Self-identification of social class in America is to individual perception as systematic sociological research methods are to:

Self-identification of social class in America relies on how individuals see themselves based on their experiences and feelings. In contrast, systematic sociological research methods focus on gathering data and analyzing it in a structured way to understand social class from a broader perspective. For example, while someone might feel they belong to the middle class based on their lifestyle, researchers might use income data, education levels, and occupation statistics to categorize social classes more accurately. This difference highlights how personal views can vary greatly from objective research findings. Ultimately, individual perception is subjective, while systematic research aims to provide a more objective understanding of social structures.