THE SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF ABILITY

The extent to which social class differences in the measured ability of children change as the children get older is an important educational, sociological and even political question. Using the results of tests taken by Aberdeen school children at ages 7, 9, and 12, it was found that there was no s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sociology (Oxford) 1967-05, Vol.1 (2), p.113-129
Main Authors: Horobin, Gordon, Oldman, David, Bytheway, Bill
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ability/Abilities
Change/Changes
Children
Elementary schools
Mathematics tests
Medical research
Middle class
Secondary education
Secondary schools
Social
Social class/Social classes
Social classes
Test scores
Working class
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Summary:The extent to which social class differences in the measured ability of children change as the children get older is an important educational, sociological and even political question. Using the results of tests taken by Aberdeen school children at ages 7, 9, and 12, it was found that there was no significant increase in the 'class gap in ability' with age, but that there was significant variation in the 'class differentiating power' of the tests used. One of the methods used by Douglas, in The Home and the School, to demonstrate an increasing gap between both social classes and ability streams is shown to be unsound. It is also suggested that the regression effects which invalidate the method may affect differentially the accuracy with which we can predict the later performance of children belonging to the several social classes from their success at a selection examination.
ISSN:0038-0385
1469-8684
DOI:10.1177/003803856700100201