...Analyse the importance of poverty as an explanation of social class differences in educational achievement Introduction Sociologists have argued that social class differences in educational achievement can be explained in terms of 4 not necessarily mutually exclusive kinds of theory: IQ theory; theories emphasising social class differences in material circumstances; theories emphasising social class differences in subcultural attitudes and values; and theories emphasising the importance of within school labelling processes. Sociologists tend to be critical of IQ theory for several reasons and point out that there is good evidence to show that social class is a major determinant of educational success even independently of measured differences in IQ. I shall therefore concentrate upon the three more sociological approaches and in each case it may be argued that the factors which may disadvantage working class students in general are especially likely to disadvantage those working class students who experience poverty. However before analysing the possible effects of poverty on educational achievement some preliminary investigation of the nature and extent of poverty in the UK is first necessary and for these purposes we must first distinguish between absolute and relative poverty. Absolute poverty is said to occur when individuals lack the money necessary to ensure their basis physical survival whereas relative poverty exists where individuals have insufficient money to...
Words: 4110 - Pages: 17
...findings control for detailed information on students’ home environments. Conclusions. Given the current education policy environment where schools are shifting resources to conform to state and federal requirements on test scores and other outcomes, these results suggest caution in cutting resources from the traditional role of schools in monitoring a wide set of health outcomes. 3 Introduction Children who experience poor health have significantly poorer adult outcomes, such as lower educational attainment, adverse health conditions, and lower social status (Case et al., 2002; Case et al., 2005). A particularly potent conduit through which childhood health is linked to adult outcomes is education. Poor health impedes educational progress because a student with health problems is not prepared to fully engage in or take advantage of learning opportunities at school or at home (Hanson et al., 2004). Schools have long recognized the relation between student health and educational progress, and have played a role in diagnosing and treating student health conditions such as vision, hearing, and speech impairments, as well as asthma, mental disorders, and more recently obesity (Council of Chief State School Officers, 1998). Research from the medical...
Words: 598 - Pages: 3
...Sociology Homework – Monday 28/09/2015 by Maria Taravkova. Evaluate the view that factors and processes within the school are the main cause of differences in the educational achievement of different social groups (20 marks) * Decode = The meanings of encoding/decoding, it is how media messages are produced, circulated and consumed by the nation, proposing a new theory of communication. Stuart Hall (cultural theorist) argued that the meaning is not fixed or determined by the sender, the message is never transparent. There is a “ lack of fit “ between the moment of the production of the message ( which is referred to as ENCODING ) and the moment of its reception ( which is referred to as DECODING ). The meaning of the text is located between the producer and the reader. The producer – encoder ‘ encoded ‘ meaning in a certain way, while the reader decoder – ‘ decodes ‘ it differently according to his/her personal background, beliefs and values. * Interactionists Labelling Theory = ‘ Interactionism ‘ is a sociological perspective that focuses on a small-scale interactions between individuals and groups. And ‘ Labelling Theory ‘ is the theory of how the self-identity – ( what someone thinks of themselves. E.g what they are, who they are e.t.c ) and behaviour of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them. As we are talking about ‘ Interactionists Labelling Theory ‘ meaning that the only relevant meaning in this case...
