Paul DiMaggio

What is DiMaggio's main argument?

Cultural capital positively influences academic achievement beyond family background and measured ability.

How did DiMaggio measure cultural capital?

Through students' participation in and familiarity with prestigious cultural activities, especially arts and literature.

What is the cultural reproduction model?

The idea that cultural capital helps privileged families maintain their social advantages.

What is the cultural mobility model?

The idea that cultural capital can help lower-status students achieve upward mobility.

Which students benefit most under the reproduction model?

Students from high-status backgrounds.

Which students may benefit substantially under the mobility model?

Students from lower-status backgrounds who acquire valued cultural capital.

What did DiMaggio find about cultural capital and grades?

Cultural capital had a statistically significant positive association with grades, even after controlling for background and ability.

In which subjects was cultural capital particularly important?

Nontechnical subjects such as English and history.

Did cultural capital have identical effects for boys and girls?

No. The relationship varied by gender and family background.

What did DiMaggio find about girls and family status?

Returns to cultural capital tended to increase with family status among girls.

How does DiMaggio relate to Bourdieu?

DiMaggio empirically examines how cultural capital affects school achievement and social inequality.