Education Research Challenges

Gatekeepers such as heads steering the researcher away from sensitive situations.

Exam results and league tables.

It is difficult to observe whether parents help children with their homework.

<p>Because the researcher may be of a different sex from the pupils.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By encouraging parents to see themselves as consumers, for example in choice of school.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Non-participant observation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A correlation between personality traits valued by employers like docility, passivity and obedience to high scores at school.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Postal questionnaires</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A correlation between material deprivation and achievement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Brochures, prospectuses and planning reports.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To minimize the influence of peer pressure and the need to conform.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Teachers may be seen as having a hierarchical power relationship with students, which could affect the validity of the data collected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They worried that it would be dangerous, negatively affect discipline, and be bad for classroom relationships, and that children are not competent to judge teachers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Schools are required to collect data on pupil attendance, achievement, and other information, which can be useful to sociologists studying educational inequality and student outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The teacher-pupil dynamic can influence the data collected through teacher-pupil interactions, as pupils may conceal their true thoughts and feelings from teachers, and teachers may also present a biased view of their relationships with pupils.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Working-class parents may be less likely to return questionnaires, making the research findings unrepresentative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They allow participants to respond in their own words, providing richer and more detailed data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By labelling some pupils as 'spurters', they showed that this could lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where teachers' expectations influenced student performance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows the researcher to immerse themselves in the research setting and gain a deeper understanding of the context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Middle-class parents may be more likely to participate in educational research and be more proactive in their children's education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The challenge is the power difference between adult teachers and young participants, which can be addressed by using methods like group interviews.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is important because pupils' vocabulary, powers of self-expression, thinking skills and confidence are likely to be more limited than those of adults.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The key ethical issue is the vulnerability of young people, and it can be addressed by obtaining informed consent from parents, teachers, and the young person, and ensuring that personal data is only collected when necessary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The researcher must consider whether the participation of young people is necessary and whether they will benefit from it, because young people are vulnerable and their rights need to be protected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers can overcome these limitations by explaining the research in a way that is clear and understandable to pupils, and by seeking consent from parents and teachers as well.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is important because power dynamics can influence the responses of pupils and affect the validity of the data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Teachers can 'put on a show' to create a good impression, which is a challenge for researchers because teachers are experienced and used to being inspected and scrutinised.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The classroom has clear boundaries and restrictions on access and behaviour, making it a less open setting for researchers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Establishing trust and rapport is essential because young people are vulnerable, and matching the gender of the young person and the researcher can help achieve this.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Teachers have legal responsibilities and a duty of care towards their students, and are not fully independent, which can affect their interactions with researchers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is cheap and easy because someone else has already produced the information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Official Statistics and Documents</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may not provide exactly the information that sociologists need.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Time and Money</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can affect the type of method used, with those having more access to resources having more options.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Theoretical, practical, and ethical considerations</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may need more money and resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may be cheaper and require fewer resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure that the data collected is accurate and reliable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may not provide exactly the information that sociologists need.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Key considerations include obtaining informed consent, ensuring child protection, and being mindful of power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Informed consent ensures that participants are aware of the purpose, risks, and benefits of the research and can make an informed decision to participate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Participant observation allows for rich, in-depth data collection and provides insight into social dynamics and cultural norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers need to consider issues such as informed consent, child protection, and vulnerability, and take steps to ensure the well-being and safety of child participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unstructured interviews allow for flexibility and in-depth exploration of topics, providing rich, qualitative data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The power dynamic challenge is that teachers have status and power over pupils, which can affect the data collected. Researchers can address this by using methods such as group interviews.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Child protection is a crucial consideration, and it's important because young people are more vulnerable to physical and psychological harm than adults.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers can overcome the limitations by wording their questions carefully to ensure pupils understand the nature of the research.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The key ethical issue is obtaining informed consent, and researchers can address it by gaining consent from parents, teachers, and the young person, and ensuring that the young person is aware of what the research entails.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It's important because power dynamics can affect the reliability and validity of the data collected, and researchers need to be aware of these dynamics to ensure that the data is unbiased.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The study involves carrying out an experiment on subjects without their knowledge or consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power dynamics can influence the data collected and the relationships between researchers and participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Protecting their vulnerability and ensuring their rights are respected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure the participants feel comfortable and provide accurate information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Protecting the participants' rights and ensuring their informed consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Informed consent and child protection are crucial considerations. Young people may not fully understand the research or may be vulnerable to coercion, so it is essential to ensure their participation is voluntary and that they are protected from harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Participant observation can provide in-depth, naturalistic data, but it requires careful consideration of informed consent and potential vulnerability of participants, especially in schools where power dynamics may be an issue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The classroom setting can impact researchers' access and behavior, as they may be seen as authority figures or outsiders, and must consider issues of power, vulnerability, and informed consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Establishing trust and rapport is essential to ensure that young people feel comfortable and willing to participate in the research, and can help to build relationships and ensure informed consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A key ethical issue is protecting pupils from potential harm or exploitation, and researchers can address this by ensuring informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, and being aware of power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Informed consent is crucial to ensure that participants are aware of the study's purpose, methods, and potential risks, and can make an informed decision about their participation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers should be aware of the potential effects of their study on participants, such as psychological damage or police intervention, and take steps to prevent and anticipate any harm, such as obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers should take special care when working with vulnerable participants, such as children, by obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and providing information in a language they can understand, due to their vulnerability and potential exploitation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Confidentiality and privacy of participants are essential to maintain trust and protect their rights, and researchers can ensure it by keeping personal information confidential and respecting their privacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Organisations such as UNICEF, Barnardo's, and the National Children's Bureau have developed special codes of practice, which take the British Sociological Association's research guidelines further in terms of protecting the rights of children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Covert research involves hiding the researcher's identity and purpose, which can compromise informed consent and trust, but it may be justified in certain circumstances, such as studying secretive groups, where obtaining informed consent is impossible.