Socioeconomic status (SES)

Question 1

SES

Answer 1

economic and social status in comparison to others

effects accrue over time

Question 2

SES effects:

Answer 2

access to opportunities - money to buy books, toys…
human capital - skills or knowledge from individuals
social capital - connections in social networks

Question 3

SES and cognition

Answer 3

cumulative experience of risk factors (high stress, poor nutrition) at sensitive periods of brain expansion and growth compromises neurocognitive development

Question 4

differences in cognition between high and low SES

Answer 4

Farah et al (2006)
3 differences:

language
memory
executive function

all linked to maths

Question 5

SES and maths

Answer 5

achievement gap - preexisting differences at school entry
gap widens with time becoming more pronounced (first 4 years of school)

pathways via cognition - effects maths, could be due to executive functioning skills being poor

Question 6

investment model (links SES and cognitive development)

Answer 6

amount of time and resources you have to invest

cognitive stimulation - low SES tend to have less stimulation
resources - high SES more likely to buy academic games
tools for maths thinking - high SES parents tend to use more maths related vocabulary

Question 7

the stress model

Answer 7

low SES - long term chronic stress

DIRECT - influences the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis
promotes reactive self regulation, effects executive function and the formation of new memories

INDIRECT - stress on parents effects how they treat their children
higher cortisol levels