Firstly, overt observation is when the researcher would make all the pupils aware that they are being studied and makes sure they give their permission before the observation takes place. This makes their research ethical, however observer effect can occur which is where the truants may behave differently because they are being observed, giving unreliable results. The other type of participant observation is covert studies. This means the truants wouldn’t know they were being watched, so they are more likely to behave like they normally would, giving valid results, however this raises ethical concerns such as the right to withdraw and deception. A strength of participant observation when investigating truancy from school is results are usually valid compared with getting the students to fill out a questionnaire about truanting when there is no real way of telling if they are giving accurate answers.
A laboratory experiment can be replicated by other scientists as lab experiments are very reliable. Due to such advantages of lab experiments, positivist sociologists favour this scientific method as it produces cause and effect relationships. However positivists still accept the disadvantages and limitations of lab experiments. One drawback of this experiment is that it is difficult to obtain the informed consent of some groups such as children, or people who have learning difficulties or those who cannot understand the nature of the experiment. An example of where participants were misled was in Milgram’s experiment.
They won’t help people who need them if these people don’t have money. This money will effects on education budget while this money should be spent on things that can help the student achievements like teachers training and modern labs facilities. Teacher training about modern teaching techniques is very important. Many researches which made on young students shows that
For example it would be almost impossible to control the variables that may influence a situation and although being able to control the environment/variables may seem like a good thing all its creating is an artificial environment. This is the reason why field experiments are better favored by an interpritivist as an experimental method. There are also many ethical issues regarding the conduction of experiments on human beings as informed consent is necessary from the participants and it is difficult or impossible to get consent of somebody who has learning difficulties or is a baby. Many sociologists choose not
Standardized testing is also beneficial when it comes to testing a group as a whole to see different statistics within the group. Like the MEAP and ACT tests, standardized testing can be used to see where schools as well as individuals stand in their learning and teaching processes. On the other hand, standardized testing has many disadvantages in society. One disadvantage to standardized testing is that, when used as the main teaching objective, students miss out on part of their education. Standardized tests are incredibly narrow when it comes to what is tested, that any diverse, in-depth or broad teachings are lost.
Similar to other progressive education movements, both Froebel and Montessori wanted to provide “real-life situations in which children can formulate and test their own hypothesis in solving problems” (p. 276). Despite their similarities, the two methods had some major differences in the way they approached the educational setting and how to teach children. For example, while both Froebelian and Montessori theories agreed that there should be a structure, Froebelians considered the Montessori method too structured and rigid because it restricted the child’s freedom to experiment (Gutek, p. 273). Froebelians also criticized the Montessori method for not encouraging enough socialization between the students (p. 275). Conversely, the Montessori camp believed that the Froebelian method over sentimentalized education in young children and relied too heavily on myths, fables and stories.
Running head: Influences in the Teaching Environment Influences in the Teaching Environment Joe Smith Grand Canyon University: EDU 536 August 28, 2012 Influences in the Teaching Environment There are many negative classroom conditions and disruptive behaviors that can influence the teaching environment. These include, but are not limited to, large class sizes, unmotivated and disrespectful students. It is important for teachers to be prepared for these conditions and behaviors, and have effective strategies to deal with them. These strategies need to include preemptive tactics that prevent disruptions from happening. However, some disruptions are unpreventable and inevitable and strategies need to been in place to deal with these when they occur.
Obtaining informed consent from participants who are children or have learning difficulties may be difficult. Lying to participants about the nature of the experiment, as Milgram (1974) did in his studies of obedience to authority, is considered morally wrong. Therein lies another issue, as if people know they are being studied/know the nature of the experiment, the Hawthorne effect may occur, where the participants behaviour is unnatural. This would not produce valid results, therefor ruining the experiment. However, the laboratory experiment is highly reliable, as it is easily repeatable and a detached method.
They are able to manipulate the education system to their advantage which means their children have a better chance at doing well in school. Disconnected-local choosers and semi-skilled choosers are working-class parents who have a lack of cultural capital and therefore their child’s academic progress suffers as they are usually sent to ‘local’ schools which they aren’t necessarily best suited for. Children who have cultural capital also have an elaborated code (wider vocabulary) which gives them an advantage at school as it is the code used by teachers and in textbooks. The elaborated code is typically used by middle class and helps with their academic achievement. Children with a lack of cultural capital are more likely to use the restricted code (limited vocabulary) which disadvantages them at school as they feel excluded and are therefore less successful.
One of the problems the sociologists face is making their research ethical, so that there are no ethical problems. This means the researcher will have to tell the participants that they are being studied; however this may be difficult to get from people with special needs or learning difficulties as they may not understand what you’re doing, and what the experiment out to research. It is also considered wrong to mislead people in your experiment; Milgram did an experiment to research the obedience of authority. Milgram told his participants that they were administering electric shocks to the learner if they failed to answer the question correctly, the voltage increasing every time they got one wrong, to a lethal dose. The experiment caused some of the participants to sweat, tremble, and stutter and in some cases seizures.