Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A multidimensional measure of social origin: theoretical perspectives, operationalization and empirical application in the field of educational inequality research

  • Published:
Quality & Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article describes the theoretical reasons and empirical operationalization of a multidimensional social origin measure. It is assumed that different parental resources are linked to social inequality through distinct mechanisms. This social origin variable can be used for the analysis of status inconsistencies as well as cumulating and compensating effects of social origin resources on inequality of opportunity. The proposed measure is easy to operationalize and to apply in cross-sectional, longitudinal or cross-national research. A great methodological advantage of the proposed origin measure is that it avoids the problem of multicollinearity that is prevalent in analyses that include various parental resources as separate covariates into a statistical model. To illustrate this social origin measure, we apply it to the field of educational inequality research and use data from the National Educational Panel Study in Germany. However, the approach can be easily generalized to other sociological or economic studies where social inequality is of interest (such as labor market, demographic, political, migration or ethnic research). The illustrative example combines the information of three family resources (parental education, parental class and parental status), but it can be extended to include further family resources such as income or wealth measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In this article the term “family” is not restricted to conjugal couples with one or more children. Thus, also non-married couples, single parents with at least one child are seen as a family unit.

References

  • Baker, D.: The Schooled Society. The Educational Transformation of Global Culture. Stanford University Press, Stanford (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barone, C., Ruggera, L.: Educational equalization stalled? Trends in inequality of educational opportunity between 1930 and 1980 across 26 European nations. European Societies 20, 1–25 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, R., Blossfeld, H.-P.: Entry of men into the labour market in West Germany and their career mobility (1945–2008). A long-term longitudional analysis identifying cohort, period, and life-course effects- Journal for Labour Market Research 50, 113 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Betthäuser, B., Bourne, M.: Harmonizing the measurement of social origin, cognitive ability and educational attainment in four British population surveys: NCDS, BCS70, LSYPE and ALSPAC. SOCED Project Data Note 2016-10-11. (2016)

  • Blake, J.: Family Size and Achievement. University of California Press, Los Angeles (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, P.N.: Changes in inequality of educational opportunity: The long-term development in Germany. Springer, Wiesbaden (2018)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, H.P., Drobnic, S.: Careers of Couples in Contemporary Society: From Male Breadwinner to Dual-Earner Families. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, H.-P., von Maurice, J., Schneider, T.: The National Educational Panel Study. In: Blossfeld, H.-P., Roßbach, H.-G., von Maurice, J. (eds.) Education as a Lifelong Process. The German National Educational Panel Study, pp. 5–17. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden (2011a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, H.-P., Roßbach, H.-G., von Maurice, J.: Education as a lifelong process: The German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) [Special issue]. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft 14, 203 (2011b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, P.N., Blossfeld, G., Blossfeld, H.-P.: Educational expansion and inequalities in educational opportunity: Long term changes for East and West Germany. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 31, 144–160 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottero, W., Lambert, P.S., Prandy, K., McTaggart, S.: Occupational structures. The stratification of social interactions. In: Robson, K., Sanders, C. (eds.) Quantifying Theory: Pierre Bourdieu. Springer, Wiesbaden (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudon, R.: Education, Opportunity, and Social Inequality: Changing Prospects in Western Society. Wiley, New York (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, R.: Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brauns, H., Steinmann, S.: Educational reform in France, West-Germany and the United Kingdom: updating the CASMIN educational classification. Zuma Nachrichten 23, 7–44 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R., Luijkx, R., Müller, W., Pollak, R.: Nonpersistent inequality in educational attainment: evidence from eight European Countries. Am. J. Sociol. 114, 1475–1521 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchholz, S., Pratter, M.: Wer profitiert von alternativen Bildungswegen? Alles eine Frage des Blickwinkels! Eine systemaische Rekonstruktion des Effektes sozialer Herkunft für alternative Wege zur Hochschulreife. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 69, 409–435 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchholz, S., Schier, A.: New game, new chance? Social inequalities and upgrading secondary school qualifications in West Germany. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 31, 603–615 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buis, M.L.: The composition of family background: the influence of the economic and cultural resources of both parents on the offspring’s educational attainment in the Netherlands between 1939 and 1991. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 29, 593–602 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buis, M. L.: Combining information from multiple variables using models for causal indicators. (2014). http://www.maartenbuis.nl/wp/prop.pdf. Accessed 21 June 2018

