SOCIOLOGY - EDUCATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
ACCURATE
Identify three ways in which parents' education may influence how they socialise
their children - ANSWER-Leon Feinstein suggests that middle-class parents tend to
be better educated and so socialise them in a way that will be better suited for the
education system, this happens in a number of ways. Firstly through their parenting
style, educated parents are likely to adopt a more consistent disciplined style of
parents. A parent with high education affects their behaviour also, they are more
likely to establish good relationships with teachers and seek out advice regarding
their children. The third factor is their use of income, educated parents are likely to
spend their money on educational toys, books and activities to help their child's
progression.
Name two features of working-class subculture described by Sugarman - ANSWER-
Those in the working-class subculture are likely to believe in fatalism, they think that
everything is out of their control and what happens will happen regardless of what
they do, they cannot change their status. They are also likely to favour immediate
gratification, they would rather get something now than wait for something better in
the future.
Identify three characteristics of the elaborated code - ANSWER-The elaborated code
has a wider vocabulary that is based on more complex constructions. It also includes
more varied speech and has the ability to communicate abstract concepts that are
necessary to understand textbooks and teacher's explanations. A final factor of the
elaborated code is that it is context-free, the speaker does not assume that the
listener shares the same experiences and thus they explain things more explicitly.
What is meant by 'compensatory education'? - ANSWER-Compensatory education is
a programme aimed to overcome cultural deprivation. It provides extra resources to
schools situated in deprived areas, it intervenes early in the socialisation process to
make up for the deprivation children are experiencing at home.
Suggest three ways in which material deprivation may affect achievement -
ANSWER-Those suffering from material derivation are likely to live in poor housing,
this will lead to overcrowding that makes it hard for a child to study in a quiet area
and also may cause disrupted sleep due to shared bedrooms. Material deprivation
often leads to poor diet and health, as Marilyn Howard suggests children will have
low energy levels due to the lack of vitamins and thus they find it difficult to focus in
class. Finally, material deprivation has a direct link to the financial burdens of
education, Bull speaks of the costs of schooling such as textbooks, uniform,
equipment that are essential for a child 'fitting in' but cannot be afforded by those in
poverty.
, Identify and define the three types of capital described by Bourdieu - ANSWER-
Bourdieu first describes cultural capital, this refers to the knowledge, attitudes,
language, values, tastes and abilities of the middle-class. Through socialisation
middle-class children are given the chance to grasp the abstract ideas involved in
having cultural capital. Next he talks about educational capital,this is the child's
ability to meet the demands of school. It links with the final type of capital, economic
capital, middle-class parents can convert their economic capital to educational
capital by sending their children to private schools.
Explain what is meant by 'symbolic capital' - ANSWER-Symbolic capital is a concept
introduced by Bourdeiu. It refers to the status, recognition and sense of worth we are
able to gain from others, particularly those of a similar social class position to us.
Girls were found to gain those by performing a hyper-heterosexual feminine and
boys more so through the Nike idenitiy.
Define the term 'educational triage' (2 marks) - ANSWER-Educational triage is a
term coined by Gillborn & Youdell. It is the process of sorting students into one of
three categories: those who will pass anyway, borderline passes and hopeless
cases. The category they are triaged into will determine the amount of time and
resources they are allocated by teachers. It is usually heavily based on stereotypes
and presumptions of teachers.
Using one example, briefly explain how pupils' identities may lead to
underachievement (2 marks) - ANSWER-One example of how a pupils identity may
affect underachievement is the formation of Nike identities. Wearing brands allowed
students to be themselves without being inauthentic. However, this comes into
conflict with the middle-class habitus of schools, teachers opposed street styles and
regarding these students as 'rebels' and this could lead to the self-fulfilling prophecy
or ultimately being marginalised by the school.
Outline three ways in which housing may affect achievement (6 marks) - ANSWER-
Poor housing can affect achievement both directly and indirectly. One way that it
may affect achievement is that it gives limited space for a child to be able to study in
a quiet space with no distractions. For younger children development can be
imapired through the lack of space for safe play and exploration. Finally, a third
reason is that children in poor housing may have disturbed sleep due to sharing
bedrooms with siblings which then makes it difficult for them to focus on lessons the
following day.
Explain the difference between labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy - ANSWER-
Labelling someone is the idea of attaching a meaning or definition to them. However,
the self-fulfilling prophecy is when a student actually lives up to this label and it
comes true simply but the fact the label was put on the child in the first place.
Explain the difference between differentiation and polarisation - ANSWER-
Differentiation is the process of teachers categorising pupils based on their
perceived ability, attitude and behaviour. An example of differentiation is streaming.
