Research Methodology
Name the four types of data identified in the HSC syllabus
Primary, Secondary, Qualitative, Quantitative
What are the TWO mandatory Category A groups studied in Groups in Context?
Youth and rural and remote families.
Name the FOUR parenting/caring styles in the HSC syllabus.
Authoritarian, democratic, permissive/indulgent and negligent.
Technology can be classified in THREE broad ways in the syllabus. Name them.
Hardware, software and organisation of knowledge.
True or False: A literature review is one of the five research methods listed in the HSC Research Methodology syllabus
TRUE
What four ethical behaviours should researchers consider when conducting research?
Respect, integrity, privacy and bias.
Name the six specific needs examined for groups in the HSC syllabus.
Adequate standard of living, health, education, employment, safety and security, and sense of identity.
Identify the THREE characteristics of a dependant that can affect the role of a parent or carer.
Age, skills/capabilities and special needs
Name FOUR factors that may affect an individual's access to and acceptance of technology.
Any four of: age, culture, education, economic status, disability, geographical location, gender, religion.
I'm a parenting style involving high levels of control and rules, with limited input from the dependant. What am I?
Authoritarian
A student wants to investigate Year 12 students' attitudes towards school uniforms and wants detailed explanations of their opinions. Which research method would be appropriate, and why?
Interview. It allows the researcher to collect detailed qualitative data and ask participants about their individual views and experiences.
What are the THREE broad factors that affect a group's access to services?
Characteristics of individuals within the group, resources, and aspects of the service.
A couple expecting their first child attends parenting classes, creates a budget and makes changes to their home. Identify the THREE preparations for parenting demonstrated.
Enhancing knowledge and skills; organising finances; modifying the physical environment.
A hospital introduces telehealth appointments so patients can speak to health professionals from home. Identify TWO reasons for the development of this technology.
Answers could include social betterment, response to social problems, consumer demand/human needs, economic benefit, improving existing technology or the global community.
SPOT THE SYLLABUS CONCEPT: A counselling service is free and nearby, but a teenager refuses to use it because they are worried people will find out what they discuss. Which aspect of the service may be affecting access?
Confidentiality.
A student investigating teenage screen time only surveys 10 students from their own friendship group. Explain how this sampling decision could affect the reliability and validity of the research.
The sample is small and potentially biased because the participants may have similar characteristics. It may not adequately represent the wider teenage population, reducing the reliability and validity of the findings.
A young person living in a remote NSW town needs counselling. The nearest face-to-face service is 90 km away, operates 9 am–5 pm and they have no car. Analyse TWO factors affecting their access to the service.
Resources: limited transport/money/time may prevent travel. Aspects of the service: its location and opening hours reduce availability and accessibility.
Jordan works full-time while caring for his elderly father. His family believes caring should mainly be undertaken by women. Analyse TWO influences that could affect Jordan's caring role.
Multiple commitments may create competing demands on Jordan's time and energy. Gender expectations are a social influence that may affect how others perceive his caring role and the support or pressure he experiences.
A rural family relies on telehealth, online banking and online learning. Analyse how geographical location could both increase their NEED for technology and restrict their ACCESS to it.
Distance from physical services increases the usefulness/need for digital technologies. However, geographical location may also restrict access through poorer infrastructure/connectivity or fewer technological services, potentially creating inequity.
Two researchers investigate the same issue. Researcher A surveys 500 randomly selected teenagers. Researcher B interviews 8 teenagers in depth. Which study is 'better'? Justify your answer.
Neither is automatically better. Suitability depends on the research focus. A questionnaire may provide broader quantitative data from a larger sample, while interviews can provide detailed qualitative data. The research method should be selected according to the research question and the type of information required.
A researcher wants to investigate the impact of caring responsibilities on Year 12 students. They plan to collect anonymous questionnaires from 100 students and conduct interviews with 10 young carers. Justify the use of BOTH research methods.
Questionnaires can efficiently collect data from a larger sample and identify overall patterns/trends. Interviews provide more detailed qualitative information about individual experiences. Using both allows findings from different types of data to be compared and can strengthen the research conclusions.
A community group launches a campaign challenging negative stereotypes about people with disabilities. It uses social media, school presentations and personal stories from group members. Explain how advocacy could contribute to a positive social environment and improve group wellbeing.
Advocacy can raise awareness, educate the community and promote the rights of the group. Challenging negative attitudes may reduce stigma/discrimination, improve inclusion and contribute to needs such as sense of identity and safety/security, enhancing wellbeing.
A first-time parent is struggling to balance work, caring for their baby and their own wellbeing. They receive childcare assistance, financial support and regular help from grandparents. Evaluate how this support may affect their parenting role and wellbeing.
Formal support such as childcare and financial assistance can reduce financial/time pressures and help fulfil parenting responsibilities. Informal support from grandparents can provide practical and emotional assistance. Together these supports may help the parent fulfil responsibilities, manage multiple commitments and maintain their own wellbeing, which may also benefit the dependant.
A workplace introduces AI software that completes administrative tasks previously performed by employees. Evaluate the potential impact of this technology on workers' wellbeing.
Positive impacts could include greater efficiency, flexibility, reduced workload and altered career opportunities. Negative impacts could include job insecurity, retraining requirements, information/privacy concerns or poorer work/life boundaries. The overall impact depends on how the technology is introduced and how employees' rights, responsibilities and needs are managed.
MEGA SCENARIO: A sole parent living in a rural town works from home while caring for a child with a disability. They use telehealth because specialist services are several hours away. Identify THREE different HSC CAFS concepts represented in this scenario and explain each.
Possible answers include Groups in Context: geographical location/resources/service location affect access to services. Parenting and Caring: special needs of the dependant affect the parenting role and the parent must manage multiple commitments. Social Impact of Technology: telehealth can improve access to healthcare, although geographical location can also affect access to technology. Research/other valid HSC links may also be accepted where correctly justified.