Short test - sociologists - PowerPoint Presentation

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Short test - sociologists

1. Who suggested that parents who use language that challenges their children improve their cognitive function?

Hubbs-Tait

et al (2002)

2. What did Basil Bernstein suggest and in which year?

Restricted & elaborated code (1972)

3. Who found that working class parents placed less value on their education and therefore were less ambitious for their children?

Douglas (1964)

4. Who suggested middle class parents give their children an advantage in 4 ways (parenting style, educational behaviours, use of income and income and parental education)?

Leon Feinstein (2008)

5. Bernstein and Young (1967) found what about middle-class mothers?

More likely to buy educational toys and books.

6. What are the 4 key features that

Barryman

suggested act as a barrier to educational achievement for working-class children?

Fatalism, Collectivism, immediate gratification, present-time orientation.

7. Name as many of the sociologists (5 in total) who argued against class being an educational barrier.

Keddie

,

Troyna

& Williams, Blackstone &

Mortimore

8. Who refers to the ‘cost of free schooling’ placing a heavy burden on poor families?

David Bull (1980)

9. What did Marilyn Howard (2001) say about the diet ad health of poorer families?

Lower intake of energy, vitamins and minerals.

10. Who found that children from low income families were more likely to engage in ‘externalising behaviour’ which disrupts their schooling?

-

Blanden

&

Machin

(2007)

Learning Objectives

To understand cultural capital theory.

To know how this applied to working-class and middle-class children.

To be able to answer an exam question on external factors of class and education.

Cultural Capital Theory

Pierre Bourdieu (1984)

Argues that both cultural and material factors contribute to the educational achievement and are not separated but interrelated.

He used the concept of ‘capital’ to explain why the middle class are more successful.

Wealth

Education capital – qualificationsCultural capital He argues middle class generally possess more of all 3 types of capital

Cultural Capital continued

Cultural Capital

Middle-class children

Knowledge, attitudes, values, language, tastes and abilities of the middle class.

He sees middle-class culture as a type of capital because, like wealth, it gives an advantage to those who possess it.

Like Bernstein, he argues that through socialisation, middle-class children acquire the ability to grasp, analyse and express abstract ideas. They are more likely to develop intellectual interest and an understanding of what the education system requires for success.

This gives middle-class children an advantage in school.

Abilities and interests are highly valued and rewarded with qualifications.

The education system is not neutral, but favours and transmits the dominant middle-class culture.

In contrast – working-class children find that school devalues their culture as ‘rough’ and inferior. Their lack of cultural capital leads to exam failure.

Educational and economic capital

Bourdieu argues educational, economic and cultural capital can be converted into one another.

Can you explain how you think this works and how they all link?

Dennis Leech & Erick Campos (2003) conducted a study in

Conventry which showed that middle-class parents are also more likely to be able to afford a house in the catchment area of a school that is highly placed in exam league tables. This is known as ‘selection by mortgage’ because it drives up the cost of houses near to successful schools and excludes working-class families.

Makes notes on Alice Sullivan’s findings from 2001 on page 24 of the book

Social reproduction

Social function of elimination

Cultural reproduction

Schools

reproduce

social inequality

Success/failure is

legitimated by

social hierarchy

working class

exam failure

(due to lacking

dominant culture)

Self-elimination

choose to drop

out/see unfair

system

Schools

reproduce

dominant class

The powerful

impose their

definition of reality

on others

Dominant culture =

cultural capital

(socialization)

Recent studies supporting Bourdieu

Ball, Bowe & Gewirtz

They explored the way that middle class parents

today have greater cultural capital and they:

- ‘play the system’ - have more ‘stamina’ to research schools/appeal etc - have material advantages to support their child, ie,

transport to go to ‘better school’ further away.

Exam Question

ITEM B

In general, middle-class pupils achieve better examination results then working-class pupils, many of whom are in receipt of free school meals. According to Feinstein, as early as 22 months, working-class children are already lagging behind middle-class children in their intellectual development. Many of these children have parents who also underachieved at school.

Applying material from Item B, analyse two factors outside schools that contribute to working-class underachievement. (10 marks)

Examiners advice

Spend about 15 minutes on this question.

Divide your time fairly between the factors.

You don’t need a separate introduction.

Take 2 factors from the item and show through a chain of reasoning how each one contributes to working-class underachievement.

It is a good idea to quote from the item

You could use FSM, intellectual development or parents’ education.

Use concepts such as material deprivation, restricted code, cultural capital, cultural deprivation, working-class subculture, immediate gratification and debt aversion.

Include a brief evaluation.