Research Methods
Topic 3 – Methods in Context
Overview
Methods General strengths and weaknesses of the methods
Methods in context Strengths and weaknesses of the method when used to
study education
Research characteristics
Research characteristics These include:
- The group
- The setting
- The method
Group Eg. Parents, teachers, pupils
Setting Eg. School, classroom
Method Eg. Questionnaire, interview
Researching pupils - Power and status: in schools, children have less
power than teachers
- Ability: pupils might not understand
- Literacy skills: restricted vs elaborated code
- Child protection issues: vulnerability and
informed consent
Researching teachers - Power relationships
- Legal responsibilities of teachers
- Overworked, tired teachers
- Teachers are used to being inspected and know
how to ‘put on a show’
- Pressure to complete curriculum so teachers
may not want to release pupils for research
- There are lots of public/personal documents in
schools which can be used but may be
confidential
Researching parents - Difficult to research: they are outside of school,
work long hours, vary amongst
class/gender/ethnicity or simply may not be
willing to participate
- Parents may also put on a false show
- They may exaggerate their involvement with
Topic 3 – Methods in Context
Overview
Methods General strengths and weaknesses of the methods
Methods in context Strengths and weaknesses of the method when used to
study education
Research characteristics
Research characteristics These include:
- The group
- The setting
- The method
Group Eg. Parents, teachers, pupils
Setting Eg. School, classroom
Method Eg. Questionnaire, interview
Researching pupils - Power and status: in schools, children have less
power than teachers
- Ability: pupils might not understand
- Literacy skills: restricted vs elaborated code
- Child protection issues: vulnerability and
informed consent
Researching teachers - Power relationships
- Legal responsibilities of teachers
- Overworked, tired teachers
- Teachers are used to being inspected and know
how to ‘put on a show’
- Pressure to complete curriculum so teachers
may not want to release pupils for research
- There are lots of public/personal documents in
schools which can be used but may be
confidential
Researching parents - Difficult to research: they are outside of school,
work long hours, vary amongst
class/gender/ethnicity or simply may not be
willing to participate
- Parents may also put on a false show
- They may exaggerate their involvement with
