Final Exam: Sociology of Education
What is one way in which young children's educational experiences differ?
Boys are more likely to be encouraged to be independent learners, while girls are treated as if they need more help
School reform movements have used a market-based philosophy to promote voucher programs. What do these reformers believe?
By allowing families to "vote with their feet" voucher systems may force failing schools to become more effective, or risk losing their students and funding
In what way does the "distraction hypothesis" explain students' short attention spans in school?
Children are used to the constant entertainment on TV and do not have the tolerance for the down times in the classroom
What is a major reason some groups want to ban books?
All of the above are reasons
The human capital perspective has been criticized for all but which of the following reasons?
An individual's beliefs, values, and behaviors cannot be transformed for economic modernization
Which of the following would not be considered an example of "process" in education?
the structure of roles within the organization
Which of the following is not part of the informal structure of school?
the structure of rules and refulations
Bourdieu and Passeron argue that children from privileged families succeed in school because:
their cultural capital is a better match with expectations of the school system
Post-modernism stresses the importance of:
theories relevant to local situations
What is true of "intelligence"?
there are multiple intelligence's
All of the following are results of early childhood education researcher except:
there are nearly always negative results of removing children from their homes for day care at a young age
which of the following represents a sociological perspective concerning the nature of status and roles?
there is often flexibility for an individual to determine role performance within the requirements of the position
Why are children from upper- and upper-middle class backgrounds more likely to obtain positions of power after they leave high school?
they are expected to and will attend college
Why do boys and girls experience different socialization experiences?
they are expected to take on sex-appropriate roles and behavior
In what way are all schools similar?
they are structured as an organization
How is the "glass ceiling" hindering girls in school?
they are taking more math and science, but cannot find many outlets to apply their knowledge
why can't school boards achieve their full potential
they are torn between what the public wants and what the school needs
How do conflict theorists differ from functionalist theories in their perspective of school goals?
they believe that goals only exist to further inequality in the classroom
Why have 2-year colleges been a source of controversy
they contribute to the holding back of lower socioeconomic classes
why do college graduates find challenges in the job market
they do not have specific skills for which employers are looking
why do teachers fall into category of "semiprofessionals"?
they do not meet all the requirements that characterize professionals
In relation to role expectation,s what do functional theorists believe?
they help an organization to operate efficiently
what do all types of social movements have in common
they seek change
In what way do charter schools blur the separation between church and state?
they use government funds to operate schools
Why has it been found that same-sex colleges are beneficial to women?
they will be sure of themselves
Students most likely to transfer from 2- to 4-year institutions are:
those with good grades
Why were free schools created
to give children a sense of ownership in their education
the original function of the medieval university was:
transmitting knowledge
A desegregated school is composed of students from different racial groups. However, this does no necessarily mean that it is integrated in terms of the development of positive interracial relationships
true
According to conflict theorists, schools reproduce social classes
true
According to the text, self-conceptions of academic ability among students are significantly correlated with their academic performance
true
According to the text, standardized test measures of achievement reveal gender differences. Girls do better in reading, writing, and literature, while boys do better in math and science
true
According to the text, student apathy may be a coping mechanism that protects their self-worth against failure in school
true
Both functional and conflict theory tend to examine school power dynamics in terms of the large cultural, economic, and political systems of society. However, neither conflict nor functional theory has placed much emphasis on classroom dynamics
true
By the time children enter nursery school, a sense of gender identity has already been established
true
Children from different social classes experience different language environments during primary socialization
true
Critics of the functionalist perspective argue that functionalism has difficulty in explaining social change, and that it fails to recognize the number of divergent interest groups in conflict with one another
true
Most experts agree that early identification of "at-risk" students and early intervention are critical if we are to reduce school failure as they progress through the system
true
NAEP data shows that significant gaps exist between White and minority students, yet it also shows that the racial test score gap has narrowed over time
true
Oppositional culture theory states that minority students develop an an oppositional attitude towards schooling due to structural barriers and is especially observable in the transition to middle school
true
Social stratification refers to the organization of people in society into socioeconomic strata
true
The "human capital" perspective argues that there is a strong relationship between the global economy and the role of education
true
Women's children live longer as mothers receive more education
true
a recent controversy about charter schools and religious sponsorship occurred over a catholic diocese proposing to open charter schools that would receive public funds
true
a school's value climate is influenced by the family background and socioeconomic composition of the student body
true
according to some conflict theorists, the hidden curriculum of a school serves a social control function that reproduces the social class of students
true
conflict theorists argue that in the transfer of knowledge, some groups in society are left out of the decision makings
true
despite improvements in the portrayal of gender in textbooks, males are still portrayed more often and in more varied roles than are females
true
despite some membership increases by females and blacks, school boards in the US are composed predominantly of white males with middle to high incomes
true
parents attitudes toward education strongly influence children's achievement
true
parents involvement in the educational process tends to differ by social class
true
principals are the "boss-in-the-middle" because they mediate conflicts between parents and teachers and must support and evaluate teachers
true
researchers think that chronic exposure to microaggressions wears down student's metabolic systems and immune responses
true
the higher the parents involvement in their children's schooling, the higher students academic performance
true
the open education British primary school model features individualized education
true
the primary purpose of the IEA study was to identify key characteristics of national education systems and relate them to outcomes of learning
true
which of the following conclusions is supported by research on how parents influence their children's school conduct?
