RESEARCH METHODS- USING QUESTIONNAIRES TO RESEARCH EDU Flashcards
What is a strength of operationalising concepts when researching teachers?
Teachers, being educated, are more likely to understand complex language and terms, making it easier to measure concepts.
What does operationalisation of concepts mean?
Turning abstract concepts into measurable forms by clearly defining them, e.g., defining “educational underachievement” as scoring below a specific exam threshold.
What is a limitation of operationalising concepts when researching children?
Children may struggle to understand abstract concepts, so researchers must simplify language, risking invalid data if misunderstood.
What is the definition of a sample and a sampling frame?
A sample is the group participating in the research, while a sampling frame is the list from which the sample is drawn (e.g., school registers).
What is a strength of using schools as sampling frames?
Schools maintain detailed records of students, staff, and sometimes parents, providing ready-made sampling frames.
What is a limitation of using schools as sampling frames?
Legal confidentiality requirements may prevent schools from sharing personal information with researchers.
What does access and response rate mean in educational research?
Access is the researcher’s ability to carry out research in a school, while the response rate is the proportion of respondents completing the questionnaire.
What is a strength of access and response rates in schools?
Schools often achieve higher response rates as students and teachers feel pressure to participate, especially with headteacher approval.
What is a limitation of access in schools?
Schools may restrict access to certain groups, such as Year 7 students, if the topic is deemed inappropriate.
What is a strength of using questionnaires in education research?
Questionnaires allow researchers to quickly and easily gather large amounts of data, such as in Rutter’s study of 12 London schools.
What is a limitation of using questionnaires with students?
Students’ shorter attention spans require concise questionnaires, limiting the depth of information collected.
How does anonymity benefit questionnaire research?
Anonymity encourages truthful responses on sensitive topics, enhancing data validity.
What is a limitation of detachment in questionnaires?
Students, as a vulnerable group, may not fully understand the implications of participation, raising ethical concerns about consent.
What is a validity issue in questionnaires in schools?
Pupils in anti-school subcultures may deliberately provide false information, reducing the validity of findings.
Why are questionnaires considered reliable in educational research?
They can be repeated in many schools under similar conditions, producing consistent results.
