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One way or another : an optimal matching analysis of students' educational pathways and the impact of socioeconomic background and engagement

Isis Vandelannote (UGent) and Jannick Demanet (UGent)
(2025) BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL. 51(1). p.416-443
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Abstract
Understanding social disparities in educational attainment requires understanding of students' decision-making throughout their educational career. We focused on students' pathways throughout upper secondary and higher education (HE), identified common types of pathways and studied the role of SES as a determinant of students' pathways. Additionally, we researched the role of engagement for overcoming socioeconomic disadvantages in students' educational decision-making. Using data from 965 Flemish students, optimal matching analyses identified seven distinct pathways throughout upper secondary and HE. While pathways largely mirrored the tracked structure of the Flemish educational system, there was considerable within-track heterogeneity. Multinomial regression analyses demonstrated that even among the academic track students, socioeconomic background affected programme choice and long-term academic success. Less engaged students were less likely to follow university pathways. Moreover, higher cognitive engagement decreased disadvantaged students' chances of ending up in typical vocational pathways.
Keywords
SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS, DEGREE COMPLETION, TRACK MOBILITY, SCHOOL, DROPOUT, TRANSITIONS, INEQUALITY, DEPARTURE, SUCCESS, SYSTEM, educational trajectories, engagement, HE, optimal matching, upper secondary education

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Citation

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MLA
Vandelannote, Isis, and Jannick Demanet. “One Way or Another : An Optimal Matching Analysis of Students’ Educational Pathways and the Impact of Socioeconomic Background and Engagement.” BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, vol. 51, no. 1, 2025, pp. 416–43, doi:10.1002/berj.4077.
APA
Vandelannote, I., & Demanet, J. (2025). One way or another : an optimal matching analysis of students’ educational pathways and the impact of socioeconomic background and engagement. BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, 51(1), 416–443. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4077
Chicago author-date
Vandelannote, Isis, and Jannick Demanet. 2025. “One Way or Another : An Optimal Matching Analysis of Students’ Educational Pathways and the Impact of Socioeconomic Background and Engagement.” BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL 51 (1): 416–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4077.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Vandelannote, Isis, and Jannick Demanet. 2025. “One Way or Another : An Optimal Matching Analysis of Students’ Educational Pathways and the Impact of Socioeconomic Background and Engagement.” BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL 51 (1): 416–443. doi:10.1002/berj.4077.
Vancouver
1.
Vandelannote I, Demanet J. One way or another : an optimal matching analysis of students’ educational pathways and the impact of socioeconomic background and engagement. BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL. 2025;51(1):416–43.
IEEE
[1]
I. Vandelannote and J. Demanet, “One way or another : an optimal matching analysis of students’ educational pathways and the impact of socioeconomic background and engagement,” BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 416–443, 2025.
@article{01JBBQA9CJGJ7XV6TFEY882Z2K,
  abstract     = {{Understanding social disparities in educational attainment requires understanding of students' decision-making throughout their educational career. We focused on students' pathways throughout upper secondary and higher education (HE), identified common types of pathways and studied the role of SES as a determinant of students' pathways. Additionally, we researched the role of engagement for overcoming socioeconomic disadvantages in students' educational decision-making. Using data from 965 Flemish students, optimal matching analyses identified seven distinct pathways throughout upper secondary and HE. While pathways largely mirrored the tracked structure of the Flemish educational system, there was considerable within-track heterogeneity. Multinomial regression analyses demonstrated that even among the academic track students, socioeconomic background affected programme choice and long-term academic success. Less engaged students were less likely to follow university pathways. Moreover, higher cognitive engagement decreased disadvantaged students' chances of ending up in typical vocational pathways.}},
  author       = {{Vandelannote, Isis and Demanet, Jannick}},
  issn         = {{0141-1926}},
  journal      = {{BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL}},
  keywords     = {{SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS,DEGREE COMPLETION,TRACK MOBILITY,SCHOOL,DROPOUT,TRANSITIONS,INEQUALITY,DEPARTURE,SUCCESS,SYSTEM,educational trajectories,engagement,HE,optimal matching,upper secondary education}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{416--443}},
  title        = {{One way or another : an optimal matching analysis of students' educational pathways and the impact of socioeconomic background and engagement}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4077}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}
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