Year 12 Stage 6 Notes HSC
Community and Family Studies
Topic 1: Research methodologies
Research fundamentals
Key terms of research fundamentals
● Validity = measurements that accurately reflects what it was intended to measure.
● Reliability = consistency of measurement.
● Hypothesis = supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting
point for further investigation.
● Sampling = process used to select individuals or groups in order to conduct primary research.
● Question = a question about a specific topic that can be answered through research.
● Bias = used to describe a one-sided point of view on a topic or issue that does not take into account
other ideas or opposing views.
Topics associated with CAFS
● Water restrictions = resource management
● Single parent working part- time = families
1
, ● Road accident awareness = communities
● Group dynamics = groups
● Impact of media on children’s wellbeing = families & communities
Purpose of research (question summary notes)
● What is research? (authority) = what are the author’s credentials, does the URL look reputable? is the
information accurate?
● What is the purpose? (purpose)= is it objective or factual? does it state an opinion or try to influence?
who is the intended audience?
● Why go to all that effort? (currency & accuracy) = is the text well written, without spelling errors?,
● What do we get out of conducting research? (relevance) = is the source related to the topic? is it
objective or factual? does it provide you with further information?
Selecting a research focus - develop a suitable research question or hypothesis
● A research process is explored and stated in the form of a question or hypothesis for researching.
● A hypothesis is a suggested outcome or answer to the research question.
● Research outcome is to disagree or agree with the question or the hypothesis.
Sampling
Selecting appropriate sampling methods notes
Samples
● Sample = small amount of or part of something which is intended to represent a larger amount or the
whole.
● Sample methods = methods used to choose the same group.
● Sample size = numer of people who will participate in research methods.
● Not all members of the sample selected by the research might end up participating in the research.
● E.g. researcher might not be able to contact or recruit all of the people in the original sample, or some
people might drop out during the couse of the research.
Sample size factors based on the resources available
● Money = how much will it cost to collect data from each person?
2
, ● Time = how much can you do within an available time?
● Knowledge = Do you know enough people who fit the population that you intend to study?
● Access to services = Are you able to access the sample group?
Types of sampling methods
● Simple random sampling = involves selecting people so everyone has an equal chance of being
selected.
● Systematic sampling = obtained by choosing one number at random than every 10th limit after this
random start.
● Cluster sampling = diving the population into clusters and random selection is made within the
clusters.
● Convenience sampling = research selecting people because they are easily located such as friends in
a year 12 peer group.
● Stratified sampling = a princess in which population is divided into strata (layers) groups and then
random selection occurs within each strata.
Evaluating sources factors
● Ideas = get some ideas by browsing among current periodicals.
● Scope = topic needs to be manageable & avoid picking a topic that is too broad.
● Time = choose a project that can be finished in the time you have.
● Approach = analyse or explain events or developments.
● Aspects = most topics were many different aspects so it is important to establish the topic.
● Clarity = be clear about what you’re researching and not having a clear idea of what you’re looking for.
Research topic supported by PICOT scaffold summary notes
● P (population of interest narrow the population by age or another characteristic) = e.g. aged or children
aged 3-5 years
● I (issue of interest for the IRP) = e.g. nursing home care or aspengers syndrom
● C (comparison between variable to be researched) = e.g. those in care, their families, types of needs or
participation in support group.
3
, ● O (outcome of the comparison) = e.g. meeting the needs or improve morale.
● T (time) = e.g. in nursing home or during use of support group.
Research fundamentals - types of data
Primary & secondary, qualitative & quantitative summary text notes
● These steps include the development of a focus question or hypothesis to investigate, collecting,
analysing and recording data using a range of methodologies, drawing conclusions and evaluating the
data.
● Primary sources include a collection of information through observation, case studies and surveys.
● Quantitative research = collection of data that csn be measured through primary methodologies such
as questionnaires, experiment and interviews.
● Qualitative research = collection of data that involved describing and collecting more detailed
information about the topic.
● It is more effective for researchers to use both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies,
gathering data from primary and secondary sources gain a broader perspective on the topic being
studied.
Data key words
● Methodology = way of collecting information.
● Primary data = first hand information; found by us.
