About this report
The following report gives feedback to assist assessors with general issues and trends that have been identified during external moderation of the internally assessed standards in 2023. It also provides further insights from moderation material viewed throughout the year and outlines the Assessor Support available for Home Economics.
On this page
Insights
91469: Investigate the influence of multinational food corporations on eating patterns in New Zealand
Performance overview:
This standard requires students to investigate the influence of a multinational food corporation on eating patterns in New Zealand. It is expected that the multinational food corporation selected for investigation be one whose practices have significantly influenced and changed eating patterns in New Zealand.
The focus of this standard is explaining a range of practices used by a multinational food company to influence eating patterns in New Zealand and the possible consequences for societal well-being. Factors that influence food choice and eating patterns are only expected to be explained in terms of their connection to the practices selected for investigation. An explanation of a general range of factors that influence food choice, as a separate activity, is not required.
Information about a range of practices used by a multinational food corporation to influence consumers must be used to explain how and why the practices influence decision making and food choice in New Zealand. Explanations must show clear links between the practices used and changes in New Zealand consumer’s behaviour and perceptions.
Information and examples from credible sources are needed to support explanations of the practices, some of which should be less than five years old. Sources could include interviews, statistics, research reports, newspaper and other print articles, documentaries, government, Ministry websites and recognised non-government organisations (NGOs).
Student evidence that met the requirements of the standard explained a range of practices. For example, when investigating practices used by supermarket chains in New Zealand, in-store layout, product placement, in-store advertising and the predominance of processed food for sale constituted a range of practices commonly explored. Explanations of the practices included clear links between the practices and changes to eating patterns in New Zealand. Discussion of the selected practices and effects on wellbeing were supported by information and examples relevant to New Zealand (some of which was less than 5 years old) and obtained from credible sources.
Practices that need strengthening:
Where a range of practices was not investigated, grades were changed in moderation. While some significant practices can be made up of a range of smaller practices (for example, the marketing of fresh produce by a supermarket may include several smaller practices such as the use of loss leaders, special deals, free samples, and displays designed to attract attention), further investigation of at least one other significant practice (such as store layout) is expected.
Where the focus of an investigation was explaining generic practices used globally by a food corporation, further evidence was needed to explain the relevance and development of the practices in New Zealand. For example, some practices used by food corporations overseas are not necessarily used in New Zealand.
Further explanation, supported by evidence, of the effects of the practices on consumer’s beliefs, attitudes, values and habits was needed where explanations of the practices did not show clear links between the development of the practice and changes to New Zealand eating patterns.
91466: Investigate a nutritional issue affecting the well-being of New Zealand society
Performance overview:
Investigating a nutritional issue involves explaining the nature of the issue. This includes what the very essence of the issue is, why it is an issue, how it has transpired, the group(s) in society most affected and the implications of the issue for the wellbeing of New Zealand society. Quantitative and qualitative data is needed to support explanation of these aspects of an investigation, and must be sufficiently detailed to show the impact of the issue for New Zealand society.
Evidence that met the requirements of the standard investigated a nutritional issue that was not a complex medical issue. Common suitable nutritional issues selected for investigation included poor breakfast choices in teenagers, over consumption of ultra processed food, low consumption of fruit and vegetables and the overconsumption of fast food. The causes or significant contributing factors were explained, i.e. the determinants of health, attitudes, beliefs, values, key stakeholders and group(s) affected. Effects on well-being were mostly explained from the societal perspective. Sufficient quantitative and qualitative data was used to support explanation of trends, patterns, causes and effects on societal wellbeing.
Practices that need strengthening:
The standard requires an investigation into a nutritional issue rather than a complex global health/medical issue. Examples of suitable issues are provided in Explanatory Note 3 of the standard. Where a complex medical disease such as obesity was selected for investigation, grades were changed in moderation. Complex medical issues such as obesity and diabetes should be viewed as outcomes or consequences of a nutritional issue, rather than the focus for investigation. Information and data relating to medical issues associated with a nutritional issue can be used to explain the effects of the issue on societal well-being.
