Intergenerational Predictors of the Black-White Achievement Gap in Adolescence Jelani Mandara Northwestern University

Background 1. Several family based factors likely account for some of the Black-White achievement gap. 2. Previous studies have been limited due to: a. Only examining a few family factors at a time. b. Not examining the effects of intergenerational (i.e., grandparents) factors. c. Using poorly measured variables.

The Current Study Purpose: 1.To determine if home-based factors can explain racial differences in achievement test scores. 2.To determine the unique effects of three generations of home-based variables. 3.To determine which factors account for most of the variance in the racial differences.

Methods Participants 1. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth ( ) 2. Mothers (N = 1367) a.Ages 14 to 21 in 1979 b.Diverse SES backgrounds c.533 African American, 834 European American 3. Adolescents (N = 2108) a.At least age 10 by the the year 2000 b.50% male/female c.823 African American, 1285 European American

Methods Grandparent Predictors 1. Grandparents’ Educational Level a. Grandmothers highest level of education up to 1979 b. Grandfathers highest level of education up to Grandparents’ Occupational Prestige a. Grandmothers 3-digit Occupational Classification in 1979 b. Grandfathers 3-digit Occupational Classification in Grandparents’ “Cognitive Stimulation” a. Does family have subscriptions to newspaper at age 14 b. Does family have subscriptions to magazines at age 14 c. Does family have a library card at age 14

Methods Parent Predictors 1. Mothers Achievement Test Scores a. Mothers Math AFQT score in 1980 b. Mothers Reading AFQT score in Parents’ Occupational Prestige a. Mothers Occupational Classification up to Age 13 b. Fathers Occupational Classification up to Age Parents’ Educational Level a. Mothers Highest Educational Level up to Age 13 b. Fathers Highest Educational Level up to Age 13

Methods Parent Predictors (cont.) 1. Parents Poverty Status a. Poverty Income Guidelines of US Department of Health and Human Services (Income, Family Size, Inflation) b. Averaged up to Age Parents Wealth a. Value of Family Home up to Age 13 b. Averaged up to Age 13

Methods Parent Predictors (Cont.) 1. Cognitive Stimulation in Home a. 12 Items From Short Form of HOME b. Averaged up to Age Mothers Responsiveness a. 14 Items From Short Form of HOME b. Averaged up to Age Parents’ Demandingness a. How Much Say Adolescents Have in Household Rules b. How Often do Adolescents Argue with Parents c. Did Parents Work on Homework with Adolescent Recently

Methods Adolescent Predictors 1. Adolescent Birth Weight 2. Adolescent Health Problems 3. Adolescent Illnesses 4. Adolescent Test-Taking Motivation Attitude Towards Test Attitude Towards Test Adolescent-Interviewer Rapport Adolescent-Interviewer Rapport Adolescent Perseverance Adolescent Perseverance Cooperation with Interviewer Cooperation with Interviewer Adolescent General Motivation Adolescent General Motivation

Methods Adolescent Achievement 1.Peabody Individual Achievement Test – Math 2.Peabody Individual Achievement Test - Reading

BlackWhite Mean S SF (1, 2106)η2η2 GP. Occupation **.12 GP. Education **.05 GP. Cog. Stimulation **.10 P. Poverty Status **.18 P. Wealth **.14 P. Occupation **.03 P. Education **.01 P. Responsiveness **.20 P. Demandingness **.03 P. Achievement **.23 A. Math **.11 A. Reading **.11 A. Birth Weight **.04 A. Motivation **.02 A. Illnesses **.09

Model 1Model 2Model 3Model 4 Factorsbpr 2 b b b Ethnicity8.34** ** ** *.00 Grandparent Factors GP. Occupation GP. Education1.77** GP. Cog. Stimulation1.20** Parent Factors P. Poverty Status *.00 P. Wealth P. Occupation-1.20** **.01 P. Education P. Responsiveness1.96** *.01 P. Demandingness2.83** **.05 P. Achievement2.73** **.03 Adolescent Factors A. Birth Weight.76*.00 A. Motivation2.51**.04 A. Illnesses A. Health-2.85**.06 Total R 2.14**.18**.30**.38** R2R2.04**.12**.09** Df Error

Model 1Model 2Model 3Model 4 Factorsbpr 2 b b b Ethnicity8.16** ** * Grandparent Factors GP. Occupation GP. Education1.59** GP. Cog. Stimulation1.59** Parent Factors P. Poverty Status P. Wealth P. Occupation-1.08** *.00 P. Education P. Responsiveness2.09** **.01 P. Demandingness3.79** **.10 P. Achievement2.45** **.03 Adolescent Factors A. Birth Weight A. Motivation2.91**.07 A. Illnesses-.92**.01 A. Health-2.52**.06 Total R 2.15**.20**.37**.45** R2R2.04**.17**.09** Df Error

Summary 1. The test score gap dramatically decreased in one generation. 2. The gap was almost completely accounted for by home-based factors. 3. Grandparents’ factors assessed up to 20 years earlier accounted for 20% of the gap. 4. Adolescent health, test taking motivation, and parental demandingness were particularly important. 5. Grandparent and SES factors may be mediated by parenting and adolescent factors.