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers should consider whether the participation of young people is necessary and whether they stand to benefit from it, and it is important to ensure that the benefits of participation outweigh any potential risks or harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is essential to establish trust and rapport because of children's vulnerability, and matching the gender of the young person and the researcher can help achieve this.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A key consideration is obtaining informed consent, and it can be addressed by ensuring that children understand the research process and its potential risks and benefits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Children are considered vulnerable because of their age, inexperience, and dependence on others, and the implications of this vulnerability are that researchers must take extra precautions to ensure their protection and well-being.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is often impossible or unethical to control the variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is impossible to control variables that acted in the past rather than the present.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Informed consent, which may be difficult to obtain from certain groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Hawthorne effect occurs when people change their behavior because they know they are being studied, which can affect the results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Milgram lied to his subjects about the purpose of the research, which is generally considered wrong.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is difficult to investigate large-scale social phenomena using experimental methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power dynamics can influence the behavior of participants and affect the results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ensuring their protection and considering their vulnerability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is essential to ensure that participants understand the nature and purpose of the research.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Considering their vulnerability and ensuring their protection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can be a useful way to contact a sample of people who might be difficult to find or persuade to take part.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may lead to a biased sample if the clusters are not representative of the parent population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because it involves selecting from those individuals who are the easiest to access.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interpretivists prioritize gaining valid data and an authentic understanding of social actors' meanings, whereas positivists prioritize discovering general laws of behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because it can be difficult to obtain a representative sample, especially when studying hard-to-reach populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is often quicker and cheaper than assembling a random sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sample is unlikely to be representative of the target research population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because they prioritize gaining valid data and an authentic understanding of social actors' meanings over discovering general laws of behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were pretending to be mentally ill, and the hospital staff treated them as if they were mentally ill.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The flaw was that it might not have been the 'schizophrenic' label that caused the hospital staff's behavior, but some other factor that the researchers had not controlled.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Field experiments are often considered unethical because they involve carrying out an experiment on subjects without their knowledge or consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To see what effect labeling has on achievement, by manipulating teachers' expectations about children's abilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Field experiments are more 'natural' and realistic, and avoid the artificiality of laboratory experiments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The more realistic the situation, the less control the researcher has over the variables that might be operating.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It was an experiment conducted in a real-world setting (a mental hospital), with the researchers pretending to be mentally ill, and observing how the hospital staff treated them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The hospital staff treated the pseudopatients as if they were mentally ill, even after they began acting normally.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Questionnaires are a detached and objective form of research, allowing for minimal personal involvement with respondents. Researchers prefer them because they can collect information from a large number of people, making the results more representative of the wider population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Questionnaires need to be brief, as respondents are unlikely to complete and return a long, time-consuming questionnaire, limiting the amount of information that can be gathered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Questionnaires pose fewer ethical problems because respondents are under no obligation to answer sensitive or intrusive questions, and researchers can guarantee anonymity and informed consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Questionnaires can collect information from a large number of people, making the results more representative of the wider population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers should ensure informed consent, guarantee anonymity, and make it clear that respondents have a right not to answer any questions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is important to consider the limitations of questionnaires because they may not provide in-depth or nuanced data, and may be limited in their ability to capture complex phenomena.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Respondents may be unlikely to complete and return long or time-consuming questionnaires, leading to low response rates and biased samples.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Questionnaires can collect information from a large number of people, making the results more representative of the wider population, and allowing for more accurate generalisations about the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The comparative method is carried out only in the mind of the sociologist and does not involve actually experimenting on real people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To identify two groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for the one variable being studied.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Emile Durkheim's study of suicide, where he compared the suicide rates of Catholics and Protestants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It avoids artificiality, it can be used to study past events, and it poses no ethical problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It gives the researcher even less control over variables than do field experiments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To discover cause-and-effect relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It involves identifying two groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for the one variable being studied, and then comparing the two groups to see if the one difference between them has any effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows researchers to study past events without the need for laboratory experiments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The power dynamic between teachers and pupils, and can be addressed by using group interviews.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Limited vocabulary, thinking skills, and confidence, and researchers can use simple language and provide explanations to help pupils understand.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To protect pupils from potential harm and ensure they understand the research and its implications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The potential for physical and psychological harm, and the need for child protection and informed consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By using simple language, providing clear explanations, and obtaining consent from parents and teachers as well.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The potential for power imbalance and exploitation, and addressing it by being aware of these dynamics and taking steps to mitigate them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure data is not biased by the power imbalance between teachers and pupils, and to ensure pupils' voices are heard.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The need to protect them from harm and ensure informed consent, to prioritize their safety and well-being.</p> Signup and view all the answers