Research Interests

Education, race/ethnicity, immigrant adaptation.

Research with AHAA

English as a Second Language transcript analysis, immigrant outcomes, teacher grading practices analysis focusing on school as well as local course-taking contexts.

Wilkinson's research investigates how formal and informal schooling processes impact the educational and social outcomes of immigrant adolescents. She is currently focusing on the role English as a Second Language classes play in the outcomes of immigrant youth, both via exposure to coursework and social networks. In addition, she investigates the impact of social context within schools on race/ethnic differences in educational outcomes.

Work with High School Transcripts

Wilkinson has explored (with Rebecca Callahan, Michelle Frisco, and Chandra Muller) the influence of placement in English as a Second Language courses in high school on educational outcomes, using information from high school transcripts. Due to selection issues, this analysis takes advantage of propensity score matching.

Work with Social Context

She has also explored (with George Farkas, Kathryn Schiller and Chandra Muller) the grading practices of teachers, which investigates whether evidence of racial discrimination exists in the determination of grades, net of school and local course-taking contexts, family background, cognitive skills, and behavior problems. This research has reiterated the importance of course stratification on the assignment of grades.

Dissertation

Wilkinson's dissertation will expand on current work exploring the social and academic outcomes of immigrant youth. This will include more nuanced investigation of the role of ESL course sequences on immigrant educational outcomes, as well as the impact of social context, specifically exposure to other ESL and/or immigrant students, on educational as well as social outcomes in high school. In addition, this research will investigate the role of ESL course-taking and context on post-high school acculturation processes, including English language development.

Publications and Presentations

Wilkinson, Lindsey and Rebecca Callahan. 2005. "The Impact of High School ESL Course-Taking on the Academic Outcomes of Mexican American Immigrant Students." Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Farkas, George, Lindsey Wilkinson, Chandra Muller, Kathryn Schiller and Ken Frank. 2005. "Teacher Grading Practices Within School Social Contexts: Do They Disadvantage Lower SES and Ethnic Minority Students?" Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Pearson, Jennifer, Chandra Muller and Lindsey Wilkinson. 2005. "Adolescent Sexual Orientation and Academic Success: The Impact of School Attachment and Engagement." Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Crissey, Sarah and Lindsey Wilkinson. 2005. "The Role of High School Math and Science Course Taking in the Transition to First Birth." Paper presented at the Annual Meetings of the Population Association of America, Philadelphia, PA.

Muller, Chandra, Catherine Riegle-Crumb, Kathryn Schiller, Lindsey Wilkinson, and Kenneth Frank. 2004. "Race and Academic Achievement in Integrated High Schools: Opportunity and Stratification." Paper presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California.

Wilkinson, Lindsey. 2004. "The Composition of Schools, Social Status, and Adolescent Relationship Formation." Poster presented at the Annual Meetings of the Population Association of America, Boston, Massachusetts.

Awards and Honors

Lindsey Wilkinson received an NICHD pre-doctoral training fellowship in 2004.

Links

Curriculum Vitae
Lindsey Wilkinson's PRC Webpage