In this paper we present a new international measure of social stratification, the ICAMS (International Cambridge Scale). Our aim is to bring new evidence to the hypothesis that the construct that underlies measures of social stratification as different as prestige scales, socio-economic indexes, social distance and social status scales is actually unidimensional. We evaluate the new scale according to both criterion-related and construct validity. Our analysis shows that the ICAMS is a valid indicator of social stratification, being almost as valid as International Socio-Economic Index (ISEI) in what we termed the generic, the homogamy and the social mobility models, and being better than ISEI in the cultural consumption model. The second key result is that all continuous measures we consider (ICAMS, ISEI and Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale) are indicators of the same latent dimension, which is unidimensional. This latter result is compatible with more than one explanation, hence calling for further research.

A new international measure of social stratification / C. Meraviglia, H.B.G. Ganzeboom, D. De Luca. - In: CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 2158-2041. - (2016 Aug 18), pp. 1-30. [Epub ahead of print] ((Intervento presentato al convegno Economic crises, social inequalities and social processes. Spring 2013 meeting of the ISA RC28 tenutosi a Trento nel 2013.

A new international measure of social stratification

C. Meraviglia
Primo
;
D. De Luca
Ultimo
2016

Abstract

In this paper we present a new international measure of social stratification, the ICAMS (International Cambridge Scale). Our aim is to bring new evidence to the hypothesis that the construct that underlies measures of social stratification as different as prestige scales, socio-economic indexes, social distance and social status scales is actually unidimensional. We evaluate the new scale according to both criterion-related and construct validity. Our analysis shows that the ICAMS is a valid indicator of social stratification, being almost as valid as International Socio-Economic Index (ISEI) in what we termed the generic, the homogamy and the social mobility models, and being better than ISEI in the cultural consumption model. The second key result is that all continuous measures we consider (ICAMS, ISEI and Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale) are indicators of the same latent dimension, which is unidimensional. This latter result is compatible with more than one explanation, hence calling for further research.
social status; socio-economic status; prestige; social distance; occupational status
Settore SPS/07 - Sociologia Generale
18-ago-2016
ISA RC28
Università di Trento
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/429388
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