SES Flashcards
what is SES
measure of a persons economic and social position in relation to others
- indirect and accure over time
links between SES and cognitive development..
Farah et al. (2006)
found differences in language, memory and execuitve function (working memory and inhibitory control).
interesting finding from farah et al (2006)
prior research suggests that the ability to resist impulse and appreciate the value of future rewards does increase with SES
But actually, Farah et al find no effect of SES on early reward processing.
suggests this develops later as a pragmatic adaptation
SES and maths
- at school entry
pre exsisting.
Jordan, Huttenlocher, & Levine, l994 : low ses families begin with less maths knowledge
Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 1997): less well prepared for school
Duncan et al 2007). less exposure to maths (incremental)
cross cultural research
STarkey and Klein (2008)
China, Japan and the US found SES related gap in maths- suggests variables which link SES to maths are present early in life.
maths achievement gap - widens with time
Rathbun and West (2004)
maths achievement gap at school entry between low and higher SES children widens over the first 4 years of primary school;
maths achievement gap
- linear relationship
Duncan and MAgnuson (2012)
For math and reading attainment, gaps between the bottom and top SES groups are roughly twice as large as the bottom and middle of the SES distribution, suggesting a fairly linear SES ‘gradient’ for those achievement measures
Pathways via cognition
Executive functions (working memory and inhibitory control) may mediate the relationship between maths and SES-
What are the models which explain the links between SES and cognitive development?
- the investment model
2. the stress model
The investment model/
3 products of having less time, money and knowledge
lower SES parents have less capital and so cant invest as much in their children
- cognitive stimulation: Lower SES children tend to receive less cognitive stimulation: they are read to less. (Evans, 2004)
- Resources: higher SES parents have more eductaional games which are played wth more Crosnoe et al (2010)
- tools for maths thinking : SES parents use more language involving numbers
the stress model
Lower SES leads to long term stress, which has negative consequences biologically and can make parents less effective
Chronic stress- in cases of extreme poverty
The investment model - differences in home activities
STarkey et al (1999)
mid-SES parents were more likely to have a range of maths activities (e.g., games, toys, computer software) in the home that were broader and played with more frequently than lower-SES parents.
The investment model-
differences in home activities related to maths
Blevins - Knabe and Musun Miller (1996)
The frequency with which children engaged in number-related activities at home the previous week (e.g., number matching tasks like: ‘give everyone 2 cookies’) was positively correlated with their maths skills.
The investment model
- maths activities in the home predict maths skills over time
Number talk at home at age 2 predicts maths skills at age 4 (Levine et al., 2010).
the stress model
- direct effects
- blair (2011)
stress influences the HPA axis which affects behaviour regulation and affects the prefrontal cortex which underpins executive functions
Blair (2011) reactive rather than reflective self-regulation