Welsh Joint Education Committee 245 Western Avenue CARDIFF CF5 2YX +44(0)

Unit Two 15 % z Either: 2(a) Written Paper: compulsory structured question based on resource material. 1 hour 15 minutes Or: 2(b) Research Report: no more than 1,500 words on published research, structured as follows:  Choice and aims of study,  Context of the study,  Description of the methods used,  Summary of findings  Evaluation of the study

Specification content zCandidates are expected to understand the relationship between the purpose of social enquiry and the choice of methods, whilst at the same time gaining the conceptual tools for analysis of the quality of research. zCandidates should understand the concepts, strengths and limitations of:  Key terms applied to research including: reliability, validity, ethics, qualitative, quantitative, generalisation, representativeness, operationalisation of concepts, objectivity and subjectivity.  Primary methods including: survey, questionnaire, observation, interview, case study, experiments, ethnographic studies and longitudinal studies.  Secondary methods, e.g.: documents, official statistics and personal data.  Practical issues relating to research including: piloting, sampling, access, triangulation and methodological plurality.  Ethical issues relating to research, including: deceit, sensitivity, bias, confidentiality, invasion of privacy and informed consent.  Candidates should be able to use key terms relevant to their responses/research

Format of Research Report zCandidates choose a piece of research and comment on it using headings provided. zThe work is centre marked according the scheme provided by the board. It is examination board moderated. zTeachers should annotate work to justify marking. zThe weighting of the marks in the various sections differs, but these are provided as a guideline only. zEach section should aim to be about 300 words. This is not proscriptive. zCoursework cannot gain the top mark band if the word limits are exceeded.

The mark allocation

Section 1: choice and aims of the study zAO1 4 marks zAO2 8 marks zCandidates explain how they came to choose the study they did in personal and/or sociological terms offering a clear reasoning for their choice zCandidates examine the aims of the study, its purpose and intent with some understanding of sociological research methods displayed.

Section 2: Context of the Research Study zAO1 8 marks zAO2 4 marks zCandidates explain the context of the study: why was it carried out, what was the debate concerning, why was it needed. zThere is some reference to the context of the study and how it may have influenced the findings.

Section 3: Description of the Methods zAO1 5 zAO2 7 zThe candidate summarises the methods used by the researcher/s and explains what occurred during the research. zThe candidate shows understanding of the purpose underlying the original study. Why were certain methods more appropriate than others?

Section 4: Summary of findings zAO1 8 zAO2 4 zThe candidate is able to explain what was discovered during the course of the research. zThe candidate refers to the aims of the research and is able to offer commentary on them in the light of the aims of the study.

Section 5: Evaluation of the research zAO1 8 zAO2 4 zThe candidate is able to comment on the research using the key terms. zThe candidate applies those terms to the original study and is able to make considered judgements using the key terms.

Suggested sources zSociology Review – though these summaries can be brief at times zwww.statistics.gov.uk - again these do not always explain the methods fully zJoseph Rowntree Publications zResearch from websites zTheir own reading zSummary texts – though there is a risk of plagiarism and this should be explained to candidates

Teacher support Help in the choice of topic to study Help in the organisation of work The work should reflect the judgements of the candidates solely. The report should also reflect the spelling and grammar used by the candidate.

Conventions of reports zHelp from other sources should be acknowledged. zPlagiarism should be taken very seriously as an infringement of rules zSupporting reading should be placed in a bibliography or references list. This, however, is not marked. zTyping should be double-spaced and on one side of the paper only.

The end