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Disparities in Academic Achievement: Assessing the Role of Habitus and Practice

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  • Jason Edgerton

  • Lance Roberts
  • Tracey Peter

Abstract

Bourdieu’s theory of cultural and social reproduction—with its core concepts cultural capital, habitus, practice and field—is a leading account of the intergenerational persistence of educational inequality. Although numerous studies examine the relationship between class, cultural capital and academic outcomes, and some focus on gender differences in cultural capital, few attempt to operationalize Bourdieu’s accompanying concepts of habitus and practice, and to consider gender differences along these dimensions. The present study addresses these gaps by examining a “structure-disposition-practice” model of the relationships between family socioeconomic status (SES), sex, habitus, academic practices, and academic achievement using multilevel Canadian data. Findings of SES and gender differences in the model offer qualified support for the potential of Bourdieu’s framework to help increase our understanding of class and gender disparities in educational outcomes. Results suggest that habitus, practice and the “structure-disposition-practice” model are not only theoretically sophisticated, but also empirically sustainable and that future efforts to more precisely measure the model’s concepts and relationships are warranted. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Edgerton & Lance Roberts & Tracey Peter, 2013. "Disparities in Academic Achievement: Assessing the Role of Habitus and Practice," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 303-322, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:114:y:2013:i:2:p:303-322
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0147-0
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    1. repec:bla:econom:v:70:y:2003:i:277:p:31-53 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Laporte, Christine & Finnie, Ross & Lascelles, Eric, 2004. "Family Background and Access to Post-secondary Education: What Happened over the 1990s?," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2004226e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    3. Drolet, Marie, 2005. "Participation in Post-secondary Education in Canada: Has the Role of Parental Income and Education Changed over the 1990s?," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2005243e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    4. Feinstein, Leon & Symons, James, 1999. "Attainment in Secondary School," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 300-321, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junjun Huang & Shumin Wei & Zhen He, 2023. "Exploring Students’ Learning Habitus from Chinese Higher Vocational Colleges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, April.

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