Research Project
Semester 1 2016
Starter Pack
School: 331 (University Senior College)
Student name:
Student SACE number:
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 1
Research Project FAQ








Stage 2 subject
Required to earn SACE
10 credits ~ 1 semester
Can contribute to your ATAR
70% of your work is “school assessed” (Folio and Outcome) and 30% of your work is “externally
assessed” (Summary and Evaluation)
Folio is a collection of 10 A4 sized pages
Outcome is typically 2000 words maximum
Summary Evaluation – Summary 150 words; Evaluation 1500 words
During the Research Project you will:





Select and research a topic of your choice
Make “new knowledge” for yourself and for others
Keep records of your process from start to finish
Create an original product based on your research
Summarise, evaluate and reflect on your research process and final product
The Research Project is composed of a Research Folio, Outcome and Summary Evaluation:

A Research Folio (worth 30%)
 Selecting a topic
 Making a focus question to explore
 Making a research proposal (what you want to do and how you will do it)
 Meeting with your Research Supervisor to discuss your progress
 Keeping track of your Research process

A Research Outcome (worth 40%)
 Your final product (written report, creation, etc.)

A Research Summary and Evaluation (worth 30%)
 Brief description of what you made / did for your outcome (Summary)
 Reflection on how you went about the whole process (Evaluation)
 Evaluation of what did and didn’t work (Evaluation)
Useful websites:
SACE Research Project FAQ: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/research-project/students-families/faqs
SACE Research Advice: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/research-project/students-families/researchadvice
SACE Research Project student exemplars: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/researchproject/teachers/support-materials/assessment-type-exemplars
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 2
Advice on designing a Research Project question.
1. Is the proposed research question researchable?
(Where will the information be found? Are there opportunities for other types of research
processes to be used outside of just collecting secondary information?)
2. Is the proposed research question manageable in the time frame allowed for a 10 credit
subject?
(Is the topic too broad? Can it be refined e.g. to refer to a specific time or place?)
3. Is the topic safe and appropriate? (Ethical considerations)
4. The best topics give students a chance to learn something new and extend their knowledge
rather than just researching something they already know.
5. Open-ended questions provide scope for more extensive research.
A closed question such as ‘Is obesity going to cost Australia?’ invites a yes/no response and
limits the research. An open question such as ‘What are the social costs of the increase of
obesity to Australia?’ allows a student to investigate financial, employment, educational, social
activity, and medical costs, and therefore a variety of research methodologies could be
embedded within this project.
6. Some useful question stems might include:
 How useful…………?
 How valuable………?
 How accurate……….?
 How important………?
 How reliable……….?
 To what extent……..?
 Why……?
7. Avoid:
 question starters like ‘What’ if they will lead to descriptive and narrative answers e.g. What
is a sand storm?
 questions that are self-evident for example, ‘How to become a ____’ or ‘What are the
different types of ____ ?’
 questions that are too broad which lead to brief coverage of many areas
 questions that are confirmations of students’ prior knowledge and/or existing perceptions.
Sample question
How accurately does the Baz Luhrmann film, The Great Gatsby, represent the clothing fashions of
the 1920s?
How accurately does the Baz Luhrmann film, The Great Gatsby, (invites an argument that can be
researched and does not promote description) represent the clothing fashions (clear purpose,
refined and narrow enough to be manageable) of the
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 3
Research
The Design of a Research Question
The Research question is the question that you answer in your Research Project.
Given the nature of research, it is recognised that the exact phrasing of the research question can
take time to emerge. Defining and refining a research question can be a challenging process. The
following outline suggests key steps in the process.
Identifying an area of interest
Consider:

your learning and activities at school (subjects, courses, extra-curricular activities)

your learning and activities outside school (hobbies, part-time job, interests)

future plans (further study, work directions, ambitions)

something you have always wanted to look into.
Considering a question
Consider a question that:

is ‘researchable’ e.g. that the question involves research processes and ‘new’ learning

is personally challenging but achievable within the time frame

involves safe and ethical practices

has the potential to lead to some ‘key findings’.
Defining a Research Question
The Research question should:

clearly express what your research is about

provide a focus to guide your investigation

help you decide upon appropriate research processes (valid, ethical, manageable)

