College 3: micro questions about inter-generational mobility

Question 1

Blau and Duncan

What is the classic status attaintment model?

Answer 1

Educational- and occupational level father -> educational level son -> (achievement) occupational status son
But also directly (ascription) -> occupational status son

Question 2

How do Lin et al. (1981) add upon Classic status attainment model?

Answer 2

To what extent do social relationships have added value as a resource for the occupational status attainment of a child beyond the resources of the father?

Question 3

Lin et al (1981) theoretical assumptions

What are the prestige- and homophily principle?

Answer 3

• Homophily principle: frequent interactions between similar people result in strong ties
• Prestige principle: People seek interaction with others who occupy higher status positions (assumption: higher status level of contacts = more useful)

Question 4

Lin et al (1981)

Main hypothesis?

Answer 4

The more social resources an individual possesses, the higher the occupational status of one’s social contacts the higher the occupational status that one can expect to attain.

Question 5

Lin et al (1981).

Key findings:

Answer 5

Weaker social ties compared to stronger social ties, led to more social relationships with higher status persons. This is more true for people from lower occupational status

Question 6

Lin (1999)

Central research question:

Answer 6

How do social networks influence an individual’s attainment of social status?

Question 7

Lin (1999)

Core propositions (hypotheses)

Answer 7

• Social resources proposition: The higher the status of the contacts person one has access to the higher the occupational status attained.
• Strength of position proposition: Higher starting position -> more access to starting resources = homogeneity
• Strength of ties proposition: via weak ties, better social resources can be accessed than via strong ties.

They achieved this by using a name + position generator

Question 8

Lin (1999)

Findings per proposition:

Answer 8

*Strength of position proposition: not rejected (Children with better parental resources have a better direct and indirect(via social resources) access to better jobs.
*Strength of ties proposition: not rejected, but a direct effect of the strength of ties on occupational status is often not found thus rejected.
*Strength of resources proposition: not rejected, The higher the status of the contact person one has access to the higher the occupational status attained