observations Flashcards
Paul Willis 1977 criticims
- small sample size
- romanticises their resistance
- focuses solely on boys
- changes in education overtime
Paul Willis - how
Observation - Participant
Interviews - Overt
Covert observations example
James Patrick’s 1973 Glasgow gang
James Patrick
pseudonym of a teacher who join a Glasgow gang INCOGNITO , whilst working in an approved school
- with them for 4 months
- left when handed a hatchet and expected to take part
James Patrick - what type of observation
- covert participant
(ethically wrong , outside factors eg family and mental illness and no protection from harm) , entering and leaving time consuming - subjective
problems with James Patrick observation
- ethically wring , deceiving people and observing them without permission
how did James Patrick enter the gang
achieved access via one of his gang leader students (only one who knew)
covert participation
= interpretivist
covert observation
Advantages
(like used by James Patrick)
- No Hawthorne effect ( more accuracy)
- find out more in-depth detail (why , who , when , where)
- cheap , done themselves ( don’t hire others)
- confidentiality eg Patrick publishes under a fake names and gives gang members fake names to protect them
covert observations
DISADVANTAGES
- risk of cover being blown
- cannot openly take notes
- must rely on memory
- cannot combine observation with other methods eg interviews
- addition of a new member (researcher) can change group dynamic and decrease validity
- time consuming
when was Patrick’s cover almost blown
when he paid for a suit in cash instead of credit
cannot combine observation with other methods
eg interviews
specific questions raise suspicion
must rely on memory
which can be skewed by drugs and alcohol
how many hours did Patrick spend undercover
120 hours
unethical ( in Patrick’s case) - immoral to deceive people
only the gang leader consented
unethical ( in Patrick’s case) - have to lie about reason for leaving group
eg some like Patrick simply abandon group without explanation
unethical ( in Patrick’s case) - may have to participate in…
immoral/illegal activities as part of their role
- eg Patrick handed a hatchet and axe , expected to take part in gang fight triggering his leave
unethical ( in Patrick’s case) - vulnerability
VULNERABILITY OF RESPONDENT
- Patrick couldn’t defend young gang members in a fight/intervene
Paul Willis
Learning to labour , 1977
Paul Willis approach
Neo-marxist approach to education
Paul Willis neo-marxist approach to education (Bowles and Gintis)
- like bowles+Gintis , focuses on how education prepares the workforce for capitalism
neo-marxist approach to education
Paul Willis
(Bowles and Gintis) difference
Willis : education Is NOT a successful agent of socialisation
- can have unintended consequences on pupil which are not beneficial to capitalism
why is education not a successful agent of socialisation
WILLIS
w/c pupils form counter school subcultures (which in parts some class consciousness )so REJECTS idea of PASSIVE RESISTANCE
Paul Willis research methods - SCHOOL
- studied 12 w/c boys in secondary schools over their last 18 months of school and first few months in real word of work schools
- recorded group discussions and informal interviews
Paul willis research method
used observation ( NON PARTICIPANT + PARTICIPANT)
The ‘lads’
developed their own counter school subculture
the ‘lads’ = SUPERIORITY
- felt superior to teachers and conformist students
- counter school culture = highly sexist and racist ( school work and conformisms = ‘cissy’)
the ‘lads’ = ATTITUDE
- little/no value attacked to academic work
- manual work seen as superior to mental
the Lads attitudes to work
- couldn’t wait to get out of school and join adult world of work
- marginally better paid jobs requiring qualifications = not worth loss of freedom
’ the lads’ attitudes in lessons
- always tried to avoid lessons by ‘having a laff’ through misbehaviour
- sabotaging equipment , fidgeting , sprawling , making huge fuss
- resented school trying to take over their time , attempted to win physical + symbolic ‘space’ from the institution
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