determine your research outcome.
The way you phrase the question that you finally decide upon is very important. It is particularly
important to have a clear link between a refined research question and your research outcome.
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 4
For example:
Draft 1 Research Question:
Why is there a mystery about the ship, the Mary Celeste?
Draft 2 Research Question: What are the theories regarding the disappearance of the crew
of the Mary Celeste?
Refined Research Topic:
To what extent is mutiny the most likely cause of the
abandonment of the ship the Mary Celeste?
•
Notice that Draft 1 leads you towards a description of why a mystery exists. Whilst this is not
an incorrect question, it lacks focus upon the ‘truth’, i.e. the best possible theory for the
mystery that you are interested in.
•
Draft 2 focuses more upon the actual theories but only requires you to outline each one.
Again, this suggests a more descriptive, rather than analytical, approach.
•
The Refined Research Topic allows you to show your thinking about the theories. By asking
‘to what extent’, you are required to make a considered judgement about the mutiny theory
in comparison with the other theories. This enables you to demonstrate higher order
thinking skills and show the depth of your knowledge and understanding of all the different
theories.
Here are further examples of how an area of interest can be translated into a Research Question:
Subject: Mining in Australia refined to
Research Question: How can the local environmental effects of the development of the
Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs be better managed?
Subject: Solar System refined to
Research Question: What have been the most successful solar system exploratory
techniques used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) over the
past fifty years?
Subject : French Culture refined to
Research Topic: In what ways does present-day Senegalese culture reflect the fact
that Senegal was colonised by France for over a century?
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 5
Subject: Energy Use refined to
Research Question: What measures can my school implement to decrease energy
use?
Subject: Modern Jazz refined to
Research Question: How can I compose a piece of Jazz in the modern tradition?
Subject: One-act Plays refined to
Research Question: How can I write a one-act play written around a family car trip?
Remember that your research question may change according to the direction of your research
resulting in further refinements to the wording of the research topic.
Possible reasons for change could be:

you become really interested in one particular aspect of a research question

you are unable to find information about a major area of your research question

the research question has become unmanageable – it takes too much time to complete or is
too difficult

the research question creates unexpected ethical and safety problems

a new idea for a research outcome emerges.
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 6
Research Project (Stage 2)
School: 331
Focus Question: Developing a Topic of Research
Interests:
What are my Research Interests? What are five areas that are of interest to me? What subject or
content area do they connect with?
1. Area of Interest:____________________________________________________
Subject/Content Area Connection(s):___________________________________
2. Area of Interest:____________________________________________________
Subject/Content Area Connection(s):___________________________________
3. Area of Interest:____________________________________________________
Subject/Content Area Connection(s):___________________________________
4. Area of Interest:____________________________________________________
Subject/Content Area Connection(s):___________________________________
5. Area of Interest:____________________________________________________
Subject/Content Area Connection(s):___________________________________
Questions:
What questions could I explore in each area of interest? What would I like to investigate and
explore in each area of interest?
1. Question(s) to explore:______________________________________________
2. Question(s) to explore:______________________________________________
3. Question(s) to explore:______________________________________________
4. Question(s) to explore:______________________________________________
5. Question(s) to explore:______________________________________________
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 7
Process:
Which three questions do I find the most interesting? What more do I need and want to know
about that question and area of interest? Where might I find information to help me?
Question to Explore
Points to Explore: What I need
Sources of Information: Where
and want to know?
might I find information? Who
might I ask for information?
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 8
Focus Question:
You will need to narrow your focus down to one particular question. This will keep your research
easier to manage and easier to understand. Keep in mind that not all of these questions will apply
to you. To narrow your three questions from earlier to one, ask yourself:

Which question appeals to me the most? Which question will connect closest with what I
want to study at university or pursue as a career?

How much information do I think I can find to answer this question?

What might some problems be with finding my information? How could these problems be
solved?

What form might the Research Outcome take for my answer to each question? Will it be a
written report, an artwork, a constructed item, a digital product, etc.?

Which question will allow me to explore what I know, and what others know, about a
particular topic in the most detail?
Your responses to these questions will help you narrow down to one question you want to work
with for the Research Project.
My Research Project Focus Question:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
A few sample questions to use as a guide:

How does GPS technology work? What are the latest innovations that are changing this
technology? How might it be made better?

