Opportunities for Learning
A Sociological Perspective
Published on 15. June 2025
Book
Hardback
602 pages
978-0-268-20939-1 (ISBN)
Description
Opportunities for Learning brings together the works of one of the most highly regarded past presidents of the American Sociological Association, focusing on uncovering and addressing educational inequities in elementary and secondary schools.
Few sociologists of education can rival the depth and breadth of Maureen T. Hallinan's contributions to the field. This book compiles her writings, some of which have never been published before, to bring the full insight of both her sociological imagination and her theoretical and empirical research. Through articles, book chapters, and invited lectures, Hallinan explores the interplay among theory, research, and policy. Other pieces focus on the importance of opportunities to learn, peer friendships, and ability grouping for instruction. She writes in depth about various attempts of educational reform and the effects of Catholic schools. Hallinan sought to address the enduring problems of sociological theorizing and research within education, and her writings contribute important insights and provide foundations for the next generation of social scientists.
This collection demonstrates Hallinan's keen ability to communicate balanced inquiry by engaging multiple perspectives in her theoretical framework coupled with strong empirical testing of the relationships.
Few sociologists of education can rival the depth and breadth of Maureen T. Hallinan's contributions to the field. This book compiles her writings, some of which have never been published before, to bring the full insight of both her sociological imagination and her theoretical and empirical research. Through articles, book chapters, and invited lectures, Hallinan explores the interplay among theory, research, and policy. Other pieces focus on the importance of opportunities to learn, peer friendships, and ability grouping for instruction. She writes in depth about various attempts of educational reform and the effects of Catholic schools. Hallinan sought to address the enduring problems of sociological theorizing and research within education, and her writings contribute important insights and provide foundations for the next generation of social scientists.
This collection demonstrates Hallinan's keen ability to communicate balanced inquiry by engaging multiple perspectives in her theoretical framework coupled with strong empirical testing of the relationships.
Reviews / Votes
"Opportunities for Learning highlights the expanse of Maureen Hallinan's research. Her considerable contributions to sociology, education, and especially Catholic education continue to be impactful today. I admired her as an eminent scholar and appreciated her incisive wit. We were fortunate to have her as part of the Notre Dame community." -Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., president, University of Notre Dame"This book is a treasure trove of enduring studies. It will be an essential resource for teaching and research on children and their schools, especially when it comes to understanding friendships, values, and classroom organization." -Adam Gamoran, president of the William T. Grant Foundation
"Maureen Hallinan was a subtle and skilled analyst of education. This collection showcases Maureen's facility with quantitative methods to glean insight about a variety of educational issues. Her contributions to the sociology of education have lasting implications." -Teresa A. Sullivan, president emerita, University of Virginia
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Notre Dame IN
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
54 tables, 10 graphs - 54 Tables, black and white - 10 Graphs
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
1013 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-268-20939-1 (9780268209391)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Maureen T. Hallinan | Elizabeth Covay Minor | Mark Berends
Opportunities for Learning
A Sociological Perspective
E-Book
06/2025
University of Notre Dame Press
€66.49
Available for download
Persons
Maureen T. Hallinan (1940-2014) was the founding director of the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity. A celebrated teacher and colleague, Hallinan was the author of more than 120 articles in professional journals and the editor of eight books.
Elizabeth Covay Minor is the director of Educational Leadership Studies and associate professor at National Louis University. She is the author of multiple articles and serves as a co-editor for i.e.: inquiry.
Mark Berends is a professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame. He has numerous scholarly publications, including co-editing Handbook of Research on School Choice, 2nd edition.
Barbara Schneider is the John A. Hannah University Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Department of Sociology at Michigan State University. She has published nineteen books and more than one hundred articles and reports, including co-authoring Learning Science: The Value of Crafting Engagement in Science Environments.
Elizabeth Covay Minor is the director of Educational Leadership Studies and associate professor at National Louis University. She is the author of multiple articles and serves as a co-editor for i.e.: inquiry.
Mark Berends is a professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame. He has numerous scholarly publications, including co-editing Handbook of Research on School Choice, 2nd edition.
Barbara Schneider is the John A. Hannah University Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Department of Sociology at Michigan State University. She has published nineteen books and more than one hundred articles and reports, including co-authoring Learning Science: The Value of Crafting Engagement in Science Environments.
