in context - using questionnaires to investigate education

sociologists sometimes use questionnaires to study issues such as what 4 things

sociologists sometimes use questionnaires to study issues such as

• Subject and university choice

• Bullying and the experience of schooling

• Achievement and school factors

• Parental attitudes to education.

Operationalisation of concepts

• Operationalising concepts involves turning what

• why might operationalising concepts be particularly difficult when creating a questionnaire for pupils.

• This may produce answers that are based on what

• Alternatively, there is a danger that the sociologist may have to o___-s____ the questions so much that they cease to have any s____ v____.

Operationalisation of concepts

• Operationalising concepts involves turning abstract ideas into a measurable form.

• This can be particularly difficult when creating a questionnaire for pupils. Because their grasp of abstract concepts is generally less than that of adults, it may be more difficult to turn sociological ideas such as 'deferred gratification' or 'cultural capital' into language that pupils will understand

• This may produce answers that are based on respondents' misunderstanding of what the questions mean.

• Alternatively, there is a danger that the sociologist may have to over-simplify the questions so much that they cease to have any sociological value.

Samples and sampling frames

• Schools routinely keep lists of what

• These can provide accurate s___ f___ from which the sociologist can draw a r_____ s____.

• Schools also have ready-made opportunity samples of pupils and teachers,- give example

However, schools may not keep lists that reflect the researchers interests :

• For example, the sociologist may wish to take a representative sample of pupils of a particular but the school may not keep lists of pupils s___ by e___ o___, so there is no sampling frame available from which to draw the sample.

• Even where the relevant sampling frame does exist, schools may d___ a____ to such c____ i_____.

Samples and sampling frames

• Schools routinely keep lists of pupils, staff and parents.

• These can provide accurate sampling frames from which the sociologist can draw a representative sample.

• Schools also have ready-made opportunity samples of pupils and teachers, for example in the form of classes and teaching departments.

However, schools may not keep lists that reflect the researchers interests :

• For example, the sociologist may wish to take a representative sample of pupils of a particular but the school may not keep lists of pupils sorted by ethnic origin, so there is no sampling frame available from which to draw the sample.

• Even where the relevant sampling frame does exist, schools may deny access to such confidential information.

Samples and sampling frames

• Distributing questionnaires in schools is a fairly easy way to access a large number of potential respondents. However, the researcher will first need the school's permission to give them out.

• Parents are harder than pupils or teachers to locate and contact, so using the school to distribute questionnaires is an effective way to overcome this difficulty- For example, the school can give out questionnaires for pupils to take home for their parents to complete.

• Younger children in particular are more open to peer group pressure and it is difficult to prevent pupils who are completing questionnaires that have been distributed in class from discussing responses.

Samples and sampling frames

• Distributing questionnaires in schools is a fairly easy way to access a l___ n___ of potential respondents. However, the researcher will first need what to give them out.

• Parents are harder than pupils or teachers to l____ and c___, so using the school to distribute questionnaires is an e____ way to overcome this difficulty- For example, the school can give out questionnaires for pupils to take h___ for their parents to complete.

• Younger children in particular are more open to what and it is difficult to prevent pupils who are completing questionnaires that have been distributed in class from doing what

Samples and sampling frames

• A questionnaire that does not involve the researcher being present when it is completed may help to overcome what problem

• On the other hand, a questionnaire usually has the appearance of what that pupils may find o____-p____.

Samples and sampling frames

• A questionnaire that does not involve the researcher being present when it is completed may help to overcome the problem of status differences between adult researcher and younger respondent.

• On the other hand, a questionnaire usually has the appearance of a formal document that pupils may find off-putting.

access and response rates

• Response rates for questionnaires are often l____.

• Schools may be reluctant to allow sociologists to distribute questionnaires for what 2 reasons

• For example, some schools might object to questionnaires about u___-a___ s___ a___.

access and response rates

• Response rates for questionnaires are often low.

• Schools may be reluctant to allow sociologists to distribute questionnaires because of the disruption to lessons that it may cause, or because they object to the researcher's chosen topic.

• For example, some schools might object to questionnaires about under-age sexual activity.

access and response rates

• However, when questionnaires are conducted in schools, response rates can often be higher than in other areas.

• This is because, once the head has given their c___ and put their a____ behind the research, teachers and pupils may be under p____ to c____.

• Similarly, the head may authorise what so that the questionnaires can be completed.

• The higher response rate may produce more r___ data from which g____ can be drawn.

• Another reason why response rates might be higher is that pupils, teachers and parents are a____ to completing questionnaires issued by the school, such as what type of questionnaires

• On the other hand, teachers are often too b___ to complete a l___ questionnaire and this may r ___ the response rate.

access and response rates

• However, when questionnaires are conducted in schools, response rates can often be higher than in other areas.

• This is because, once the head has given their consent and put their authority behind the research, teachers and pupils may be under pressure to cooperate.

• Similarly, the head may authorise time to be taken out of lessons so that the questionnaires can be completed.

• The higher response rate may produce more representative data from which generalisations can be drawn.

• Another reason why response rates might be higher is that pupils, teachers and parents are accustomed to completing questionnaires issued by the school, such as student satisfaction surveys.

• On the other hand, teachers are often too busy to complete a lengthy questionnaire and this may reduce the response rate.

practical issues

• Questionnaires are very useful for gathering l___ quantities of b___ f___ educational i___ q____ and c____.

