social institutions are made up of individuals, which means that there is some room for change over time. Agency tends to refer to the ability to make independent decisions, yet as sociologists we understand that the choices we have available to us are often limited by larger structural constraints. Sometimes our willingness to challenge norms and exhibit freewill overrides our need to conform to social structures, particularly when a social structure feels too confining.

The Interconnections between the Round-Up and Social Institutions

Let’s return to our example of the Pendleton Round-Up to understand more about how events are connected to social institutions. By analyzing participation in the Round-Up from a sociological perspective, we can see connections to the social institutions of the economy and healthcare. Social issues, such as a global pandemic, affect many aspects of our lives, including sporting events. In 2020, with the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo was canceled for the first time since 1943 (Castillo 2021). Financially, this resulted in a significant loss for small businesses, artisans, food vendors, and competitors who depend on the revenue generated by this annual event. However, Umatilla County was not the only place affected by a loss of tourism revenue during the pandemic.

Health and safety concerns stemming from an overburdened healthcare system led to interventions to limit the transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. For instance, government and public health officials implemented stay-at-home orders, curfews, and quarantines to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. A medical sociologist might examine issues of social inequality by studying the ways that this virus leads to higher health disparities for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] 2022).

When we discuss healthcare at a structural level, we ask questions like who has access and what are barriers others may experience? How does access impact life chances, morbidity, and mortality for groups of people? In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, these questions surrounded decision-makers when it came to the planning of events that may expose populations to SARS-CoV-2.

As previously mentioned, the Pendleton Round-Up includes participation from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and other tribal members in the region. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is made up of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes, formed under the Treaty of 1855 signed in the Walla Walla Valley. Members of these communities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

In 2021, the Pendleton Round-Up was scheduled to occur with some health and social distancing precautions in place. Leading up to the Round-Up that year, a second state of emergency was declared in Umatilla County due to COVID-19 case counts, the rise of new variants, and limited hospital bed capacity, all which led to the mask mandate (Hagar 2021). Figure 1.18 shows the guidelines update from the Round-Up’s website asking people to wear face masks after mask wearing was mandated by the government in the state of Oregon [Website] (OHA 2023, optional link).

During a global pandemic, decisions surrounding community gatherings impact several parts of our social structure. Despite signage requiring the use of masks, reports suggest that compliance may not have been high. This is particularly problematic in a county with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state. The county saw a spike in COVID-19 case numbers following the Round-Up to the extent that CTUIR declared a state of emergency after the Pendleton Round-Up in 2021 as case counts on the reservation rose to 72 within a week (CTUIR ICT 2021).

According to a report given by Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara on Oregon Public Broadcasting, hospitalizations and case counts rose following the Round-Up (AP Staff 2021). While Oregon was experiencing fewer hospitalizations and cases before the Round-Up, an event of this magnitude contributed an additional strain on the healthcare systems in Umatilla and Wallowa counties. Although we might only think of the Round-Up as an exciting rodeo, a closer examination of the event’s interconnections with social institutions allows us to better understand the impact social institutions have on our lives.

Licenses and Attributions for Levels of Analysis: Macro Level and Micro Level

Open Content, Original

“Levels of Analysis: Macro-Level and Micro-Level” by Jennifer Puentes is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Figure 1.17. “Levels of Analysis: The Micro-Macro Continuum” by Jennifer Puentes and Michaela Willi Hooper, Open Oregon Educational Resources, is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Open Content, Shared Previously

“Social Structure” definition from “Conceptualizing Structures of Power” by Miliann Kang, Donovan Lessard, Laura Heston, and Sonny Nordmarken in Introduction to Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries, is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Social Institutions” definition from “Society, Culture, and Social Institutions” by Lumen Learning in Introduction to Sociology is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

All Rights Reserved Content

Figure 1.18. Image from Pendleton Round-Up website is included under fair use.