social class, external factors and education Flashcards
What is restricted code
-speak in short simple sentences
-limited vocabulary
-
what is elaborated code
-speak in more complex varied sentence structures
-richer vocabulary
what is culture
encompasses the collective customs and social practise of a group like traditional festivals or cuisine
what is norms
include unwritten rules like queuing in line or dressing appropriately for different occasions
what is values
examples are beliefs in equality, family importance , respect for elders ,
what are roles
include the expectations associated with being a teacher
what is status
affects ones social interactions and opportunities
how to these concepts relate and interact with each other
culture norms and values and roles are intellerated and collectively shape social behaviour. culture provides a framework within which norms are established and values are upheld.roles are specific functions individuals preform in society and status indicates their social position.
What are primary agents of socialisation
family- introduce individuals to these concepts in society, providing the foundational
What are the secondary agents of socialisation
schools, peers , media build up on this foundation expanding and refining ones understanding
what happens without culture?
without norms society would lack cohesion, and order. Norms provides guidelines for behaviour without them there would be confusion and inconsistency inactions. values offer a framework distinguishing from right to wrong . roles ensure that individuals know their responsibilities
what percentage of students with parents in a higher professional job passed?
83%
What percentage of students with parents in a in the routine class passed?
44%
what is social class?
Social class is a hierarchy broken up into sections based on peoples classes
How does educational achievement differ by social class?
students with parents with higher professional jobs are more likely to pass than students with parents in routine jobs
criticisms of Bernstein’s theory
universality, oversimplication, contemporary relevance
What does universality mean
critics may argue that Bernstein’s theory may not be universally applicable, as it assumes all members of a social class uniformly use the same language code. this overlooks the diversity within social class and the possibility of different language experience
What does oversimplifacation mean
The binary distinction between restricted and elaborated codes can be seen as oversimplification of the complex ways language is used. peoples language use ca vary widely depending on the context, purpose and audience.
What does contemporary relevance mean?
In todays increasingly diverse and interconnected world, the rigid boundaries Bernstein drew between social classes and their corresponding language codes may longer be true. Within the greater access to education individuals from all social classes may be exposed to and use both codes in differnet contexts
How do Douglas’s and Feinstein’s theories differ in terms of the influence of parental education on children’s academic success?
Douglas emphasizes the role of parental interest and support while Feinstein focuses on the educational background of parents and their direct engagement in cognitive development
Douglas parental attitudes(1964)
-parental interest
Douglas argued that parental interest in a child education, such as attending school meetings and engaging with their learning process was a key determinant of educational success. Middle class parents, according to Douglas, tended to show greater involvement and support which contributed to their children’s higher academic achievement.
-parental support
the quality of support and encouragement provided by parents including help with homework and fostering a positive attitude towards education, was seen as crucial in shaping childrens educational outcomes
Feinstein parental attitudes(2003)
-parental education and engagement
Feinstein highlighted that parents with higher levels of education are more likely to encage in activities that support their children cognitive development, such as reading to them, stimulating their intellectual curiosity and maintain expectations for their academic performance
-parental investment
Feinstein focused on the role parental investment in terms of both time and resources. Educated parents are more likely to provide a stimulating home environment access to educational materials and overall supportive context for learning
What is fatalism?
Fatalism is the ones beliefs that ones fate is predetermined and that individuals have little control over their life’s outcomes. This mind set can diminish motivation to succeed academically as individuals may feel that no matter their efforts they cannot change their socioeconomic status.
What is collectivism?
A preference for group loyalty and identity over individual success. This value emphasizes the importance of being part of a community which can sometimes conflict with the individualistic nature of academic achievement.
What is immediate gratification?
The tendency to prioritize short term awards over long term goals. This value can lead to a lack of investment in education, as the benefits of education are often realized in the distant future.
What is present time orientation?
A focus on the present rather than planning for the future . This can result in a lack of long-term goals, and educational aspirations, as the future is not considered as important as the immediate needs or desires.
Who came up with these sub cultural values?
Sugarman
criticisms of Sugarman
-over generalization
- critics argue that Sugarman overgeneralizes the behaviour and attitudes of the working class. Not all working class individuals share these values and many working class students achieve academically.
determinism
- working class students are inevitably bound to under achieve due to their sub cultural values. This perspective overlooks the agency of individuals and their role of other r factors such as the schools quality, teacher expectations and family support
changing social contexts
changing social contexts
The changing social context of the working class has changed since Sugarman’s time. with increased access to education and changes in the economy the relevance of these subcultural values may have shifted
Alternative explanations
Other sociologists suggest factors like material deprivation, cultural capital and institutional biases within the education system may play more of a significant role in educational achievement and subcultural values
