theory and methods revision (paper one)

Question 1

list six useful concepts of research characteristics

Answer 1

gatekeepers
impression management
peer group pressure
front stage behaviour
back stage behaviour 
hawthorne effect

Question 2

explain gatekeepers

Answer 2

anyone or anything that has the authority (legitimate or not) to allow, prevent or limit your research

Question 3

explain impression management

Answer 3

social actors try to manipulate the impression other people have of them
this can be a barrier to research as the researcher has to fight this image

Question 4

explain peer group pressure

Answer 4

respondents may feel pressurized into conforming to the views of the main reference groups
this applies the teachers as well as pupils (e.g. in group interviews)

Question 5

explain front stage behaviour

Answer 5

goffman suggests that we put on an act when we are out there in the social world

Question 6

explain back stage behaviour

Answer 6

in front stage behaviour we may not show our true feelings so the researcher needs to get back stage with the social actors

Question 7

explain the hawthorne effect

Answer 7

when a respondent acts up because they are aware that their behaviour is being studied

Question 8

explain the basic structure of a 20 mark question

Answer 8

who 
what 
how 
intro
p1: practical issues/ advantages
p2: ethical issues/ advantages
p3: validity issues/ advantages
p4: representative issues/ advantages 
use evidence in all paragraphs and look at topic in real life context if stuck

Question 9

list five issues that may come when studying children

Answer 9

• easy to find but difficult to access - they are mostly in schools but there may be gatekeepers in the way of accessing them to study (may need a cbr check b4 entering a skl, have to be careful of child protection laws)
• children more vulnerable because of their age - harder to study, questions must be simple and careful
• less developed language may lead to misinterpretation on both parties
• pupils are susceptible to peer group pressure, with a big pressure to conform to the group
• informed consent - children need extra protection from harm (may have to go through school and parents to gain consent)

Question 10

what is an advantage when researching children

Answer 10

children tend to be more naive or trusting and so may be more truthful when answering questions