reference group

American  

noun

Sociology.

1. a group with which an individual identifies and whose values the individual accepts as guiding principles.

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Etymology

Origin of reference group

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

To confront the problem, she said her company tested an algorithm on a reference group of people of different genders and ethnicities to check for bias.

From New York Times • Nov. 6, 2018

His spokeswoman said he thanked the three MPs for their contributions to the reference group, saying it had made "some good progress making Parliament a more inclusive workplace".

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2018

But then of course, taking this list as your reference group is like glancing at the top ten movie blockbusters and declaring that all films are noisy, idiotic and soulless.

From The Guardian • Feb. 8, 2013

Three scary sentences from the piece: 'When reference group information was available, participants gave no weight to objective policy content, and instead assumed the position of their group as their own.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2011