ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 argued in favour of Marx/ist theory to understand a class analysis and offered a deeper insight by discussing Bourdieu’s forms of capital and social reproduction theory. With the lack of space for agency in Bourdieu’s work, it was further argued how Freire’s concept of praxis and critical thinking could offer an effective way forward in promoting change.
Taking the various theories on board, this study utilised two methodologies with one complementing the other. Space was created within a Critical Ethnography (CE) to include a Visual Intervention (VI) – the idea being to add a visual element to assist with dialogue. A CE was the most suitable methodology as the intention of this study was to observe and record lived inequalities through the narratives of adult voices, with the view to exposing injustices for social change, resulting in the study being naturally qualitative. However, verbal dialogue alone is not always enough for disadvantaged groups to critically engage in making positive and effective changes to their lives and this is the rationale for an additional but complementary VI. In this chapter, it is discussed how both methodologies are combined as an innovative methodology in educational research.
