Labelling theory

Labelling theory

1. Definition:

   • defining a person in a simplified manner and putting them in broad catagories

2. important part of student/ teacher relations (has good or bad impact)

3. e.g 'troublemaker treated harshly but clever student encouraged to succeed

4. can lead to self fulfilling prophecy:

   • when student 'internalises' label so becomes them (their identity)
     • CRITICISM: labelling can have positive effect
   • Fuller 1984- found black girls at London comp labelled as low achievers so knuckled down to prove them wrong

5. Key theorists:

   • Hargreaves-analysed which students were labelled by teachers in 1st year found were:
     • Speculative- guessing about pupils have to deal with
       • Elaboration- confirming or contradicting label
         • Stablization- when teacher feels that they know the student(s)

6. Rist 1970- looked at how kindergartens streamed:

   • found not just based on ability but appearance and family finance

7. Rosenthal & Jacobson- randomly selected students + said to teachers beyond average IQ

   • Year later found that: gained more IQ than 80% and teachers believed greater advances in reading
     • CRITICISM- other experimental studies didn't show effect
       • Waterhouse (2004)-studies 4 primary/ secondary and found that teachers give student pivotal identity
         • a core identity that the teacher uses to interpret student behavior and classroom events
           • e.g if 'average' student becomes trouble some seen as temp. phase
             • BUT trouble some student becoming well behaved seen as unusual and suspicious

8. KEY CRITICISM- relies TOO heavy on teacher agency (ability of teachers to influence students)

   • Structural sociologists- schools encourage labelling in terms of ability