Methods in context

• Researching pupils: What child protection laws do sociologists need to consider? What do sociologists need to provide? What have organisations put in place?


  Child protection laws such as the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act of 2006 - sociologists had to consider this. Researchers had to provide a DBS check. Organisations like Unicef put in place special codes of practice for researching young people.
• Researching school: How might the legal framework assist?


  The law requires schools to collect information on pupils' attendance, achievement and so on, may be useful to sociologists.
• Researching pupils: What are some of the limitations of pupil ability and understanding?

  Students are limited because they may not understand the abstract sociological concepts in the research. Meaning they may not understand what the research is about and would be unable to give informed consent.
• Researching teachers: Why might teachers not be entirely honest? What will this impact and therefore cause?

  Teachers may not be honest as they are aware critical comments could affect their career. Therefore would cause the researcher to be unable to use direct methods like interviews or questionaires, instead they would have to use observation methods.
• Researching parents: How can parents influence what goes on in education?


  Parents can influence what goes on in education by how they bring up their children, involvement in school through parent-teacher contact-parent governors or attendance to parents evenings and so on. Choice of school too.
• Researching parents: What is required from parents?


  Parents' permission is required for many forms of research with pupils. More sensitive an issue, the less likely they are to consent to their child participating in the research.
• Researching pupils: What ethical issues must the sociologist consider when researching pupils?


  Whether the student would benefit from the research or whether the child is mature enough in deciding they want to participate. Personal data to be kept only if vital, otherwise it shouldn't be kept. They should make sure there aren't data breaches- The Uk GDPR was a new law to prevent this
• What are the four main groups and settings in education which make it difficult for researchers to study it?

  The school/ organisation, parents, students and teachers.

  Each of these present particular problems and opportunities for the sociologist in choosing a suitable method to use.
• Researching school: What secondary data would the sociologist have access to?


  Secondary data sociologists would have access to would be league tables, Ofsted reports, truancy and subject choice figures.
• Secondary data sociologists would have access to would be league tables, Ofsted reports, truancy and subject choice figures.


  Researching school: What secondary data would the sociologist have access to?
• Researching pupils: Why might young people find it challenging to state their attitudes and views openly?

  Young people may find it challenging to state their attitudes and views openly because school is a hierarchal institution, where teachers hold a higher status than the pupils. Students may feel intimidated and would answer questions, with the intent to avoid getting into trouble. Children genuinely have less power than adults and this also factors into why young people may find it challenging to state their views and attitudes on the education system openly.
• Researching classrooms: Who are the gatekeepers?


  Gatekeepers are the teachers, head teachers, governors and child protection laws. Making it difficult for researchers to obtain and maintain access.
• Researching teachers: What is impression management? What is an example of how teachers are able to develop this?

  Impression management is teachers putting up a public face to manipulate the research. Giving the impression they want. Developing it from their experience with Ofsted inspections, they are use to it and thus have experience in putting up this front. Backstage vs onstage - very different.
• Researching teachers: What is impression management? What is an example of how teachers are able to develop this?

  Impression management is teachers putting up a public face to manipulate the research. Giving the impression they want. Developing it from their experience with Ofsted inspections, they are use to it and thus have experience in putting up this front. Backstage vs onstage - very different.
• Researching school: What might schools do to truancy figures? Why might they do this? How would this impact research?

  Schools may falsify their attendance figures for a good image and to not deter applications, this would impact the research as it would take away validity.
• Researching teachers: What is the name of the sociologist that discusses impression management?


  Erving Goffman
• Researching school: How might the gatekeepers interfere with research? Who are they?


  Gatekeepers are head teachers and governors and they do so because they have the power to refuse the researcher access to the school.
• Researching teachers: How does the power and status of teachers impact research?


  Teachers may view researchers as trespassers in 'their' classroom, which would affect the research conducted. As they'd use their power to interfere with the study.
• Researching pupils: What is an example of a research method that sociologists might conduct in attempt to avoid the power differences between the adult researchers and the young participants?


  Group interviews rather than formal one-to-one interviews, to avoid power differences between adult researchers and young participants.
• Researching pupils: What is an example of a research method that sociologists might conduct in attempt to avoid the power differences between the adult researchers and the young participants?


