In this very useful paper Dave Elder-Vass observes that the concept of ‘social institution’ is almost as diverse as that of ‘social structure’:
The concept of social institution is almost as diverse in its referents as the concept of social structure. The Collins Dictionary of Sociology, for example, begins its definition: ‘an established order comprising rule-bound and standardized behaviour patterns. The term is widely acknowledged to be used in a variety of ways, and hence often ambiguously. Social institution refers to arrangements involving large numbers of people whose behaviour is guided by norms and roles’ (Jary and Jary 2000: 302).
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2008.00203.x/abstract
He identifies a number of different ways in which institutions have been conceptualised:
- Regular patterns of behaviour
- The normative beliefs held by individuals which account for these regularities (individual representations)
- The normative beliefs held by collectives which account for these regularities (collective representations)
- The ‘virtual’ systems of rules and resources that are instantiated in individual practices (structuration)
Mark Carrigan 
2 responses to “The concept of social institution”
Reblogged this on Tracey Yeadon-Lee and commented:
Another great Blog here by Mark Carriga, about definitions of social institution’. I’ve always found this such a slippery concept, yet one we use so much without thinking.
I find this useful in my examination. Thank you.