Methods In Context

Question 1

How to answer a MIC question

Answer 1

Follow PET (Practical, Ethical, Theoretical)
Apply each PET paragraph to the method stated in the question, what group is being used and in what context.
3 REQUIREMENTS TO ANSWER A MIC Q:
*EVALUATE research method used, advantages and disadvantages (PET issues)
*Suitability of method used to the context in education (13 MARKS)
*Consider the group being used (researchers characteristics)

Question 2

PET - SCHOOLS

Answer 2

PRACTICAL - may be difficult to access, schools are large and complex, limited time to carry out research QUALITATIVE and QUANTITATIVE data produced.

ETHICAL - researcher need to ensure they have a CRB check to access the school, may want to use data but information may be confidential.

THEORETICAL - not able to access many schools affect REPRESENTATIVENESS, VALID results if researcher is accessing schools, every school is different affecting RELIABILITY.

Question 3

PET - PUPILS

Answer 3

PRACTICAL - researcher need parents permission, department for Education may need to be approached for consent, DBS check needed to ensure they are safe around children, timing isn’t up to them, young people may lack skills/confidence to fill in questionnaires/answer the questions. Time consuming.

ETHICAL - children considered vulnerable, ensure children don’t suffer psychological distress - disrupting education is classed as harm, consent needed from both parent and pupil.

THEORETICAL - students have very little power can’t / wont be open and honest affecting VALIDITY, questions may be misunderstood and presence of observer may produce unnatural behaviour also affecting VALIDITY.

Question 4

PET - PARENTS

Answer 4

PRACTICAL - data protection issues getting parents’ addresses, researching parents can be time consuming, researcher unlikely to observe parents discussing education with their children as it takes place in family setting inaccessible to researcher.

ETHICAL - researching parents less ethically problematic, meaning confidentiality, have right to with draw and other general ethical issues still apply.

THEORETICAL - parents who are more willing could already be involved in child’s education affecting VALIDITY and REPRESENTATIVENESS, parents may feel the need to make good impression affecting VALIDITY of results.

Question 5

PET - STAFF

Answer 5

PRACTICAL - subject to scrutiny restricting ability, access may be limited due to lack of time, teachers only take part if they have permission off their managers.

ETHICAL - maintain confidentiality, offer anonymity, if observing staff room all teasers need to have given consent.

THEORETICAL - teachers act in untypical way , bias if teachers give cautious answers, teachers who take part may have been picked by senior staff making findings UNREPRESENTATIVE.

Question 6

PRACTICAL issues

Answer 6

• Gaining access
• Time constraints
• Legal constraints
• Space constraints
• Literacy and intellectual differences
• Social differences
• Availability of data

Question 7

ETHICAL issues

Answer 7

• Vulnerability of pupils
• Power differences
• Anonymity
• Effects of publishing research

Question 8

THEORETICAL issues

Answer 8

• Reliability
• Representativeness
• Validity