SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY & PUPIL SUBCULTURES

Question 1

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

Answer 1

A prediction that comes true simply by virtue of it having been made.

Question 2

LABELLING & THE SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY…

Answer 2

STEP 1: The teacher labels a pupil (EG intelligent or naughty). On the basis of this, they make predictions about them.

STEP 2: The teacher treats the pupil accordingly, acting as if the prediction is already true.

STEP 3: The pupil internalises the teacher’s expectation, which becomes a part of their self-image. The pupil then becomes the kind of pupil the teacher predicted.

Question 3

ROSENTHAL & JACOBSON (1968)

Answer 3

ROSENTHAL & JACOBSON (1968) conducted a study whereby they told the school that certain students had a higher IQ than others.

Teachers believed them, and when Rosenthal & Jacobson returned a year later to test the children, they found that the ‘spurters’ had indeed made more progress. This demonstrates the self-fulfilling prophecy!

METHODS LINK: They used the field experiment- they could not control all variables!

Question 4

Streaming

Answer 4

It involves separating children into different ability groups or classes called ‘streams’. Each group is then taught separately to the others, for ALL subjects.

Once streamed, it is incredibly difficult for a pupil to ‘move up’ a stream. They are ‘locked-in’ by teacher expectations!

Question 5

Pupil subcultures

Answer 5

A group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns. Subcultures often emerge as a result of labelling!

Question 6

Colin lacy 1970

Answer 6

DIFFERENTIATION:
The process of teachers categorising pupils according to how they perceive their ability. (Through streaming for example!)

POLARISATION:
The process in which the pupils respond to streaming by moving towards the opposite ‘pole’ or extreme.

Question 7

Peter woods 1979

Answer 7

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT ‘PRO-SCHOOL’ OR ‘ANTI-SCHOOL’- THERE ARE OTHER RESPONSES!

INGRATIATION: Being ‘teacher’s pet’
RITUALISM: Going through the motions, staying out of trouble!
RETREATISM: Daydreaming & mucking about!
REBELLION: Outright rejection for everything!

Question 8

Ao3

Answer 8

The limitations of labelling theory:

It has been accused of determinism. (In other words, it assumes pupils have no choice but to fulfil the prophecy and fail!)

Marxists criticise it for ignoring wider structures of power within- is it the teachers, OR is it the wider education system itself!?