Methods in Context: Teachers

Why might teachers be cautious about taking part in research?

They may fear judgement or repercussions, especially on sensitive issues – seen in Rosenthal and Jacobson’s covert experiment on teacher expectations.

What is one practical advantage of researching teachers via interviews?

Teachers are articulate and accustomed to answering questions – structured interviews were successfully used by Hargreaves to compare staff views.

What is a drawback of using structured interviews with teachers?

They may give official or rehearsed responses to protect their professional image – reducing validity, as shown in studies on teacher labelling like Becker’s.

What ethical issues must be considered when researching teachers?

Anonymity and confidentiality are crucial, especially when discussing sensitive topics like racism – as in Wright’s study of teacher expectations and ethnicity.

Why might teachers respond differently to different researchers?

Researcher characteristics (age, ethnicity, authority) can affect rapport – e.g., Wright, a Black female researcher, was sometimes viewed as a student by staff.

What method did Becker use to investigate teacher labelling?

Interviews – he found that teachers judged pupils based on how closely they fit the “ideal pupil” image.

What is a benefit of using classroom observation to research teacher behaviour?

It allows researchers to see interactions in real-time – Ball used this in Beachside Comprehensive to study how setting affected teacher expectations.

What is a limitation of overt observation of teachers?

Teachers may change their behaviour when observed – leading to the Hawthorne Effect, reducing validity.

What is a strength of using covert observation to study teachers?

It increases validity as teachers are unaware of being studied – though ethical issues arise, as in covert elements of Willis’s research.

Why might access be easier when researching teachers rather than pupils?

Teachers are adults and professionals, so consent is more straightforward – and gatekeepers may be more willing to approve staff-focused research.

What kind of questions might be problematic in researching teachers?

Questions on bias, labelling, or discipline could lead to socially desirable answers – highlighted in Keddie’s study on teacher knowledge hierarchies.

Why might teachers be more cooperative with certain methods?

They may prefer methods that feel professional and time-efficient – like questionnaires or short interviews, used in large-scale studies.

What did Hargreaves find when interviewing teachers?

That staff perceptions of deviance influenced how they treated students – demonstrating the link between teacher judgement and pupil behaviour.

What method did Gillborn use in his study of teacher expectations?

Classroom observation and interviews – he found teachers unintentionally held lower expectations of Black boys.

Why might teachers be more comfortable with group discussions than pupils?

They are trained professionals and used to formal discussion – though group settings could still create pressure to conform to ‘collegial’ norms.

How might hierarchy affect researching teachers in schools?

Teachers may be unwilling to criticise school policy in fear of senior management – affecting openness, especially in formal methods.

How did Ball research teacher practices at Beachside Comprehensive?

He used participant observation and interviews, gaining insight into how streaming affected classroom dynamics.

Why is validity an issue in researching teachers through official documents?

Documents like lesson plans or behaviour policies may not reflect actual practice – raising the issue of interpretivist critique.

What is one benefit of longitudinal research when studying teachers?

It shows how attitudes and practices evolve over time – useful in policy evaluation, though rarely used due to time constraints.

How did Fuller’s research challenge teacher stereotypes?

Through interviews and observation, she found that some Black girls resisted negative teacher labels and maintained academic success.