Question 1

______________refers to the practice of assigning students to specific curriculum groups and courses on the basis of their test scores, previous grades, or other criteria.

Accepted Answer

Tracking refers to the practice of assigning students to specific curriculum groups and courses on the basis of their test scores, previous grades, or other criteria. Age grading is the practice of grouping students by age, while intelligence grouping (also known as ability grouping or streaming) refers to the practice of grouping students based on perceived intelligence or ability. Ability segregation is not a commonly used term in education and does not accurately describe the practice being referred to in this question.

Question 2

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu used the term ______________to refer to a person's social assets, including knowledge of how to dress, language competency, and knowledge of art and music.

Accepted Answer

Bourdieu coined the term "cultural capital" to describe the non-economic assets that individuals possess, such as education, knowledge, skills, and cultural tastes, which can be used to gain social advantage and power. Cultural capital can be passed down through generations and varies by social class, shaping opportunities and social mobility.

Question 3

Schools for ______________are more likely to emphasize engaging in creative activities, building analytical and critical thinking skills, and applying one's own ideas to solve problems.

Accepted Answer

Affluent students generally attend schools with more resources and opportunities for creative and critical thinking activities. They are also more likely to have access to extracurricular programs that foster creative and analytical skills.

Question 4

Although many factors, including intelligence, motivation, and previous achievement, are important in determining how much education a person will attain,______________ argue that access to quality education is largely determined by social class.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that education is largely determined by social class, with members of the upper class having greater access to high-quality education and opportunities for achievement, while those in lower classes struggle to obtain adequate education and are more likely to drop out.

Question 5

According to sociologist______________ , students from diverse class backgrounds come to school with different amounts of cultural capital, which refers to social assets that include values, beliefs, attitudes, and competencies in language and culture.

Accepted Answer

The concept of cultural capital as social assets that include values, beliefs, attitudes, and competencies in language and culture was developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.

Question 6

______________theorists do not believe that public schools reduce social inequality in society; rather, they believe that schools perpetuate class, racial/ethnic, and gender inequalities by reinforcing the privileged position of some at the expense of others.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that schools reproduce and reinforce inequalities in society instead of reducing them. They maintain that public schools are structurally designed to maintain the dominant ideology and perpetuate the existing power structure by providing different educational opportunities and outcomes to students of different social classes, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and genders. These disparities in education translate into disparities in life chances, perpetuating the cycle of social inequality.

Question 7

Many see lagging test scores as a sign that problems exist in the nation's educational system. From______________ a perspective, improved teacher training and more stringent academic requirements for students are the best way to address these problems.

Accepted Answer

Functionalists view society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain social order and stability. They believe that education serves a crucial role in maintaining this social order and that improving teacher training and academic requirements for students can help address the problem of lagging test scores.

Question 8

Tracking or ability grouping is based on the assumption that it is easier to teach a group whose members have similar abilities.______________ theorists are critics of the practice of tracking, arguing that it negatively affects learning and achievement for many students.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that tracking perpetuates social inequality by segregating students based on their socio-economic status and racial/ethnic identity, which leads to unequal access to educational opportunities and resources. This can result in lower achievement and perpetuate social and economic inequalities.

Question 9

According to conflict theorists, credentialism, the hidden curriculum, and a belief in______________ ensure that the best education and job opportunities will go to members of the middle and upper classes.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that the belief in meritocracy, which is the idea that individuals are rewarded based on their ability and qualifications, actually perpetuates inequality because it ignores the structural barriers that prevent equal access to education and job opportunities. Credentialism, or the overemphasis on formal qualifications and degrees, also benefits those with more resources who can afford to obtain these credentials, further perpetuating class inequalities. The hidden curriculum refers to the unspoken, unwritten values and behaviors that are taught in schools and reinforce dominant cultural norms, including those of the middle and upper classes. Tracking, or the practice of placing students in different classes based on perceived ability, also contributes to unequal educational outcomes. However, this is not mentioned in the question as a choice.

Question 10

______________reflects a "proper" attitude toward education, socially approved dress and manners, and knowledge about books, art, music, and other forms of high and popular culture.