  • Bukodi, E., Bourne, M., Betthäuser, B.: Wastage of talent? Social origins, cognitive ability and educational attainment in Britain. Adv. Life Course Res. 34, 34–42 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bukodi, E., Goldthorpe, J.H.: Decomposing ‘social origins’: The effects of parents’ class, status, and education on the educational attainment of their children. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 29, 1024–1039 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bukodi, E., Dex, S., Goldthorpe, J.H.: The conceptualization and measurement of occupational hierarchies: a review, a proposal and some illustrative analyses. Qual. Quant. 45, 623–639 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, T.W.: Social Status and Cultural Consumption. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2010)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, T.W., Goldthorpe, J.H.: Class and status. The conceptual distinction and its empirical relevance. Am. Soc. Rev. 72, 512–532 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Stasio, V., Bol, T., Van de Werfhorst, H.G.: What makes education positional? Institutions, overeducation and the competiton for jobs. Res. Soc. Stratif. Mobil. 43, 53–63 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Engzell, P.: Intergenerational Persistence and Ethnic Disparities in Education. Dissertation. Stockholm University (2016)

  • Erikson, R.: Is it enough to be bright? Parental background, cognitive ability and educational attainment. Eur. Soc. 18, 117–135 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, R.: Social class of men, women and families. Sociology 18, 500–514 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, R., Goldthorpe, J.H.: The Constant Flux: A Study of Class Mobility in Industrial Societies. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, R., Goldthorpe, J.H.: Social class, family background, and intergenerational mobility: a comment on Mcintosh and Munk. Eur. Econ. Rev. 53, 118–120 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, R., Jonsson, J.O.: Explaining class inequality in education: the Swedish test case. In: Erikson, R., Jonsson, J.O. (eds.) Can Education be Equalized? The Swedish Case in Comparative Perspective, pp. 1–63. Westview Press, Boulder (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ermisch, J., Francesconi, M.: Family matters: impacts of family background on educational attainments. Economica 68, 137–156 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erola, J., Kilpi-Jakonen, E.: Compensation and other forms of accumulation in intergenerational social inequality. In: Erola, J., Kilpi-Jakonen, E. (eds.) Social Inequality Across the Generations. The Role of Compensation and Multiplication in Resource Accumulation, pp. 3–24. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambetta, D.: Where They Pushed or Did they Jump? Individual Decision Mechanisms in Education. Westview Press, Boulder (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H.: Back to class and status: or why a sociological view of social inequality should be reasserted. Rev. Esp. Investig. Soc. 137, 201–216 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H.: Analysing social inequality: a critique of two recent contributions from economics and epidemiology. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 26, 731–744 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H.: Two oppositions in studies of class: a reflection. In: Lareau, A., Conley, D. (eds.) Social Class. How Does It Work, pp. 350–354. Russell Sage Foundation, New York (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H.: Social class and the differentiation of employment contracts. In: Goldthorpe, J.H. (ed.) On Sociology. Numbers, Narratives, and the Integration of Research and Theory, pp. 206–229. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H.: Class analysis and the reorientation of class theory: the case of persisting differentials in educational attainment. Br. J. Sociol. 47, 481–505 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H., McKnight, A.: The economic basis of social class. In: Morgan, S.L., Grusky, D.B., Fields, G.S. (eds.) Mobility and Inequality. Stanford University Press, Stanford (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldthorpe, J.H., Hope, K.: Occupational grading and occupational prestige. In: Hope, K. (ed.) The Analysis of Social Mobility. Methods and Approaches, pp. 19–79. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hausner, K.-H., Söhnlein, D., Weber, B., Weber, E.: Bessere Chancen mit mehr Bildung. IAB-Kurzbericht No. 11 (2015)

