PLACID GATERS

Question 1

What does the P stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 1

Personal characteristics
How could the researcher’s Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity, etc have an impact on the research/participant? E.g. could it make them uncomfortable or lead to misinterpretation?

Question 2

What does the L stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 2

Language
How will the language of the researcher/participants affect the research? E.g. is a translator needed? Are children able to fully explain what they mean?

Question 3

What does the first A stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 3

Access
What issues are there gaining entry to the info/group? E.g. does the researcher need a DBS?

Question 4

What does the C stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 4

Complexity of setting
What practical issues come with the setting? E.g. schools are large with a lot of rooms, students have different ability levels

Question 5

What does the I stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 5

Impression management
Might participants change their behaviour? E.g. social desirability, Hawthorne Effect

Question 6

What does the D stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 6

Detachment and objectivity
Could the researcher become emotionally attached and biased towards their participants? E.g. taking what they say at face value

Question 7

What does the G stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 7

Gatekeepers
Who could limit access to participants or information? E.g. Headteachers, parents, teachers, local council regulations

Question 8

What does the second A stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 8

Age of participants
Could their age affect the research at all? E.g. they may not understand the questions, there could be extra safeguarding needs

Question 9

What does the T stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 9

Time
How might the researcher be affected by time restrictions? E.g. strict timetable, teachers/parents not having spare time to do the researcher

Question 10

What does the E stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 10

Ethics & Guilty Knowledge
Are there any moral issues raised by the research? E.g. harm to participants, sensitive issues, confidentiality, guilty knowledge

Question 11

What does the R stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 11

Recording data
Is there anything which would make it difficult to record data? E.g. observing a complex scenario, giving a covert researcher’s identity away

Question 12

What does the S stand for, and what does it mean?

Answer 12

Spatial issues
Will the place in which the study takes place present any problems for the research? E.g. teachers being territorial about their classrooms

Question 13

How should you use PLACID GATERS for a Methods in Context question?

Answer 13

First read the question
Look for strengths and weaknesses in the item
Look for more by thinking through PLACID GATERS one at a time