Gymnasieinriktning och socioekonomiskt arv : En studie om familjebakgrundens påverkan av elevers val av utbildning

Sammanfattning: This study examines the relationship between pupils' choice of orientation on high school and their socio-economic backgrounds. It also examines the student’s intentions of further studies and their socio-economic backgrounds. The factors of the social background, or social status, in this examination is the parents educational level and their occupation. The result is based on a survey answered by 81 students from four different study orientations on high school, two with a theoretical orientation and two with a practical orientation. The answers from the survey was compiled and analysed and the conclusion of the study is that students with parents that have a higher socioeconomic status are overrepresented in the theoretical orientations, whom also is more interested in higher education, while students that studies on a practical orientation have parents with a lower socioeconomic status. This study as well as others shows that students are affected by their socioeconomic background, both in terms of study results and in aspirations to further studies. The earlier research also shows that one important factor of student’s successes in school is based on the families reading habits. The knowledge based on studies like this  can be used by school staff and leaders to better understand, help and guide students with low socioeconomic status to better results and higher degrees of education.