What equipment is necessary to fight a bushfire? What makes this equipment successful?

How did the accounts of early Dutch explorers influence the way other European explorers
viewed Australia?

What inspired Edgar Allan Poe to write his unique style of short stories? What does a
modern short story, inspired by Poe, look like?

What do different perspectives on personality show about the concept of a person’s “true
self”?

Can mathematics account for all elements of the physical world?
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 9
GENERAL TO SPECIFIC TRIANGLE: NARROWING YOUR TOPIC
Your goal in the Research Project is to focus on and explore a particular topic. If your topic is too broad,
finding and interpreting information about the topic would be like preparing to write an entire book!
Choosing a narrower topic provides you with a clear focus.
Example:
General: Environment
Narrower: Global warming
Narrower: Effect of automobiles
Specific: Hybrid cars
Possible research questions:
 How does hybrid technology reduce fuel consumption?
 Does driving a hybrid car significantly reduce factors
that lead to global warming?
 What is the battery life of hybrid cars? What is the
environmental effect of disposing the batteries?
Environmental issues
____________________
Global warming
_______________
Effect of cars
_________
Hybrid cars
You try:
General:
Narrower:
____________________
Narrower:
Specific:
_______________
Possible research questions:
________
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 10
Designing a research topic and choosing a possible research outcome
Research Topic
Question or statement
Research Outcome
Production of the research outcome
(the synthesis of key findings)
Substantiation of key findings
Genghis Khan does not deserve his reputation as a
ruthless barbarian.’ Discuss this idea.
Essay
The substantiation is included in the outcome.
Is magnetic sensing the main technique used by
Australian birds when migrating?
Oral presentation with slides.
The substantiation is included in the outcome.
Interview two people, both born in 1939, and ask them to
share their stories, ideas, photos and keepsakes about
the first 30 years of their life. Identify and explain the
similarities and differences between the two stories.
Magazine article. (up to 2000 words)
The substantiation is likely to be included in the outcome.
Can cosmetic testing on animals be justified?
Report (up to 2000 words)
The substantiation is included in the outcome.
Create a film documentary about the possible impact of
the Northern Expressway in South Australia.
Film documentary (up to 12 mins)
The substantiation is included in the outcome.
What are the most significant similarities and differences
between the war memorials found in South Australia?
Scrapbook of photos of war memorials with
accompanying substantiation (up to 2000 words)
The substantiation is included in the outcome.
Design and produce a set of shelves suitable for a 2.5 x
2.5 wall area in a modern home.
Set of shelves
The substantiation will take the form of up to 2000 words or a
maximum of 12 mins or the equivalent in multimodal form.
Choreograph and perform in two dance routines, one solo
and one group, to be performed in the school musical
Film of two dance routines
The substantiation will take the form of up to 2000 words or a
maximum of 12 mins or the equivalent in multimodal form.
Create, from a book of your choice, an alternative last
chapter for the book, in the style of the original author.
Last chapter of book
Substantiation of the chosen content of the chapter, and the
techniques utilised to write in the author’s style, are required (up
to 2000 words or multimodal equivalent).
What is the best way to produce guidelines for volunteers
in an aged care centre to teach email skills to residents?
Guidelines: Effective approaches for teaching residents
the use of email (700 words)
This research topic will probably require further substantiation
and explanation (up to 1300 words or multimodal equivalent).
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 11
Research Topic
Question or statement
1.
How can …………………………be used to……………………………..?
2.
Is there a better way to …………………………………………………….?
3.
Use photography to create a ……………………………………..for the
purpose of …………………………………………………………………..
4.
Compare ……………………………. with ………………………………..
Research Outcome
Production of the research outcome
(the synthesis of key findings)
Substantiation of key findings
in terms of …………………………………………………………………...
5.
Interview three ……………………………….. with a view to comparing
and contrasting their stories.
6.
Should ………………………………………………………..be banned?
7.
What is it like to ……………………………………………………?
Compare the experience of 3-4 people in this situation.
8.
Design and/or make a model of a ………………………………………..
to illustrate …………………………………………………………………..
9.
Which ……………………………………………. is the most effective in
………………………………………………?
10. To what extent is …………………………………………………………..
significant in Australian life?
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 12
11.
Create a ………………………………………for………………………….
12. ‘If……………………………………………it will ………………………….’
(scientific investigation into this hypothesis).
13.
‘Too little, too late.’ How accurately does this describe ………………..
14.
You have to spend a day with ……………………………………………
or ………………………………………… or ………………………………..
(which one of these people would you want to spend time with and why?
15.
How does the price of ……………………… vary between …………….
over a period of ………………………….? What are the factors
influencing these prices?
16.
Use participation in ……………………. to develop a…………………….
17.
Produce ………………………….. in the style of ………………………….
18.
Imagine that …………………………………………………………………..
19.
To what extent does the film/book ………………………….....................
accurately portray ……………………………………………………………
20.
To what extent did …………………….. change between ………………?
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 13
MIND MAPPING – Ideas, Interests, QuestionsLotus diagram (example)
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 14
Lotus Diagram (blank)
Design your own mind map
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 15
Draw your own or try this website to help:
http://bubbl.us/
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015
Page 16
Research Skills – Self Evaluation Checklist
Adapted from: DECS Senior Secondary Reform Team Moodle, Research Project Bridging
Course at http://dlb.sa.edu.au/csmoodle/file.php/65/SelfEvaluationChecklist.doc
RESEARCH SKILLS - SELF EVALUATION CHECKLIST
How do you think you rate as a researcher? Tick () where you fit along the scale for each
skill. You can then discuss and plan how to improve your skills with your teacher or your
librarian.
DEFINING

