class differences in achievement - external factors - cultural capital

Question 1

what is cultural capital?

pierre bourdieu

Answer 1

cultural factors that put the middle class at an advantage.

this because they possess knowledge, attitudes, values, language, tastes and abilities which are socially valued

Question 2

educational and economic capital

Answer 2

middle class people have an economic capital - well paid careers

use their economic capital to pay for holidays, educational trips, resources that encourage the development of cultural capital

cultural capital leads to educational capital - children of middle class families possess additional skills and knowledge which enables them to perform well at school

Question 3

leech and campos (2003)

Answer 3

study in coventry

middle class parents are more likely to buy houses in catchment areas of successful schools

pushed prices of houses up in these areas - working class families are excluded

Question 4

sullivan (2001)

Answer 4

questionnaires to assess cultural capital

reading

tv

art galleries, museums and theatres

findings confirmed bourdieu’s ideas

if working class students had the same cultural capital, middle class students still achieved more highly

Question 5

the effects of poverty on schooling

Answer 5

only 11% of oxbridge students come from working class backgrounds

poorer students are more likely to attend local universities and to continue living with their parents

nearly 4/5ths of middle class university students receive financial support from their parents, compared to only 2/5ths of poorer students

working class students are more likely to combine studying for a degree with part time work