labelling

• interactionist theory


  how we perceive others
• labelling theory

  -attach meaning / definition to someone

  -internalisation
• labellings affect in school


  -teachers label students

  -changes teachers behaviour to students
• Becker's study


  -teachers label students based on how closely student fits image of ideal pupil
• Jorgensen

  -teachers in working class areas have different perceptions of what makes ideal student

  -working class schools have more behavioural issues
• impact of labelling in secondary > working class

  -Dunne & Gazeley

  -argue schools produce working class underachievement

  -teachers normalise underachievement in working class

  -teachers unconcerned & said they couldn't do anything

  -entered underachieving into easier exams
• impact of labelling in secondary > middle class

  -teachers believed could overcome underachievement in middle class

  -teachers believe due to student's background

  -set extension work to underachieving students
• impact of labelling in primary

  -American kindergarden

  -teachers used info from child's home background & appearance

  -seated at different tables
• Rist's labelling study

  -fast learners = 'tigers' > sat near teacher desk

  > middle class

  -'cardinals' & 'clowns' > seated further away

  > working class

  > fewer chances to show abilities
• self fulfilling prophecy


  -students internalise labels teachers give

  -students perception of themselves shaped by how teacher treats them

  -self conception reflects teachers stereotypes
• self fulfilling prophecy : case study

  -Rosenthal & Jacobson

  -teachers told students doing test to show who'll 'spurt ahead'

  -researches picked random 20% of who's 'spurters'

  -year later > 47% made significant progress