Questionnaires - Methods in Context Flashcards
What does the operationalisation of concepts involve?
Turning abstract ideas into a measurable form
Why can the operationalisation of concepts be difficult when creating a questionnaire for pupils?
Because their grasp of abstract concepts is generally less than that of adults. It may be difficult to turn sociological ideas into language that pupils will understand
Why can schools provide researchers with accurate sampling frames?
Because schools keep lists of pupils, staff and parents
What can a sociologist create from an accurate sampling frame?
A representative sample
What samples to schools have of pupils and teachers?
Schools have ready-made opportunity samples
Examples of ready-made opportunity samples that schools have
Form groups
Teacher departments
What lists may schools not have that sociologists are interested in?
Schools may not have lists that reflect the researchers’ interests e.g. schools may not keep lists of students based on their ethnic groups
What is required for a questionnaire to be carried out in a school?
The schools permission
What is distributing questionnaires in schools an easy way to do?
Access large numbers of potential respondents
Why may a questionnaire be off-putting for pupils?
Because they usually have the appearance of a formal document
Are response rates for questionnaires usually low or high?
Low
Two reasons why schools may be reluctant to allow sociologists to distribute questionnaires
Disruption to lessons
They may object to the researcher’s chosen topic
Response rates of questionnaires conduced in schools
Usually have high response rates
Why are response rates of questionnaires carried out in schools usually high?
Because teachers and pupils may feel pressured to cooperate once the head teacher has given school’s consent
What may reduce the response rates of teachers?
Teachers are often too busy to complete lengthy questionnaires
What are questionnaires very useful for gathering?
Large quantities of basic factual educational information quickly and cheaply
Negative adjectives of data from questionnaires
Limited
Superficial (shallow)
What pupils are school questionnaires unsuitable for?
Pupils who can’t read well (e.g. pupils with learning difficulties)
Why do questionnaires for children need to be relatively brief?
Because children generally have shorter attention span than adults
Disadvantage of brief questionnaire
Limits amount of information that can be gathered
If the same questionnaire is given to teachers and pupils, why may children not know some of the answers?
Because their life experiences are narrower than that of adults - limits value
Consequence of questionnaire being carried out class by class
It’s purpose and questions may become known throughout the schools which will reduce the validity as some respondents will have more time to think than others
What may teachers be able to recognise when answering a questionnaire which will reduce the validity of the results.
They may be able to recognise the researchers aims and intentions so they will answer accordingly
How can questionnaires be useful when researching sensitive educational issues (like bullying or labelling)?
They are anonymous which may overcome pupils embarrassment or fear
What will the details revealed by respondents depend on?
Their reassurance that their anonymity is safeguarded
Why may is be difficult for a researcher to reassure the safeguarding of the respondents anonymity?
Because questionnaires involve very little personal contact
Why do Interpretivists reject questionnaires as a means of researching pupils?
Because they emphasise the importance of developing a rapport with the participants
What may a lack of rapport result in?
The pupils being less likely to give full and honest responses
What students may refuse to cooperate or answer the questions seriously? What is the result of this?
Students in anti-school subcultures. Results in incomplete or invalid data
