Social class and construct systems: an examination of the cognitive structure of two social class groups.

Abstract

Bernstein contends that differences in linguistic coding are associated with social class groupings, and primary among consequences claimed for differential linguistic coding are differences in the organization of cognitive processes. The reported investigation attempted to examine the cognitive aspects of Bernstein's theory.A modification of Kelly's repertory grid technique and the Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale were administered to groups of middle and working class subjects, very similar in composition to those employed by Bernstein in his own empirical work. Three structural measures of cognitive processes were extracted from the repertory grid data, and an interesting incidental finding of class differences in the use of the construct ‘unusual’ is also reported. The results are discussed and various conclusions are drawn. It was considered that a measure of support had been provided for certain aspects of Bernstein's theory, with a possibility of further support awaiting clarification of one of the cognitive measures.