Summary of assessment and checklist for the new GCE Health and Social Care Unit HSC08 (optional)

Transcription

1 Summary of assessment and checklist for the new GCE Health and Social Care Unit HSC08 (optional) The summary should be used in conjunction with the new specification available for teaching from September You need to produce a portfolio of evidence and reflective log choosing one area of research, which relates to one of the four sectors. When you are doing this, the other units in your health and social care course or a career that you are interested in pursuing might influence your choice of topic. Then you will find out about previously-published literature into this area, which will help you to design, carry out and report on your own empirical study, which should include primary data which you have collected yourself. Your portfolio of evidence should not be a shared exercise or based on a whole group topic, but wholly your own work. Work which does not demonstrate independence cannot be awarded high marks. Your work for assessment must include the following sections and subsections: Section A The completed reflective log- the reflective log forms part of the CRF and can be found on under coursework administration. The log should be completed throughout the research process. Although the responsibility for this lies mainly with you as the student, there is one section for your teacher to complete. Section B Role and impact of research- this section requires you to show understanding of the role and impact of research for the sector you have chosen. You should seek out specific examples of research, which illustrate how research can be used to improve service delivery, test and review existing knowledge and explore social trends and influence policy-making. Section C Review of background literature- a great deal of care needs to be taken over your choice of background literature since the choice will have a bearing on success later. The literature can include media articles, websites and references to previous studies. The evidence should: provide scope to explore the validity and reliability of the evidence. For example you should be able to appreciate possible sources of bias according to who has provided the evidence. You may seek out varying viewpoints comparing perhaps the presentation of evidence from tabloid and broadsheet newspapers provide scope for you to make assumptions about research methods, sampling techniques and ethical issues be clearly referenced in the bibliography The background literature should clearly lead on to your proposed area of study.

2 Section D The research project- this should comprise five subsections: D.1 Rationale Why have you chosen this area of interest? Why does this area merit investigation? You should include key findings from your literature search to help justify your choice. You also need to show how, as a result of your background research, the topic you have selected merits investigation. This section should end with a clear focus for the investigation where you define the research hypothesis or research question that you intend to investigate. D.2 Methods You should have considered the advantages and disadvantages and fully justified the use of the method(s) you have used. You may discuss why other types of methods were not suitable for this type of research. D.3 Sampling You should have correctly identified the sampling techniques used with full understanding of their advantages and disadvantages for your chosen area of study. Similarly, you may have discussed why other sampling techniques were not suitable for this specific piece of research. D.4 Ethical issues Ethical issues should have been comprehensively applied to the research with a full appreciation of their possible impact on your research. An ethical statement should be included which outlines all ethical precautions taken. D.5 Results Results should be presented clearly using descriptive statistics, i.e. pie charts, tables and bar charts only where appropriate to aid understanding. Conclusions should be sound and consistent with the data presented. There should be evidence of analysis of qualitative and quantitative data where appropriate. Section E Evaluation - there should be a clear reference to the research hypothesis/question comprehensive explanation that determines whether this was answered. The validity, reliability and representativeness of the findings should be analysed comprehensively. In summary there should be: advantages and disadvantages of the methods used for your area of study how far the hypothesis or research question has been answered how far the findings matched the background literature strengths and weaknesses of the evidence obtained validity, reliability and representativeness of evidence obtained. Finally there should be recommendations for improvements and future research.

3 Section F Appendix this should include examples of materials used, raw data with calculations and a reference section which provides references for all studies/secondary sources cited in the portfolio of evidence. AO1 The maximum number of marks is 22 Assessment comes from the portfolio of evidence as a whole. The marks for this section are based on the students knowledge and understanding of the role and impact of research in their chosen sector, as well as their knowledge and understanding of research Tasks All sections are included (including the completed reflective log). All material is in the appropriate sections and subsections. The chosen sector is identified. There is an explanation of the role and impact of research in one of the four sectors. There are no contradictions in the work. Irrelevant material has not been included. References are complete and in the correct format. MB1: 1-6 marks MB2: 7-12 marks MB marks Limited written information with some contradictions when covering role and impact of research. Evidence is likely to be thin and poorly expressed. There will be a reference to one of the sectors and to one of the three large research bodies (ESRC, MRC, ONS). Demonstration that the student knows how research can be used for at least one of the three bullet points in section Relevant material in all sections. May be some misplaced information. May be some omissions in evidence at this level. All evidence requirements are included, although there may be some minor omissions. Basic understanding (by using examples) of the role and impact of research. Use of background information from one of the three large research bodies (ESRC, MRC, ONS). Student demonstrates that they know how research can be used for at least two of the three bullet points in section Appropriate and relevant materials in all sections and subsections. May fail to use correct methodological terminology in some subsections. May have incomplete references. Some sections of the work may be repetitive. Student needed some assistance with identifying appropriate sources. No omissions in evidence. More detailed understanding, drawing on specific examples from a greater range of sources. Background information comes from at least one of the three large research bodies (ESRC, MRC, ONS).

