Methods In Context (Official Statistics In Education)

Question 1

What are the ‘Practical Issues’ using official statistics in education?

Answer 1

• Government collected OS saves time + money
• Easy to examine patterns + trends over time
• Official definitions of key concepts may differ from sociologists

Question 2

How ‘Representative’ are official statistics in education?

Answer 2

• All state schools must complete a census 3X a year

- Statistics cover virtually every pupil in the country

Question 3

How ‘Reliable’ are official statistics in education?

Answer 3

• Standard definitions + categories in a collection of educational statistics
• Easily replicated
• Governments may change definitions + categories

Question 4

How ‘Valid’ are official statistics in education?

Answer 4

• Socially constructed
• Schools may manipulate statistical records to present themselves positively
• Certain OS are less open to manipulation E.g. Exam results