Academic conformity observed: studies in the classroom
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Date
1973Author
Delamont, Katherine Sara
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Abstract
This thesis is predominantly a study of a sample
of girls from one school. The major focus is conformity
and non-conformity in scholastic matters, with special
emphasis on classroom behaviour.
The project began with questionnaire research on
the attitudes to study held by a large sample of Scottish
adolescents. Acting on the conclusions of this research,
the project underwent a change of primary focus. Instead
of concentrating on attitudes in a large sample, the main
emphasis became the actions of small numbers of pupils in
the classroom - particularly their speech patterns. Two
distinct methods were used to study the classroom, systematic observation with pre-deterrained schedules, and unstructured or ethnographic observation. Both types of
observation were used to analyse the classroom behaviour
of teachers, in addition to the conformity and non-conformity
of pupil behaviour in the classroom. Teacher and pupil perspectives on academic matters
are discussed, and related to the interactions which
occurred in the classroom. The historical and social background of the particular school in which the intensive study
took place is examined, and associated with the 'rules' of
classroom discourse.
The final chapter of the thesis presents a model
which integrates the various themes running through the
thesis, drawn from the writings of the symbolic interactionist
school of social psychology.