4 Student demonstrates that they know how research can be used for at least two of the three bullet points in section Appropriate and relevant material in all sections and subsections. Appropriate methodological terminology used accurately. May have some repetition of material and/or incomplete referencing of sources of material. Most sources were independently identified and interpreted by the student. Only occasional assistance was needed. MB4: marks Comprehensive understanding of the role and impact of research. Use of background information from at least one of the three large research bodies (ESRC, MRC, ONS). More thorough understanding of how research can be used, via more complete coverage of the bullet points in section No omissions. Student has demonstrated more initiative and independence in the selection of relevant and challenging examples, drawing on a wide range of sources. Report achieves all of the criteria. Exceptionally well structured and clearly expressed. Complete references in the correct form. AO2 The maximum number of marks is 18 Assessment is from Sections A and D: Completed reflective log and the research project. Description of research methods. Description of sampling Justification of chosen methods. Justification of chosen sampling Evidence of ethical precautions having been applied. Reflective log included. Sections D1 to D5 included. These are identifiable. Using their topic of research, students are expected to produce written information on their choice of two research methods, including both advantages and disadvantages and they may include reasons why other methods were not suitable for this specific piece of research or this type of research. All design decisions should be fully justified and there should be the use of appropriate methodological terminology. Students must include details of the sampling techniques they employ, which could include theoretical and practical issues (this, however is not essential). Finally they should ensure that all ethical aspects have been discussed and dealt with. An ethical statement should be included. MB1 1-5 marks MB marks Limited description of research methods and sampling techniques used. Limited justification for the selection of these. Evidence of some ethical precautions. Reflective log included, although this may be incomplete. Basic description of research methods and sampling techniques used. There is an adequate justification for the selection of these. Evidence of most relevant ethical precautions having been applied. Completed reflective log is included.

5 MB marks MB marks Accurate and fuller description of research methods and sampling techniques used. Competent justification of the choice of these over other methods and Evidence of all ethical precautions having been applied. Completed reflective log included. This demonstrates a consideration of appropriateness or otherwise of decisions taken during the research process. Comprehensive description of research methods and sampling techniques used. Detailed and accurate justification of the choice over other methods and Evidence of all relevant ethical precautions having been accurately and competently applied. Completed reflective log is included. This demonstrates a clear consideration of the appropriateness, or otherwise, of decisions made during the research process. AO3 The maximum number of marks is 20 Assessment is from Sections A, C, D and E Background literature included (section C). This can include media articles etc. Rationale for the study is included. Results section. Conclusions Sections are logically organised and includes the completed reflective log. Additional guidance on assessing this section is provided on page 52 of the specification. MB marks MB marks MB marks Reference to relevant research in background literature. Numerical data presented. Portfolio contains some valid points. But may be poorly organised and lacks a coherent structure. May have omissions/errors in technical terms, spelling, punctuation and grammar, leading to a lack of clarity. Basic review of relevant background literature. Basic rationale for the study is included. Summary data presented and correctly derived from the raw data. Some appropriate analysis, Some organisation in the portfolio. May be some errors/omissions in grammar etc which may lead to some lack of clarity. Range of background literature is reviewed. Correctly referenced. Coherent rationale for the study with links to health and social care. Summary data presented in correct format, are fully labelled and analysed to provide a realistic indication of the findings. Summary data is derived correctly from the raw data. Portfolio is mainly well-organised. Few/minor errors or omissions.

6 MB marks In-depth, well-researched description of appropriate background literature. Comprehensive rationale for study with links to health and social care. Skilled and accurate presentation of results, using a range of appropriate Conclusions are sound and consistent with the data collected. Logically organised portfolio with a coherent structure. Clearly written with few minor errors in spelling etc. AO4 The maximum marks 20 Assessment is from section E evaluation. Methodological strengths and weaknesses. Suggestions for improvements. Suggestions for future research. How far the research question/hypothesis has been answered. How far findings match the background literature. Strengths and weaknesses of evidence obtained. Validity, reliability and representativeness of evidence obtained. This section requires students to produce a comprehensive, valid and justified evaluation of the methodology they chose for their chosen research topic. In particular, they are required to demonstrate the use of specialist vocabulary to analyse complex information by referring to key features of the data s reliability and validity. Students would be expected to discuss the participants they used and any factors affecting their research which could not have been planned for. The study s ethical considerations must be discussed and resolved and the study s outcomes and opportunities for future developments should be fully reported. MB1 1-5 marks MB marks MB marks MB Minimal evaluation of methodology. Main methodological strengths and weaknesses of the study are identified and explained. Basic recommendations for improvements. Basic suggestions for future research. Main methodological strengths and weaknesses of the study are identified and explained. Recommendations for improvements. Suggestions for future research. How far the hypothesis or research question has been answered. How far the findings match the background literature. Strengths and weaknesses of evidence obtained. Validity, reliability and representativeness of evidence collected. In addition to all of the above (MB3), there is detailed evidence of a sophisticated awareness of the relevance and limitations of the study.