Paper 1:Education + methods

Question 1

What are the problems with researching pupils?

Answer 1

-pupils have less power and status than adults- so they may lie and this will lower validity
-pupils are less able to express themselves fully- a researcher will need to have understandable questions otherwise it will lower validity
-ethical issues around the vulnerability of children- researcher will need informed consent from parents and pupil and will have to consider emotional harm (protection from harm)

Question 2

What are the problems with researching teachers?

Answer 2

-some teachers may not like having research conducted on their classroom and may act differently which lowers validity
-they don’t have time to fully cooperate so there may not be enough data for the researcher (practical issue) and this could lower validity
-power issues- may be wary of giving answers in case they loose their job

Question 3

What are the problems with researching classrooms?

Answer 3

-they are closed and highly controlled- researchers can have a practical proble with access and reserach freedom
- low in validity: teachers and pupils are able to hide true thoughts and feelings, effects of peer pressure

Question 3

What are the problems with researching parents?

Answer 3

practical: hard to access
class and ethnic differences between researcher and parents- may reduce validity
middle class parents more likely to participate (unrepresentative)

Question 3

What are the problems with researching schools?

Answer 3

-there’s hierarchies- pupils may see researcher as a teacher and teachers as an inspector- may not tell the truth-lowers validity
-headteachers act as gatekeeepers (practical)
-ethical: confidentiality and potential negative exposure of the school
-some situations are off limits which may reduce representativeness and validity