Content
Part 1. Sociology of Education
1. A Sociological Perspective on Social Issues by Maureen T. Hallinan
2. Two Research Traditions in the Sociology of Education by Maureen T. Hallinan
3. A Reconceptualization of School Effects by Maureen T. Hallinan and Aage B. Sorensen
4. Social Organization of Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan
5. School Choice and Justice Issues by Maureen T. Hallinan
6. Improving the Interaction between Sociological Research and Educational Policy by Maureen T. Hallinan
7. The Privileges and Responsibilities of Teaching by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 2. School Organization and Catholic Education
8. The Normative Culture of School and Student Socialization by Maureen T. Hallinan
9. Religious Instruction by Maureen T. Hallinan
10. Catholic Education as a Societal Institution by Maureen T. Hallinan
11. The Practice of Ability Grouping: Sector Differences in Implementation by Maureen T. Hallinan and Brandy Ellison
12. A Comparison of Academic Achievement and Adherence to the Common School Ideal in Public and Catholic Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan and Warren Kubitschek
13. Social Capital Effects on Student Outcomes by Maureen T. Hallinan
14. Preliminary Thoughts on Creating a Field of Catholic Education by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 3. Ability Grouping & Tracking
15. Tracking: From Theory to Practice by Maureen T. Hallinan
16. Tracking and Detracking Practices: Relevance for Learning by Maureen T. Hallinan 17. School Differences in Tracking Effects on Achievement by Maureen T. Hallinan
18. Curriculum Differentiation and High School Achievement by Maureen T. Hallinan and Warren Kubitschek
19. Ability Grouping and Student Learning by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 4. Friendship
20. The Process of Friendship Formation by Maureen T. Hallinan
21. Classroom Racial Composition and Children's Friendships by Maureen T. Hallinan
22. Ability Grouping and Student Friendships by Maureen T. Hallinan and Aage B. Sorensen
23. Interracial Friendship Choices in Secondary Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan and Richard Williams
24. Student Interracial Interactions and Perceptions of School as a Community by Maureen T. Hallinan, Warren N. Kubitschek, and Ge Liu
1. A Sociological Perspective on Social Issues by Maureen T. Hallinan
2. Two Research Traditions in the Sociology of Education by Maureen T. Hallinan
3. A Reconceptualization of School Effects by Maureen T. Hallinan and Aage B. Sorensen
4. Social Organization of Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan
5. School Choice and Justice Issues by Maureen T. Hallinan
6. Improving the Interaction between Sociological Research and Educational Policy by Maureen T. Hallinan
7. The Privileges and Responsibilities of Teaching by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 2. School Organization and Catholic Education
8. The Normative Culture of School and Student Socialization by Maureen T. Hallinan
9. Religious Instruction by Maureen T. Hallinan
10. Catholic Education as a Societal Institution by Maureen T. Hallinan
11. The Practice of Ability Grouping: Sector Differences in Implementation by Maureen T. Hallinan and Brandy Ellison
12. A Comparison of Academic Achievement and Adherence to the Common School Ideal in Public and Catholic Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan and Warren Kubitschek
13. Social Capital Effects on Student Outcomes by Maureen T. Hallinan
14. Preliminary Thoughts on Creating a Field of Catholic Education by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 3. Ability Grouping & Tracking
15. Tracking: From Theory to Practice by Maureen T. Hallinan
16. Tracking and Detracking Practices: Relevance for Learning by Maureen T. Hallinan 17. School Differences in Tracking Effects on Achievement by Maureen T. Hallinan
18. Curriculum Differentiation and High School Achievement by Maureen T. Hallinan and Warren Kubitschek
19. Ability Grouping and Student Learning by Maureen T. Hallinan
Part 4. Friendship
20. The Process of Friendship Formation by Maureen T. Hallinan
21. Classroom Racial Composition and Children's Friendships by Maureen T. Hallinan
22. Ability Grouping and Student Friendships by Maureen T. Hallinan and Aage B. Sorensen
23. Interracial Friendship Choices in Secondary Schools by Maureen T. Hallinan and Richard Williams
24. Student Interracial Interactions and Perceptions of School as a Community by Maureen T. Hallinan, Warren N. Kubitschek, and Ge Liu