when teachers involve parents in home teaching activities with their children student learning increases
Which of the following is true about school superintendents?
women superintendents are generally found in small districts where they do not risk appearing too authoritarian
Which statement best explains the way in which the early educational system in the US perpetuated gender inequality?
women were not encouraged to attend school or learn to read and write
"brain drain" refers to:
workers leaving countries because they cannot find opportunities
The "legitimation of knowledge" refers to which of the following?
Education is ideological with knowledge domination by those in power
An argument cited by opponents of bilingual education is that
English facility is crucial to "get ahead" in the US
What is one way the stratification of education has changed in recent years?
Girls are more likely to graduate high school and attend college
Why does academic performance alone have little influence on an individual's success?
Many factors contribute to a person's position in society
How are processes different from structure in the educational system?
Processes are constantly changing, while structure remains the same
According to functionalist theory, why is inequality unavoidable?
Some people are better able to contribute to societal requirements than others
What did not concern Kozol about social class disparities in educational environments due to funding?
Students do not care about their school environment
Why does standardized teaching negatively affect lesson planning for teachers?
Teachers "teach to the test" and have little flexibility
Why do some people argue that the use of textbooks in classrooms should be abandoned in lieu of technology?
Technology has the ability keep students informed with relevant information
What was one way separation of church and state has proven to be controversial in the school setting?
The teaching of evolution
How do the Japanese differ in their educational values from many in the United States?
They believe all students can do well
Why do Asian girls tend to better in math than their American counterparts?
They receive more parental support
What do Davis and Moore suggest about the way stratification occurs?
Those who achieve more success in education will achieve more success in society
Critics of tracking claim which of the following?
Tracking increases academic failure and heightens racial and social class tensions in a school
Based on Durkheim's work, which of the following is true?
We cannot separate the educational system from the rest of society because education is closely related to all other societal institutions
which statement best explains the role of the principal in a school system
a decision maker who controls an individual school, but has little influence in the district as a whole
What is a consequence that the increase in reports of college rankings has had?
a hierarchal system of colleges has been established
what was the impetus for programs such as teach for america?
a need for teachers in at-risk schools
What is meant by "rationality of the organization"?
a position holder has authority over others only in areas associated with the job
the most recent movement in US education is
accountability
Which statement is true regarding "curriculum of the home"
affluent families provide better preparation for school
Which of the following is an example of a flaw in the human capital perspective
all nations desire to be like western nations
According to the text, education:
all of the above
According to the text, which of the following is associated with grade retention?
all of the above
According to the text, which of the following variables could affect school dropout patterns?
all of the above
Current research topics in the journal Sociology of Education, the main journal in the field, show which of the following to be key areas of research?
all of the above
Functional theorists argue that higher education has developed rapidly because:
all of the above
Home influences on students are seen in:
all of the above
In examining contemporary educational reform movement as discussed in the text, what general conclusion can be drawn?
all of the above
In relation to power dynamics and roles, functional theorists argue that:
all of the above
Race and early life experiences shape students' later educational experiences through exposure to threats such as:
all of the above
Research on sex differences suggest that:
all of the above
Sociologists of education study:
all of the above
The "crisis of boys" is a reaction to:
all of the above
The "hidden curriculum" is often revealed by the:
all of the above
The gender gap in pay exists due to:
all of the above
What has been the impact of colonial powers on educational systems today?
