1. Historical ideal types. These relate to phenomena found in some particular historical epoch (for example, the modern capitalistic marketplace).
2. General sociological ideal types. These relate to phenomena that cut across a number of historical periods and societies (for example, bureaucracy).
3. Action ideal types. These are pure types of action bused on the motivations of the actor (for example, affectual action).
4. Structural ideal types. These are forms taken by the causes and consequences of social action (for example, traditional domination) (Herkman,1983:38-59)