researching teachers

Question 1

power and status of teachers

Answer 1

• power relationships in school are unequal; teachers have more power due to age, experience and responsibility
• teachers have legal responsibilities and a duty of care of pupils
• nature of the classroom reinforces the power of the teacher as they see it as ‘my classroom’

Question 2

overcoming power and status of teachers

Answer 2

• to avoid teachers being defensive (‘my classroom’) find certain times that fit their timetables to ensure they feel comfortable
• avoid inappropriate questions that may breach their contracts

Question 3

examples of power and status of teachers

Answer 3

• researchers developing a ‘cover’ as teacher assistants if they tend to carry out covert investigations

Question 4

impression management used by teachers and the school

Answer 4

• teachers are used to being observed due to OFSTED inspections
• therefore it is a major part of the role of a teacher to ‘put on an act’ (teachers are skilled at ‘impression management’ where they manipulate the impression that others have of us)

Question 5

how to overcome impression management used by teachers and the school

Answer 5

• teachers may be reluctant to answer questions face to face with the researcher so the researcher could use observational methods
• covert research could be done by going ‘back stage’ with teachers in the staff room observing how they’re really like