all of the above
Which of the following is true with respect to illiteracy?
all of the above
Why is a bureaucratic model problematic for universities
all of the above
factors that affect school boards in their decision making include:
all of the above
of what importance is "the environment" to the educational system
all of the above
role conflict occurs when:
all of the above
school boards:
all of the above
the differences in educational experiences of students in rich versus poor schools are due to which of the following?
all of the above
the school as an organization refers to the:
all of the above
the structure of bureaucracy can cause what type of problem in school settings?
all of the above
what is true of classroom structures and teacher expectations?
all of the above
which of the following is true regarding efforts to improve the quality of teaching?
all of the above
which of the following is a function served by community colleges according to Clark's study?
all of the above are functions
What theme(s) dominate cross-cultural studies of education
all of the above are themes
how can the government increase its control in education
allotting money only to schools that follow federal initiatives
how did the individuals with disabilities education act changed the school system
allowing disabled students to reach their full potential
how can a bureaucratic school system fail a student?
allowing him or her to slip through the cracks
What does the back-to-basics movement desire
an emphasis on rudimentary skills
(ch. 7) conflict theorists argue that:
appointed school boards are more likely to serve capitalist interest
when did schools begin to move toward the current bureaucratic model?
as more students attend school beyond the elementary level
(CH 1) Both functional and conflict theories:
attempt to explain how education contributes to the maintenance of the status quo in society
A sociologist studying education would be least likely to focus on which of the following?
biological factors affecting individual learning
How were the progressive and humanistic movements similar
both focused on child-centered methodologies
how did religion influence education in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire
by offering the only type of secondary education
According to research cited in the text, how does class size affect student learning and achievement?
children in lower grades gain by being in smaller classes
how can schools be seen as an investment
children will contribute to society in the future
the "informal system" does not include:
classroom lesson plans
According to Parsons, the school expects "successful" students to develop two components of achievement, which include:
cognitive learning and moral responsibility
according to Parsons, the school expects "successful" students to develop two components of achievement, which include:
cognitive learning and moral responsibility
Social movements refer to
collective efforts to bring about change when large groups are dissatisfied with existing conditions
What is the relationship between community colleges and the business community
community colleges seek to meet business needs
does employment of adolescents after school hours help or hinder their academic achievement?
conclusions are uncertain due to the number of hours worked and reasons for work
The belief that educational systems reflect desires of the elite in society and are organized to perpetuate elite status reflects what perspective?
conflict perspective
Which theory would most likely agree with the following statement: "Education produces a disciplined labor force for military, political, or other ares of control and exploitation by the "elite"?
conflict theory
What is not true concerning discipline in school?
corporal (physical) punishment has been strictly forbidden by the Supreme Court
Which of the following was not a position advocated by Horace Mann for establishing public schools
create a strong Christian social order
Small schools-within-schools have been found to:
create more personal learning environments for students and not be associated with more effective teaching methods
A multicultural approach to education seeks to provide:
culturally relevant curriculum and a social justice framework
"school climate" refers to the:
culture, rituals, expectations, and ceremonies of the school
what is one theory that explains the recent decline in the achievement of boys in school?
curricula are not designed to suit boys' brains
making students repeat a grad is associated with which of the following?
decision to drop out of school and dissatisfaction and frustration with school
Since the 1990s, what has happened to efforts to desegregate?
desegregation has slowed and, in many areas, re-segregation has occurred due to a new wave of court cases that has effectively re-segregated schools
Dependency and world system theorists argue that:
developing countries are exploited so they cannot advance
Unanticipated consequences of educational functions include:
development of a youth subculture
How can a society's culture cause conflict in education?
each group within the society has different interests
what does the term "hidden curriculum" explain?
