STATUS ATTAINMENT RESEARCH: END OF THE BEGINNING OR BEGINNING OF THE END?

Jencks et al. (1983) provide two replications of the Wisconsin status attainment model, comparing their results closely to the results reported by Sewell and Hauser (1975). While concluding that the Wisconsin data are not seriously biased, they raise a number of questions regarding the interpretation of the model. Hauser et al. (1983), while not responding to the Jencks et al. paper directly, provide analyses which speak to the issues they raise. Using multiple indicators of most concepts in the model and the LISREL approach to estimation, they suggest a return to the basic causal chain interpretation originally posited by Sewell et al. (/970). The Hauser et al. estimation procedures are complex, and this paper attempts to explicate them. While the Hauser et al. analysis answers a number of questions and clarifies some important issues, many questions remain including the following: What is the meaning and interpretation of "unmeasured" family background? Should disaggregated measures of ability and performance be used rather than composites? Is a more elaborate model of the socialization process, particularly one which permits reciprocal effects, required to understand status attainment? Finally, what is required to deal effectively with charges that the status attainment model ignores social structure? This paper attempts to answer those questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]