Ball
Conducted a case study of one school on the south coast of England to investigate why working class children fail in education.
Beachside Comprehensive (1981)
A study by Ball focusing on the educational experiences of students in mixed ability and banded classes.
Method of Ball's Study
Involved participant observation and interviews.
Key Findings of Ball's Study
Students were often placed into bands based on social class rather than academic potential.
Effect of Mixed Ability Groups
Behaviour improved, although teachers still informally banded students.
Criticism of Ball's Study
Involved just one school and two year groups, which may not be representative of the population.
Ball, Bowe and Gerwitz
Investigated the effects of marketization in education.
Market Forces and Parental Choice (1994)
A study examining how parental choice in schools affects educational standards.
Method of Ball, Bowe and Gerwitz's Study
Used a mixture of interviews and secondary data at 15 schools.
Key Findings of Ball, Bowe and Gerwitz's Study
Marketization benefits middle class children whose parents know how to navigate the system.
Cream-skimming
The practice of allowing only the best students into popular schools.
Silt-shifting
The process of pushing weaker students to less popular schools.
Criticism of Ball, Bowe and Gerwitz's Study
Some argue that parental attitudes, not policy changes, caused differences in attainment.
Durkheim
One of the founders of Sociology who wrote positively about society and its functions.
Moral Education (1925)
Durkheim's work discussing the role of education in transmitting societal norms and values.
Method of Durkheim's Study
Utilized the work of other researchers.
Perspective of Durkheim
Wrote from a functionalist perspective, believing society functions as it does because it works best.
Main Function of Education According to Durkheim
To transmit society's norms and values, helping children bond with society.
Schools as 'Societies in Miniature'
Durkheim's description of schools preparing children for wider society by teaching discipline.
Criticism of Durkheim's View
His positive view ignores the problems within society and the education system.
Talcott Parsons
Functionalist sociologist who viewed education as a social system.
Meritocracy
Belief that success is based on ability and effort.
Value Consensus
Shared norms and values among members of society.
Particularistic Standards
Judgments based on individual circumstances in family.
Universalistic Standards
Judgments based on common criteria in school.
Bowles and Gintis
Marxist sociologists who critiqued capitalism's education system.
Correspondence Principle
Similarity between school experiences and future workplace roles.
Hidden Curriculum
Unwritten social norms taught in educational settings.
Anti-School Subculture
Group behavior opposing school authority and norms.
Paul Willis
Marxist sociologist who studied working-class boys' attitudes.
Learning to Labour
Willis's study on working-class boys and education.
Case Study
In-depth analysis of a small group or individual.
Halsey, Heath, and Ridge
Researchers who conducted a longitudinal study on education.
Service Class
Professionals and managers in occupational hierarchy.
Intermediate Class
Self-employed and technical workers in occupational hierarchy.
Working Class
Manual laborers in occupational hierarchy.
Educational Success
Achievement influenced by class and parental attitudes.
Material Deprivation
Lack of economic resources affecting educational outcomes.
Longitudinal Study
Research tracking subjects over an extended period.
Factory Jobs
Employment in manufacturing, often low-skilled positions.
Ruling Class Norms
Values and beliefs of the dominant social group.
Gender and Ethnicity
Social categories often overlooked in educational studies.
Sample Size
Number of subjects in a study affecting representativeness.
Educational Changes
Shifts in educational policies and structures over time.