Module Two - Task 6B - Critical Reflections of the Merits and Limits of the 4 Tools

A quick insight into the the merits and limits of four different research tools that can enable me to gather data. Just from weighing up the pros and cons I can now see that it's important to develop a wide range of research data in both qualitative and quantitative formats. I am now looking at how I can balance my results with a wide range of data tools.

1) An Interview

Merits

You can gain a very detailed perspective of what a person is truly thinking.

You can remain focused on the task at hand and be specific with what you really want to gain.

You do not have to worry about being distracted by other people. Instead, you can focus on one person's viewpoint without the influence of others.

Interviews are direct with questions and go about finding a specific answer which can be beneficial in finding out exactly what you want to know. 

Limits

You only get the perspective of one person and therefore have to carry out several different interviews in order to get a broad range of views and opinions.

A question may be worded in a way that can potentially influence a person's answer.

Interviews are direct which means that certain opinions and ideas may not be included due to the nature of the question resulting in a possibility of valid points being missed.

2) A Survey

Merits
A Survey is useful to establish how high or low someone rates a particular element.
A survey can provide numerical data that can easily be compared to each other.
A survey can be more straightforward in approach and get right to the point about what is good and what is bad. 
A survey question could be rated between 1-10 and not influence decisions through biased wording of questions. 

Limits
You may only be able to receive one straight forward answer from a survey and completely miss out on the details which could explain why something is good or bad.

3) Focus Group

Merits
Allows everyone to speak and share their views
It means that you get a variety of views and beliefs that you can later compare as data
You have the opportunity to expand on and go deeper into a topic. 

Limits
You have to make sure that not everyone speak at the same time and that people are fair to each other.
People may be aware that their conversations are being recorded and may alter their views slightly with this knowledge.
There may be less assertive members in the group that do not share their views as much as more assertive members of the group.
You have to keep time if a topic is expanded on and be aware that people could dwell too much on one particular subject.
Certain topics may be overlooked because their may be an instant change in subject resulting in less time being spent on a topic which could be vital.

4) Pilot Observation 

Merits
It is both qualitative and quantitative so gives a good balance between the two sides to data.
You are noting down first and foremost exactly what you see in front of you. It is an immediate form of data, seeing what is 'happening in that very moment.'
Knowing people you are observing can have benefits from knowing a person's behaviour and when they may potentially 'change' in the process. In a way, you can compare how they were before the study to how they are now and ask, 'how has that particular experience affected them?'

Limits
It is both qualitative and quantitative which means both sides of data have to be respected and analysed in a way that is the most effective and helpful to the study. 
You could be biased in what you are observing and noting down, which may not be an accurate or true representation of findings and data.
You have to develop a neutral and critical approach to what you see and not let yourself be easily influenced by the fact you already have a personal relationship with the child. 

Plan for collecting Data

I plan to interview a set of teachers who use Drama within their lessons and to find out what they have noticed as the benefits of doing this. I plan to interview Lauren, who is also studying on the programme first, as she is a teacher herself and would like to see what she thinks first before asking Miss Hudson, a teacher who studied Drama at University, as well as undertaking her teaching qualification. I plan to interview Daniel Chantler, a teacher and trained Dancer for a second time, however this time asking him more specifically about how the Arts has personally impacted his lessons and when and what skills he has used. I want to compare all the teacher's answers to see if there is a common link or topic they mention that could potentially be the key to enhancing my teaching and lessons overall. 

How can this help others?
By getting teachers to participate in this study, they may be able to pinpoint themselves the successful factors in teaching Drama and Creative subjects to their children. It could make them realise the specific things that enable their lessons to be so successful.