Research Methods- Research and Education

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What five main types of groups and settings whose characteristics are studied in research
Pupils, teachers, parents, classrooms and schools.
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According to Hill what are the differences in studying young people and adults?
Power and status, ability and vulnerability. These raise, parctical, ethical and theoretical issues.
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How does the research characteristic of power and status affect children in study?
Children have less power/ status than adults. This is difficult for them to express themselves especially when selected pupils are chosen by teachers to promote a good image of school.
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How can sociologists overcome the differences in power and status?
Avoid structured interviews which give researcher more power as they determine the questions. Group interviews as students feel less formality.
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How does the research characteristic of ability affect children in study?
Their ability is more limited than adults. Sociologists will need to word their questions differently. This is an issue as children cannot get informed consent from parents for study.
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Ability as a research characteristic Evaluation: Why aren't all children the same? What other problems are there for sociologists?
CAGE affects children. This creates differences in children so its not just their ability that affects sociologists. For example, it causes changes in language or speech codes.
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How does the research characteristic of vulnerability affect children in study?
It poses ethical issues as they are more at risk to physical and psychological harm. Sociologists need to find out if they are needed. For example, if they are needed, they need to be aware of research guidelines aswell.
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How can sociologists overcome the differences in vulnerability in their study
If they do participate, sociologists need to use short sentences and easy wording of questions as their attention span is short. They need to make sure that they don't have lots of gatekeepers as it makes it difficult for the study to continue.
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How does laws and guidelines affect the study of pupils?
E.g. a DBS may delay or prevent sociologists from researching students if they don't have one. They aim to protect the rights of children involved in research
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How does the research characteristic of power and status affect the study of teachers?
Teachers have status and power in terms of their age and experience in the school. They often create a "my classroom" effect on the researcher. Therefore, researchers need a "cover" as an assistant in study even if it gives them a lower status.
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How does the research characteristic of impression management affect the study of teachers?
Teachers are more willing to allow observation of researchers in classrooms as they are used to inspectors. They will put on an act for them to manipulate their appearance.
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How can sociologists overcome the difficulties in impression management?
Getting "backstage" meaning the staffroom. This may cause problems as they will stand out. They can also use observation which headteachers can influence through picking best teachers
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How does the research characteristic of gatekeepers affect studying classrooms?
Access to classrooms is controlled by teachers, headteachers and child protection laws. The more gatekeepers, more problems
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How does the research characteristics of peer groups affect the study of classrooms?
Classes and friendship groups are sensitive to peer pressure. This affects the way they are researched. Therefore, need to be supervised when filling out questionnaires or group interviews that are influenced by others' dominant answers.
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How does the research characteristic of school's own data affect the study of schools?
Schools are "daata-rich" as there is a great deal of secondary data in schools e.g. exam results or subject choices. Sociologists may be able to use this in their research
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Why is it hard for sociologists to access school's own data in researching schools?
School data is confidential and so cannot access it easily. They may find that the data could be biased as it was falsified to create a positive image of the school.
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How can the research characteristic of law affect the study of schools?
Schools operate within a particular legal framework. E.g. have to collect pupil's attendance which can be useful for sociologists. They will be able to know about all students.
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Why is hard for sociologists to access legal information (the law) in researching schools?
Schools have a legal duty of care that protects students. Their access is restricted to students
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How can the research characteristic of gatekeepers affect the study of schools?
Gatekeepers include headteachers who have the power to refuse the researcher access to school. They believe that the researcher may interfere with the school e.g. undermine teachers and deny their investigation. This steers them away from schools"
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How can the research characteristic of parent's class affect the study of parents?
Pro-school M/C parents are more likely to return and understand the questionnaires given to them than W/C which affect the representativeness.
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How can the research characteristic of impression management affect the study of parents?
They present themselves positively and exaggerate their involvement in children's education.
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How can the researcher's own experience of education affect their study?
Personal experience can influence their research. They can use their assumption of the school in their study which affects the validity and reliability.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

According to Hill what are the differences in studying young people and adults?

Back

Power and status, ability and vulnerability. These raise, parctical, ethical and theoretical issues.

Card 3

Front

How does the research characteristic of power and status affect children in study?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How can sociologists overcome the differences in power and status?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does the research characteristic of ability affect children in study?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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