Prof Hoskins Speaker at The British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference 2021 'Identifying the mechanisms in which parental education influences their children’s level of political interest'

Description

Abstract

The fact that parent’s educational attainment is associated with their child’s level of political interest has been established with robust research. Recent research has also shown that the key age when this influence occurs is between 11-16. Nevertheless, the mechanism through which this transmission takes place at this age has yet to be explored. This article investigates possible parental mechanisms that influence the development of political interest in their children that take place in the family home, in their selection of education settings and through their influence on their child’s community activities. The article uses latent growth curve modelling on two Longitudinal datasets: Citizenship Education Longitudinal study and Understanding Society. The findings show that parents influence the change in political interest between 11-16 through choice of their children’s school (socioeconomic background of the school and the amount of civic learning offered at the school), through raising expectations of going to university, by taking their children to museums and art galleries and by influencing the child’s friendship groups.

Period	16 Sept 2021
Held at	The British Educational Research Association
Degree of Recognition	International