Words: 2320 - Pages: 10
...all varieties of schools and even in the workplace, when being hired or promoted. There are also tests in the world of psychology, including testing in schools and the workplace. Psychological testing will be defined, with a few different varying descriptions from a few sources, since there is not just one definition for this type of test. The major categories of tests will be described and the major uses and users of these tests will be identified. The concepts of reliability and validity will be compared and contrasted, and how they both impact the field of psychological testing will be discussed. Definition of the term “test” “The glossary of the authoritative Standards for Educational and Psychology Tests,” according to our textbook, “says that a test is an evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee’s behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored using a standardized process,” (Hogan, 2007, p. 12). The same source also says that psychological testing is defined as “any procedure that involves the use of tests or inventories to assess particular psychological characteristics of an individual, (Hogan, 2007, p. 12). Anastasi and Cronbach were two very influential people in the beginning times of the psychological test, and Anastasi...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...Para. 1). Thus in the 1590s records show its use as “trial or examination to determine the correctness of something” (Harper, 2010, Para. 1). According to Hogan, 2007, p. 38) The standards for Educational and Psychological Testing defines test as, “an evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinees’ behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated, and scored using a standardized process.” Furthermore, Hogan stated that a test is a systematic and standardized qualification procedure or device that produces information about behavior, and cognitive processes, and measures a sample of behavior rather than an extensive examination of the variety of individual’s behaviors Describe the major categories of tests and identify the major uses of these tests. The major categories of psychological tests are, mental ability, achievement, personality, interests and attitudes, and neuropsychological tests. Mental ability tests measure cognitive functions, such as intelligence, memory, spatial visualization, and creative thinking. Achievement tests assess capability within certain areas of expertise, and sometimes include assessments of reading, math, science, and social studies, at the same time identify more specific achievement. Personality tests are designed to produce information about personality and are most widely applied of all psychological tests. These tests compare an individual’s responses to different clinical...
Words: 758 - Pages: 4
...possible that the psychologists might make a mistake that could ruin their research. Through this course it will be explained the different assumption and questions that psychologists look at during their research. Psychological Tests “Psychological tests are written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of children and adults. Psychological tests are used to assess a variety of mental abilities and attributes, including achievement and ability, personality, and neurological functioning” (Psychological Tests, 2012). Some examples of psychological tests include; mental ability, achievement, personality, interests and attitudes, and neurological. Some of the context that these tests include; clinical, educational, research, and personal. Within these tests it is crucial that the information provided to individuals is true and accurate (or valid and reliable). Achievement Tests According to The Free Dictionary (2012), for children, academic achievement, ability, and intelligence tests may be used as a tool in school placement, in determining the presence of a learning disability or a developmental delay, in identifying giftedness, or in tracking intellectual development. Intelligence testing may be used with adults to determine vocational ability (e.g., in career counseling) or to assess adult intellectual...
Words: 698 - Pages: 3
...CHAPTER I Introduction This chapter includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, hypothesis, conceptual framework, definition of terms used, significance of the study and the scope and limitations. Background of the Study Statement of the Problem This study aims to determine the influence of Study Habits in the Academic Performance of First Year Bachelor of Elementary Education students at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology during first semester, Academic Year 2014-2015. Specifically, this study will seek answer to the following questions: 1. What is the profile of respondents when grouped according to sex, income of the parents, birth order, library use, and place of residence while in school? 2. What are the study habits of first year students as a whole or grouped according to sex, income of the parents, birth order, library use, and place of residence while in school? 3. What are the academic performance of first year students as a whole or grouped according to sex, income of the parents, birth order, library use, and place of residence while in school? 4. Is there a significant difference between the study habits and academic performance of first year BEED students? 5. Is there a significant relationship between the study habits and academic performance of first year BEED students? Hypothesis of the Study To answer the aforementioned questions, the researchers tested the following null hypotheses. There is...
Words: 2808 - Pages: 12
...single mother raising two children was $13,423. Researchers have criticized the poverty threshold on numerous counts. First, government transfers such as food stamps and housing subsidies as well as tax benefits (e.g., the Earned Income Tax Credit) and tax payments are not included when assessing the poverty threshold. Second, regional and urban differences in the cost of living are not considered when computing the poverty threshold. Despite the criticisms levied against the way poverty is assessed in the United States, the current review highlights research that has used this definition of poverty, while acknowledging its weaknesses. This article reviews the literature linking family poverty to children's cognitive and educational outcomes such as achievement tests, grade completion, and high school graduation. Timing of poverty has been shown to make a difference vis-à-vis child outcomes; thus, the discussion focuses on three stages of childhood: early childhood (age two to four), middle childhood (age five to twelve), and adolescence (age thirteen to eighteen)....
