labelling

Question 1

what is a label? for example

Answer 1

to attach a meaning or definition to a student for example bright thick or trouble maker

Question 2

what effect can labels have?

Answer 2

positive labels can be beneficial and lead to an improvement in results or negative labels can lead to underachievement

Question 3

what is self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 3

when students prove the teachers expectations correct

Question 4

process of positive labelling

Answer 4

1. teacher labels student as bright - predicts they will do well
2. teacher encourages pupil, answers questions, gives extra help
3. pupil feels encouraged, develops self confidence and works hard to keep up and improve performance
4. pupil sees themselves as bright and strives for success - teachers original impression is confirmed
5. more teacher praise and encouragement
6. teachers original prediction is confirmed: prophecy has been fulfilled

Question 5

negative label process

Answer 5

1. teacher labels pupil as thick and predicts educational failure
2. teachers spends less time with the pupil than with brighter ones and dismisses questions
3. pupil lacks encouragement and self confidence
4. pupil sees the,selves as thick and gives up trying to - teachers original impression confirmed
5. less praise and encouragement
6. pupil fails to achieve much success
7. teachers original prediction is confirmed: the original prophecy has been fulfilled

Question 6

what does becker propose?

Answer 6

middle class students tend to be labelled more positively, encouraged to do well and placed in higher well and placed in higher sets whereas working class students are labelled negatively, as trouble-makers and less likely to be academically successful

Question 7

what does Francis argue?

Answer 7

girls tend to be labelled as hardworking and conformist leading to greater educational success, whereas boys are more likely to be seen as trouble makers and less hardworking

Question 8

what does Sewell argue?

Answer 8

Teachers often regard black students as macho, attaching negative labels to them

Question 9

evaluation of labelling

Answer 9

• too deterministic - don’t always prove labels as right - Fuller (American girls rejected negative labelling from their teachers)
• research based on very small samples
• doesn’t explain why some groups are negatively labelled
• qualitative -> subjective