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Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using written questionnaires to investigate the role of parents in their children's achievement in school - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 5
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using written questionnaires to investigate the role ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using written questionnaires to investigate the role of parents in their children's achievement in school - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Evaluate the strengths of using written questionnaires.
Answer
Written questionnaires are beneficial in investigating the role of parents in children's achievement due to their ability to reach a large number of respondents at once, providing an efficient means to collect data. They allow parents to share their views in a structured format, which enhances the comparability of responses. Furthermore, questionnaires can be completed at the convenience of the respondents, reducing the pressure of timing that might affect the honesty of their replies. Additionally, anonymity can encourage more honest revelations about sensitive topics, such as educational involvement and parental attitudes.
Step 2
Evaluate the limitations of using written questionnaires.
Answer
Despite their advantages, written questionnaires also have limitations. The lack of face-to-face interaction may lead to misunderstandings of the questions, especially if the parents have varying levels of literacy. This can skew the data quality. Furthermore, respondents might provide socially desirable answers rather than their true feelings or experiences. Additionally, the closed-ended nature of many questionnaires can restrict the depth of information gathered, potentially omitting valuable insights into parental roles. Finally, operational definitions in the questionnaire may not always capture the nuances of parental involvement, leading to reduced validity.
Step 3
Conclusion on the effectiveness of questionnaires.
Answer
In conclusion, while written questionnaires can serve as a valuable tool for exploring parental influence on children's educational achievement, researchers must be aware of their inherent strengths and limitations. A mixed-method approach, combining questionnaires with interviews or qualitative data, could yield a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in parental roles.