Words: 2189 - Pages: 9
...School Context, Student Attitudes and Behavior, and Academic Achievement: An Exploratory Analysis Theresa M. Akey, Ph.D. January 2006 This paper was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Principal funding for First Things First comes from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Additional support to supplement the core project comes from the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. A grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts for MDRC’s research methodology initiatives was an important source of funding for the First Things First Classroom Observation Study. Dissemination of MDRC publications is supported by the following funders that help finance MDRC’s public policy outreach and expanding efforts to communicate the results and implications of our work to policymakers, practitioners, and others: Alcoa Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Open Society Institute, and The Starr Foundation. In addition, earnings from the MDRC Endowment help sustain our dissemination efforts. Contributors to the MDRC Endowment include Alcoa Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Anheuser-Busch Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The Grable Foundation...
Words: 19879 - Pages: 80
...construct or derive meaning (reading comprehension). It is a means of language acquisition of communication, and of sharing information and ideas. Like all language, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader which is shaped by the reader’s prior knowledge, experiences, attitude, and language community which is culturally and socially situated. The reading process requires continuous practice, development and refinement. Reading is making meaning from print, it requires that we: i. Identify the words in print – a process called word recognition. ii. Construct an understanding from them – a process called comprehension. iii. Coordinate identifying words and making meaning so that reading is automatic and accurate – an achievement called fluency. Sometimes you can make meaning from print without being able to identify all the words. Sometimes you can identify words without being able to construct much meaning from them. Sometimes you can identify words and comprehend them, but if the processes don’t come together smoothly, reading will still be a labored process. Reading in its fullest sense involves weaving together word recognition and comprehension in a fluent manner. These three processes are complex and each is important. i. To develop word recognition, One need to learn: • How to break apart and manipulate the sounds in words – this is Phonemic Awareness. Example: Feet have three sounds: /f/, /e/, and /t/. • Certain letters are used to represent certain...
Words: 3335 - Pages: 14
...Assess sociological explanations of ethnic differences in educational achievement. (20) Tony Lawson and Joan Garrod (2000) define ethnic groups as ‘people who share common history, customs and identity, as well as, in most cases, language and religion, and who see themselves as a distinct unit.’ When talking about culture we use terms such as customs, language and religion that is, about all of the things that are learned, shared and valued by a social group. It is a mistake to think of ethnic groups as always being defined by physical features such as skin colour. Although many ethnic minority groups in the UK are non-white, this is not applicable to all groups. According to Crystal (03), well over 100 languages are in routine use in the UK. Today, children from minority backgrounds make about21% of the pupils in English schools. The level of achievement of different ethnic groups varies greatly in Great Britain. This may be due to factors such as home background, class, language and in-school factors. Recent studies highlight the effects of racism. It is believed that ethnicity influences such factors, leading to an impact upon their education. When ethnic minority students do underachieve in education this may be explained partly by social class disadvantages and partly by educational disadvantages related specifically to their ethnicity. Although members of ethnic minorities are found throughout the UK class structure, Afro-Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...Introduction to Psychological Testing Lisa Bueno University of Phoenix PSY/475 Psychological Testing and Measurements Pamela Stewart, M.S. February 8, 2012 Introduction to Psychological Testing Define “Test” The word test as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is, “a cup used for smelting gold or silver ore” (Hogan, 2007, p. 38). Imagining what testing meant for Chaucer in the mid 1300s could be associated with an image of pure data, (perhaps gold or silver) captured and additional data was irrelevant. The Standards for Educational and Psychological Tests defines test as, “An evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee’s behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored using a standardized process” (Hogan, 2007, p. 38). In addition, Anastasi and Cronbach define test as “an objective and standardized measure of a sample behavior” and “there is no fully satisfactory definition” respectively (Hogan, 2007, p. 39). Essentially, Hogan (2007) gathered the test definitions and identified six critical elements: device or procedure, gather information, behavior or cognitive processes, sample, standardized and quantified. “A test is a standardized process or device that yields information about a sample or behavior or cognitive processes in a quantified manner” (Hogan, 2007, p. 41). However concise this definition may seem, in order to further understand psychological testing one must uncover the basics, identify...