There is some research evidence that some HEIs have been less than willing to co-operate with such studies. Research shows that factors that correlate with low attainment, such as unemployment, poverty, and poor housing, are more likely to affect minority ethnic populations in Scotland than their white counterparts. Most of the major empirical studies indicating the correlation between social class and differential educational achievement have either taken place in England or on a UK wide basis. Even in these studies the links between social class, ethnicity and educational achievement are less well developed than research into social class and attainment. There is considerable scope for extending monitoring information concerning recruitment and levels of appointment of minority ethnic staff in all sectors of education.
Statistics associating ethnicity and educational employment in Scotland are 'virtually invisible'.
General Scottish employment statistics in various sectors show that black workers are under-represented compared to their share of the population in both male and female dominated services. Further, where black workers are employed, they often remain at the lowest grades. It appears that equal opportunities legislation has had little impact as yet on the employment patterns of staff from minority ethnic groups employed in education in Scotland. Most advertisements for staff mention that employers have an equal opportunities policy yet there is little subsequent research related to ethnicity and equal opportunities, or issues of multiple discrimination, in relation to staff educational appointments and promotion in Scotland. Existing Scottish research into the education of minority ethnic groups in Scotland has made use of a wide range of standard social science research and evaluation approaches.