Education and Methods 1

Conflict and Consensus Theories

What does Durkheim argue?

Society in miniature

What are the 3 things that education does that makes it society in miniature?

• Instills social solidarity

• Teaches social rules

• Teaches specialist skills

What is a criticism of society in miniature?

Outdated as school teaches skills that are used on assembly line but many do not go on to do that

What does Parsons argue?

Meritocracy - education is fair and effort is rewarded

Which type of socialisation teaches particularistic values?

Primary

Which type of socialisation teaches universalistic values?

Secondary

What is ascribed status?

Born into class

What is achieved status?

Worked for class

What is a criticism of Parsons?

Myth of meritocracy

What do Davis and Moore argue?

Role allocation - social stratification is necessary as it sifts and sorts people into the job most suited for them

What is social stratification?

System of unequal rewards

What is a criticism of Davis and Moore?

Myth of meritocracy

What do Chubb and Moe argue?

Standards in education are declining and can only be solved by marketisation

Explain Chubb and Moe’s research.

Parent’s Survey - children from low income families did 5% better in private education most likely because the schools were answerable to the parents which drives up the standard

What is a criticism of Chubb and Moe?

Gerwitz - marketisation only benefits the middle class

What do Bowles and Gintis argue?

Correspondence principle - school mirrors work to create false class consciousness

Explain Bowles and Gintis’ study.

Questionnaire - 237 New York high school students said schools rewarded traits of a compliant worker

What aspects of education mirror the workplace?

• Hierarchy

• Rewards and sanctions

• Passive

• Fragmentation

• Motivation

What type of sociologists are Bowles and Gintis?

Marxist

What is a criticism of the correspondence principle?

Outdated

What is Learning to Labour?

Paul Willis studied 12 working class boys and found that they don’t put effort in because of fate so they mess around to get through school

What research methods did Willis use?

• Group interviews

• Unstructured interviews

• Participant observation

What is Fordism?

Education prepares for assembly line

What is the hidden curriculum?

Unspoken things taught to promote an ideology