Interrogating the conceptualization and measurement of socioeconomic status : exploring a novel methodology using South African data
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This study explores various approaches to modeling socioeconomic status (SES) and examines their implications for understanding well-being outcomes in South Africa. Three modeling techniques are compared: an asset index model derived from Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), latent variable models with reflective and formative indicators for SES, and a network model revealing the interconnectedness of socioeconomic factors. Results suggest that the network model accounts for more of the variance in some components of well-being. Upon closer inspection of the network's centrality, it is clear that socioeconomic conditions are more nuanced and that adopting common modeling approaches risks overlooking these. This supports the case for examining socioeconomic conditions as opposed to socioeconomic status, suggesting that researchers must carefully consider how they operationalize and measure these constructs in light of their research objectives.
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Ph. D.