  Group interviews rather than formal one-to-one interviews, to avoid power differences between adult researchers and young participants.
• Researching school: What did Roland Meighan and Clive Harber (2000) identify?

  Roland Meighan and Clive Harber identified that heads sometimes viewed research negatively. Meighan wanted to consult pupils on teaching, and heads' reacted accordingly:

  • Discipline would be affected
  • It would be bad for classroom relationships
  • Children are not competent to judge teachers
  • It is dangerous for pupils to comment on their teachers
• Researching school: What did Roland Meighan and Clive Harber (2000) identify?

  Roland Meighan and Clive Harber identified that heads sometimes viewed research negatively. Meighan wanted to consult pupils on teaching, and heads' reacted accordingly:

  • Discipline would be affected
  • It would be bad for classroom relationships
  • Children are not competent to judge teachers
  • It is dangerous for pupils to comment on their teachers
• Researching school: What research methods may be the best in order to visit more than one school?


  Using large-scale surveys or official statistics instead of observation methods, may overcome the research being unrepresentative
• Researching school: What research methods may be the best in order to visit more than one school?


  Using large-scale surveys or official statistics instead of observation methods, may overcome the research being unrepresentative.
• Researching classrooms: What might the sociologist have to do to avoid peer influences? What method would work well for this?

  Sociologists may have to supervise pupils when filling out questionaires, to avoid peers from influencing others. Group interviews - avoid - true attitudes concealed behind the dominant attitudes of the peer group. The students may feel influenced by peers because they feel empowered in group settings.
• Researching classrooms: What might the sociologist have to do to avoid peer influences? What method would work well for this?

  Sociologists may have to supervise pupils when filling out questionaires, to avoid peers from influencing others. Group interviews - avoid - true attitudes concealed behind the dominant attitudes of the peer group. The students may feel influenced by peers because they feel empowered in group settings. 
• Researching classrooms: What might the sociologist have to do to avoid peer influences? What method would work well for this?


  Sociologists may have to supervise pupils when filling out questionaires, to avoid peers from influencing others. Group interviews - avoid - true attitudes concealed behind the dominant attitudes of the peer group. The students may feel influenced by peers because they feel empowered in group settings.
• Researching pupils: What is an advantage of studying pupils? What might be a disadvantage?

  Advantage of studying pupils - They are legally required to attend school so sociologists will know where to find their target research group. They can study the direct affect on students.

  Disadvantage of studying pupils - The school holidays- students would not be at school then, disrupting researchers schedules. Another disadvantage is that if the target group possess anti-school attitudes they may regularly truant from school. Gatekeepers make it harder for the researchers to conduct their studies.
• Why might access to parents be an issue for researchers?


  Most child-parent interaction occurs within the home.
• How does the location of child-parent interaction affect research?

  Researchers cannot observe interactions like they do with teacher-student interactions.
• What is a consequence of limited opportunities for researchers to observe parent involvement?


  It makes it more difficult for researchers to conduct their research.
• Researching teachers: How do headteachers play a role in how teachers may interact with sociological research?


  Headteachers may try to influence which staff are selected and may not be representative of all teachers in the school. They'll try to convey a favourable image of the school, affecting the validity of the research.
• What can schools do to assist researchers in accessing parents?


  • Send letters home
  • Mail questionnaires to parents
  • Encourage parent participation in school events
• What is a limitation of sending letters or questionnaires home to parents?


  There is no guarantee that they would be received or returned.
• Researching teachers: How do headteachers play a role in how teachers may interact with sociological research?

  Headteachers may try to influence which staff are selected and may not be representative of all teachers in the school. They'll try to convey a favourable image of the school, affecting the validity of the research. 
• Why might access to parents be an issue for researchers?


  Most child-parent interaction occurs within the home.
• How does the location of child-parent interaction affect research?

  Researchers cannot observe interactions like they do with teacher-student interactions.
• What is a consequence of limited opportunities for researchers to observe parent involvement?


  It makes it more difficult for researchers to conduct their research.
• What can schools do to assist researchers in accessing parents?


  • Send letters home
  • Mail questionnaires to parents
  • Encourage parent participation in school events
• What is a limitation of sending letters or questionnaires home to parents?


  There is no guarantee that they would be received or returned.