Education: the Research Context Flashcards
What does Malcolm Hill say are the three major differences between studying young people and adults?
Power and status
Ability and understanding
Vulnerability
How does power and status affect studying a young person?
Difficult to state their opinions and attitudes openly if they challenge adults views. Structured interviews and questionnaires reinforce power differences. A rapport needs to be gained. Teachers might tell them what to say or if they hate school they may not cooperate
How does ability and understanding differ?
Limited self expression skills. Questions must be made in a way that pupils can understand. More difficult to gain informed consent. It is important to match the pupil with the same gender and ethnicity as the researcher because of variations in language
How are vulnerability and ethical issues different?
Consent and child protection issues. They should consider any psychological or physical harm. More gatekeepers the more vulnerable
How are laws and guidelines different?
DBS check.
Advantage of studying pupils?
Sociologists will know where to find them because they have to attend school
Disadvantage of studying pupils?
Anti school pupils may truant. You can only study during term time
How does power and status affect teachers?
Researcher viewed as a trespasser in ‘my classroom’. They must create a cover with covert observation eg supply.not treated as an equal in school.
Impression and management for teachers?
They are accustomed to being observed so they may be more willing. However they may ‘put on an act’. ‘Impression management’- Goffman. Manipulating the impression they give. May be reluctant to answer negatively about the school. Headteachers may try to influence the staff
Researching classrooms for teachers?
Controlled setting which may prevent accuracy.
Gatekeepers and teachers?
Access to a classroom is controlled by gatekeepers.
Peer groups and teachers?
Children sensitive to peer pressure so conform which may affect their response.
What difficulties are there in using school data about a school?
Eg The amount of truancies may be falsified and racist incidents not recorded.
Who might see research in schools as negative?
Headteachers
