Discuss how far sociologists agree that factors from outside the school have the
greatest effect on educational achievement. (12 marks)
Some sociologists would agree with the statement that factors from outside
the school have the greatest effect on educational achievement.For
example Halsey, Heath and Ridge would agree with the statement as they
believe that Material deprivation is an external factor which has a great
effect on educational achievement.This portrays that children from
materially deprived backgrounds have a more disadvantage than those
with affluent backgrounds based on their social class as well as their
fathers occupation.As their research suggests that middle class children
compared to working class children were 4, 8 and 10 times more likely to
be at school at the age of 16, 17 and 18 shows the disadvantage of
working class children and how the effect of material deprivation can have
on educational achievement externally.However, a limitation of this is their
study was of only based on men.Therefore this may have resulted in a
limitation as the research could have differentiated with women.This
therefore shows how some sociologists would agree that external factors
affect educational achievement.
Also other sociologists would also agree with the statement that
external factors such as parental attitudes affect educational
achievement.For example Douglas’ research suggests that the importance
of parental attitudes towards education can be a factor which affects
educational achievement.The way in which a parent encourages their
children’s education can be essential in a child's education
success.Douglas found that primary socialisation and social class played a
crucial role in a child's achievement, for example his study showed that
children from working class backgrounds tended to have a lack of parental
support as well as motivation.Some researchers suggested that middle
class and working class parents socialise their children into different sets of
values.He found that middle class parents had more ambition, discipline
study and individual striving, whereas working class parents teach their
children to accept their position and are less ambitious about their work in
school.However a limitation in Douglas’ research was that not all working
class and middle class parents did this.Therefore some sociologists would
greatest effect on educational achievement. (12 marks)
Some sociologists would agree with the statement that factors from outside
the school have the greatest effect on educational achievement.For
example Halsey, Heath and Ridge would agree with the statement as they
believe that Material deprivation is an external factor which has a great
effect on educational achievement.This portrays that children from
materially deprived backgrounds have a more disadvantage than those
with affluent backgrounds based on their social class as well as their
fathers occupation.As their research suggests that middle class children
compared to working class children were 4, 8 and 10 times more likely to
be at school at the age of 16, 17 and 18 shows the disadvantage of
working class children and how the effect of material deprivation can have
on educational achievement externally.However, a limitation of this is their
study was of only based on men.Therefore this may have resulted in a
limitation as the research could have differentiated with women.This
therefore shows how some sociologists would agree that external factors
affect educational achievement.
Also other sociologists would also agree with the statement that
external factors such as parental attitudes affect educational
achievement.For example Douglas’ research suggests that the importance
of parental attitudes towards education can be a factor which affects
educational achievement.The way in which a parent encourages their
children’s education can be essential in a child's education
success.Douglas found that primary socialisation and social class played a
crucial role in a child's achievement, for example his study showed that
children from working class backgrounds tended to have a lack of parental
support as well as motivation.Some researchers suggested that middle
class and working class parents socialise their children into different sets of
values.He found that middle class parents had more ambition, discipline
study and individual striving, whereas working class parents teach their
children to accept their position and are less ambitious about their work in
school.However a limitation in Douglas’ research was that not all working
class and middle class parents did this.Therefore some sociologists would
