Heterogeneity

The term heterogeneity cannot be clearly defined. Wittig names synonyms, such as Verschiedenartigkeit, Diversität, Andersartigkeit, and Ungleichheit (cf. Wittig 2014, 14). In Schönhuth’s online cultural glossary, heterogeneity is to be understood as „an expression of diversity.“ Prengel’s approach, which defines heterogeneity on three levels of meaning, namely as difference, changeability, and indeterminacy, seems interesting (cf. Prengel 2005, 21).

Heterogeneity vs. homogeneity

Heterogeneity can be seen as the opposite of homogeneity. When something is described as a homogeneous entity, it is portrayed as „composed of highly uniform components and a comprehensive whole“ (Krossa 2018, 53).

The noun heterogeneity is a derivation from the adjective heterogeneous, which has its origin in the Greek word heterogenḗs, meaning „of a different kind, genus, different grammatical gender, variously composed“ (DWDS 2018).

Sociological approach

Krossa defines the term from a sociological perspective: „In contrast to the homogeneity approach, the underlying assumption then is first of all that place and space are less and less congruent or even not congruent at all“ (Krossa 2018, 67).

There is an overlap of the social and the spatial,

– when stacked social spaces exist simultaneously and in parallel in one geographic location, or

– when a social space spans more than one location (see Krossa 2018, 67).

Krossa also invokes works by the Polish cultural theorist Zygmunt Bauman, who is concerned with ‚liquid modernity‘. He also transfers the present, in which there would no longer be predetermined patterns, to his concept of society. He distances it from the traditional framework of the nation-state, and with the help of the metaphor of fluidity, he takes the concept of difference as a principle. He analyzed the current patterns of social forms based on the fact that an individual can simultaneously and changeably feel belonging to several social groups. Krossa mentions theories that have put the individual in the foreground – the individual, however, developing into superficiality. This could also mean, it is increasingly important to cultivate many identities (cf. Krossa 2018, 73 f.).

Homogeneity and heterogeneity in balance?

According to Krossa, difference research is successful when it refers to micro levels, but becomes problematic when the concepts are to be theorized at the macro level (cf. Krossa 2018, 68). She writes about the evolution of the coexistence of the two terms in sociology today, „In general, a consideration of current trends in sociology shows that the focus of the balance (or rather, imbalance) between homogeneity and heterogeneity is shifting, toward the presumption that the problem of heterogeneity is the more important, more pressing one today.“ (Krossa 2018, 68)

Explaining this phenomenon, she says, „Many authors now exaggerate this aspect [of homogeneity] by declaring heterogeneity to be the dominant, if not the only relevant, characteristic of the contemporary social“ (Krossa 2018, 68). As a consequence of this, she states, among other things, that researchers on the topic of society question the concept of society itself, noting that it has been superseded by that of difference (cf. Krossa 2018, 68).

In research, however, simplification also occurs because homogeneity and heterogeneity are only considered as opposites, but not described together. This leads to reversion – to avoid the ‚too much‘ of heterogeneity, homogeneity is overemphasized. This can be seen, for example, in immigration and migration debates.

„Heterogeneity“ refers to difference or diversity within a group or system. Here are some examples:

1. cultural heterogeneity: a city with many different ethnic groups that speak different languages and have different cultural traditions.
2. age heterogeneity: a school with students of different ages, from elementary to secondary.
3. gender heterogeneity: a work environment where men and women work in different departments or roles.
4. ability heterogeneity: a class with students who have different abilities, including students with special needs or students with higher academic abilities.
5. geographic heterogeneity: a country with different regions that have different geography, climate, and economic conditions.
6. linguistic heterogeneity: a school where some students speak a language other than the language of instruction.
7. religious heterogeneity: a community with members of different religious beliefs and practices.

Literature

Digital Dictionary of the German Language (DWDS). https://www.dwds.de/wb/heterogen [06/19/18].

Krossa, Anne Sophie (2018): Society. Reflections on a core concept in sociology. Wiesbaden: Springer.

Prengel, Annedore (2005): Heterogeneity in education – review and outlook. In: Bräu, Karin/ Schwerdt, Ulrich (Eds.): Heterogenität als Chance. Vom produktiven Umgang mit Gleichheit und Differenz in der Schule. Münster: LIT, 19-35.

Schönhuth, Michael: kulturglossar.de. http://www.kulturglossar.de/html/h-begriffe.html [19.06.2018].

Wittig, Marietta-Titine Ve (2014): Heterogeneity – burden or pedagogical challenge? An investigation of teacher types at state-run Berlin vocational schools in the vocational field of business and administration in relation to dealing with student variations. Berlin.