When Choices Become Chances: Extending Boudon’s Positional Theory to Understand University Choices in Contemporary China

TY - JOUR

T1 - When Choices Become Chances

T2 - Extending Boudon’s Positional Theory to Understand University Choices in Contemporary China

AU - Liu, Ye

PY - 2018/2

Y1 - 2018/2

N2 - This article extends Boudon’s positional theory to understand how students from different social backgrounds estimate their academic performance and how they translate their choices into the final destinations in higher education in the context of contemporary China. I draw upon empirical evidence from a first-hand survey study involving 2,425 undergraduates from different social backgrounds and from different types of universities. The statistical analyses suggest that students from privileged backgrounds and metropolitan areas are more likely to achieve both the institution and field of study of their choice. Geographical origin is the most consistent factor in predicting the overestimation of academic performance and in successful translation of choices into the final desired destinations. Therefore I argue there is a meritocratic legitimation of geographical inequality between developed regions like Shanghai and under-developed areas through higher education selection.

AB - This article extends Boudon’s positional theory to understand how students from different social backgrounds estimate their academic performance and how they translate their choices into the final destinations in higher education in the context of contemporary China. I draw upon empirical evidence from a first-hand survey study involving 2,425 undergraduates from different social backgrounds and from different types of universities. The statistical analyses suggest that students from privileged backgrounds and metropolitan areas are more likely to achieve both the institution and field of study of their choice. Geographical origin is the most consistent factor in predicting the overestimation of academic performance and in successful translation of choices into the final desired destinations. Therefore I argue there is a meritocratic legitimation of geographical inequality between developed regions like Shanghai and under-developed areas through higher education selection.

U2 - 10.1086/695405

DO - 10.1086/695405

M3 - Article

SN - 0010-4086

VL - 62

SP - 125

EP - 146

JO - COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW

JF - COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW

IS - 1

ER -