EPPL751: Sociology of (Higher) Education

1. EPPL751: Sociology of (Higher) Education Cultural Praxis in Educational Policy and Planning

2. Tonight’s Roadmap • Discussion: Structural v. Cultural Explanations in Sociology • Group Assignments: Explore the Dialogue from Concept to Explanation • Readings Discussions

3. Structural Explanations in Sociology • Social Structure: Social structure is a term used in the social sciences to refer to patterned social arrangements which form the society as a whole, and which determine, to some varying degree, the actions of the individuals socialized into that structure. The meaning of "social structure" differs between various fields of sociology. On the macro scale, it can refer to the system of socioeconomic stratification (e.g., the class structure), social institutions, or, other patterned relations between large social groups. On the meso scale, it can refer to the structure of social network ties between individuals or organizations. On the micro scale, it can refer to the way norms shape the behavior of actors within the social system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structure

4. Culture as an Explanation in Multiple Disciplines • Culture (from the Latincultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate")[1] is a term that has many different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.[2] However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses: • Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture • An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning • The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture

5. Cultural Praxis • In Action Research studies, we are often compelled to ask: “What set(s) of shared ‘attitudes, values, goals, and practices’ that characterize Higher Education as an institution are at work here?” • We may simultaneously ask the same question of an organization or groups of individuals within a social structure itself defined by ‘patterns of social relations, networks, or region, or norms of behavior within a social system’”…

6. Exploring the Dialogue from Concept to Explanation • Groups and Conceptual Area Assignments: • Angelo & Marcel: rural students’ persistence from community college to 4-year college to graduation • Laura & LaVerne: pedagogy as a social and cultural process within educational settings • Kristina & Luanna: structural and cultural complexity in student groups’ experiences • Step 1: discuss generally, share how your research aims to study the area mentioned • Step 2: identify for one another internal/external explanations inherent in your descriptions, assist with developing structural and cultural explanations • Step 3: share a reading that will support a claim that you will make and expand the sociological explanatory power of your research.

7. Readings Discussion • Strengths/Weaknesses Evaluations • The Source of the River as a model • Theoretical Foundations – no single model, but explored a few for their possibilities • Use of Quantitative Data to Explore Both Demographic and Qualitative understanding of social phenomena • Dialogue with and Departure from Other Research • Additional comments?

8. Thank You! • Questions?