Functions of typological method in social science

The article reviews current state of typologies and classifications in social science. It offers an approach of compiling reasonably complete functions list for the typological method. It includes: data description in brief; organization of experience; reflection of reality; discovery of new objects; “economic" function (small sample inference); explanation; theoretical function; social memory; managerial function. The author sets forth hierarchical relations between functions which provide the reasonable completeness of the list.