External Factors Flashcards
What is culture?
The norms, values, beliefs, skills and knowledge that a society or a group regards as important.
How is culture transmitted?
Through the process of socialisation.
What three factors do cultural deprivation theorists see as responsible for working-class underachievement?
Language, parents’ education and working-class subculture.
What did Basil Bernstein (1975) regard as language?
Restricted code - less analytical and more descriptive - limited vocabulary formed of simple sentences or gestures.
Elaborated code - more analytical with wide vocabulary and complex sentences.
Where in the education system is the ‘elaborated code’ used?
Teachers, textbooks, exams
What three aspects of working-class subculture contribute to under-achievement?
Immediate gratification, fatalism, low value on education
How does ‘immediate gratification’ contribute to under-achievement?
Rewards for work are sought sooner rather than working hard and receiving later - lack of sacrifices.
How does ‘fatalism’ contribute to under-achievement?
Working-class pupils won’t make the effort to try and improve their position so they’ll set themselves back.
How does a ‘low value on education’ contribute to under-achievement?
Working-class pupils won't believe that they will benefit from education, so they won't try at it. Working-class parents may also show less interest in their children's education and give them less support.
List three criticisms of cultural deprivation theory.
It ignores the importance of material factors.
It ignores the impact of school factors.
It engages in victim blaming.
What is meant by ‘material’?
The necessities of life, such as adequate housing, diet and income.
How may poor housing contribute to under-achievement?
Overcrowded, cold and damp rooms do not provide a suitable study area for children.
Short lived-tenancies/temporary accommodation result in frequent moving and changes of school.
How may a poor diet contribute to under-achievement?
Illness causes absence from school and a lack of concentration due to hunger.
How do unemployment and low income contribute to under-achievement?
Parents will have less/no disposable income to spend on school trips and educational resources for their children’s education.
What is meant by cultural capital?
The attitudes, values, skills, knowledge etc possessed.
