Researching Pupils

What are the social classes of pupils?

• Working Class

• Middle Class

What are the genders of pupils?

• Male

• Female

What are the ethnic groups of pupils?

• Chinese

• Indian

• Pakistani

• Black-Caribbean

• Black-African

• White

What are the practical issues with researching pupils?

• Access- How are you going to get access to pupils?

• Relationships- How might students perceive the researcher?

• Time- How long will it take to complete the research?

• Sample size- How many students will you need?

What are the ethical issues with researching pupils?

• Social sensitivity- What issues might be distressing for students?

• Protection from harm- What methods might place students in psychological or physical harm?

• Deception- What methods might create false relationships between pupils and researchers

• Anonymity/confidentiality- How are you going to ensure pupils’ details remain safe?

What are the theoretical issues with researching pupils?

• Validity- How do you know students’ reactions are accurate?

• Reliability- Are pupils’ actions likely to be repeated by others?

• Value- How might the sociologist’s values influence their interactions with pupils?

• Representativeness- With a diverse range of pupils are you likely to gain a representative sample?

What methods should be used when researching pupils?

• Unstructured Interviews- Establishing a rapport and probing deeper

• Covert Observations- Seeing pupils’ reactions and behaviours first-hand

• Questionnaires- Gaining a large sample of student opinions

• Official Statistics- Analysing trends in achievement