Always


Sometimes
Never


Sometimes
Never
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I analyse a topic and identify key words
for use in search strategy.
I use my prior knowledge to brainstorm
and map ideas.
I use graphic organisers to plan my
searches.
I identify a variety of sources for use in
searches.
I plan ahead to meet task deadlines and
other requirements.
I create and then refine my own focus
questions as I research.
LOCATING

Always
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I identify and access a variety of
information sources within school.
I identify and access a variety of
information sources in the community.
I use simple and Boolean terms in a
search inquiry.
I use email to request and share
information.
I locate current information using
periodical indexes and online sources.
I evaluate and selectively record
information from print and electronic
sources.
I understand the importance of purpose,
credibility and currency when looking at
sources.
I use a range of search engines,
directories and databases to access
information from the internet.
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015 Page 17

SELECTING
Always


Sometimes
Never
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I skim and scan information using
Contents, Index, textual and contextual
cues.
I compare information for relevancy
from a variety of sources.
I make notes of relevant information
only, in an appropriate format.
I can recognise fact and opinion, bias
and omission in information sources.
I review and modify my focus questions
and research plan as I progress.
I identify where information is lacking
and locate additional information when
necessary.
I record details of all sources of
information used.
I understand and avoid plagiarism.
ORGANISING

Always


Sometimes
Never
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I synthesise information from different
sources.
I arrange selected information under
appropriate headings and subheadings.
I predict consequences from information
found.
I make generalisations from information
found.
I draw conclusions from information
found.
I use ICT to organise and edit ideas and
information.
I include statistics, diagrams, tables and
graphics to validate and illustrate
findings.
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015 Page 18
PRESENTING

Always


Sometimes
Never


Sometimes
Never
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I can present solutions to a problem.
I discuss or debate an issue effectively.
I develop presentations appropriate to
the audience and the topic.
I generate appropriate tables, graphs
and graphics to support and illustrate
ideas.
I use desk-top publishing skills.
I use software programs to construct
multimedia presentations.
I communicate ideas and information
clearly and logically in writing, orally and
via media.
I acknowledge all sources used in a
bibliography.
EVALUATING

Always
?
I need to find
out what this
means
I consider what research methods
worked and why.
I consider what research methods didn’t
work and why.
I understand and accept feedback.
I analyse audience response to my
presentation.
I analyse my own understanding and
meeting of task requirements.
I identify my own learning strengths and
weaknesses.
I think about strategies to improve my
own skills.
I am able to assess the skills of others.
I appreciate my own success and that of
others.
SACE Research Project Starter Pack
USC 2015 - 2016 – comprised of and adapted from materials created by SACE Board 2010 - 2015 Page 19