Abstract
Existing quantitative studies use various measurements and methods to
examine Bourdieu’s theory of cultural reproduction in the field of
education, yet, most either misunderstand the conception, or only test
part of the theory. This article addresses these gaps by using the
“Structure-Disposition-Practice” framework to picture an integrated
model of cultural reproduction. It aims to provide an in-depth
understanding of the interrelationship between social position, parents’
and student’s dispositions, practices, and field empirically. Using the
Chinese Educational Panel Survey (CEPS) we develop a Structural Equation
Model (SEM) to test the theory. The results suggest parents’ habitus
plays a more crucial role in the cultural reproduction process than the
family’s social position in China. And social class may not be the
primary source of educational inequality. The findings shed a light on
quantitatively understanding the cultural reproduction process with
relational thinking.