1. Investigation Techniques
Row 5 Write UP
Investigation Techniques

2. Objectives for today
All : Explain how one investigation technique can be used with evidence (E-D)
Most : Investigate two investigation techniques with evidence (C-B)
Some : Evaluate two investigation techniques with clear demonstration of there appropriateness (A)
1 Min

3. Homework
You will need to complete the remainder that is left at the end of this session before your next ICT lesson!
We only have an hour instead of the usual 90 minutes.
Your deadline for section 1 is Week Commencing; 18/09/2017.
No excuses!

4. Row 5 Facts
You will need to explore the following investigation techniques:
Interviews **
Questionnaires**
Observation and
Document Analysis
For each technique, you will need to write what the purpose is of you using that technique as part of your project, what do you need to find out? Who will be answering/filling them out?
You will also need to explain what advantages and disadvantages of using each of these techniques will bring to you when using them.

5. Questionnaire Part 1: The Write up
Explain what a questionnaire is and its features. (By features we mean that a questionnaire allows for a combination of closed and open questions to be asked).
Explain what purpose you intend on using the questionnaire for. (The idea of you using a questionnaire is for you to find out the skill levels of your users. Why? Because it will be these users that will make use of the new solution).
Discuss what advantages and disadvantages there are with you using this technique to find out the skill level. What impact could this have your knowledge and understanding? E.g. Good response rate? Anonymous, Quicker to fill out? No need to arrange times and dates for an interview?
Note* When discussing the advantages and disadvantages, it is important you also try to talk about how using a questionnaire has advantages and disadvantages in comparison to using other techniques such as Observation, Interviews etc., to find out the users skill level.

6. Questionnaire Part 2 – The Design To be completed by ALL your users of the current system!
All of your current system users will need to fill out a questionnaire that you will create.
When designing your questionnaire, you will need to think about questions that will enable you to find out about your users skill level.
Think about the types of questions that you are going to ask. Remember closed questions are easier to analyse and than open!
Aim for 10 questions minimum
Please look at the sample projects and other students questionnaires for inspiration.
Remember, the questions need to help you find out what ICT skills each user has, to determine if they are weak, strong or mediocre.

7. Questionnaires Part 3 – The Evidence/Conclusion
Once you have created your questionnaire template, you will need to print out copies (one for each of your users) and fill them in.
The answers will need to be scanned in, so you can then have them displayed in your coursework write up.
You will need to show evidence that you have analysed the results to indicate what your users skill level is like overall. Here you can talk about their strengths/weaknesses in IT and conclude whether or not there are a novice, expert or average user!
Most students tend to write a mini paragraph per questionnaire to briefly sum up the results, before creating a bar chart graph comparing the results overall.
See sample work for ideas

8. Interviews Part 1: The Write Up
Explain what an interview is and its features. (By features we mean that an interview allows for a combination of questions to be planned in advance and the interviewee’s responses to be recorded. It allows for clarification and follow up questions to be recorded too).
Explain what purpose you intend on using the interview for. (The idea of you using an interview is for you to find out what issues there are with the current system and what features/changes/requirements your client would like to see in the new system. Why? Because your client is the one coming to you with a problem they want solving, they are the ones that know what tasks need performing etc.).
Discuss what advantages and disadvantages there are with you using this technique to find out the skill level. What impact could this have your knowledge and understanding? E.g. Time taken to organise a suitable time and place? Follow up questions can be asked, Client may not be accurate or truthful? Etc.
Note* When discussing the advantages and disadvantages, it is important you also try to talk about how using an interview has advantages and disadvantages in comparison to using other techniques such as Observation, Questionnaires, Document Analysis etc., to find out the issues of the current system and the requirements needed for the new system.

9. Interview Part 2 – The Design To be completed by your CLIENT only!
You will need to record all answers your client has given to you in response to your interview questions.
When designing your interview transcript, you will need to think about questions that will enable you to find out about the issues with the current system? Impact on the business and users? What features of requirements are needed for the new system? Benefits? Etc.
Think about the types of questions that you are going to ask. Remember you may need to add follow up questions.
Aim for 5 questions minimum, 10 maximum.
Please look at the sample projects and other students questionnaires for inspiration.
An interview transcript, is a documentation of what questions you have asked and what response was given. This DOES mean you have to type everything up!

10. Interviews Part 3 – The Evidence/Conclusion
Once you have created your interview transcript, you will need to copy and paste this into your write up. Ensure to include an appropriate heading.
You will need to show evidence that you have analysed the results to indicate what findings you discovered when talking to your client.
Most students tend to write a mini paragraph summarising the main issues with the current system and identifying what features are required for the new system.
See sample work for ideas

11. Independent Study Time
Please work through all the activities outlined in this presentation.
Both of these techniques need to be completed by next lesson!
Your teacher will be conducting 1 to 1’s with individuals in the group.