Internal Factors 1 - Labelling Theory Flashcards
What are the 4 internal factors affecting achievement in education?
- Labelling & the self fulfilling prophecy
- Streaming
- Pupil Subcultures
- Social Class Identities
What does it mean to label someone?
Attach a meaning or definition to them
Which Sociologist studies Labelling Theory?
Becker
What did Becker find?
Teachers judged students on how closely they fit their image of an ‘ideal pupil’. They tend to see m/c as those closest to this image and w/c furthest away.
What labels usually get associated with w/c students?
Negative labels
Who carried out a Kindergarten study on labelling?
Rist
What did Rist find?
-The teacher was using info on appearance and home background to group children onto tables.
Where did Rist find m/c children were seated?
On the front table, given more encouragement. The ‘desirable’ table.
Where did Rist find w/c children were seated?
Seated further back, given less encouragement & seen as less desirable.
Who carried out a study on 9 English state schools?
Dunne and Gazeley
What do Dunne and Gazeley say about the study?
Schools reproduce w/c underachievement due to labels/ assumptions they make of them.
What did Dunne and Gazeley find?
Teachers normalised w/c underachievement, they feel they ‘cant’ do anything about it. Teachers also assumed w/c parents were uninterested where as m/c were much more supportive.
Whats the self-fulfilling prophecy?
- Teacher labels/ makes assumptions about the student
- The teacher treats student accordingly
- The student internalises this and affects achievement
Criticisms of Labelling Theory
Assumes students just accept these labels. Some students rebel and prove their teachers wrong.
