Pupils

Question 1

Hills suggests there a 3 major differences between studying young people and adults

Answer 1

Power + status
Vulnerability
Ability + understanding

Question 2

Power + Status

Answer 2

Children have less power and status than adults.
Teachers can use power to select pupils who are better for the school, students may find it hard to express their true view’s especially if they go against adults’
Group interviews and other informal methods may be a good way to lessen the power difference, but it will likely remain in some way, building rapport will also help

Question 3

Vulnerability

Answer 3

Children are more vulnerable to physical and psychological harm.
This brings new ethical issues- is their participation really necessary? Need informed consent of child but do they understand? More ‘gatekeepers’ controlling access to them, make research generally harder.
Don’t keep personal that isn’t vital, limit time /stress of participation, follow guidelines.

Question 4

Ability and understanding

Answer 4

Children have lower vocabulary, powers of self-expression, thinking skills and confidence.
It’s harder for them to express abstract ideas- which are key to sociology. Harder to get informed consent. Less developed memory skills. Match methods to age/gender creative ways to express views, give more time in questions + word them carefully

Question 5

Child protection laws

Answer 5

Safeguarding vulnerable groups act 2006 operate a vetting and barring scheme in schools ( Disclosure and Barring service). This may delay or prevent (if they have a criminal record) researchers from carrying out their research. Pupils are easier to find as they must attend schools, unless studying anti-school group that may truant