METHODOLOGY
Lambert (2012) defines methodology as the rationale for the methods you use to investigate and answer your research questions. Therefore, there must be an explanation for your chosen methodology in order to meet your aims of the research. The aim of my research is to uncover the answers of these questions:
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) What do students and teachers define success as
2) What do students feel contributes to their success
3) What do teachers feel contributes to their pupils success
This is a piece of qualitative research that will take place in one PRU in the UK, close to a large town centre in the Black Country. This PRU was selected for this research because of its ‘good’ Ofsted rating, which had been achieved by the new …show more content…
As all the participants are used to them, as each day the children have a discussion about their behaviour (Elmwood, 2015). As the children are familiar with it should lead to the children feeling more comfortable and at ease when speaking to me and would hopefully lead to more in-depth answers. Another reason for conducting interviews instead of questionnaires is with sending questionnaires you are assuming that all recipients will be capable of completing the questions (Wilson, 2013) another positive to interviews is that Gilliham (2005) states that an interview is thought to be one of the most valuable ways of collecting data as it is flexible. However, whilst this method is extremely valuable in collecting in-depth data there are negatives to this method which do have to be recognised. Bell (2010) discusses how there is a danger of bias when conducting an interview, similarly Lambert (2012) talks about how an interview can easily become an agreement between the interviewer and interviewee and losing the point of the interview topic. Stake (1995) suggests not recording the interviews or to write furiously that it is better to listen and not take many notes. However, as one has not interviewed many people before, it will help to record the interview with the interviewee’s permission and transcribe the audio straight afterwards, however, Sharp (2012) …show more content…
The ethical considerations in this study were informed by the British Educational Research Association guidelines, (BERA, 2015). When working with a venerable group making sure you have full in-formed consent from the children’s parents is paramount, and that they know that they can withdraw at any time and all the data will be anonymous following the ethical guideline of confidentiality. However, BERA talks about vulnerable young adults and states that ‘children who are capable of forming their own views should be granted the right to express their views’ (BERA, 2011, pp.6) and if they are equal with their age and maturity they will be able to give their own full formed consent. To adhere to the ethical guidelines, initially a letter requesting written consent to conduct the research in the pupil referral unit was sent to the head teacher of the school and a signature of authorisation was obtained. The letter included the nature, sample and scope of my research project and how the ethical guidelines will be adhered too, finally it discussed how it will not affect any relationships that have been made between pupil and teacher. In addition to this, the University of Wolverhampton’s researchers study institution was notified of this consent. A copy of the letter to the head teacher is attached in
Lambert (2012) defines methodology as the rationale for the methods you use to investigate and answer your research questions. Therefore, there must be an explanation for your chosen methodology in order to meet your aims of the research. The aim of my research is to uncover the answers of these questions:
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) What do students and teachers define success as
2) What do students feel contributes to their success
3) What do teachers feel contributes to their pupils success
This is a piece of qualitative research that will take place in one PRU in the UK, close to a large town centre in the Black Country. This PRU was selected for this research because of its ‘good’ Ofsted rating, which had been achieved by the new …show more content…
As all the participants are used to them, as each day the children have a discussion about their behaviour (Elmwood, 2015). As the children are familiar with it should lead to the children feeling more comfortable and at ease when speaking to me and would hopefully lead to more in-depth answers. Another reason for conducting interviews instead of questionnaires is with sending questionnaires you are assuming that all recipients will be capable of completing the questions (Wilson, 2013) another positive to interviews is that Gilliham (2005) states that an interview is thought to be one of the most valuable ways of collecting data as it is flexible. However, whilst this method is extremely valuable in collecting in-depth data there are negatives to this method which do have to be recognised. Bell (2010) discusses how there is a danger of bias when conducting an interview, similarly Lambert (2012) talks about how an interview can easily become an agreement between the interviewer and interviewee and losing the point of the interview topic. Stake (1995) suggests not recording the interviews or to write furiously that it is better to listen and not take many notes. However, as one has not interviewed many people before, it will help to record the interview with the interviewee’s permission and transcribe the audio straight afterwards, however, Sharp (2012) …show more content…
The ethical considerations in this study were informed by the British Educational Research Association guidelines, (BERA, 2015). When working with a venerable group making sure you have full in-formed consent from the children’s parents is paramount, and that they know that they can withdraw at any time and all the data will be anonymous following the ethical guideline of confidentiality. However, BERA talks about vulnerable young adults and states that ‘children who are capable of forming their own views should be granted the right to express their views’ (BERA, 2011, pp.6) and if they are equal with their age and maturity they will be able to give their own full formed consent. To adhere to the ethical guidelines, initially a letter requesting written consent to conduct the research in the pupil referral unit was sent to the head teacher of the school and a signature of authorisation was obtained. The letter included the nature, sample and scope of my research project and how the ethical guidelines will be adhered too, finally it discussed how it will not affect any relationships that have been made between pupil and teacher. In addition to this, the University of Wolverhampton’s researchers study institution was notified of this consent. A copy of the letter to the head teacher is attached in