Using the GBCS Dataset available on DUO (under the ‘Assignments’ tab), complete the tasks below using appropriate statistical methods. Your work should total no more than 2,000 words in length (+10% max), excluding tables and figures.
Each of the five questions can be answered separately. A general introduction and conclusion is not required. However, each question should be concluded with a paragraph summarising your results and, more importantly, addressing the final discussion part of the question. Not doing this is an excellent way of missing marks.
In answering these questions, you should make appropriate use of tables, graphs and diagrams to present your results. You should be mindful to include only relevant output from SPSS and are encouraged to reformat tables and graphs to ensure they are focused and accessible. Not doing this, by including unnecessary and unformatted SPSS output, is also a good way of missing marks.
To help contextualise the work you are doing, there is an information sheet on DUO (under the ‘Assignments’ tab) which provides some background to the dataset and describes each of the variables used the in assignment. It is strongly recommended you read this in support your work.
In marking your work, the following key factors will be considered:
Have the correct statistical methods been used to address the question?
Have the results been interpreted accurately?
Have the results been used to produce a thoughtful and thorough discussion?
Is the work presented in a clear, accessible and professional manner?
Question 1 (10%)
In the UK, social class is typically measured by occupation. However, there are other ways in which class might be conceptualised and measured. One alternative is simply to ask someone what they consider their class to be; another more complex measure is the latent class schema produced by Savage et al. (2013) which classifies individuals according to their levels of social, cultural and economic capital.
Using appropriate methods, describe the distributions of the following variables in the dataset:
a) Occupational class (Occupational_Class);
b) Self-reported class (Self_Class); and
c) Latent class (Latent_Class)
Comparing the results of your three analyses, outline the extent to which the class structure of the UK varies in relation to how social class is measured.
Question 2 (25%)
Formal education is identified by Bourdieu (1985) as a key indicator of “cultural capital”. In turn, Savage et al. (2013) imply that cultural capital constitutes an important element of contemporary British class distinctions. If these assertions are true, one might therefore expect to find a clear association between social class and formal education.
To test this hypothesis, analyse the relationship between level of education (Education) and each of the following three variables in the dataset separately:
a) Occupational class (Occupational_Class);
b) Self-reported class (Self_Class); and
c) Latent class (Latent_Class)
Considering your results, discuss whether there is evidence to support the argument above, that cultural capital constitutes a significant element of social class in the UK.
Question 3 (15%)
As well as cultural capital, Savage et al. (2013) suggest that social class is a product of material resources (economic capital) and social connections and relationships (social capital). In the dataset, economic capital is measured by household income and social capital measured in relation to the ‘social prestige’ of people known by the participant, defined in terms of their occupation.
Using appropriate statistics, describe the distributions of the following variables which measure those concepts in the dataset:
Household income (Income_HH);
Average prestige of respondent’s social ties (SocialTies_Average); and
Variation in the prestige of respondents’ social ties (SocialTies_Difference)
Question 4 (25%)
Now test the hypothesis that social class is linked to economic capital by analysing the relationship between household income (Income_HH) and the following three variables separately:
a) Occupational class (Occupational_Class);
b) Self-reported class (Self_Class); and
c) Latent class (Latent_Class)
Considering your results, discuss whether there is evidence to say that social class is a product of economic capital.
Question 5 (25% marks)
Bourdieu argues that social capital is linked to economic capital because of opportunities being gated by social ties and connections. If this is true, one might expect to find a clear association between economic and social capital.
To test this hypothesis, analyse the relationship between household income (Income_HH) and the following two variables in the dataset separately:
average prestige of respondent’s social ties (SocialTies_Average); and
variation in the prestige of respondents’ social ties (SocialTies_Difference)
Considering your results, discuss whether there is evidence to say that social capital produces economic capital.
