Examining Class in the Classroom: Utilizing Social Class Data in Institutional and Academic Research

Abstract

Presented at the Association for Institutional Research annual forum, this presentation presents information about the use social class indicators in institutional and educational research.Social class and related indicators (socioeconomic status, parental education, and other forms of social/cultural capital) are strong determinants of students’ access and success in higher education. This presentation explores the use of different social class indicators in institutional and academic research, with a focus on the theoretical basis for social class, current demographic trends in higher education, the advantages/disadvantages to measuring social class, and the credibility of students' self-identification in a social class. Using the Student Experience in the Research University survey, the study also examines differential relationships between social class variables on students' sense of belonging on campus.