Education (Interactionism and Education)

Question 1

What type of theory is interactionism?

Answer 1

Micro theory

Question 2

What type of studies do Interactionists carry out?

Answer 2

Small scale, detailed studies eg to measure what actually happens within the school or classroom

Question 3

How do interactionists discover peoples experience with education?

Answer 3

Through social interactions with others

Question 4

What do they emphasise the importance of and why?

Answer 4

Socially constructed identity - our self-concept is shaped by how others perceive and label us.

Question 5

What is a label?

Answer 5

A category, which defines an individual as a certain type of person

Question 6

What could happen once labelled?

Answer 6

The self fulfilling prophecy may occur

Question 7

How does the self fulfilling prophecy occur in school?

Answer 7

1. Teacher forms impression
2. Pupil is labelled and teacher makes predictions
3. Pupil becomes aware of label (this affects their self-image)
4. Pupil start’s living up to label
5. Initial label is confirmed by the behaviour

Question 8

What was Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968) – Teacher expectations?

Answer 8

They identified students likely to make progress in the year ahead (‘spurters’).
One year later the ‘spurters’ HAD made progress…
They believed this was due to how they had been defined.
Teachers expected more from them, which made the students take on these expectations.

Question 9

What are ways to evaluate Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study?

Answer 9

t is not possible to look at classroom interaction in isolation from external factors (e.g. social class differences/ material factors).
Most teachers would avoid treating their students differently as they are measured on exam performance.
This theory fails to explain why some people are labelled and others aren’t.