Unit Aim
This unit aims to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to plan, research and present research outcomes for a small-scale file or television project. Students will develop an understanding of the different sources of information that can be accessed to suit differing purposes and situations and will be able to carry out primary and secondary research to address a research question. Students will be aware of legal and ethical and considerations and carry will carry out their research with regard to these.
Unit Content
1 Plan and research a small-scale film or television project
- Investigative project proposal e.g. area of study background to the problem; aims; objectives; suitability; potential difficulties; legitimacy; research design and methods; scope and limitations; implications e.g. resources, travel; health and safety; risk assessment
- Research proposal e.g. statement of the problem, intended research topic/area; published research, the research paradigm; research hypotheses; variables; methodology; data analysis techniques; benefits of intended investigation; summary; references
2 Carry out research relevant to the research proposal
- Implementation e.g. according to research design and method; tasks; monitoring of performance against schedule plan e.g. daily progress, weekly progress, monthly progress, budget; deadlines; completion; health and safety; communication
- Data collection e.g. selection of appropriate tools for data collection; types e.g. qualitative, quantitative; systematic recording; methodological problems e.g. bias, variables and control of variables, validity and reliability
3 Analyse data and evaluate the research outcomes
- Data analysis and interpretation: qualitative and quantitative data analysis – interpreting transcripts; coding techniques; specialist software; statistical tables; comparison of variable trends; forecasting
- Evaluation of outcomes: overview of the success or failure of the research project (planning, aims and objectives, evidence and findings, validity, reliability, benefits, difficulties, conclusion(s)
- Future consideration: significance of research investigation; application of research results; implications; limitations of the investigation; improvements; recommendations for the future, areas for future research
4 Present research outcomes
- Report: aims; objectives; schedule plan; summary of work; unforeseen circumstances; results; evaluation (strengths, areas for improvement); recommendations for further research; bibliography; referencing
- Format e.g. professional delivery format appropriate to the audience; appropriate media e.g. audio recording video recording, report writing, presentation, lecture
