Roles & Functions of Education (AQA GCSE Sociology): Exam Questions

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe work-related education and training?

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe the process of learning norms and values that takes place outside the family?

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe the idea that the school system should be abolished?

Describe one function of education.

Item D

From Item D, identify and describe one way in which Durkheim believed education to be important to society, including what you know of his perspective on education.

Identify and explain one possible disadvantage of using a longitudinal study to investigate the effects of home-schooling on students.

Item D

From Item D, identify and describe one way in which Parsons saw the education system as important, including what you know of his perspective on education.

From Item D, identify and describe one example of how the correspondence principle works according to Bowles and Gintis, including what you know of their perspective on education.

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe a system in which individuals’ achievements are based on their own talents and efforts rather than their social backgrounds?

Identify and describe one way in which the formal curriculum is different to the hidden curriculum.

Item D

British sociologist Paul Willis wanted to understand the experience of schooling from the perspective of the students. He chose to study a group of 12 working-class boys. He observed these boys over their last 18 months of school, and their first few months at work. The 12 students formed a friendship group with a distinctive attitude to school. The ‘lads’, as they were known, had their own counter school subculture, which was opposed to the values promoted by the school.

This counter school subculture had certain features. The lads felt superior to the teachers and to the conformist students, who they called ‘the ear’oles’. They saw no value in the academic work of the school and no interest in gaining qualifications. Instead they aimed to ‘have a laff’ by entertaining themselves with misbehaviour, avoiding lessons, doing as little work as possible and generally rejecting the values of the school. To the lads, school was boring, whilst the outside world offered possibilities for excitement.

Source: Willis, P, Learning to Labour, 1977.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of schools is to teach the norms and values of a society.

Item D

In 1981 sociologist Stephen Ball undertook a case study of a comprehensive school and examined the way it was organised. The school used a banding system. Students were placed into one of three bands (similar to streaming). Band 1 contained the most able students and Band 3 contained the least able students. Ball compared the experiences of those students in Band 1 with those placed in Bands 2 and 3.

Ball noted that each band was taught differently and followed different educational routes. Only students in Band 1 were encouraged to have high aspirations and to study academic courses. During his observations, Ball noticed that students’ behaviour changed as a result of the bands that they were placed in. Ball linked this to the teacher expectations of each band. For example, Band 1 was expected to be hardworking and well behaved, while Band 2 students were expected to be difficult and uncooperative. This led to negative changes in the behaviour of Band 2 students.

Source: Ball, S. J, Beachside Comprehensive. A Case Study of Secondary Schooling, 1981.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of the education system is to prepare students for work.

Item D

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim, the main function of education was passing on society’s norms and values. He believed that subjects like history reinforce shared norms and values, encouraging children to see themselves as part of society.

In Durkheim’s view, rules should be strictly enforced in order for children to learn self-discipline and to understand that misbehaviour damages society as a whole. He argued that by experiencing sanctions at school and by respecting the school rules, children learn to respect rules in society.

Source: Durkheim, E, Moral Education, 1925

From Item D, identify and describe one way in which Durkheim believed education to be important to society, including what you know of his perspective on education.

Item D

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim, the main function of education was passing on society’s norms and values. He believed that subjects like history reinforce shared norms and values, encouraging children to see themselves as part of society.

In Durkheim’s view, rules should be strictly enforced in order for children to learn self-discipline and to understand that misbehaviour damages society as a whole. He argued that by experiencing sanctions at school and by respecting the school rules, children learn to respect rules in society.

Source: Durkheim, E, Moral Education, 1925

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of the education system is to teach children how to become part of society.

Which term is commonly used by sociologists to describe the academic subjects taught in schools?

Describe the hidden curriculum in education.

Discuss how far sociologists agree that the main function of the education system is to serve the needs of the economy.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of the education system is to prepare students for work.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of the education system is to teach children how to become part of society.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that family background is the most important factor in explaining differences in students’ educational achievement.

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the education system enables upward social mobility.