expectations of students that are not clearly defined
A fundamental characteristic of schooling as a social system is that schools are insulated from the controversies that occur in the economic, political, religious, and cultural spheres of the larger society
false
A major concern about the role of students as discussed in the text is that they have no power in the higher education system
false
According to Bowles and Gintis, a primary goal of schooling in the US is to teach students nonconformity and rebellion against an oppressive economic system
false
Both federal and state law requires schools in various districts to provide all students equal access to computer technologies and the Internet
false
Compared to other organizations, school systems tend not to generate role conflict because the goals of education are clearly defined and universally shared
false
Conflict theorists argue that changes in the educational system alone, without necessarily bringing about changes in the economy, would be sufficient to end poverty
false
Conflict theorists who examine the U.S schools have consistently produced hard empirical evidence that school curriculum promotes the interests of capitalism
false
Differences between urban and rural schools in developing countries are generally very small
false
Functionalists argue that the goals of a school system are those goals of the dominant power groups, and that there are competing goals for schools held by different interest groups in society
false
International organizations such as the Ford Rockefeller foundations and the world bank have promoted educational reforms that have successfully addressed inequality in many poor countries
false
Minority students have an excess of cultural capital that they use to do well in school
false
One of the positive functions of ability grouping is that it increases the number and variety of students in various groups
false
Racial and ethnic disparities do not exist for educational attainment
false
Social reproduction does not explain why kids from working-class background struggle in school
false
Social scientists have been able to develop unequivocal and accurate measures of human intellectual capacity
false
Studies of the relationship between education and stratification consistently show that one's social class position upon entering school does not affect educational achievement
false
The majority of countries around the world have legal separation of religion and educational institutions
false
Today the field of comparative education uses as its primary method case studies to compare countries
false
Unlike other social institutions, schools are autonomous agents that are immune or insulated from conflicts in political, economic, or religious spheres
false
because women dominate teaching, they are also disproportionately represented in positions of administrative leadership, including principals and school superintendents
false
contrary to popular belief, the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking, and sexual activity of close peers does not influence a student's involvement is such behavior
false
court rulings on religion have favored the viewpoint of "creation science"
false
during the "enlightenment" of the eighteenth century, the concern in education shifted away from an emphasis on the powers of reason to an emphasis on religious dogmA
false
evidence suggests that making an academically failing student repeat a grade is one of the most effective ways to motivate him or her to improve school performance.
false
female and male students are equally likely to drop out of high school
false
if present enrollment trends in the US continue, by 2010 there will be more students in private schools than in public schools
false
in most nations religion and education are separeate
false
most teachers have bachelors' degrees, but often not in their field of teaching
false
research has shown that boys have innate cognitive advantages over girls
false
research on teacher expectations indicates that teachers are influenced by students' previous work and test scores, but not by the physical appearance, sex, and language patterns of students
false
schools can prevent religious clubs from meeting due to separation of church and state. This does not apply to other clubs
false
studies of general intelligence demonstrate that there are biological differences in math and verbal abilities resulting from one's sex
false
the federal government has little influence over higher education because it lacks ability to fund research
false
the four countries with the highest mathematics and science performance on the IEA tests are all in Europe
false
the history of race and education in the US can be characterized as separate but equal
false
the legal function of schools is to teach subject areas of language, math, science, and history
false
According to the text, the educational system is relatively insulated from environmental factors such as population changes, social movements, and technological innovation
falst
what is one advantage to small schools?
fewer discipline issues
"teacher burnout" involves all but which of the following?
frequent loss of temper in the classroom
in what major way are businesses involved with schools
giving internships to students
Which of the following is not listed in the text as a basic function of education?
guarantee of equal life chances
How did Horace Mann contribute to the educational system of the US
he developed teachers colleges
What was John Dewey's contribution to education?
he incorporated the needs and interests of the child
what is one reason tracking makes it difficult for students to change placement once put into a particular "level"?
higher tracks move faster and learn more content
how is the idea that the US has begun to lose its position in the world economy evident?
in the outsourcing of work to other countries
which of the following factors is an example of "educational climate"?
influences on students' values toward education
which of the following is not a feature of bureaucracies as described by Weber?
informal and affective role relationships
the text suggest that student apathy and alienation:
is a coping mechanism among students who see little possibility of success in school
In relation to higher education, what does functionalist theory believe?
it allows students to have the chance to fill different niches in society
What is not true concerning functionalist theory?
it assumes the institutions of society are highly interdependent and in basic harmony with each other
what do critics of decentralization argue?
it does not decrease the power of administrators
In what way has comparative education changed since its inception
it has taken on a broader approach
Why do some conflict theorists disagree with formal education for every young children?
it is biased toward certain groups
Why has Title IX been a source of controversy since its inception?
it is difficult for schools to prove they are complying with the mandates
In the broadest sense, the education systems' environment refers to:
key organizations, ideas, and trends in society that influence school systems
Educational movements and calls for reform are more common in countries that:
lack centralization of decision making in the educational system
Which of the following is not seen by most sociologists as a major educational problem in the world today
lack of common standards of education and curricula across cultures
the teacher style that allows students a great deal of freedom in the classroom is:
laissez-faire
which of the following is an example of the "hidden curriculum" of a school?
