Social Class and Educational Achievement - Internal Factors - Labelling Theory

Question 1

Labelling

Answer 1

the process of attaching meanings (judgments) to individuals or groups
created by interactionism

Question 2

Becker

Answer 2

helped create labelling theory. interviewed teachers in 60 different American high schools
teachers label students based on their class background - they have an image of a 'ideal pupil' (neat appearance, quiet, right equipment etc)
the more they fit the criteria, the more positively they are labelled. m/c children are more positively labelled - can afford equipment, on time, quiet etc
once a teacher has labelled a student positively the 'HALO' effect happens - the teacher will then think they are an angel - can't do any wrong - if they do something wrong they let them off without being sanctioned 
w/c children are negatively labelled - late, don't have right equipment etc

Question 3

Becker - Criticism

Answer 3

Hempel - Jorgensen (she)
did research in British high schools - in w/c area
if teachers work in w/c schools - they will label students based on behaviour instead of class

Question 4

Dunne and Gazely

Answer 4

research carried out in 9 secondary schools in England. teachers not only label students negatively, they label their parent negatively as well. assume that because they are w/c thier parents wouldn’t care if they done badly. Assume that m/c parents need to know if they’re children have done badly, so that they can help them. Teachers ‘normalise’ the underachievement of w/c students

Question 5

Rist

Answer 5

studied US kindergartens (nursery schools)
within the first week - the teachers had already labelled the children based on their class. Based the information on the child’s home background and the child’s appearance - parents occupation
Created a seating plan - placed w/c at the back referred to them as clowns. m/c placed at the front - referred to as tigers - received more attention and help

Question 6

Keddie

Answer 6

not only to teachers label students, they also label the information they give to them. The bands students are put in.(high or low status)
high status knowledge - challenging and detailed knowledge (m/c) - learn more
low status knowledge - lower streams, easier, less detail - basic knowledge (w/c) - no point in teaching them difficult stuff because they wouldn’t get it
teachers have labelled students but haven’t told them - 1970 California

Question 7

Rosenthal and Jacobson

Answer 7

covert(undercover)research
labelling (negative) - effects the teachers behaviour/less attention - student will internalise the label/what the teacher says, the student will start to believe it- students behaviour starts to change - fail = self-fulfilling prophecy