Accepted Answer

Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are valued by the dominant culture and can be used to gain advantages in society. This includes having a proper attitude toward education, socially approved dress and manners, and knowledge about books, art, music, and other forms of high and popular culture.

Question 11

According to some critics, the standardized tests that are used to group students by ability often measure students' ______________rather than their "natural" intelligence or aptitude.

Accepted Answer

Standardized tests often include cultural references, assumptions, and language that favor certain groups based on their socio-economic or cultural background. Therefore, the tests may measure a student's cultural capital (i.e. knowledge and skills acquired from their upbringing and environment) rather than their natural intelligence or aptitude.

Question 12

Critics of tracking or ability grouping are often in favor of ______________, wherein students are deliberately placed in mixed ability classes.

Accepted Answer

Critics of tracking or ability grouping are in favor of detracking, which involves deliberately placing students in mixed ability classes. This approach aims to promote equity and address the achievement gap by providing all students with equal opportunities to learn and succeed.

Question 13

______________is a process in which academic qualifications are necessary in order to attain class advantage and higher social status.

Accepted Answer

Credentialism refers to the emphasis on academic qualifications and degrees as a means of obtaining higher social status and class advantage. This can lead to situations where individuals without the necessary credentials are excluded from certain opportunities, despite having the skills or experience needed for the job.

Question 14

The term______________ refers to a social system in which status is assumed to be acquired through individual ability and effort.

Accepted Answer

The term "meritocracy" refers to a social system in which individuals acquire status based on their individual ability and effort. Tracking refers to separating students by academic ability into different classes or programs. Credentialism refers to the tendency to require more credentials (degrees, certifications, etc.) for jobs that may not actually need them. Educational bureaucracy refers to the bureaucratic aspects of educational institutions (such as administration, regulations, policies, etc.).

Question 15

Through the______________ , schools make working-class and poverty-level students aware that they will be expected to take orders from others, arrive at work punctually, follow bureaucratic rules, and experience high levels of boredom without complaining.

Accepted Answer

The hidden curriculum refers to the values and behaviors that are taught but not formally acknowledged in schools. One aspect of this is teaching students the expectations of the workforce, including taking orders, punctuality, and conformity, even in the face of boredom or dissatisfaction. The tracking system refers to the practice of grouping students by ability, the manifest function of education refers to the explicit goals of education, and resocialization process refers to the process of retraining individuals to fit into a new culture or social group.

Question 16

In addition to teaching subject content and skills, school routines and regulations train students to respect cultural values; routines and regulations also shape attitudes and values such as conformity and obedience to authority. Sociologists term this the ______________.

Accepted Answer

The term "hidden curriculum" refers to the lessons and values that are taught implicitly through school routines and regulations, beyond the explicit subject content and skills. This includes attitudes and values such as conformity and obedience to authority, which are seen as important in many cultures.

Question 17

Schools with more middle-class students have curricula that emphasize______________ .

Accepted Answer

Schools with more middle-class students often emphasize decision making and choice, reflecting the values and expectations of the middle class for autonomy and personal agency in education.

Question 18

Schools with more low-income students have curricula that emphasize______________ .

Accepted Answer

Schools with more low-income students often have curricula that focus on basic skills, such as procedures and rote memorization, in an effort to help students achieve basic academic proficiency despite potential disadvantages outside of school.

Question 19

The______________ perspective focuses on how classroom communication and educational practices affect students' self-concept and aspirations.

Accepted Answer

The symbolic interactionist perspective examines how individuals interact with one another and the symbols, such as language, that they use to communicate. This perspective is particularly relevant to examining how classroom communication and educational practices influence students' self-concept (how they see themselves) and aspirations (what they aspire to achieve) through the interaction they have with their teachers and peers.

Question 20

With regard to gender in education, ____________________________.

Accepted Answer

According to recent statistics, women now outnumber men in college enrollment and graduation rates, indicating a shift towards closing the gender gap in education. Options A and B are not supported by evidence, as studies have shown that boys' academic performance has not suffered as a result of girls' increased success, and efforts to address gender bias have generally been in favor of girls. Option D is also incorrect, as research has found that differences in academic performance between genders still exist in certain subjects.

Quiz 13: Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective