One of the most basic decisions is whether you are going to use a written or oral way of collecting information. Again, it depends on stage and experience. Others feel it is important to give parents the opportunity to respond in writing, with confidentiality assured. Making clear why you are asking The purpose of your survey must be clear to all involved. Think how this can be achieved.
Teachers are often surprised at how much jargon, 'education speak' they take for granted.
The range of methods available The methods open to you are almost as varied as there are research methods available. Each method itself involves a range of decisions. The value of home interviews is worth a comment, basically because many teachers reject them out of hand. It has been found that, given a choice of location, families select home interviews surprisingly frequently. It is a method particularly worth considering if you have less confident parents, those who do not choose to attend school events or those not comfortable with written English.