• For example, M____ R____~(1979) used questionnaires to collect large quantities of data from how many inner L___ s___ s___.

• From this, Rutter was able to correlate a___, a____ and b_____ with variables such as what . It would have been very difficult to do this with more labour-intensive methods such as what 2 methods?

• However, the data generated by questionnaires is often l____ and s___. In Rutter's study, the data provided c_____ between variables such as class size and achievement, but not e_____for these c_____.

practical issues

• Questionnaires are very useful for gathering large quantities of basic factual educational information quickly and cheaply.

• For example, Michael Rutter (1979) used questionnaires to collect large quantities of data from 12 inner London secondary schools.

• From this, Rutter was able to correlate achievement, attendance and behaviour with variables such as school size, class size and number of staff. It would have been very difficult to do this with more labour-intensive methods such as interviewing or observation.

• However, the data generated by questionnaires is often limited and superficial. In Rutter's study, the data provided correlations between variables such as class size and achievement, but not explanations for these correlations.

practical issues

problems in using questionnaires to study children:

• what is the problem with Written questionnaires in particular

• Children generally have a shorter a____ s___ than adults and so questionnaires need to be relatively b___ if they are to stand a chance of being c___. This limits what

• Children's l____ e____ are narrower and their r___ different from those of adults. This may mean that pupils, particularly those of primary school age, do not actually 'k___ the a___'.

practical issues

problems in using questionnaires to study children:

• Written questionnaires involve participants being able to read and understand the questions. Thus they are unsuitable for those who cannot read reasonably well, such as young children or those with certain learning difficulties.

• Children generally have a shorter attention span than adults and so questionnaires need to be relatively brief if they are to stand a chance of being completed. This limits the amount of information that can be gathered.

  Children's life experiences are narrower and their recall different from those of adults. This may mean that pupils, particularly those of primary school age, do not actually 'know the answers'.

practical issues

• Schools have very active informal c________ c____.

• Word of what may spread rapidly on the 'g___'.

• If the questionnaire is delivered class by class, its purpose and questions may become k___ throughout the school long before all pupils or teachers have been given it.

• This may affect the responses given by l___ participants and so reduce the v___ of the data.

practical issues

• Schools have very active informal communication channels.

• Word of the researcher's presence may spread rapidly on the 'grapevine'.

• If the questionnaire is delivered class by class, its purpose and questions may become known throughout the school long before all pupils or teachers have been given it.

• This may affect the responses given by later participants and so reduce the validity of the data.

practical issues

• Teachers are w____-e_5__ professionals who will almost certainly have had e____ of completing questionnaires.

• They may well be able to analyse what and recognise the researcher's a___ and i___. They may then a____ their answers accordingly. This will result in i___ data.

• Teachers are very b___ professionals and may not c___ fully if the questionnaire is a l___ d____ that will take a long t___5 to complete.

practical issues

• Teachers are well-educated professionals who will almost certainly have had experience of completing questionnaires.

• They may well be able to analyse the pattern of questions and recognise the researcher's aims and intentions. They may then adjust their answers accordingly. This will result in invalid data.

• Teachers are very busy professionals and may not cooperate fully if the questionnaire is a lengthy document that will take a long time to complete.

anonymity and detachment

• Questionnaires can be particularly useful when researching sfff educational issues such as b___, where their anonymity may help what

• As a result, response rates may be h____ and pupils may be more likely to reveal d___ of their e___^ of being b____. This may produce more v___ data than what type of method

anonymity and detachment

• Questionnaires can be particularly useful when researching sensitive educational issues such as bullying, where their anonymity may overcome pupils' embarrassment or fear of retribution from bullies.

• As a result, response rates may be higher and pupils may be more likely to reveal details of their experience of being bullied. This may produce more valid data than would a face-to-face structured interview, for example.

anonymity and detachment

• However, much depends on whether pupils are reassured that what

• why might this reassurance may be difficult to achieve with a questionnaire,

anonymity and detachment

• However, much depends on whether pupils are reassured that their anonymity will be safeguarded.

• Yet this reassurance may be difficult to achieve with such a detached method as a questionnaire, where there is little or no personal contact with the researcher.

anonymity and detachment

what type of sociologists would reject questionnaires as a means of researching pupils and why ?

anonymity and detachment

• Interpretivist sociologists emphasise the importance of developing rapport with research participants and so they reject questionnaires as a means of researching pupils.

  Because the lack of contact with respondents makes rapport difficult to establish, young people may be less likely to give full and honest responses.

anonymity and detachment

• Questionnaires are f___, o____-l___ documents and pupils may equate them with what - especially if they are completed in class, like a t___.

• As a result, some pupils, particularly which ones , may r____ to cooperate or to take the activity seriously. This will result in i____ or i____ data.

• Compared with to what type of , it is easy to make questionnaires a____.

• As a result, teachers may feel able to set aside concerns about their c____ and so give more h___ answers to s____ questions about issues such as their attitudes to pupils.

anonymity and detachment

• Questionnaires are formal, official-looking documents and pupils may equate them with school and teacher authority - especially if they are completed in class, like a test.

• As a result, some pupils, particularly those in anti-school subcultures, may refuse to cooperate or to take the activity seriously. This will result in incomplete or invalid data.

• Compared with face-to-face forms of research such as interviews, it is easy to make questionnaires anonymous.

• As a result, teachers may feel able to set aside concerns about their careers and so give more honest answers to sensitive questions about issues such as their attitudes to pupils