RESEARCH METHODS
CHOOSING A RESEARCH METHOD
Practical Ethical Theoretical
TIME INFORMED CONSENT RELIABILITY- POSITIVISTS
Some methods take more time than others E.g. more detailed Researchers should have the informed consent of their Checking for consistency. Positivists favour reliable
data being recorded. Research methods that take more time research subjects, because of the effects that the research research E.g. methods like official stats, structured
interviews, that are standardised and reliable.
may lead to a smaller research sample size. may have on them.
REPRESENTATIVENESS- POSITIVISTS
MONEY CONFIDENTIALITY Representing the target population. Positivists value
The money available to conduct the research affects the Research subjects have a right to anonymity, so they should representativeness because they wish to discover general
number of researchers, respondents and amount of research not be identifiable when the research is published. laws of behaviour.
time. E.g. Equipment, travel and people's time.
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM VALIDITY- INTERPRETIVISTS
ACCESS Some research groups are more vulnerable to psychological Truthfulness of data. Interpretivists favour valid research
Some groups of respondents and location are easier to access harm than others (eg. children). E.g. unstructured interviews, participant observations
than others. E.g. schools - permission is required. because they reveal the real meanings.
Positivists - external forces shape our behaviour - general laws can be established.
Interpretivists - we can interpret and reject these forces - meaning behind behaviour.
Triangulation - using multiple research methods so that diverse viewpoints.
Methods in Context P1 - topics Methods in Context P1 - themes Answering 20 marks Research methods P1 + P3
- Use PERVERTED
● Researching cultural capital in edu ● Pupils (vulnerable group, Practical, Ethical, Reliable, Validity, Examples,
● Impacts of setting and streaming difficulty understanding, peer
● Anti-school subcultures influence)
Representative, Theoretical, Explain, Data
● Formation and identity in schools ● Teachers (want to look
● University admissions professional, and are often busy)
● Parental choice in education ● Parents (hard to contact, have Answering 20 marks Methods in Context P1
● Underachievement of different social groups different levels of education ● Who
● Gender/ethnic/class difference in literacy skills themselves, want to appear as
● What
● Gender/ethnic/class difference in subject choice good parents)
● Teacher expectations ● Schools (large, protected ● How
● Parents' attitudes towards school environment) ● Strengths - PET
● Completion of homework ● Classrooms (small, protected ● Limitations - PET
● Labelling in classroom environment)
CHOOSING A RESEARCH METHOD
Practical Ethical Theoretical
TIME INFORMED CONSENT RELIABILITY- POSITIVISTS
Some methods take more time than others E.g. more detailed Researchers should have the informed consent of their Checking for consistency. Positivists favour reliable
data being recorded. Research methods that take more time research subjects, because of the effects that the research research E.g. methods like official stats, structured
interviews, that are standardised and reliable.
may lead to a smaller research sample size. may have on them.
REPRESENTATIVENESS- POSITIVISTS
MONEY CONFIDENTIALITY Representing the target population. Positivists value
The money available to conduct the research affects the Research subjects have a right to anonymity, so they should representativeness because they wish to discover general
number of researchers, respondents and amount of research not be identifiable when the research is published. laws of behaviour.
time. E.g. Equipment, travel and people's time.
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM VALIDITY- INTERPRETIVISTS
ACCESS Some research groups are more vulnerable to psychological Truthfulness of data. Interpretivists favour valid research
Some groups of respondents and location are easier to access harm than others (eg. children). E.g. unstructured interviews, participant observations
than others. E.g. schools - permission is required. because they reveal the real meanings.
Positivists - external forces shape our behaviour - general laws can be established.
Interpretivists - we can interpret and reject these forces - meaning behind behaviour.
Triangulation - using multiple research methods so that diverse viewpoints.
Methods in Context P1 - topics Methods in Context P1 - themes Answering 20 marks Research methods P1 + P3
- Use PERVERTED
● Researching cultural capital in edu ● Pupils (vulnerable group, Practical, Ethical, Reliable, Validity, Examples,
● Impacts of setting and streaming difficulty understanding, peer
● Anti-school subcultures influence)
Representative, Theoretical, Explain, Data
● Formation and identity in schools ● Teachers (want to look
● University admissions professional, and are often busy)
● Parental choice in education ● Parents (hard to contact, have Answering 20 marks Methods in Context P1
● Underachievement of different social groups different levels of education ● Who
● Gender/ethnic/class difference in literacy skills themselves, want to appear as
● What
● Gender/ethnic/class difference in subject choice good parents)
● Teacher expectations ● Schools (large, protected ● How
● Parents' attitudes towards school environment) ● Strengths - PET
● Completion of homework ● Classrooms (small, protected ● Limitations - PET
● Labelling in classroom environment)
