Interactionism

Question 1

Self-concept

Answer 1

• the way people see themselves is a result of their interaction with others
• a pupil’s self concept is therefore influenced by how other pupils and teachers see them

Question 2

Labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 2

• labelling of a student could result in “self-fulfilling prophecy”
• student starts living up to the expectations of their behaviour
• this reinforces the initial label and can have a lasting impact on students’ achievement/progress

Question 3

Hargreaves et al.

Answer 3

• study is based on interviews with teachers and classroom observations in 2 highschools
• looked at how teachers ‘got to know’ new pupils
• speculation –> elaboration –> stabilisation

Question 4

Hargreaves evaluation

Answer 4

Pros:
• triangulated- more valid
• qualitative data, more in-depth- more valid

Cons:
• deterministic- ignores free will
• too much emphasis on power of teachers to affect pupils

Question 5

Gillborne and youdell

Answer 5

• research in two London highschools
• ways that students are streamed according to ability
• they argued that teachers use a “common sense understanding of ability” as a guideline when allocating pupils into different exam sets

Educational triage:
• teacher spends more time with ‘middle’ students
• teacher chooses who to prioritise between ‘hopeless cases’, ‘borderline’ students, and high achievers
• school uses formula funding to help school’s funding for education

Question 6

Gillborn and youdell evaluation

Answer 6

Pros:
• useful- shows how macro and micro aspects of education work together to disadvantage working class and ethnic minority students 

Cons:
• not representative- only based in London and only in two highschools
• outdated

Question 7

Becker

Answer 7

• study on labelling
• based on interviews with 60 Chicago highschool teachers
• found that they judged pupils according to how closely they fitted to the image of the “ideal pupil”

Question 8

Becker evaluation

Answer 8

Pros:
• findings are consistent with those from Hargreaves study

Cons:
• ignores that children can change their behaviour
• assumes teachers won’t change their opinions and labelling