Research methods in education

Question 1

What are the advantages of using UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS to research ANTI-SCHOOL SUBCULTURES?

Answer 1

1. might not want to talk about school so gives researcher a chance to build trust
2. might be a sensitive topic so they can divert questions
3. more valid as answers can be adapted to questions e.g explaining an answer
4. can be interviewed away from peer pressure which increases validity

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of using UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS to research ANTI-SCHOOL SUBCULTURES?

Answer 2

1. time-consuming = smaller samples so less representative
2. hawthorne effect - saying what they want to hear = less valid
3. qualitative data = hard to make comparisons and reproduce date so less reliable
4. negative attitude towards school can lead to am attitude towards interviewer = lies so less valid

Question 3

What are the advantages of using COVERT participant observation to study LABELLING?

Answer 3

1. labels often given without realising so they are observing a real life setting
2. teachers wouldn’t want to be seen labelling kids (hawthorne effect) so covert increases validity

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of using COVERT participant observation to study LABELLING?

Answer 4

1. ethically incorrect as they are deceiving teachers
2. difficult to access classes with a cover
3. if they become familiar with teachers, the research might not be objective and stop seeing it happen or doing it themselves
4. can’t be repeated so unreliable
5. small sample so less representative

Question 5

What are the advantages of using closed questionnaires to study parental attitudes?

Answer 5

1. large amount of data quickly so it’s representative
2. may be more honest if it is anonymous so more valid
3. can be easily repeated so is reliable - good for studying changes over time

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of using closed questionnaires to study parental attitudes?

Answer 6

1. easy to lie so less valid
2. doesn’t allow for explanations, so not the best for looking at attitudes as they are complex
3. parents with positive attitudes might be more likely to fill it in so it is less representative and less valid

Question 7

What are the advantages of using official statistics to study mixed ability teaching?

Answer 7

1. hard stats are reliable because they’re objective and can’t be adjusted
2. stats can be easily compared as they’re quantitative

Question 8

What are hard statistics?

Answer 8

they are objective and politicians can’t alter/mess with them

Question 9

What are soft statistics?

Answer 9

they are subjective and politicians can alter/mess with them

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of using official statistics to study mixed ability teaching?

Answer 10

1. researcher has to make sure data is valid if it is soft stats (has been adjusted by school)
2. don’t offer insight into reasons behind achievement
3. in private schools, there wouldn’t be much variation in abilities