Socio-economic disparities in academic achievement: A comparative analysis of mechanisms and pathways

Research on educational outcomes conceptualizes socio-economic condition as a multidimensional construct. Quantitative empirical investigations are generally based on single, composite indicators. However, the use of single, composite indicators does not reveal what mechanisms determine inequalities. We use multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and alignment optimization to establish comparable indices of socio-economic conditions and used them in structural equation modeling to disentangle the impact of various dimensions of socio-economic condition on academic performance in a comparative perspective. Data from the PISA 2012 study reveals few country differences and that access to cultural and educational resources is at the root of socio-economic inequalities in academic achievement across the world. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.