Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 207-240.

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Intergenerational Network and Academic Achievement:A Dual Perspective of Network Context and Individual Initiative

LI Liming, ZHANG Qian   

  1. School of Humanities and Social Science, IESSR, Xi'an Jiaotong University
  • Published:2022-11-11

Abstract: Given the cultural background and education system in China,we ask the question of how intergenerational networks affect children’s academic achievement. This topic involves a dual analysis and investigation of the macro and micro effects of intergenerational networks. In this study,an analytical framework is constructed through the dual perspectives of individual initiative and network context,and a multi-layer linear model is applied to explore the interpretation approach and mechanism of individual initiative and network context. We further explore the conditional effects of individual initiative variables based on network context,and then reveal the intrinsic correlation between the two explanatory paths. Using the China Educational Panel Survey (CEPS) data for the 2014-2015 school year,this study obtained the following findings:First,unlike the related findings abroad,this study finds that the intergenerational network macro and micro effects both exist in the Chinese context. Parental knowledge of other parents and network situational characteristics can both improve children’s academic achievement. This finding is closely related to China's Confucian cultural values and test-based education system. Second,as macro intergenerational network resources increase,the returns to academic achievement from individual initiative effects gradually increase. The factors that affect the enhancement of network resources are mainly derived from network norms and relational class status,while network density does not moderate the individual initiative effect. Third,the indirect mechanism of macro and micro intergenerational networks was further examined. To a certain extent,macro-micro intergenerational networks influence children’s academic output by affecting family and peer social capital,academic attitudes and behaviors. The above conclusions have important theoretical significance in advancing further research on the macro-and micro-effects and mechanism of intergenerational networks in the Chinese context,and the internal connections between macro- and micro-levels. At the same time,it also provides some theoretical support and empirical evidence for a series of policies over the construction of parent group networks.

Key words: generational network, network context effect, individual initiative effect, academic achievement, social capital