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General FAQs about Research Project
On this page
- Why are we the only state that does the research project?
- What are the benefits of the research project?
- What is the difference between research project A and B?
- Is it better to put your capability through the folio or all at the end?
- What should I do?
- What makes a great research project?
- Does the research project relate to our future career?
- Do in-text sources reference count toward word count?
Why are we the only state that does the research project?
We aren't the only state that does research project. The Northern Territory and international schools completing the SACE also "opt in" to the research project because it helps develop life-long learning.
What are the benefits of the research project?
Many of the skills you develop in the Research Project are transferable, and may help you be successful in jobs and further study. These skills include:
- researching and presenting the results of your research
- working independently
- communicating clearly
- planning effectively
- being able to deal with problems and setbacks.
What is the difference between research project A and B?
There are 4 parts to the research framework (which you can find in the subject outlines):
- initiating and planning the research
- developing the research
- producing and substantiating the Research Outcome (synthesis)
- reviewing the research (Research Project A) or evaluating the research (Research Project B).
What is the Review or Evaluation?
This is the task for external assessment. Your Review or Evaluation is worth 30%of your final subject grade.
If you are studying Research Project A, you will be undertaking a Review. For this external assessment task you should:
- review the knowledge and skills you have developed in response to the your research question
- discuss the decisions you made in response to challenges and opportunities
- reflect on the quality of your Research Outcome
- organise your information coherently and communicate ideas accurately and appropriately.
Prepare a summary of the research question and Research Outcome, in a maximum of 150 words if written or 1 minute if oral. This summary is assessed.
The review is a maximum of 1500 words if written or a maximum of 10 minutes for an oral presentation, or the equivalent in multimodal form (excluding the written summary).
If you are studying Research Project B, you will be undertaking an Evaluation. For this external assessment task you should:
- explain your choice of research processes and evaluate their usefulness
- evaluate the decisions you have made in response to challenges and opportunities
- evaluate the quality of the Research Outcome
- organise your information coherently and communicate ideas accurately and appropriately.
Prepare a written summary of the research question and Research Outcome, in a maximum of 150 words. This summary is assessed.
The Evaluation is in written form to a maximum of 1500 words (excluding the written summary).
What is the written summary (150 words) of the Evaluation/Review?
The purpose of the written summary is to provide background information for the external assessor to help them mark your work.
The summary includes information about the research question and the Research Outcome.
Is it better to put your capability through the folio or all at the end?
Choose one or more of the capabilities as a focus early in your project, and then you can either confirm or change your decision as your research develops. You will need to show your understanding and development of one or more capabilities in the evidence you present in your Folio.
What should I do?
Pick something you are interested in! Find a topic you are passionate about - it will help you stay enthusiastic about your project. Think about what you might like to do with your career and find something in that space about which you would like to learn.
What makes a great research project?
Success in the Research Project comes from:
- carefully identifying a research question that you are interested in
- using relevant research processes
- paying attention to your understanding and development of one or more of the capabilities with respect to your research project
- maintaining a record of your research as you progress, not only recording what you do or find but also problems, solutions, and changes in direction
- keeping a focus upon what you want to achieve and by being aware of the main ideas that develop from your research.
- becoming familiar with the assessment requirements and how your work will be assessed using the performance standards.
Think about something that you are interested in and how it could lead to a research question.
Planning your research processes is also important. It does not matter if you change your plans later but you need to show your thinking about these processes.
Your proposal, which is part of your Folio, is an opportunity to outline what you are going to research and how you are going to go about it. Examples of how you could present your proposals may help you.
Does the research project relate to our future career?
There are seven capabilities that relate to the Research Project. They are designed to help you develop knowledge and skills for further study, work, training, and community life.
Do in-text sources reference count toward word count?
No
Is there any difference between a list of references and a bibliography?
Yes. A list of references is a list of the sources that you actually quote or use in your research.
A bibliography is a list of all the sources that you have consulted during your research.
In the Research Project, either or both of these are appropriate. The important thing is that you acknowledge the sources you used and that you acknowledge the sources in particular ways. Refer to Research Advice on the Research Project minisite for advice on how to present your references and/or bibliography.