Internal Factors Flashcards
What is labelling theory?
When particular characteristics are ascribed to individuals on the basis of descriptions — often negative
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
When someone is labelled and they expect it to happen, so as a result they actually live up to their label
What was Becker’s study on labelling?
Becker interviewed 60 Chicago school teachers and found that they judged pupils according to how closely they fit to the image of the ‘ideal pupil’
Work, conduct, and appearance were key factors influencing judgement
Becker found that middle class children were the closest to the ideal and working class children were the furthest away
What was Hempel-Jorgensen’s study on the ideal pupil?
Studied two English primary schools
In the majority working-class school, the ideal pupil was quiet, passive, and obedient - the children were defined by behaviour not ability
In the majority middle-class school, the ideal pupil was defined in terms of personality and academic ability
What was Rist’s study on labelling?
Studied an American Kindergarten
Found that teachers used information about home background to place children in separate groups
They labelled the fast learners as ‘tigers’ (mainly middle class with a clean appearance)
‘Cardinals’ and ‘clowns’ (mainly working class) were given lower level books and less chance to show their ability
What was Dunne and Gazeley’s study on labelling?
Did Interviews in 9 English state schools
Found that teachers normalised the underachievement of working class students but believed they could overcome the underachievement of middle class pupils
They labelled working class parents as uninterested and labelled middle class parents as supportive
What was Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study on self-fulfilling prophecies?
They told teachers they had a new test designed to identify pupils that would ‘spurt’ ahead (however it was just an IQ test)
They picked 20% of pupils randomly and told teachers they would be the ‘spurters’.
They then came back a year later and found that 47% made significant progress
They suggested that teachers beliefs about the pupils had been influenced by the test results and that teachers conveyed their beliefs through interactions with them
What are the steps to a self-fulfilling prophecy?
- Teacher labels pupils
2.teacher treats the pupil as if the prediction is already true
3.the pupil internalises the expectations so now actually becomes the kind of pupil the teacher believed them to be
What is setting and streaming?
Grouping children based on ability
What stream are working class children likely to be placed in?
Lower streams as teachers see them as lacking ability and have low expectations for them
How does streaming lead to a self fulfilling prophecy?
The teacher makes expectations about the student. The pupil then internalises these and acts as the pupil the teacher sees them as
