Natascha Notten|Bram Lancee|Herman G. van de Werfhorst|Harry B. G. Ganzeboom
Educational stratification in cultural participation: cognitive competence or status motivation?
Radboud University Nijmegen|Utrecht University|University of Amsterdam
article examines educational stratification highbrow cultural participation two contrasting explanations cultural participation stratified status hypothesis predicts people come appreciate particular forms art expresses belonging certain social group cognitive hypothesis stipulates cultural participation depends persons cognitive abilities educational stratification cultural consumption evident especially among consumers high culture however test explanations previous work predominantly relied individuals level education thus confounding two mechanisms test status cognitive hypothesis using data international adult literacy survey covering 18 countries first including individuals literacy skills separate effect cognitive ability education remaining effect education seen better measure statusrelated motives cultural participation second examine whether stratification varies across countries findings show statusrelated effect education cultural participation smaller societies larger educational expansion intergenerational educational mobility line status explanation holds boundaries educational groups less exclusionary societies educationally less stratified contrast relation cognitive skills cultural participation unaffected distributional variation education cognitive hypothesis predicts