Researching Pupils

Question 1

What are the major differences between studying young people and studying adults?

Answer 1

Hill suggests they are:
- power and status
- ability and understanding
- vulnerability

Question 2

How does power and status effect research with pupils?

Answer 2

• Children and young people have less power and status than adults, making it more difficult for them to state attitudes and views openly, especially if they challenge those of adults.
• True in schools, as they’re hierarchal institutions that give teachers a higher status. Teachers may use this power to influence which pupils are selected for research, e.g. to promote a good image of themselves or the school

Question 3

How do formal research methods reinforce power structure?

Answer 3

Structured interviews or questionnaires do this as it’s the researcher, not the young person, who determines what the questions are and how answers should be formulated

Question 4

How can sociologists overcome power and status differences?

Answer 4

• Group interviews, rather than one-on-one interviews.
• However it’s likely that whatever method used, some power and status differences between researchers and pupils will remain

Question 5

How does the pupils’ attitudes towards the power and status differences affect how they relate to the reseacher?

Answer 5

• Pupil’s who resent the power of teachers over them may be less likely to cooperate with research
• But they may feel empowered by participating in the research and express their true feelings about school

Question 6

Outline how students’ ability and understanding differs from adults

Answer 6

Their vocabulary, powers of self-expression, thinking skills and confidence are likely to be more limited, particularly when trying to express abstract ideas

Question 7

How does abstract concepts affect research?

Answer 7

The fact abstract ideas are a central part of sociological investigation, this poses a problem for investigation. The sociologist needs to take particular care in how they word questions to make sure they’re understood clearly by the young respondent

Question 8

How does limited understanding affect research?

Answer 8

Makes it more difficult to gain informed consent. This is because the sociologists may not be able to explain the nature of the research in words that young pupils can clearly understand

Question 9

How does different language affect research?

Answer 9

The different languages used by young people makes the construction of appropriately worded question demanding. Younger children are also likely to require more time to understand questions

Question 10

How does different memory affect research?

Answer 10

A young person’s memory is less developed so they may be unable to recall in detail relevant material when asked to do so by the researcher

Question 11

How does the differences between pupils affect research?

Answer 11

• They aren’t a homogeneous group
• Class, age, gender and ethnicity create differences between pupils that a researcher will have to consider.
• e.g. There are age, class and ethnic variations in the kinds of language that pupils use, like differences in speech codes.
• May be important to match the gender and ethnicity of young person and the researcher

Question 12

What does limited power and ability of pupils result in?

Answer 12

They are more vulnerable to physical and psychological harm. This raises ethnical issues, the sociologists should consider whether the participation of young people in the research is necessary.

Question 13

What things should the researcher do or consider before regarding pupils vulnerability?

Answer 13

• They can’t simply gain informed consent of parents or teachers. Most research guidelines emphasises that the young person should be aware of what the research entails. However, it may be difficult as children may not be mature enough to decide whether to participate
• Due to their age, child protection issues are important. e.g. Personal data shouldn’t be kept unless it’s vital to the research
• Consider what form participation will take and any stress that may result. e.g. Questioning children for long periods of time would be inappropriate

Question 14

What does the greater vulnerability of young people means?

Answer 14

• There are more ‘gatekeepers’ controlling access to pupils than there are for other social group.
• Includes parents, heads, local authorities.
• The more gatekeepers involved, the more difficult to carry out the research

Question 15

How does laws and guidelines affect research?

Answer 15

Child protection laws (Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, 2006) require researchers to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, which may delay research

Question 16

What is an advantage of studying pupils?

Answer 16

They’re legally required to attend school, sociologists will know where to find their target group.