Concepts
Stereotype- labeling individuals because of the way they behave e.g. saying someone is “rude” is expressing a stereotype. This relates to my aim because it will tell me if teachers see different ethnic groups the same way.
Racism- personal attitude a person has towards another targeted ethnic group, the way they perceive a person because of e.g. their culture. This relates to my aim because it can show if teachers show signs of racism in classrooms.
Discrimination; when a person is treated differently because of e.g. there culture. This meets my aim because I would like to know if teachers discriminate children in class. It may explain under achievement of African-Caribbean's and performance in Indian children.
Ethnicity- ethnic group is a social group whose members have different characteristics. This relates to my aim because I am examining the attainment of Afro Caribbean’s and Indians, it will also help me realize what teachers think the differences are in both ethnic groups.
Equality of opportunity -the right to have an equal chance at everything, despite ethnicity. This will go well with my aim because i would like to see whether teachers give Caribbean’s and Indians there rights.
Main research methods and reasons
Unstructured interviews
The reason for my choice is because its not a direct way of getting an answer to the questions. I can become friendly with the individual because its like a conversation, this way Its not like a questionnaire. This will make the individual feel more comfortable to answer questions, which will ill have strong answers, this type of conversation with will make it easier to reach my aim with the pupil. I want genuine answers from and id liek to realize If I raised a set of mentally planned questions towards the interviewee, it would be difficult for me to achieve the precise information Im looking for, because theyd feel obliged to respond in the right way. My sampling method Ill use opportunity sampling because those individuals will be nearby and available. All interviews will be in a private room, ill only have 12 minutes max with them to accumulate the data. To make it easier when analyzing the data Ill make sure Ive covered every aspect and use a dictator phone. Ill then repeat the same process with another year group were I dont know anyone.Ill try to understand the pupils as much as i can when asking them about there views of what goes on in the class with teachers and other pupils. Also ask them their own experiences in school. My aims to persuade participants to illustrate how they feel theyve been treated by students and teachers because of there ethnicity. Here are the types of questions I will ask the interviewee’s; “who does the finger get pointed at when someone miss behaves in the classroom”? From there response I will develop further and ask, “does this happen on a regular basis”?
Ethics:
Everything will be recorded using a dictator phone. Im also going to make a note of anything peculiar the individual does when asked certain questions. Ill also get pupils consent before starting and explain my aim,also il let them know theyve the Right to withdraw.Most of all i will assure them personal details will remain confidential.Ill acquire qualitative data and . Due to the way this interview is designed Im able to generate solid information thats high in validity. Ill need to develop the conversation I have with the interviewee in the direction I want it to go. If they dont cover a certain topic, Ill have to use a different approach to the question.
Advantages;
I need to be certain all answers are valid and by using unstructured interviews, Ill ensure to create confidence with participants by offering them a drink etc. In effect I will have extremely accurate results. Asian students may find it easier to communicate with me because I am also Asian and Ive grown up with the same culture as them, also its easier for me to undertstand them, whereas an Afro carribean wouldnt like to say to me that Asians are treated better than them. I think it will be easier for the participants to communicate with me because Im also the same age group as them.
Potential problems:
- time consuming. This generates a problem because I will carryout the interviews at schools and teachers may not permit students to be absent from lesson for so long. If I do not have sufficient time with interviewee’s I may not have adequate information I need, which will affect my outcome.
- My sample size is reasonable. Altogether I will be questioning 16 students consisting of 8 afro-Caribbean males and 8 Indian male students from years 12 and 13 from 1 school.This sample may not be satisfactory to take a broad view of the whole population.
- It will be extremely difficult for me to interpret and analyze the data I receive without being biased because; I will produce qualitative data from this method of research, which is a vast amount of information.
- I am a female and all the participants are male so they may not be comfortable communicating with me.
For the reason that I don’t have first hand understanding of afro Caribbean culture I may not be able to respond in an understanding manner to there reply. Afro Caribbean boys may find it uneasy to communicate with me because I am an Asian, they may not be able to say for example ‘they are more isolated in school than Indian boys’. I don’t wont to meddle with students emotions so I need to be cautious about what I say and understanding towards there thoughts. Because this is an sensitive subject. I need to be understanding towards each participants feelings if I don’t, it may lead to me meddling with there feelings and that’s what I need to prevent.
