Abstract

In studies where socio-economic status (SES) is used as a variable; it is assumed that individuals show differences in SES based on their dependent variables. The purpose of this study is to provide concrete measures for researchers working on determining SES. In this study, cluster analysis was used to determine the variables affecting SES. Cluster analysis is a multivariate technique in which observations and variables are divided into groups according to their characteristics. A total of 594 preparatory class students from Ankara University and Yıldırım Beyazıt University participated in the study. The results of the cluster analyses with these five variables - family’s average monthly income, mother’s education level, father’s education level, parents’ frequency of participation in social activities and the total number of books purchased in a year - yielded that the participants among themselves showed homogeneity. Based on the literature review, the findings of this study are discussed by comparing them with other studies’ results in determining SES.

Key words: Socio-economic status (SES), cluster analysis, determining variables for SES