learning the rules and routines associated with the lunchtime recess
Why was the use of taxpayer money to fund public schools considered undesirable before 1850
literacy was not an important issue
Local communities and school are closely connected because:
local businesses put pressure on schools to train students for work
stereotype threat affects students by:
making students feel stress when asked to perform a task that could confirm the stereotype
Why are there few women at the administrative level in the school system?
men have traditionally held these roles
How was standardized testing changed the role of the elementary teacher?
more emphasis has been placed on the performance of students
A functionalist view of economics and education suggests which of the following
more schooling opens more economic possibilities for individuals and nations
what is not true concerning the impact that the number of siblings in a family has on students futures?
more siblings in a family results in higher academic achievement because older siblings provide models and help younger siblings with academics
The "essentialists" refers to the movement in education that favored:
more stress on intellectual activities
According to the text, which of the following is true with respect to education?
none of the above
As a result of the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of education:
none of the above
The coleman report found that:
none of the above
Which of the following is true of the Hispanic population?
none of the above
scientific research on sex and gender roles indicates that:
none of the above
what initiatives can reduce the "educational achievement gap"?
none of the above
which of the following is true of youth gangs?
none of the above
why is joey from a working-class family likely to achieve less in school than billy from a middle-class family
none of the above
What is one way some colleges are encouraging lower-income families to apple without discriminating against other groups?
offering free or very low tuition rates
How do most public schools teach morals?
organizing special activities
according to the functionalist theory, what will happen if a part of the school system does not work properly?
other parts will cease to function properly, as well
what is most accurate concerning parental involvement in the formal education of their children?
parental involvement often leads to positive learning results for children
Barriers to student learning include all but which of the following
peer student issues
"Accountability" refers to any of the following except:
promotion based on longevity
How does the Head Start program help to achieve educational equality between races?
providing young children of minority backgrounds opportunities they may not have had otherwise
According to Ogbu, "involuntary immigrants" are likely to:
reject the dominant society as an oppressor
Conflict theorists such as Bowles and Gintis view higher education as:
related to the needs of a capitalist society
According to conflict theorist, the informal system helps to:
reproduce students social class positions
In his study of inequality, Christopher Jencks concluded that:
school reform can bring about little if any social changes in inequality outside schools
how are school boards able to control aspects of curriculum and teaching?
selecting and hiring the superintendent
different experiences of men and women in the educational system are due to:
socialization experiences
The alternative education movement emphasizes all but which of the following
strict emphasis on the "basis"-discipline and teacher-directed activities
"cooling-out" refers to a process in higher education where:
students are dissuaded from continuing on in higher education because of "academic weakness"
which of the following is not part of conflict theorists view of power dynamics in schools?
students are socialized into universally shared norms of the school for a smooth-running system
According to some researchers, why is bilingual education important to society?
students who speak other languages will someday be seeking jobs
How is a teacher's attitude toward his or her students influential in strification?
teacher behavior toward a student is directly related to performance
in relation to teachers, what does institutional theory explain?
teachers are able to implement change beyond the classroom
what is one reason the organization of a school contributes to student success?
teachers have a support system and are able to receive constructive feedback on performance
Critic of the humanistic education movement argue that:
teachers should be more direct and absolute in teaching values
The open systems perspective on racial and ethnic inequalities in education shows us:
that problems of equality go far beyond the effect of schools alone
Critics argue that which of the following would maintain segregation and would provide public support for private schools
the "choice" program
What is a fundamental difference between the education of children in poor nations compared to those in affluent nations
the amount of formal classroom experience
the relationship between home influence and school attainment can best be characterized as:
the child bringing pressures, problems, and expectations from home to school
Bowles and Gintis argue that:
the educational system is designed to keep people within their social class positions
Which of the following is a true statement concerning socialization?
the family is the primary context for initial childhood socialization
The largest change in higher education enrollments in the last decade is:
the growth in enrollment at for-profit colleges
Max Weber's brand of conflict theory stressed:
the importance of status group relationships in forming "status cultures" in schools
The "credential crisis" refers to
the inflation of credential necessary to compete for jobs
Conflict theorists argue that:
the school system is basically volatile and coercion helps explain the equilibrium that does exist
