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Sociology Methods in Context

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Sociology - Methods in context essay
P.E.R.V.E.R.T
· Practical Issues - Time, Cost, Access etc
· Ethical Issues - Informed Consent, are children involved etc..
· Reliability
· Validity
· Example - not too sure on this one, i think you make up a situation where the method would be good?
· Representativeness
· Theoretical Issues - Positivist/Interpretivist views

THEMES
1. Pupils
2. Teachers
3. Schools
4. Parents
5. Classroom

METHODS
1. Documents
2. Official Stats
3. Questionnaires
4. Interviews
5. Experiments
6. Observations

STUDY
1. Truancy
2. Subcultures
3. Achievement
4. Parental involvement
5. Gender Identity
6. Class, Ethnicity and Language
7. Labelling
8. Teacher Expectations
9. Classroom Interactions

In Summary
1. Choose your method
2. Look at the theme
3. Look at the study
4. Use the Item, take each point and add your own material DO NOT re-write it

‘Item A/B states…. In addition/for example….’

5. Use all of the item not just the bit that relates to your chosen method
6. Perhaps a good conclusion would be one that discusses using a mixture of methods or ‘Triangulation.’

REMEMBER: This is a methods essay NOT an education one, you do not need lengthy descriptions for example, of studies that relate to education, however it may be a good idea in this question in particular to use Willis’ Learning to Labour as an example of a group interview but in relation to its use as a method NOT the study itself.

LASTLY: APPLY APPLY APPLY – All examples should be related to the material in the Item and Education, NOT methods in general.

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