Poor Choices: The Evaluation of Measures of Socioeconomic Status in Education

• In Event: Analyzing Survey Data in Education Research

Abstract

Despite the prolific use of socioeconomic status (SES) in education research, there is not consensus on how to measure a student’s SES. This article reviews the popular formulations of SES and then evaluates the theoretical and practical concerns for common measures. To do this, we compared multiple SES measures using an international dataset of 10 and 15-year-old students and evaluated the strengths and weaknesses associated with the use of each measure. Results indicate that using a simple measure of principal perceptions or a complex measure with theoretical foundations best addresses practical and psychometric concerns. These findings have large implications for validity evidence for researchers who use or create SES variables in their analyses.

Authors

• Rachel L Renbarger, Western Michigan University

• Kody Bryce Long, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater

• Tracey Nicole Sulak, Baylor University