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...DAVID MARTINEZ SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS ▪ 10 years experience as an army medic in hospital, clinical, and deployed environments. ▪ Highly motivated and dedicated to achieve set goals ▪ Ability to remain calm and work well under demanding conditions ▪ Nationally registered EMT-B ¬ EDUCATION Brown Mackie College, San Antonio, Texas ¬Associates, Health Care Administration, (Expected Graduation 8/2013) ¬ ¬Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, Colorado ¬Associates, Liberal Arts (2008) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE United States Army May 2001 - April 2011 Health Care Non Commissioned Officer in Charge ▪ Supervised, mentored, coached, and counseled over 20 military and civilian personnel ▪ Conducted quarterly equal opportunity training to over 300 personnel ▪ Supervised clinical activities and responsible for serviceability of assigned equipment in area of responsibility ▪ Responsible and accountable for over 500,000 dollars of medical equipment and supplies with zero loss ▪ First line supervisor of the largest medical in-processing center on the largest military installation of the Armed Forces ¬ Health Care Team Lead ▪ Provided emergency care to soldiers and civilians in both combat and civilian settings ▪ Performed emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures including immobilization, stomach suction, airway management, heart monitoring, and medication administration ▪ Operated EKG's, external defibrillators, and bag-valve...
Words: 402 - Pages: 2
...At any position, employee or manager, it is important to realize that the key asset to an organization is the team of people who work for it. Whether the project succeeds or fails is entirely in the hands of the team working to achieve the desired outcome. This means that in order to produce a successful project, the team working on the project must be successful as well. It is the project manager’s job to make sure that the project is staying on schedule and that each task is being completed as planned. It is also within the project manager’s role to oversee the project team and provide good human resource management on projects. In order to provide a team with good human resource management, the project manager must keep employees confident and motivated and be successful in mentoring areas of conflict. As the manager of a project, you should expect to be working with people of a variety of different skill types. You’re going to have people who are very capable at certain things and you are also going to have people who are capable of doing many things whose jobs might vary. As project schedules can be somewhat hectic at times, it is important to make sure there are qualified people working on each part of the project and that each person knows exactly what their objectives are and what is expected of them. As project manager, if the project fails, you are responsible. Maintaining a good relationship with the project team as well as making sure they are capable of successfully...
Words: 2011 - Pages: 9
...precious gift anyone can bestow upon a child. Reading opens a child’s imagination, vocabulary and opportunities. Books can provide a new world, an escape and a solid educational foundation. Unfortunately, many children grow up without age appropriate books in their households. A great answer to this tragedy is to hold a book festival, and what better place than Chicago? Chicago is home to many single parent households that do not have disposable income to spend on children’s reading material. In fact, there are approximately 617,000 children living in Chicago, and 59 percent come from low-income families (Dinan et al., 2007). Statistically speaking, children from single- parent or low-income homes have fewer opportunities to access books and the wonderful world of reading. These children will grow up without a fun and educational past-time unless something is done. An astounding 61 percent of low-income households have absolutely no books for their children! This statistic correlates with lower scores on achievement tests than those from children who come from more financially stable households (Allington & McGill- Franzen, 2009). Alling & McGill- Franzen (2009) go onto say, “Children’s access to printed materials is the critical variable affecting reading acquisition.” A child’s academic achievement can be advantageously impacted by access to age appropriate reading material in the home. In contrast, households without books provide a greater chance for the child...
Words: 466 - Pages: 2
