Differential Education Achievement
Encyclopedia
Differential Educational Achievement (DEA) is a sociological
term often given to a concept that disagrees with some of the functionalist
views on education
.
Many functionalists believe that an individual's academic success depends completely upon that person's IQ (intelligence quotient
) and the effort they apply to their studies. They also believe that society works in a meritocratic system
: that people work for what they achieve, and achieve what they deserve, according to their own merit and effort, i.e., they work hard to get the best jobs in later life.
Some other sociologists do not concur with this idea. They think that other factors have a more prominent impact on one's education. These factors may include social class
background, gender
and ethnicity.
Marxists believe that this is due to social class, and that in education only the ruling class values are transmitted. This means that working class people find it difficult to connect with the education system. In this respect, according to this theory, many people from less affluent backgrounds are academically disadvantaged from the very start.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
term often given to a concept that disagrees with some of the functionalist
Structural functionalism
Structural functionalism is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology which sets out to interpret society as a structure with interrelated parts. Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions and institutions...
views on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
Many functionalists believe that an individual's academic success depends completely upon that person's IQ (intelligence quotient
Intelligence quotient
An intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests designed to assess intelligence. When modern IQ tests are constructed, the mean score within an age group is set to 100 and the standard deviation to 15...
) and the effort they apply to their studies. They also believe that society works in a meritocratic system
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
: that people work for what they achieve, and achieve what they deserve, according to their own merit and effort, i.e., they work hard to get the best jobs in later life.
Some other sociologists do not concur with this idea. They think that other factors have a more prominent impact on one's education. These factors may include social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
background, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
and ethnicity.
Marxists believe that this is due to social class, and that in education only the ruling class values are transmitted. This means that working class people find it difficult to connect with the education system. In this respect, according to this theory, many people from less affluent backgrounds are academically disadvantaged from the very start.