1. Immediate activity

2. Bad research!

3. Questionnaires
Questionnaires are one the most commonly used research methods. There are many types of questionnaires which are used for different reasons.
Learning Goals
By the end of this topic you should:
> Know the different types of questions used in questionnaires & the different methods of delivering them:
> Evaluate the strengths & limitations of questionnaires.
> Be able to apply your understanding of questionnaires to the study of education.

4. Questionnaires > Questionnaires are a list of Pre-Set questions
These questions are usually:
Closed/Pre-Coded Questions
1) Are you Religious?
Yes q No q
E.g.
but could also include…
Open-Ended Questions
1) Are you Religious?
…………………………………..
As part of this topic you will expected to know why different researchers might choose to use these different types of questions……
> What type of sociological researcher might use Closed-Ended/ Pre-Coded Qs?
> Why might Positivists prefer these types of questions?
> What type of sociological researcher might use Open-Ended Qs?
> Why might Interpretivists prefer these types of questions?

5. Different types of questionnaires
Strengths and weaknesses of Postal Questionnaires:
Strengths & Weaknesses of
Closed-Ended/ Pre-Coded Questions:

6. Strengths & Weaknesses of Closed-Ended/ Pre-Coded Questions:
Open-Ended Questions:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
> Ambiguous Questions
> Standardised Data
> In-Depth, Detailed information
> Ambiguous Questions
> Easy to Quantify
> Long Drawn-out Answers (Time)
> Restricts Responses
> Answers are not restricted (no imposition problem)
> Easy to Compare & Contrast
> Imposition Problem (Researcher decides the responses)
> Difficult to Quantify
> High in Reliability
> Quick to Complete
> Difficult to make Comparisons
> Lacks Validity
> High in Reliability
> Lacks Reliability

7. Postal Questionnaires:
> These are questionnaires distributed through the post or by to be completed by the respondent and then posted back to the researcher.
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
> Large Scale (Representative & Generalisable)
> Ambiguous Questions (Lack of an Interviewer)
> Not everyone has a fixed address/ access to
> Cost could become an issue
> Relatively Cheap
> Respondents Reply at Own Leisure (Validity)
> Potentially Low-Response Rate
> Easier to answer personal questions
> Not being taken Seriously
> No Guarantee on who is filling them out
> Rules Out Interviewer Bias

8. Administering Questionnaires
There are many ways in which questionnaires can be administered:
Self Administered/ Self Completion:
> These are questionnaires that are distributed in person, completed on the spot, then collected in:
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
> Ambiguous Questions (Lack of an Interviewer)
> Quick & Easy to Complete (Not an Interview)
> May be expensive (Might need to employ ‘Helpers’)
> Time Consuming (Administered in Person)
> Easier to answer personal questions
> Lowers Researcher Effects
> High Response Rate
> Generally Small Scale (Lacks Unrepresentative & Ungeneralisable)
> Respondents Can’t Reply at Own Leisure (Validity?)

9. Interviewer ‘Present’ – Structured Interviews:
Questionnaires can be administered by an interviewer, either in person (Face-to-Face) or over the phone, with the respondent. This is essentially a STRUCTURED INTERVIEW. The Questionnaire becomes an INTERVEIW SCHEDULE.
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
> High Response Rate
> Restrictive Interview Schedule – Can’t Probe
> Interviewer can explain ambiguous Qs ( Increases Validity)
> Time Consuming
> Phone Calls can be Expensive
> Less problem with Interviewer Bias
> Possibility that Respondents might feel Intimidated
> Relatively Quick
> Build a Rapport with the Respondent
> Possibility of Interviewer Bias

10. Education: Methods in Context
Paper 1 question 6

11. Learning goals KNOW (A01)
The key things to look out for in the Methods in Context section of Paper 1
APPLY (A02)
This to a model answer and attempt an answer of your own
EVALUATE (A03)
The strengths and methods of the research methods used in sociology

12. Paper 1 will consist of questions about this…
The Specification
Paper 1 will also have a question where you need to link education WITH research methods. This is called ‘Methods in Context.
Paper 1 will consist of questions about this…
Education
Research Methods
Look to the future: At A-Level, you will also be asked a 10 mark question about ‘Theory and Methods’ in this paper

13. MIC Structure: Areas of Study
You will be asked about a particular area within education…
Teachers
Students
Parents
Classrooms
Schools
…and then about key issue within that area…
Finally, you will be asked about how it may be researched with a given research method.
You will be provided with one of these areas, with a partner consider how you might go about researching it (think about what methods might be best)

14. MIC Structure: Key Issues
The issues could include:
Educational achievement between social groups (class, gender and ethnicity)
Impact of social policies
League tables
Types of schools
And more!

15. MIC Structure: The Methods
You will only be asked about the strengths and weakness of ONE method and how it links to the topic within education
Questionnaires
Self-completion, postal
Experiments
Laboratory, field and comparative
Case studies, longitudinal research
Secondary methods
Documents, official statistics
Observations
Participant, non-participant, covert, overt
Interviews
Structured, unstructured, semi-structured, group interviews

16. Remember PET from RM? Time, access, cost, skills of the researcher
Practical
Time, access, cost, skills of the researcher
Ethical
Informed consent, free from deception, right to withdraw, protection from harm, privacy and confidentiality, ethics committees
Theoretical
Theoretical and sociological perspective, type of data used, bias, objectivity, validity and reliability

17. An Example
Identify the context and method in this item. Extension: identify at least TWO  and  of using the method in this case

18. The Full Question

19. The Mark Scheme
Skip this slide if you would like students to wait and see this!

20. The Perfect Plan (MIC and RM)
Introduction
Identify and define key concepts
Don’t just rewrite the question!
Practical links
Ethical links
Theoretical links
Conclusion
Would a DIFFERENT method be better for this issue? What about methodological pluralism (triangulation)?
Task: read through the model answer (to a different question) and highlight key terms/concepts

21. Anonymity and detachment
Questionnaires can be useful when researching sensitive issues like bullying, response rates may be higher and pupils may be more likely to reveal details of their experience of being bullied
Interpretivist sociologists would reject this because the lack of contact with respondents may make rapport more difficult to establish
Questionnaires are official looking documents and young people might equate them with school and teacher authority. As a result some pupils may refuse to cooperate

22. Top Tips
Read the item carefully (read it a few times) Annotate it, and highlight key terms including the research method it refers to.
Plan your essay!
You are recommended to spend 30 minutes on the MIC question.

23. Task You now need to write the body of the essay: Practical aspects
Ethical aspects
Theoretical aspects
Remember to PEEL your paragraphs!
Include key theory and studies – where appropriate
Ensure that you link the issue to the method sufficiently