ABSTRACT
The introduction of market principles has marked a dramatic shift towards consumerism in education and has brought with it the rhetoric of choice. Researching school choice in education has become a well-established tradition. Studies have generally looked at the implications of policy changes in the compulsory sector and the political rhetoric of improved standards, accountability and parental choice. Social structures serve to define boundaries of both knowledge and experience and clear links can be made between social class and differential access to information and social provisions such as education. The comparisons between individual families and the different levels of engagement that they have with the market are considered in terms of power relations, access to information and social capital. M. Douglas uses the term 'grid' to identify the degree of social control or regulation that an organisation exerts over its membership. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
