- Faculty of Education - Theses
Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemSelfoverestimation and scholastic successClaughton, Warren G ( 1977)Three weeks before the end of year final assessments at school, 133 boys from forms one, three and five at a Victorian secondary school produced a self rating (SR) in six areas, general academic ability, industriousness in maths and in English, friendliness, and predicted final mark in maths and in English. Each student also rated all other members of his class in these six areas. The composite of these scores produced a group rating (GR) of each student in each of the six areas. The SR was then compared with the GR. If the SR>GR the student was defined as overestimating himself. The other two possible outcomes of this comparison were SR=GR (realistic) or SR
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ItemThe developing ideologies of bright working class childrenFaulkner, Michael John ( 1978)This study investigates the influence of social class membership upon children's involvement within the education system. Here, the attitudes of upper primary school children from working class backgrounds, were surveyed. Set within a 'generative' approach to social class, and within a sociology of knowledge framework, this study is a preliminary investigation into a little researched area. While attention elsewhere is usually focused upon between-class differences, in explaining the reproduction of ideology, social structures, and social relationships, the emphasis of this study is upon the development of within-class differences towards these same processes. The attitudes and aspirations of forty seven, teacher nominated, 'gifted' children, towards themselves and their peers, were investigated. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the following dimensions; reported best and worst jobs, explanations of school and occupational success, extent of reported similarities with, and differences from peers, and, the relationship of general ability test performances to such response patterns. The results indicate some development of intra-group ideological differences, among this unrepresentative sample of working class children. This thesis argues that these differences are in part, a response to nascent dilemmas, which emerge from the life experience of such children, and which, demand resolution. A characteristic form of this resolution is in the development of an ideology which facilitates the self-elimination of such scholastically capable individuals, from the education system. The thesis suggests that another form of this resolution, involves some children maintaining a pursuit of scholastic excellence, while concomitantly, perceiving, acknowledging, and accentuating differences, between themselves and their social class peers. Within this context, an important related issue is discussed; namely, how the school system reproduces social classes in Australian society.