Groups/Settings MIC

Groups/Settings MIC

1. Pupils

   • Less Power & Status
     • more difficult to express views openly
   • Limited Ability
     • vocabulary
     • pwoers of self expression
     • confidence
     • thinking skills
   • Vulnerability & Ethical Issues
     • psychological harm
       • eg questioning for long periods of time

2. Teachers

   • Power
     • 'my' classroom
       • researcher as tresspasser
   • Cooperation
     • little time
       • eg already overworked
   • 'Putting on a Show'
     • used to being observed
       • create a good impression
     • Hawthorne Effect

3. Classrooms

   • closed, controlled setting
     • clear boundaries
     • restrictions on access
   • disguising real thoughts & feelings
     • teachers & pupils good at this towards each other
   • peer pressure
     • affects validity of behaviour & attitudes

4. Schools

   • researchers come to be seen as part of the hierarchy
     • teachers see them as inspectors
     • students see them as teachers
   • power of the head teacher
     • may refuse access to the school
   • limited access to school data
   • some situations may be off limits to researchers
     • eg interviews between head & parents
   • daily & yearly timetable
     • affects when research can be conducted

5. Parents

   • physically outside the school
     • more difficult to access/contact
   • willingness to be involved in research
     • more likely amongst M/C parents
       • pro-school
   • influence schools
     • way in which they have brought up their child
   • seen as consumers

6. Researchers