Examples of research methods

The following examples demonstrate a range of research methods that can be used when schools embark on their own research. 

Using mixed methods

It can be helpful to use a combination of different research methods to investigate a research question. For example, staff at Hammond Primary School in Hertfordshire used interviews and questionnaires to gather the views of staff and pupils on the impact of interactive whiteboards on children’s writing.

Using journals to collect pupils’ opinions

If the research involves accessing people’s perceptions and opinions, journals or diaries can be a useful way of collecting information. Mayfield Primary School in Oldham wanted to improve children’s writing skills so they introduced a series of drama sessions as a stimulus for writing. To collect children’s views, staff asked them to keep a journal which was collected by the team at the end of the project. The journals provided a rich source of qualitative data about children’s reactions to the drama sessions and what they thought they had learned as writers.

Survey methods

Using a questionnaire is a good way of collecting information from large numbers of participants. Angmering School in West Sussex surveyed teachers about the extent they used different behaviour management strategies. The team piloted the questionnaire with a small group of teachers first and found this exercise very useful. They made a number of changes which helped ensure their questionnaire provided the information they needed.

Observation

Observation is a familiar technique in schools, but this can be used for research purposes too. The research team at Longdean School in Hertfordshire recruited seven staff members to plan and teach lessons that predominantly used one of three learning styles (auditory, kinaesthetic or visual). In order to evaluate the effectiveness of focusing on specific learning styles, two core members of the team observed each of the lessons and interviewed the teachers about how they felt the students had responded.

• What would be the most appropriate methods for your research?
• Who has experience of conducting research in your school?
• Would it be helpful to use a combination of methods?
• Have you used any of these methods in your school?

Field Place First School, Sussex: Using a mixture of methods to evaluate the impact of three Early Years interventions

Field Place First School in Worthing, West Sussex caters for over 300 pupils from the ages of three to eight. A high proportion of children attending the school come from less advantaged backgrounds. Their research evaluated three of the school’s strategies for intervention in the early years.

The research team at Field Place First used a mixture of methods to evaluate the impact of three early interventions on their pupils (attending their own nursery, the Early Literacy strategy and a family learning scheme). Their methods included a literature review, an analysis of children’s progress and interviews with parents. By using a mixture of methods they gained a good understanding of the initiatives and compiled a report combining both qualitative and quantitative data.