RM Topic 2

Question 1

Pupils

Power and status.

Answer 1

Children have a lot less power than adults/teachers. Means children are not as free to state their opinions. Makes it harder for researcher to collect valid data. Overcome: grp interviews rather than one on one. Pupils feel more confident if surrounded by people their own age.

Question 2

Pupils

Ability.

Answer 2

Pupils are more likely to have limited understanding and knowledge compared to adults, especially when it comes to abstract ideas.

Overcome: sociologists will need to take great care with the wording of the questions to make sure they are understood clearly so they can get a valid response.

Question 3

Informed consent.

Pupils

Answer 3

Limitations in the pupils understanding make it difficult to obtain informed consent. Sociologists may not be able to explain the nature or the research in a way that students can understand.

Question 4

Pupils

Vulnerability of school aged pupils.

Should also consider…

Answer 4

Child protection is surges are very important. Should also consider the form of research should take place in, can stress occur in it? E,g, questions over long period of time.

Question 5

Teachers.

Power relationship writhing school is unequal.

Answer 5

Teachers have more power/status due to age, responsibility and experience in school. The nature of the classroom reinforces the power of the teacher. See it as their classroom, in which the researcher is the trespasser.

Question 6

Teachers used to being inspected.

Answer 6

Experienced enough to put on a show for the researcher so as to create the best possible impression.

Question 7

Teachers are often overworked.

Answer 7

May be less than fully cooperative, even when they want to be helpful.

Question 8

Classrooms.

Classroom is less open than most settings. E.g,

Answer 8

Mall. Because highly controlled as the teacher and the school can control when a lesson starts and finishes, the behaviour of pupils, layout of classroom.

Question 9

Classrooms

In classroom teachers and pupils are very…

Answer 9

…experienced at hiding their real thoughts and emotions from each other. Might conceal these from the researcher as well. Distorts findings.

Question 10

Classrooms.

Young people in school based groups,

Answer 10

Such as classes may be more sensitive to peer pressure and the need to conform. May affect way they respond to being researched.

Question 11

Researching schools.

Schools are closed, hierarchal organisations…

Answer 11

May be difficult to gain access. Some head teachers refuse the researcher access into the school because they believe the research may interfere with the work of the school.

Question 12

Schools

Roland Meighan.

Answer 12

When Roland Meighan tried to conduct a piece of research consulting pupils about teaching, the head teacher reacted negatively, saying; “discipline would be affected” and “children are not competent to judge teachers”.

Question 13

Schools.

Access to info such as attendance

Answer 13

And achievement may be restricted.

Question 14

Schools operate by doing a yearly…

Answer 14

…timetable which may affect when and how the research can be carried out.

Question 15

4 characteristics of ed. as an area of research:

Answer 15

1. Pupils
2. Teachers
3. Classrooms
4. Schools