  • Hillmert, S., Jacob, M.: Social inequality in higher education: Is vocational education a pathway to or away from university? Eur. Sociol. Rev. 19, 319–334 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger, M.M.: Educational mobility across three generations: the changing impact of parental social class, economic, cultural and social capital. Eur. Soc. 9, 527–550 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarsfeld, P.F.: Interchangeability of indices in the measurement of economic influences. J. Appl. Psychol. 23, 33–45 (1939)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, G.N.: Issues in the conceptualisation and measurement of socioeconomic background: do different measures generate different conclusions? Soc. Indic. Res. 104, 225–251 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, K.-U., Schnettler, S., Aisenbrey, S.: The process and impacts of educational expansion: Findings from the German Life History Study. In: Hadjar, A., Becker, R. (eds.) Expected and Unexpected Consequences of the Educational Expansion in Europe and the US. Theoretical Approaches and Empirical Findings in Comparative Perspective, pp. 27–47. Haupt Verlag, Bern (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, K.-U.: Statushierarchie und Heiratsmarkt. University of Mannheim, Habilitation (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meraviglia, C., Buis, M.L.: Class, status, and education: the influence of parental resources on IEO in Europe, 1893–1987. Int. Rev. Soc. Res. 5, 35–60 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minello, A., Blossfeld, H.-P.: From mother to daughter: changes in intergenerational educational and occupational mobility in Germany. Int. Stud. Sociol. Educ. 24, 65–84 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W.: Klassenlagen und soziale Lagen in der Bundesrepublik. In: Handl, J., Mayer, K.-U., Müller, W. (eds.) Klassenlagen und Sozialstruktur, pp. 21–100. Campus, Frankfurt am Main (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W., Pollak, R.: Weshalb gibt es so wenige Arbeiterkinder in Deutschlands Universitäten? In: Becker, R., Lauterbach, W. (eds.) Bildung als Privileg. Erklärungen und Befunde zu den Ursachen der Bildungsungleichheit., pp. 305–341. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W., Shavit, Y.: The institutional embeddedness of the stratification process. A comparative study of qualifications and occupations in thirteen countries. In: Shavit, Y., Müller, W. (eds.) From School to Work: A Comparative Study of Educational Qualifications and Occupational Destinations, pp. 1–48. Clarendon Press, Oxford (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W., Haun, D.: Bildungsungleichheit im sozialen Wandel. KZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift Für Soziologie Und Sozialpsychologie 46, 1–42 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W., Steinmann, S., Schneider, R.: Bildung in Europa. In: Hradil, S., Immerfall, S. (eds.) Die westeuropäischen Gesellschaften im Vergleich, pp. 177–245. Leske + Budrich, Opladen (1997)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, N., Pforr, K., Hochman, O.: The effect of parental wealth on children’s educational decisions in Germany: compensation or demotivation? Open science framework. www.osf.io/vrfsd/ (2017)

  • Pfeffer, F.T.: Persistent inequality in educational attainment and its Institutional context. Eur. Sociol. Rev. 24, 543–565 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prandy, K., Lambert, P.: Marriage, social distance and the social space: an alternative derivation and validation of the Cambridge Scale. Sociology 37, 397–411 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimer, D., Schindler, S.: Soziale Ungleichheit und differenzierte Ausbildungsentscheidungen beim Übergang zur Hochschule. In: Becker, B., Reimer, D. (eds.) Vom Kindergarten bis zur Hochschule. Die Generierung von ethnischen und sozialen Disparitäten in der Bildungsbiographie, pp. 251–283. Vs Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, T.: Interpersonal influences on educaitonal expectations: New evidence for Germany. Res. Soc. Stratif. Mobil. 48, 68–84 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saar, E., Helemäe, J.: The role of economic and cultural resources in the intergenerational transmission of education in Estonia. In: Erola, J., Kilpi-Jakonen, E. (eds.) Social Inequality Across the Generations. The Role of Compensation and Multiplication in Resource Accumulation, pp. 27–47. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimpl-Neimanns, B.: Soziale Herkunft und Bildungsbeteiligung. KZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift Für Soziologie Und Sozialpsychologie 52, 636–669 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmillen, A., Stüber, H.: Bildung lohnt sich ein Leben lang. IAB-Kurzbericht No. 1 (2014)

  • Shavit, Y., Park, H.: Introduction to the special issue: education as a positional good. Rese. Soc. Stratif. Mobil. 43, 1–3 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen, A.: Women, family and class. Ann. Rev. Sociol. 20, 27–45 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Maurice, J., Blossfeld, H.-P., Roßbach, H.-G.: The National Educational Panel Study: Milestones of the Years 2006–2015. In: Blossfeld, H.-P., von Maurice, J., Bayer, M., Skopek, J. (eds.) Methodological Issues of Longitudinal Surveys, pp. 3–18. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden (2016)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M.: Wirtschaft ud Gesellschaft. J. C. B. Mohr, Tübingen (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wippler, R.: Kulturelle Ressourcen, gesellschaftlicher Erfolg und Lebensqualität. In: Giesen, B., Haferkamp, H. (eds.) Soziologie der sozialen Ungleichheit, pp. 221–254. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden (1987)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, E.O.: Women in the class structure. Polit. Soc. 17, 35–66 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by the German National Academic Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Beethovenstraße 15, 04107, Leipzig, Germany

    Pia Nicoletta Blossfeld

Authors
  1. Pia Nicoletta Blossfeld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pia Nicoletta Blossfeld.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 6, 7.

Table 6 Calculation of sheap coefficients (see Buis 2014).
Full size table
Table 7 Spearman rank correlations between the social origin variables (three category version of CAMSIS, EGP and CASMIN).
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Blossfeld, P.N. A multidimensional measure of social origin: theoretical perspectives, operationalization and empirical application in the field of educational inequality research. Qual Quant 53, 1347–1367 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-018-0818-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-018-0818-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation