Methods in Context - Sociology

1 Methods in Context Scheme of Work Lesson Topic 1 Introduction (Structure & Requirements). 2 research in an Educational Setting 3 Using Experiments to research Education 4 Using Questionnaires to research Education 5 Using Interviews to research Education 6 Using Observations to research Education 7 Using Secondary Sources to research Education 8 Revision & Mapping 9 Methods in Context Independent research Project 10 Methods in Context Independent research Project 11 Methods in Context Independent research Project 12 Methods in Context Independent research Project Lesson 1 - Methods in Context - Introduction Examine the requirements for answering a Methods in Context question. SPEC: Students must be able to apply sociological Methods to the study of education. ALL (Grade C/D) MOST (Grade B/C) SOME (Grade A/A*). Be able to identify and Be able to identify and Be able to identify and briefly explain some of the deeply explain many of the thoroughly explain all of requirements of the requirements of the the requirements of the Methods in Context Methods in Context Methods in Context question.

2 Question. question. What does it look like? Tips for Success Use the Item at least once, it asks you to do it in the question. Cover strengths and limitations, it asks you to do it in the question. Only refer to the method mentioned in the question. The item tends to have hooks' or clues about issues you can write about, read it and look for them. 6 paragraphs of Level 3 Points is enough to get you full marks. How to reach Level 3? Link the strengths / weaknesses of the method to studying the actual topic in the question. L3 areas to consider: the characteristics of the potential research subjects, the research Context and settings, the sensitivity of researching the topic 20 mark- 3 levels Level 1 MAX 11. Method only. MAX 15 Level 3. Method and specific application Up to to the issue 20. in question. marks Level 2. Must relate Method and to item application to education in general.

3 Lesson 2 - Methods in Context . Education as a research Context Outline the main characteristics of education as a Context of sociological research . Explore potential issues that could be faced when conducting research in an educational Context . SPEC: Students must be able to apply sociological Methods to the study of education. ALL (Grade C/D) MOST (Grade B/C) SOME (Grade A/A*). Be able to identify and Be able to identify and Be able to identify and describe one or two issues describe three or more describe three or more that sociologists would issues that sociologists issues that sociologists face when conducting would face when would face when research in an educational conducting research in an conducting research in an setting. educational setting, and educational setting, explain suggest ways in which they what type of issue each is might be overcome.

4 And suggest ways in which they might be overcome. Is Rossett an outstanding' school? Pretend you are a sociologist looking into this question what research Methods would you use? PET Issues PRACTICAL. T Time R research Opportunity A Access M Money P Personality S Sampling PET Issues ETHICAL. D Deception (covert). R Right to Withdraw I Informed Consent P Protection from Harm PET Issues THEORETICAL. P Positivist I Interpretivist Q Qualitative Q Quantitative PERVERT Issues PERVERT. P Practical E Ethical R Reliability V Validity E Examples R Representativeness T Theoretical Classrooms Pupils Schools EDUCTION AS. A Context . Teachers FOR SOCIAL. Parents research . Researching Pupils Power and status. Pupils ability. Vulnerability & ethical issues. Laws & guidelines Researching Teachers Power and status Impression Management Researching Classrooms A controlled setting restricted access.

5 Pupils and teachers hiding their true thoughts/feelings. Gatekeepers Peer Groups Researching Schools Schools' own data The law Gatekeepers School organisation Researching Parents Difficulty in contact and access. Willingness to participate. Social class/attitudes to school. What do AQA say? Researching Education A Summary Education is a r_ _ _ _ _ _h Context with many distinctive c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s. For example, the need to p_ _ _ _ _t pupils poses e_ _ _ _ _l problems. Classrooms are highly c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d settings and this may make it difficult to uncover real a_ _ _ _ _ _ _s. Teachers are accustomed to being o_ _ _ _ _ _d and may put on a show' when being s_ _ _ _ _d. Schools are closed, h_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _l organisations and this may make a_ _ _ _s difficult. Parents may be difficult to c_ _ _ _ _ t without the school's c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _n.

6 Researching Education A Summary Education is a research Context with many distinctive characteristics. For example, the need to protect pupils poses ethical problems. Classrooms are highly controlled settings and this may make it difficult to uncover real attitudes. Teachers are accustomed to being observed and may put on a show' when being studied. Schools are closed, hierarchical organisations and this may make access difficult. Parents may be difficult to contact without the school's cooperation. Homework Page 107 Quick Questions'. Lesson 3 - Methods in Context Using Experiments to research Education Explorestrengths and limitations of using experiments to conduct research within education. SPEC: Students must be able to apply sociological Methods to the study of education. ALL (Grade C/D) MOST (Grade B/C) SOME (Grade A/A*). Be able to recall and Be able to recall and Be able to recall and explain one or two explain two or three explain three or four advantages and advantages and advantages and disadvantages of using disadvantages of using disadvantages of using experiments to conduct experiments to conduct experiments to conduct sociological research .

7 Sociological research sociological research and to apply them to an and to apply them to educational setting. looking into a specific topic within an educational setting. Starter Paper 2 research Method Question Outline two differences between artificial and laboratory experiments [4 marks]. Level 1 - PERVERT. Laboratory Field Strength Weakness Strength Weakness Level 2 In an education setting . Laboratory Experiments READ Examples of Studies Then . What ethical problems can exist if experiments are carried out on real school children? What is the advantage of focussing on one specific aspect in a study? What variables exist that make schools a practical problem to experiment in? Level 2 In an education setting . Field Experiments RECALL VERBALLY Rosenthal & Jacobsen study on Labelling & Self Fulfilling Prophecy, then . Ethically, as a result of their field experiment what could have happened to 80% of Pupils?

8 In order to increase validity, what ethical issue do field experiments require? In terms of reliability, why would there study be difficult to replicate? With the study being longitudinal, it allowed what? Level 3 In relation to a specific topic Where are the hooks? Level 3 In relation to a specific topic Read through the candidate answer, and mark L1, L2, L3, for all the points raised. What would you give it out of 20? Over to you add three additional paragraphs that make L3 points in relation to the question. Lesson 4 - Methods in Context Using Questionnaires to research Education Explorestrengths and limitations of using questionnaires to conduct research within education. SPEC: Students must be able to apply sociological Methods to the study of education. ALL (Grade C/D) MOST (Grade B/C) SOME (Grade A/A*). Be able to recall and Be able to recall and Be able to recall and explain one or two explain two or three explain three or four advantages and advantages and advantages and disadvantages of using disadvantages of using disadvantages of using questionnaires to questionnaires to questionnaires to conduct sociological conduct sociological conduct sociological research .

9 research and to apply research and to apply them to an educational them to looking into a setting. specific topic within an educational setting. Starter Mini Quiz 1) What is the main questionnaire that is filled in by every household and is a key source of data for Sociologists? 2) What is a questionnaire called when it is done by the respondent? 3) Questionnaires can also be sent via the _____. or by _____. 4) Two types of questions that can be asked on questionnaires are _____ and _____. 5) In order to get people to fill them out, researchers may offer a _____. Starter Mini Quiz 1) Census 2) Self-completion 3) Post , Email 4) Open , Closed 5) Reward / Incentive Level 1 - PERVERT Level 2 In Education ( ). Strength Weakness Strength Weakness Level 3 Using Self-completion Questionnaires to Conduct Educational research In small groups, prepare a Think about.

10 Presentation focussing on the Who is being studied? following issues: Apply the What is being studied? Level 2 points we have raised Why is it being studied? to the specific topic to turn it When can you do the study? Where will the study take place? into a Level 3 answer: How will it be undertaken? Subject and University PET / PERVERT. Choice 1) Characteristics of those being studied. Bullying 2) Context & Setting of the research . School Achievement 3) The sensitivity of researching the topic. Pupil Subcultures Peer Assessment Homework Methods in Context question on Lesson 5 - Methods in Context Using Interviews to research Education Explorestrengths and limitations of using interviews to conduct research within education. SPEC: Students must be able to apply sociological Methods to the study of education. ALL (Grade C/D) MOST (Grade B/C) SOME (Grade A/A*).