Cohort: ESOL 40

Topic of the thesis: The effect of social network influence on students' choices of tertiary education 

Abstract: Several factors shape students' higher education decisions. These include family background, individual aspirations, expected economic returns, and employability prospects. While the effect of such "traditional" drivers of higher education choices has been extensively analyzed in the literature, limited attention has been given to social influence factors. Nevertheless, social influence is an important determinant of any individual's behavior. Individuals seek approval and evaluation of their own opinions and preferences from their reference groups and this in turn shapes their attitudes and behaviors. Thus, to address this gap, the aim of this research is to explore how students' social networks impact their educational decisions, using tools from Social Network Analysis. The project would involve several high schools in Italy to capture students' aspirations, intentions related to tertiary education, and the extent to which they are influenced by their social connections. More specifically, I would test the influence of social relationships with respect to (1) the choice to enroll to university, (2) the choice of the university location and (3) the choice of the field of study. To achieve this, I would conduct a survey on a representative sample of high schools from all over Italy. I would then compute logistic and multinomial regressions to analyze the impact of social relationships on these educational intentions. Finally, Agent-Based Models would allow to study the effect of network-based interdependencies on education choices and the potential impact of policy implications, by simulating the effects of changes in individual behaviors and their global impact.

Research interests: Social stratification and socio-economic inequalities; Education and inequality of educational opportunities; Social networks, collective behaviour, and group dynamics

Graduated from: Università degli Studi di Milano; Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Degrees obtained: BS in Economics and Management; MA in Global Politics and Society

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