How do doctors and lawyers function as reference groups?
Reference groups are the groups whose standards we use to evaluate ourselves. For someone studying to become a doctor or a lawyer, professional associations like the American Medical Association or the American Bar Association can serve as a reference groups. You can learn more about these two organizations at their Web sites: http://www.ama-assn.org/ and http://www.abanet.org. Assume that you are beginning your professional career and are seeking direction as to how you should behave as a doctor or a lawyer. What kind of information could you obtain from these sites that could help you? Prepare a presentation to the class about professional associations as reference groups.
