A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Willis's study primarily focused on the behaviors and experiences of working-class boys. Through his ethnographic research, he explored how these boys interacted within the school environment and how their attitudes towards education and class influenced their future roles in the workforce. His famous work, “Learning to Labour,” highlights the way these boys developed a counterculture that rejected the values of the educational system, which they perceived as irrelevant to their lives. This study provided significant insights into the relationship between social class, education, and identity, and illustrated how working-class boys navigated the educational system with a sense of disconnection and defiance.

The other options do not accurately reflect the core focus of Willis's research, as he was specifically concentrated on the working-class boys and their social dynamics rather than the achievements of middle-class students, parental influences, or a broader analysis of economic factors affecting schooling.