Researching Parents

• What three aspects must students consider in the methods in context question?

  Method, topic, and group being researched
• What is an example of a topic that could be researched?

  Material deprivation
• Why is it important to understand the characteristics of parents in research?

  Different parents have varying attitudes and backgrounds
• What are the two main social classes discussed in relation to parents' attitudes to education?

  Working class and middle class
• How do working class parents typically view education?

  More fatalistic and dismissive
• What is a characteristic of middle class parents regarding education?

  They are more invested in their children's education
• How might the social class of parents impact their involvement in educational research?

  Different classes may have varying levels of engagement
• What differences exist among parents from various ethnicities regarding education?

  Indian and Chinese parents are more pro-education
• Why might Black Caribbean parents appear reluctant to engage in educational research?

  They may not feel respected by the education system
• What practical issue might researchers face when accessing parents for research?

  Gaining access outside of school can be difficult
• What relationship dynamics should researchers consider when studying parents?

  Different types of parents may react differently
• What time-related factor must researchers consider when studying parents?

  How much time parents can dedicate to research
• Why might self-completion questionnaires be preferred for parents?

  They can be completed at the parent's leisure
• How does sample size affect the representativeness of research on parents?

  Less participation may lead to bias
• What ethical issue arises when researching children through their parents?

  Parents may feel their child is being judged
• How might social class influence parents' perceptions of researchers?

  Lower class parents may distrust researchers
• What method is best for asking about sensitive financial topics?

  Anonymous questionnaires
• What psychological harm could arise from discussing a child's deprivation?

  Feelings of guilt or shame for parents
• What is a potential issue with covert observations in research?

  Parents may be deceived about the research
• Why might parents be reluctant to share information with researchers?

  Fear of information ending up in the wrong hands
• What is a validity issue in researching parents' reactions?

  Responses may not accurately reflect their views
• How can researchers ensure greater reliability in their studies?

  Use consistent methods across diverse groups
• What is a potential bias in researchers' interactions with parents?

  Empathy towards certain parents over others
• Why is representativeness important in studying parents?

  To gather accurate samples of diverse parents
• What factors might influence parental involvement in education?

  Material and cultural factors
• What is a common research method used with parents?

  Unstructured interviews
• How can secondary sources be useful in researching parents?

  They indicate types of people schools attract
• What is a limitation of questionnaires in studying parents?

  They may have a lower response rate
• How can statistics help in analyzing parents' backgrounds?

  By examining economic factors like free school meals
• What are the key issues researchers face when studying parents?

  • Access to parents outside school
  • Relationship dynamics between researchers and parents
  • Time constraints for data collection
  • Sample size and representativeness
  • Ethical considerations regarding children
  • Validity and reliability of responses
  • Sociologist's values and biases
• What methods have been used to research parents?

  • Unstructured interviews
  • Secondary sources (marketing materials)
  • Questionnaires
  • Statistical analysis of economic backgrounds