Quantifying Class Identity: Measurement and Predictions

Measurement of class identity, as a perception of inequality, is often conducted using closed-ended categorical questions or a 1-10 scale (as seen in surveys like the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and the World Values Survey (WVS)). However, studies from the Sociological Research Center of Spain (CIS) utilize spontaneously open-ended questions to assess social class identity.

This research has two main objectives. First, we will compare differences in perceptions of social class identity and subjective positioning within the social structure across different countries, using various measurement approaches. Second, we will highlight the significance of different dimensions and their categorical variables in predicting class identity, including perceptions of life trajectory (past, present, and imagined futures), ideological beliefs, status variables (educational level and occupation), and socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors.

For this purpose, we will analyze databases from the ISSP, WVS, and CIS using logistic regression models. In the specific case of the CIS databases, we can apply a multinomial model due to the open-ended nature of the variable subjective social class.