A-level sociology education: relationships and processes within school

internal and external factors, labelling, pupil subculture, gender

what are internal factors within education?

factors within the school that can influence a students achievement

what are external factors within education?

factors outside of school which can influence a students achievement

what are examples of internal factors?

labelling by teachers

setting and streaming

pupil subcultures

pupil identity

what are examples of external factors?

material deprivation- speech codes/language, parents education, parents use of income

cultural deprivation- housing, diet and health, financial support, fear of debt

what is labelling?

when teachers unavoidably make judgements about pupils which can have an affect on their educational achievement

what is setting and streaming?

when students are grouped into classes based on their academic ability

what are pupil subcultures?

students who share similar behaviour and views on school

what are pro-school subcultures?

students who accept the ethos, rules and principles of the school

what are anti-school subcultures?

students who don't agree with the norms, values and ethos of the school.

who identified anti-school subculture?

Marxist sociologist paul Willis

what did Willis find out about anti-school subculture in his study?

he found that a group of working class male students 'the lads' had subverted the values of the school and for them academic success was frowned upon while "mucking about" was rewarded

what is pupil identity?

how students perceive themselves as learners which can impact their self-concept

what is cultural deprivation?

a theory that working class families fail to socialise their children adequately, therefore they lack the skills and knowledge to do well in school

what are the 3 categories to cultural deprivation?

intellectual development

language

attitudes and values

what is material deprivation?

refers to the lack of some basic needs such as housing, heating, food and clothing that is caused any a lack of money

sociologists argue that poverty and material deprivation can be linked to the main causes of educational underachievement

how can housing affect educational achievement?

an overcrowding household could impact a child's education, as they would not have much space for them to work

how can diet and health affect educational achievement?

Mariyln Howard found that people people within poorer households tend to have low intake on nutritional foods and vitamins. this affects the Childs energy levels and immune system resulting in more absence in school; missing out on work

how can financial support affect educational achievement?

a lack of financial support means that children from poor families aren't able to afford equipment and resources that are needed for school. they also miss out on opportunities like school trips

how can the fear of debt affect educational achievement?

to go to universities means that students would have to cover the cost of tuition fees and living expenses which leads to student debt. many working class students go to local universities so they can live at home and save money- gives them less opportunities to go to higher schools

what is the halo effect?

when a student is stereotyped from a first impression as being good/bad or bright/thick and these imaginary halo's stay with them throughout their educational achievment

who discovered labelling theory within schools?

Interpretivist Howard Becker

what did Duane and Gazeley discover within schools?

they found that in 9 state secondary schools teachers normalised the underachievement of working-class students, however they would over come the underachievement of middle-class students

what is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

when a student is labelled by a teacher, then the teacher treats them according to their label, the student eventually stats behaving and believing the label itself

what is the pygmalion effect?

the phenomenon where children tend to do better in school when they are expected to do better by their teachers

who created the pygmalion effect?

Marxist sociologists Rosenthal and Jacobson

what did Gillbourn and Youdell say about setting and streaming?

they said that streaming creates an 'A-C economic and educational triage'.

schools are now focused on getting as many students passed the minimum pass grade as possible, in order to get a better place on the league tables.

what is an educational triage?

working class- will fail anyway

middle class- could pass with intervention

middle class- will pass regardless

what is cultural capital?

a term used to explain why the middle class are more successful, they are able to acquire knowledge, attitudes, values, languages, tastes and abilities that help them succeed in education

who discovered cultural capital?

Marxist sociologist Pierre Bourdieu

what is restricted speech codes?

refers to a form of communication that is informal and has a limited vocabulary, mainly among working-class speakers

what is elaborated speech codes?

refers to a form of communication that is formal and has a wider vocabulary, mainly among middle class speakers

how do speech codes affect educational achievement?

speech and language are important in developing a child's communication ability with others. those with restricted speech code will have a harder time understanding teachers and textbooks because elaborated code is used in education, therefore putting middle-class children at an advantage

who discovered speech codes in education?

Basil Bernstein

how can social class affect educational achievement?

social inequality in schools puts those with a higher social background like middle class children at an advantage as they will have greater achievement because they have more resources and are encouraged more by their teachers to do business jobs, comparison to working class children who are disadvantaged and are expected to fail in education and do hand on jobs like building

what is gender role socialisation?

the process of learning behaviour expected of males and females in society

what are gendered subject images?

where subject choices have a gender stereotype whether it is a female or male subject. eg: computer studies is seen as a masculine subject as it involves machines and it is off-putting to females

what is gender identity and peer pressure?

when subject choices can be influenced by peer pressure if they disapprove of his or her choices.

eg: sport is seen as a male gender domain and girls who are sporty may have to cope with an image that contradicts their female stereotype

what are gendered career choices?

when there is a gender stereotype within choice of job occupation.

eg: nursing is seen as a women's job and engineering is seen as a mens job

what is gender domain?

tasks and activities that boys and girls see as male or female territory and therefore as only relevant to themselves

eg: fixing a car would be a male task and looking after a child would be a female job

how can gender affect educational achievement for boys?

boys are seen as more likely to underachieve in school because they are not as encouraged to read at home which leads to poor literacy and language skills as well as reading being seen as a feminine job. boys also pursue activities such as football and this doesn't require them to improve and develop their language and communication skills.

how can gender affect educational achievement for girls?

girls are now seen as achieving better in schools because there are changes in women's employment and are breaking through the 'glass ceiling' which they are now able to access better job opportunities therefore wanting to change their ambitions and achieve qualifications

what is the glass ceiling?

a barrier that prevented women from accessing the top jobs