On the other hand, polarisation is the process of students responding by moving to
one of two opposite extremes. An example of polarisation is students forming anti-
school or pro-school subcultures.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
ACCURATE
Identify three ways in which parents' education may influence how they socialise
their children - ANSWER-Leon Feinstein suggests that middle-class parents tend to
be better educated and so socialise them in a way that will be better suited for the
education system, this happens in a number of ways. Firstly through their parenting
style, educated parents are likely to adopt a more consistent disciplined style of
parents. A parent with high education affects their behaviour also, they are more
likely to establish good relationships with teachers and seek out advice regarding
their children. The third factor is their use of income, educated parents are likely to
spend their money on educational toys, books and activities to help their child's
progression.
Name two features of working-class subculture described by Sugarman - ANSWER-
Those in the working-class subculture are likely to believe in fatalism, they think that
everything is out of their control and what happens will happen regardless of what
they do, they cannot change their status. They are also likely to favour immediate
gratification, they would rather get something now than wait for something better in
the future.
Identify three characteristics of the elaborated code - ANSWER-The elaborated code
has a wider vocabulary that is based on more complex constructions. It also includes
more varied speech and has the ability to communicate abstract concepts that are
necessary to understand textbooks and teacher's explanations. A final factor of the
elaborated code is that it is context-free, the speaker does not assume that the
listener shares the same experiences and thus they explain things more explicitly.
What is meant by 'compensatory education'? - ANSWER-Compensatory education is
a programme aimed to overcome cultural deprivation. It provides extra resources to
schools situated in deprived areas, it intervenes early in the socialisation process to
make up for the deprivation children are experiencing at home.
Suggest three ways in which material deprivation may affect achievement -
ANSWER-Those suffering from material derivation are likely to live in poor housing,
this will lead to overcrowding that makes it hard for a child to study in a quiet area
and also may cause disrupted sleep due to shared bedrooms. Material deprivation
often leads to poor diet and health, as Marilyn Howard suggests children will have
low energy levels due to the lack of vitamins and thus they find it difficult to focus in
class. Finally, material deprivation has a direct link to the financial burdens of
education, Bull speaks of the costs of schooling such as textbooks, uniform,
equipment that are essential for a child 'fitting in' but cannot be afforded by those in
poverty.
, Identify and define the three types of capital described by Bourdieu - ANSWER-
Bourdieu first describes cultural capital, this refers to the knowledge, attitudes,
language, values, tastes and abilities of the middle-class. Through socialisation
middle-class children are given the chance to grasp the abstract ideas involved in
having cultural capital. Next he talks about educational capital,this is the child's
ability to meet the demands of school. It links with the final type of capital, economic
capital, middle-class parents can convert their economic capital to educational
capital by sending their children to private schools.
Explain what is meant by 'symbolic capital' - ANSWER-Symbolic capital is a concept
introduced by Bourdeiu. It refers to the status, recognition and sense of worth we are
able to gain from others, particularly those of a similar social class position to us.
Girls were found to gain those by performing a hyper-heterosexual feminine and
boys more so through the Nike idenitiy.
Define the term 'educational triage' (2 marks) - ANSWER-Educational triage is a
term coined by Gillborn & Youdell. It is the process of sorting students into one of
three categories: those who will pass anyway, borderline passes and hopeless
cases. The category they are triaged into will determine the amount of time and
resources they are allocated by teachers. It is usually heavily based on stereotypes
and presumptions of teachers.
Using one example, briefly explain how pupils' identities may lead to
underachievement (2 marks) - ANSWER-One example of how a pupils identity may
affect underachievement is the formation of Nike identities. Wearing brands allowed
students to be themselves without being inauthentic. However, this comes into
conflict with the middle-class habitus of schools, teachers opposed street styles and
regarding these students as 'rebels' and this could lead to the self-fulfilling prophecy
or ultimately being marginalised by the school.
Outline three ways in which housing may affect achievement (6 marks) - ANSWER-
Poor housing can affect achievement both directly and indirectly. One way that it
may affect achievement is that it gives limited space for a child to be able to study in
a quiet space with no distractions. For younger children development can be
imapired through the lack of space for safe play and exploration. Finally, a third
reason is that children in poor housing may have disturbed sleep due to sharing
bedrooms with siblings which then makes it difficult for them to focus on lessons the
following day.
Explain the difference between labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy - ANSWER-
Labelling someone is the idea of attaching a meaning or definition to them. However,
the self-fulfilling prophecy is when a student actually lives up to this label and it
comes true simply but the fact the label was put on the child in the first place.
Explain the difference between differentiation and polarisation - ANSWER-
Differentiation is the process of teachers categorising pupils based on their
perceived ability, attitude and behaviour. An example of differentiation is streaming.
On the other hand, polarisation is the process of students responding by moving to
one of two opposite extremes. An example of polarisation is students forming anti-
school or pro-school subcultures.
