Institutionelle Strukturierung und inter-individuelle Variation

Abstract

"How does social inequality in educational attainment develop along the life course? In this paper, we give a theoretical and empirical discussion of this typical aspect of educational careers. We distinguish two main chronological dimensions in educational trajectories: first, the institutionalized sequence of transitions in the educational system; second, the age axis which allows inter-individual variation in passing these different steps during the educational career. Furthermore, differences between analyses of transitions in contrast to analyses of participation are demonstrated. Following these distinctions, we discuss the conceptual perspective of conventional approaches to identify educational inequality. As an empirical case, we describe the development of social inequality along the way to university within the German educational system. To give an up-to-date account of educational inequality, we draw upon detailed longitudinal data of the most recent part of the West German Life History Study. It turns out that the amount of social differentiation varies both between and within institutionalized stages of the educational career." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Hillmert, S. & Jacob, M. (2005): Institutionelle Strukturierung und inter-individuelle Variation. Die Entwicklung herkunftsbezogener Ungleichheiten im Bildungsverlauf. In: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, Vol. 57, No. 3, p. 414-442. DOI:10.1007/s11577-005-0183-8