Clarification details
Updated March 2016. This clarification has been updated to address issues that have arisen from moderation.
Scope
This has been expanded by the removal of the requirement to focus on responses to the environment and the ecological niche of an organism. The step-ups from level 2 to level 3 involve the shift from curriculum level 7 to 8, the reduction in the degree of teacher involvement and collaboration with students.
- A single investigation covers the complete process of planning, carrying out, collecting, processing and interpreting primary data, and reporting.
- The nature of the investigation can be the manipulation of variables (fair test), the investigation of a pattern or relationship, or the use of models.
- While a summary of ecological niche is not required, research on this aspect where relevant may help to guide the investigation.
- The task must give the student opportunity to discuss their findings with those from other source(s) which they have found themselves.
- While statistical analysis may be carried out, it will not constitute Excellence on its own. It may form part of the evaluation of the reliability of the method and data.
Guidance
Guidance means that the teacher supports the student throughout the investigation but the whole process is student-driven. The teacher negotiates the parameters during the planning stage, and can give resource suggestions or possible new directions via milestone meetings. Students interpret their own findings so whole group discussion is not part of the teacher’s guidance role.
Collaboration
Collaboration may occur if students are carrying out related investigations at the planning stage, depending on the nature of the investigation and the resources available. The teacher must provide written verification that each student has actively participated in the planning and recording of their own data. Evidence of the processing, interpreting and reporting stages of the investigation is required for each individual student.
Findings of others
The findings of others may include those of other students, scientists, or historical findings relevant to the student’s investigation. Findings from other students’ investigations cannot form any part of the individual student’s own results section.
Findings used in the discussion can be incorporated in the students’ reports. These must be clearly referenced for authenticity and appended to the individual student’s final report. They may be used to inform the discussion of the primary findings, in the same way that published or unpublished research findings of scientists are always considered and used to explain any scientific results.