Research questions

the next step (besides waiting for the feedback on the research proposal) is to define interview questions. How to formulate questions that will lead me to the information I need?

First, let me present the research question:  ''How does the placement policy on secondary education in the Netherlands look like, and what is the influence on underachieving students looked at switching levels and grade retention?''

On the one side there are the obvious questions about the main elements I want to look at. These are described in the sub questions partly:
1.        Which factors can explain the subject of underachievement?
2.    What does the placement policy on middle school looks like?
3.      In what way are students guided in their school careers?

      I'm not really sure about the following questions, because they have an aspect in them of a quantitative research question. It is possible for a research to maintain both qualitative and quantitative elements in them, but I'm not sure if those elements could be obtained via interviews only. 

      On the other hand, there are certain elements mainly quantitative, like the numbers on grade retention. So, with that thought in mind I put in the following questions anyway: 

.       - Is there a relation between a certain placement policy and pass rates?

.       - Is there a relation between student guidance and changing of level and/ or grade retention?

.       - Is there a relation between a certain placement policy and changing of level and/ or grade retention?

.       - Is there a relation between student guidance and pass rates?

.       - Is there a relation between changing of level and/ or grade placement policy and pass rates?

    -Is there a relation between a certain placement policy and changing of level and/ or grade? 

     What do you think about these questions? Are they specific enough to build on?

     This week I'll make a start with interview preparations, as what questions to ask and in what way. The research method is still not completely clear on that point.