西方高等教育选择研究及启示

Study of College Choice in the West and Implications for China

高等教育机会均等是中国高等教育研究的重要议题,但现有研究集中于家庭背景与机会分配的对应关系,较少关注机会分配过程中的个人行动。对近五十年西方高等教育选择研究进行梳理发现,学生的高等教育选择受到家庭、学校和教育体制的影响,是一个包括不同阶段的连续转变过程。质性研究策略有利于分析各种影响因素对学生选择行动的作用机制以及特定人群的选择行动。理性选择理论无法对高等教育选择行动提供充分的理论解释,需与实践逻辑理论相融合,同时考虑社会结构因素的限制作用。借鉴这些研究经验,中国高等教育选择研究应丰富研究策略,突破单一理论解释;进一步整合与拓展选择阶段;关注家庭之外的影响因素;关注相关教育政策的影响。

Equality of opportunity in higher education is a hot topic in Chinese higher education research,which usually focuses on the correspondence between family background and distribution of opportunity.Individual choice and action in the process have not been paid much attention to.The review of western studies of college choice in the past fifty years finds out that the choice is influenced by family,school and institution,which makes it a continuous transition.Qualitative research may help to analyze the impact factors and college choice of certain social group.Without considering social structure,rational choice theory cannot provide satisfying explanation.The implications for China are to use multiple research method and theory,integrate and extend choice stage,pay attention to factors in addition to family and consider impact of related educational policies.