Research Methods: Methods in Context

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

• Education is a unique setting for research and includes specific elements that may change the way in which research is conducted. This will all depend on the theme, the method and the topic involved.

Question 2

Exam questions on ‘Methods in Context’ always refer to at least one theme. You need to be able to write about a specific research method in relation to that theme.

Can you recall the 5 main themes and how they may be affected by a specific research method.

• I’ll give you one theme to get started; students.

Answer 2

1. Pupils (vulnerable group, may have difficulty understanding questions, influenced by peers)

e.g. Group Interviews

2. Teachers (want to look professional, and are often busy)

e.g. Practical Issues

3. Parents (hard to contact, have different levels of education themselves, want to appear as good parents)

E.g. Practical Issues

4. Schools (large, protected environment)

E.g. Extraneous variables could be involved?

5. Classrooms (small, protected environment)

E.g. Covert or Overt Observations? Is a classroom more controlled?

Question 3

Exam questions on ‘Methods in Context’ always refer to at least one topic. You need to be able to write about a specific research method in relation to that topic.

How could these topics relate to education?

• Gender/ethnic/class differences in achievement
• Parents’ attitudes towards school
• Completion of homework
• Labelling in classrooms

Answer 3

• Gender/ethnic/class differences in achievement

e.g. Teachers may select middle-class boys as their sample to present the school in a socially desirable way.

• Parents’ attitudes towards school

e.g. Class differences could be involved?

• Completion of homework

e.g. could be low in validity due to dishonesty

• Labelling in classrooms

e.g. May be difficult to gain access to working class/anti school subculture groups in school, this could also be due to the characteristics of the researcher.

Question 4

Ethical issues

Answer 4

• Vulnerability of the subject requires greater level of protection.
• Taking on a covert role like a supply teacher is deceptive.
• Parental permission is needed.

Question 5

Practical Issues

Answer 5

• Is the school willing to give up the time?
• The Classroom Space is limited - easy to see everything but hard to conceal oneself.
• Overworked teachers unwilling to participate.
• Access to gatekeepers e.g. Busy parents less willing to take part.

Question 6

What is impression management?

Answer 6

• Presenting themselves the way in which they would like to be thought of by the individual or group they are interacting with.
• In terms of school, headteachers may want to present a positive image of their schools; and may change their behaviour to match this image.