Class: Inside Of School Factors, Labelling (interactionist)

Question 1

Becker

Answer 1

• interviewed 60 Chicago high School teachers and found that teachers view middle class pupil as the closest to the ideal pupil in terms of performance, conduct, appearance and attitude
• Teachers judgements about pupils are based more on criteria of attitude and appearance than ability or attendance
• The labels applied by teachers to peoples shape the nature and quality of interaction between the pupil and teacher the teachers communicate the label to the pupil leading to a positive or negative reaction to the judgements which may have a self fulfilling prophecy effect meaning the pupil internalises the label and conforms to the prediction

Question 2

Rosenthal & Jacobson

Answer 2

• studied pygmalion effect
• conducted an experiment to demonstrate whether or not a self fulfilling prophecy would occur and once the test was complete, they pick 20% at random that they labelled as spurters and told the teachers
• the results showed that 47% of those identified made major progress, demonstrating that teachers reactions to those who were labelled as likely to achieve create a positive self fulfilling prophecy

Question 3

Keddie

Answer 3

• researched streaming which is grouping students based on ability and found evidence of teachers expectations being less for those in the bottom streams undermining the quality of the teaching
• A streamers were trusted to work with the minimum supervision and to make contribution in class discussion whilst C streamers were in need of constant social control and ready left on their own
• These students were found to live down to the labels and also did not receive the best teaching practices due to teacher attitudes and effort.

Question 4

Hargreaves

Answer 4

• compared to streams of boys in a secondary modern school and found that the selection for streams was closely related to the behaviour
• The top of the streams were rewarded for behaviour the more they conformed and achieve well whereas boys from lower streams felt unable to achieve high status in the eyes of the teachers and sought alternative status from peers forming anti-school sub cultures with anti-school and anti-attainment attitudes