4
Community and Family Studies
Topic 1: Research methodologies
Research fundamentals
Key terms of research fundamentals
● Validity = measurements that accurately reflects what it was intended to measure.
● Reliability = consistency of measurement.
● Hypothesis = supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting
point for further investigation.
● Sampling = process used to select individuals or groups in order to conduct primary research.
● Question = a question about a specific topic that can be answered through research.
● Bias = used to describe a one-sided point of view on a topic or issue that does not take into account
other ideas or opposing views.
Topics associated with CAFS
● Water restrictions = resource management
● Single parent working part- time = families
1
, ● Road accident awareness = communities
● Group dynamics = groups
● Impact of media on children’s wellbeing = families & communities
Purpose of research (question summary notes)
● What is research? (authority) = what are the author’s credentials, does the URL look reputable? is the
information accurate?
● What is the purpose? (purpose)= is it objective or factual? does it state an opinion or try to influence?
who is the intended audience?
● Why go to all that effort? (currency & accuracy) = is the text well written, without spelling errors?,
● What do we get out of conducting research? (relevance) = is the source related to the topic? is it
objective or factual? does it provide you with further information?
Selecting a research focus - develop a suitable research question or hypothesis
● A research process is explored and stated in the form of a question or hypothesis for researching.
● A hypothesis is a suggested outcome or answer to the research question.
● Research outcome is to disagree or agree with the question or the hypothesis.
Sampling
Selecting appropriate sampling methods notes
Samples
● Sample = small amount of or part of something which is intended to represent a larger amount or the
whole.
● Sample methods = methods used to choose the same group.
● Sample size = numer of people who will participate in research methods.
● Not all members of the sample selected by the research might end up participating in the research.
● E.g. researcher might not be able to contact or recruit all of the people in the original sample, or some
people might drop out during the couse of the research.
Sample size factors based on the resources available
● Money = how much will it cost to collect data from each person?
2
, ● Time = how much can you do within an available time?
● Knowledge = Do you know enough people who fit the population that you intend to study?
● Access to services = Are you able to access the sample group?
Types of sampling methods
● Simple random sampling = involves selecting people so everyone has an equal chance of being
selected.
● Systematic sampling = obtained by choosing one number at random than every 10th limit after this
random start.
● Cluster sampling = diving the population into clusters and random selection is made within the
clusters.
● Convenience sampling = research selecting people because they are easily located such as friends in
a year 12 peer group.
● Stratified sampling = a princess in which population is divided into strata (layers) groups and then
random selection occurs within each strata.
Evaluating sources factors
● Ideas = get some ideas by browsing among current periodicals.
● Scope = topic needs to be manageable & avoid picking a topic that is too broad.
● Time = choose a project that can be finished in the time you have.
● Approach = analyse or explain events or developments.
● Aspects = most topics were many different aspects so it is important to establish the topic.
● Clarity = be clear about what you’re researching and not having a clear idea of what you’re looking for.
Research topic supported by PICOT scaffold summary notes
● P (population of interest narrow the population by age or another characteristic) = e.g. aged or children
aged 3-5 years
● I (issue of interest for the IRP) = e.g. nursing home care or aspengers syndrom
● C (comparison between variable to be researched) = e.g. those in care, their families, types of needs or
participation in support group.
3
, ● O (outcome of the comparison) = e.g. meeting the needs or improve morale.
● T (time) = e.g. in nursing home or during use of support group.
Research fundamentals - types of data
Primary & secondary, qualitative & quantitative summary text notes
● These steps include the development of a focus question or hypothesis to investigate, collecting,
analysing and recording data using a range of methodologies, drawing conclusions and evaluating the
data.
● Primary sources include a collection of information through observation, case studies and surveys.
● Quantitative research = collection of data that csn be measured through primary methodologies such
as questionnaires, experiment and interviews.
● Qualitative research = collection of data that involved describing and collecting more detailed
information about the topic.
● It is more effective for researchers to use both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies,
gathering data from primary and secondary sources gain a broader perspective on the topic being
studied.
Data key words
● Methodology = way of collecting information.
● Primary data = first hand information; found by us.
4
