Internal Factors

Question 1

What do some sociologists believe affects educational achievement?

Answer 1

• internal factors: the factors and processes taking place within schools

Question 2

What are the three main internal explanations? (just name them) (3)

Answer 2

• teacher labelling
• setting and streaming
• pupil subcultures

Question 3

Define ‘teacher labelling’

Answer 3

• the process of attaching a meaning or definition to an individual or a group. It can be positive or negative

Question 4

How are middle class pupils often labelled? How does this impact their student-teacher relations? (3)

Answer 4

• seen has hard-working, motivated and committed to their studies
• ‘ideal pupils’
• acts as a ‘halo effect’ in creating strong positive relationships with teachers

Question 5

How are working-class pupils labelled? Student-teacher relations? (2)

Answer 5

• lazy, disorganised, and unmotivated
• creates negative relationships

Question 6

Define setting and streaming

Answer 6

• when pupils are grouped together according to their ability in a subject

Question 7

Define setting and streaming

Answer 7

• when pupils are grouped together according to their ability in a subject

Question 8

How does class effect what set a pupil is in? (2)

Answer 8

• stereotypes that teachers hold can effect what sets students are placed in
• working class pupils placed in lower sets, widening the social class gap in achievement

Question 9

Define deviant pupil subculture

Answer 9

• groups of students who share similar values, behaviours, and views on school - opposing & rejecting school

Question 10

How does being anti-school link to underachievement?

Answer 10

• contributes to further failure as they are not engaged in the work
• the distruption of other pupils