Factors Affecting Educational Achievement: Social Class (AQA GCSE Sociology): Flashcards
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How is a person's social class typically determined?
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Cards in this collection (33)
How is a person's social class typically determined?
Social class is typically determined by a person's occupation or that of their parents.
What can eligibility for free school meals indicate about a student?
Eligibility for free school meals may indicate a lower income and consequently a lower social class.
True or False?
Working-class students typically outperform middle-class students in public exams.
False.
Middle-class students typically outperform working-class students and are more likely to go to university.
Define material deprivation.
Material deprivation is a lack of financial resources or poverty, which can affect educational achievement.
Give two ways that material deprivation can affect educational achievement.
Material deprivation can affect educational achievement because the cost of uniforms may keep poorer children away from school, and poor or overcrowded housing may leave no quiet place to do homework.
Which research method did Halsey, Heath and Ridge use?
Halsey, Heath and Ridge used a face-to-face survey of over 8,000 males educated in England and Wales.
Halsey, Heath and Ridge found that a service-class individual had times the chance of attending university compared with a working-class individual.
Halsey, Heath and Ridge found that a service-class individual had eleven times the chance of attending university compared with a working-class individual.
Give one criticism of Halsey, Heath and Ridge's research.
Halsey, Heath and Ridge's research excluded females, which might have made a significant difference to the findings.
Define deferred gratification.
Deferred gratification is making sacrifices now to invest in the future, a value associated with middle-class parents.
Define immediate gratification.
Immediate gratification is living in the moment with no plan for the future, a value associated with working-class parents.
Define cultural deprivation.
Cultural deprivation is where working-class children lack the cultural resources and experiences, such as trips to museums and books at home, that help middle-class children succeed.
Define cultural capital.
Cultural capital is the knowledge, attitudes, skills and values that middle-class parents give their children, which advantage them in education.
Give two ways that middle-class parents can work the system.
Middle-class parents may challenge teachers about their child's learning, buy the right resources, contact the school often and help with homework.
According to Ball, Bowe and Gewirtz, why do schools publish league tables?
Schools publish league tables to attract academically able children and motivated parents who could boost the school's position.
True or False?
Ball, Bowe and Gewirtz found that working-class parents are better able to compete in the education market.
False.
Middle-class parents with the right cultural capital compete better, while working-class parents are more likely to choose local schools.
According to Ball, Bowe and Gewirtz, which students are schools more likely to neglect under marketisation?
Schools are more likely to neglect students with special educational needs, those who are less able and those who are disadvantaged.
Define labelling.
Labelling is where teachers make judgements about students and categorise them into types, based on factors such as appearance, ability and behaviour.
Define halo effect.
The halo effect is when a pupil is stereotyped from first impressions, such as their clothing, manners and speech.
Define self-fulfilling prophecy.
A self-fulfilling prophecy is where a student sees themselves in terms of a label and behaves accordingly, so the prediction comes true.
According to Becker (1970), which students are more likely to be seen as ideal students?
Becker found that middle-class students are more likely to be seen as ideal students.
Define streaming.
Streaming is where students are allocated to classes based on their ability and taught in that class for most subjects.
Give one strength of streaming.
One strength of streaming is that students learn content suited to their needs and abilities, so the most able are less likely to be held back.
True or False?
Students placed in lower streams usually gain confidence.
False.
Students in lower streams often experience a decline in confidence and may receive less support from teachers.
A disproportionately high number of lower-stream students are .
A disproportionately high number of lower-stream students are working-class.
Which research methods did Ball (1981) use in his study of banding?
Ball's ethnographic case study used participant observation, interviews and questionnaires and secondary sources such as school records.
True or False?
Ball found that students' behaviour stayed the same whichever band they were placed in.
False.
Students' behaviour changed according to their band, linked to teacher expectations; band 2 students became increasingly difficult.
What did Ball conclude about the effect of banding on working-class pupils?
Ball concluded that banding damages working-class pupils' education and life chances, as they leave school with fewer qualifications, reproducing class inequalities.
Define counter-school subculture.
A counter-school subculture is a group of students who reject the school's values and rules and value disobedience, which gives them status among peers.
Which sociological perspective did Willis write from?
Willis wrote from a Marxist perspective, although he took an interactionist approach to his research.
Which research methods did Willis use in his study of the lads?
Willis used observation and participant observation, group discussions, unstructured interviews and diaries.
How did the lads' counter-school subculture prepare them for work?
The subculture made the lads suitable for male-dominated manual work, so the class structure is reproduced.
How does Willis's view differ from that of Bowles and Gintis?
Willis argues students actively oppose ruling-class values through a counter-school subculture, rather than passively accepting them.
Give one criticism of Willis's research.
Feminists argue Willis celebrates lad culture while ignoring girls, and his small sample means the results cannot be generalised.
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