Exploration of a wide variety of information relating to the selected nutritional issue needs to be encouraged as it enables trends, patterns and significant causes to become apparent and be addressed in sufficient detail. Additionally, it may help to prevent discussion of effects on wellbeing being overly focussed on the personal wellbeing of those most affected, and effects on societal wellbeing not being addressed.
Assessor Support
Online
NZQA’s learning management system (Pūtake) offers 150+ easy to access courses, materials, and products. These are designed to support teachers, as assessors, to improve their assessment of NCEA standards.
Online, subject-specific or generic, bite-sized learning modules and short courses are now available to complement the traditional face-to-face workshops that NZQA offers. These online courses can be accessed using your Education Sector Logon.
Subject-specific course/workshops available for Home Economics include:
- 91466: Investigate a nutritional issue affecting the well-being of New Zealand society
- 91468: Analyse a food related ethical dilemma for New Zealand society
Online Making Assessor Judgements workshops are also available throughout the year. These workshops are structured to guide teachers to improve their understanding of each grade level by examining several full samples of student work. The following standards are available for enrolment in 2024:
- 91299: Analyse issues related to the provision of food for people with specific food needs
- 91466: Investigate a nutritional issue affecting the well-being of New Zealand society
- 91468: Analyse a food related ethical dilemma for New Zealand society
Feedback from teachers for these workshops indicates that more than 74% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the content in the module was beneficial:
“Although I was a bit skeptical that this was going to provide me with better understanding of the standard (and marking it), I found I've picked up more certainty about making judgements about the work my students might produce. I'm also more secure about guiding them through the selection of their topic and setting it up so that they are able to complete a successful investigation.”
Exemplars of student evidence for all standards at each level of achievement are available on the NZQA subject page for Home Economics.
NZQA will continue to provide generic modules and workshops designed to improve general assessment practice. The following modules and workshops will be available in 2024:
- Assessment Approaches, an online workshop exploring different methods of assessment
- Culturally Responsive Assessment
- Assessment Guidance – Reviewing Your Practice
- Tāku Reo, Tāku Mahi – My voice, My work, a guide to managing authenticity
- Why Less is More, a guide to reducing volumes of student evidence
- Integrated Assessment
- Modes of Assessment
- Alternative Assessment
- Acknowledging Sources
“This was great! I liked that I could choose from different scenarios, see how sources are used and the way the student answered the question.”
“Reassuring and very thorough. Easy to use/follow.”
We will also continue to offer the Transforming Assessment Praxis programme, an online workshop relevant to all subjects which helps assessors learn about re-contextualising assessment resources and collecting evidence in different ways, in order to better meet the needs of students.
Check the NCEA subject pages on the NZQA website regularly, as more online modules, workshops and courses will be added throughout 2024.
Assessor Practice Tool
The Assessor Practice Tool (APT) will be used to support assessors with the new NCEA standards from 2024 onwards. The purpose of the APT is to allow assessors to practice making assessment judgements and immediately receive feedback on their judgements from a moderation panel. The APT will initially have material for some existing Level 3 standards, with moderated samples for the new Level 1 NCEA standard subjects being added as material becomes available. Material for the new Level 2 and Level 3 standards will be added over time, and all material for the old NCEA standards will be archived.
Material is currently available for:
- 91301: Analyse beliefs, attitudes and practices related to a nutritional issue for families in New Zealand
- 91468: Analyse a food related ethical dilemma for New Zealand society
Workshops and presentations
The Best Practice Workshops offered by Assessment and Moderation continue to be viewed by the sector as significantly contributing to improved assessor practice:
“I thought the workshop was very clear and helpful, there were a lot of varied examples of ākonga work discussed and opportunity for participants to discuss and ask questions.”
We offer several options of online workshops and presentations for events to support assessors with the assessment of internally assessed standards. These can be subject-specific, or general assessment support, and tailored to the audience. Virtual presentation slots, online workshops or webinars can be requested to provide targeted support to local, regional or national audiences.