RESEARCHMETHOD.docx

Primary Research Unit

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streaming and banding

Contents page

review……………………………..pg3
Aim and Rationale…………………………….pg4
Methods and methodology………………..pg5
Findings……………………………………………..pg6
Analysis and conclusions…………………..pg14
Reference list…………………………………….pg15
Bibliography………………………………………pg15

Review
Nash argues that “there is a strong (positive) correlation between the way a teacher perceives a pupil and their achievement.”( “A” level sociology pg4). This is a clear show that the labeling of learners has a great effect on the success of the learners. The students who lack encouragement due to the labeling do not perform well in their studies. In streaming, the students are distinguished on the basis of intelligence (“A” level sociology pg6). This has greatly played part in the imbalance of educational achievement because the students are allocated to different levels within the school on the basis of academic performance. Similarly, banding is done on the basis of reports from the primary teachers as learners are progressing in secondary schools (“A” level sociology pg8). According to the article “Selecting and Grouping Students” (pg 76), schools will normally arrange the different students according to different interests and abilities. These groupings especially that which are based on social and economic status disadvantages the learners who are placed in lower tracks.

This therefore means that Haralambos, et al. (2013pg664) states that “schools transmit both general values that are important in providing the necessary homogeneity for school survival.” The school represents society in miniature, where the learners are supposed to corporate with people who are neither their kin nor their friends. Durkheim believed that education is critical in teaching the students special skills necessary for their future occupations. Parsons believed that schools aimed to instill the achievement value and the value of equality of opportunity, which is very important in society. On the other hand, Davis and Moore believe that the education system is a means of role allocation “This is the proving ground for ability and hence the selective agency for placing people in different statuses according to their capabilities” (Haralambos, et al. 2013 pg665). The education system according to them has a tendency of rewarding the most talented with high qualifications. As a result, this provides entry to the professions that are very significant in the society. However, there are contrasting views, with some people believing that “the education system is primarily intended to serve the interest of the powerful” (Haralambos, et al. 2013pg666). Bowles and Gintis argue that education benefits capitalism indirectly through legitimizing inequality. These two believed that the educational system presents streaming, banding, and setting as fair and just, and the stability of society is not threatened. Therefore, this study will look at the experiences of streaming, banding, or setting in secondary schools and its impact on the learner’s educational attainment.

They are regarded as being more than ‘worthless louts.’ Since these groups of learners feel that they cannot achieve high status within the classroom or in school, they will attempt to protect their sense of worth by seeking out the company of others labeled like them. Within these groups, they feel that they can be awarded high status for breaking or going against the rules. Therefore, they will be involved in failing to hand in their homework, cheating, and playing truant, which they believe will bring prestige. On the other hand, learners who are labeled positively are seen to follow the school culture. Pro-school subcultures and mix with others in the same group. There is a higher chance of these students succeeding academically compared to the others. They are more likely to gain favors from the teachers and therefore they spent more time with them aiding the student’s success. According to Haralambos, et al. (2013pg702), “the interaction of the teachers and the learner in the classroom helps to shape a person’s self-concept, and their self-concept can have a significant effect on their educational attainment.”

Aim and Rationale

Aim The aim is to investigate people’s experiences of streaming, banding, or setting in secondary schools.

Rationale

I was interested in this study to understand whether or not streaming, banding, and setting in secondary schools contribute to instilling the achievement value and the value of equality of opportunity, which is very important in society. For instance, the positively labeled learners will form the pro-school subcultures and mix with others in the same group. There is a higher chance of these students succeeding academically compared to the others. They are more likely to gain favors from the teachers, and therefore they spent more time with them aiding the student’s success. On the other hand, the learners who are labeled negatively will show negative behaviors because they form an anti-school subculture (Haralambos, et al. 2013 pg705). They will go against the rules, have low self-confidence, and ultimately lower grades in school.

Sample and Sampling

We send questionnaire to 20 to 30 people to friends and family

methodology and methodology

To collect data about my research topic, I created a questionnaire that I shared with the family members and friends who met the inclusion criteria of being learners 18-24 years of learning in the UK. This was an online questionnaire on the Instagram and Facebook platforms that I sent to the participants I know personally and met the requirements. It involved both the male and the female genders, which removed bias in my study. There is no single survey that can be successful without well-designed questionnaires. This means that the questionnaires must be easy for respondents to give the required information and record the answer in a way that can easily be interpreted.

Similarly, the questions must be short and to the point. They are supposed to be arranged to entice the respondents, making them remain interested all through the process. This will avoid many questions left unanswered. It is also critical to understand that the fewer words in a question, the better since the respondents’ memory are limited. In this survey, I used closed-ended and a few open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions are very significant in motivating the participant to continue filling all the prompts in the questionnaire. This is simply because this method, unlike the open-ended questions, does not consume a lot of time.
Similarly, this method is very significant when it comes to measuring the nominal variables. This is because when asked these questions, a lot of answers may be nearly the same. Using this method, the questions can be given numerical values that can later convert into tables, graphs, and indicators. This will help researchers get very vital data that will help in leading to the best decision possible.
Learners who are labeled positively are seen to follow the school culture. Pro-school subcultures and mix with others in the same group. There is a higher chance of these students succeeding academically compared to the others. They are more likely to gain favors from the teachers and therefore they spent more time with them aiding the student’s success. According to Haralambos, et al. (2013pg702), “the interaction of the teachers and the learners in the classroom helps to shape a person’s self-concept, and their self-concept can have a significant effect on their educational attainment.”

Ethics

Before conducting this research, all the participants were taken through the research process and everything regarding the research was explained to them. I ensured that the Personal information of the patient was safeguarded in accordance to the protocol to avoid any data misappropriation
Finding

Questionnaires

Analysis and Conclusions

Quantitative data

Most of the learners believe that streaming and banding in schools will have both positive and negative effects. The negative effects will be felt in the low ranked streams while the high ranked streams will record positive effects.

Qualitative data

Looking at the above questionnaires, it easier to conclude that streaming and banding in schools has various effects. The learners who are given negative labels are seen as failures. They are regarded as being more than ‘worthless louts.’ Since these groups of learners feel that they cannot achieve high status within the classroom or in school, they will attempt to protect their sense of worth by seeking out the company of others labeled like them. Within these groups, they feel that they can be awarded high status for breaking or going against the rules. Therefore, they will be involved in failing to hand in their homework, cheating, and playing truant, which they believe will bring prestige.

References

Haralambos, H., Holborn, Chapman, S. & Moore, S (2013) ‘ Themes and Perspective’ 8th ed. Harper Collins Publishers: London
Setting or streamin? Education Endowment foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/setting-or-streaming/
Setting and streaming BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1170241.stm
Setting streaming and mixed ability revision notes https://sociologytwynham.com/2018/05/14/setting-streaming-and-mixed-ability-classes-revision-notes/

Bibliography
Haralambos, H., Holborn, Chapman, S. & Moore, S (2013) ‘ Themes and Perspective’ 8th ed. Harper Collins Publishers: London
Setting or streamin? Education Endowment foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/setting-or-streaming/
Setting and streaming BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1170241.stm
Setting streaming and mixed ability revision notes https://sociologytwynham.com/2018/05/14/setting-streaming-and-mixed-ability-classes-revision-notes/

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