Topic Two

Question 1

What are the internal factors that affect class difference in achievement?

Answer 1

Labelling,self fulfilling prophecy,streaming,pupil subcultures,pupil class identities

Question 2

Define labelling

Answer 2

To attach meaning or definition to an individual based on stereotypical assumptions

Question 3

What did Becker,1971 [The daddy of labelling] find out

Answer 3

Pupils work,appearance and conduct were key factors influencing teachers judgements.Middle class pupils were the ideal pupil whilst working class were seen as the further away from ideal

Question 4

What did Rist find out
(Labelling)

Answer 4

Teachers assigned two groups for children: 1.) THE TIGERS- fast learners,mostly middle class,seated next to teacher
2.)THE CLOWNS AND CARDINALS-working class,seated far away from teacher,given low level books and fewer opportunities to show their ability

Question 5

Define self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 5

A prediction that comes true simply because it has been made

Question 6

What are the 3 steps of SFP

Answer 6

1.) Teacher labels pupil
2.)Teacher treats pupil worse/better
3.) Pupil internalises the expectation and becomes the pupil they were expected to be.

Question 7

What did Rosenthal and Jacobson find out?
(Self fulfilling prophecy)

Answer 7

They conducted an experiment and found out that teachers beliefs about the pupils had significant impact on their achievements.

Question 8

What is a criticism of the labelling theory?

Answer 8

It is too deterministic as it assumes that all children that are labelled will fulfill their prophecy by becoming that label.

Question 9

Define streaming

Answer 9

Putting students into ability groups called streams

Question 10

What did Becker find out
(Streaming)

Answer 10

Teachers are likely to see working class pupils as not ideal and have low expectations subsequently putting them in lower streams.

Question 11

What did Gillborn and Youdell find out
[Streaming]

Answer 11

Schools go through a process called Educational Triage which has 3 categories: 1.) Those who will pass anyway. 2.) Borderline pupils targeted for extra help. 3.) Hopeless cases

Question 12

Define pupil subcultures

Answer 12

A group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns

Question 13

Define differentiation

Answer 13

The process in which teachers categorise pupils according to perceived ability/attitude

Question 14

Define Polarisation

Answer 14

The process in which pupils respond to streaming by moving towards one of two opposite poles.In Lacey’s study he found that streaming led to pro-school and anti-school subcultures

Question 15

What did Woods find out in a school where streaming was abolished

Answer 15

The pupils responded in a variety of ways: 1.)Ingration-being teachers pet
2.) Ritualism- staying out of trouble
3.)Retreatism-daydreaming and messing around
4.)Rebillion- outright rejection of everything the school stands for

Question 16

Link labelling streaming,sfp,subcultures

Answer 16

Labelling leads to streaming and as such creates self-fulfilling prophecies and subcultures.

Question 17

Define habitus

Answer 17

Taken for granted ways of thinking being and acting that are shared by a particular social class

Question 18

What does middle class habitus influence

Answer 18

Cultural capital and and such schools put higher values on middle class tastes and see working class culture as inferior

Question 19

What does archer argue
[Pupil class identities]

Answer 19

Those who have similar habitus to the teachers e.g middle class receieve symbolic capital(status from teachers).Those students who do not e.g working class experience symbolic violence.

Question 20

What did archer find about working class pupils

Answer 20

Working class pupils felt that to be successful they had to change how they both presented themselves and talked and often said universities and professional careers were not for them.

Question 21

What does working class symbolic violence lead to

Answer 21

Nike identities,not conforming could lead to social suicide.The right appearance earned symbolic capital and brought safety from bullying