The social origins of eminent scientists: A review, comparison and discussion

Typically, the social origins of people including eminent scientists are measured by father's occupation. This article reviews the social origins of eminent scientists from the research literature, compares the occupational class of fathers of 102 Fellows of the Royal Society with the general population in England and Wales, and discusses how originating from higher social classes can facilitate children's academic achievement. The findings of this research reveal that eminent scientists are predominantly from the higher social classes and there are considerable differences between the social origins of Fellows and the population of England and Wales. This study also argues that higher social classes are mostly able to provide significant social and educational opportunities (potential resources) which can be benefited by their children. Such accessed and benefited social resources (social capital) can facilitate their academic achievement.