Sadovnik_socio of ed (1)-1 SMf

Citation Information

• Rapid #: -22186026

• CROSS REF ID: OCLC#224422610

• LENDER: W2U (Wilfrid Laurier University)

• BORROWER: LG0 (Griffith University)

• BOOK TITLE: Sociology of Education: A Critical Reader

• CHAPTER TITLE: Theory and Research in the Sociology of Education

• BOOK AUTHOR: Alan R. Sadovnik

• EDITION: 3rd Edition

• PUBLISHER: Routledge

• YEAR: 2016

• ISBN: 9781138842977

• LCCN: LC191.2 .S632 2016

Copyright Information

• Copy made for research, private study, review, or education only.

• Further copying or distribution may infringe copyright without permission.

Book Information

• Edited by: Alan R. Sadovnik and Ryan W. Coughlan

• Publication Details: Routledge, 2016, New York & London

Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology of Education

1. Functionalism

   • Society viewed as an integrated whole; emphasis on social order and consensus.

   • Influenced by Emile Durkheim; critical for moral unity in education.

   • Focus on roles of schooling in intellectual, political, social, and economic domains.

2. Conflict Theory

   • Schools seen as serving dominant group interests; greater focus on struggle and inequality.

   • Influenced by Karl Marx, emphasizing class struggle and economic factors in education.

3. Symbolic Interactionism

   • Examines labels, expectations, and teacher-student interactions at a micro level.

   • Highlights subjective experiences and social constructs within schools.

4. Contemporary Theories

   • Includes works by:

     • Basil Bernstein (Code Theory)

     • Pierre Bourdieu (Cultural Capital)

     • Randall Collins (Status-Competition Theory)

     • John Meyer (Institutional Theory)

     • Feminist Theory

     • Postmodern Critical Theory

Key Concepts

• Cohesion vs. Conflict: Functionalists emphasize societal cohesion, while conflict theorists focus on power dynamics.

• Cultural Capital: Recognition of how cultural background influences educational achievement (Bourdieu).

• Social Reproduction: The process through which social class inequalities are perpetuated through education.

Methodological Approaches to Study Educational Effects

• Dominance of quantitative methods since the 1960s with large data sets evaluating educational outcomes.

• Emergence of qualitative research methodologies providing nuanced insights into school experiences.

• Mixed-method approaches are recommended to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Conclusion

• The sociology of education combines various theoretical constructs to analyze educational systems, their implications, and their effects on inequality. A balance between rigorous quantitative analysis and rich qualitative insights is essential for multifaceted educational research.