Last Updated on January 11, 2019 by
A suggested template for the Methods in Context Question on one of the AQA’s 7191 (1)education and methods in context sample exam papers – the template should work for most Method in Context questions, but it won’t work for all of them (it’ll fit less well for secondary data MIC questions)
Question: 06 Read Item B below and answer the question that follows
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Evaluate the strengths and limitations of using covert participant observation to investigate pupils with behavioural difficulties (20)
Suggested Essay Plan
Cover Four things – Sampling/ Representativeness, Access, Validity, Ethics – In relation to the specific topic you are will be researching….
| Discuss getting a sample/ Representativeness | How might you gain a representative sample of the group you are studying? Are there any reasons why it might be difficult to get a representative sample?
Will the research method in the question make achieving a representative sample easier or more difficult? What could you do to ensure representativeness?
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| Discuss gaining access to respondents | Once you’ve decided on your sample, why might gaining access to respondents be a problem? (think of who you will be researching, and where you will be researching)
Will the choice of method make gaining access easier or more difficult?
What would you have to do to make sure you can gain access to this particular group?
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| Discuss validity/ empathy/ trust/ Insight | Think of who you will be researching – are there any specific reasons why they may not wish to disclose information, or be unable to be disclose information?
Will the research method in the question make gaining trust easier or more difficult?
What could you do to make sure you get valid data from the people you will be researching?
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| Discuss Ethics | Think of the specific topic you are researching in relation to who you will be researching – are there any specific ethical problems with researching these people?
Given these ethical problems, is the research method appropriate?
How can you make sure research is ethical?
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| Conclusion | Based on all of the above is this a practical, theoretically sound and ethical method for this topic |
NB – For the Topic you could discuss any of the following:
Who you might be researching
- Pupils
- Teachers
- Parents
- Support Staff
Where you might be researching pupils with behavioural difficulties
- Classrooms
- Staffrooms
- Parents’ homes
Specific characteristics of the subjects under investigation
- Vulnerability
- Stigmatisation
- Parental consent
For the Method – You should consider all of TPEN: See here for the factors you should consider
Also relevant:
Using Participant Observation to Research Education
A simpler version might just be to say whether it’s an appropriate method for the topic under investigation, whether you’d personally use it, how and why.
I really don’t understand jack shit about how to do a proper concussion honestly, and the one portrayed here gave me a massive headache :/
It’s certainly not the most fun of topics, I’ll give you that! I feel your pain.
this topic is so unnecessary and stupid it makes me want to cry.
Hi – there are a few on the site – it-s a difficult topic to provide model answers for as there are various ways of writing a good answer!
DO you have any model answers that I can use with my students? I am new to teaching Sociology.
No one understands Methods in Context TBH. It’s the most appalling way of assessing understanding.
I don’t understand it.