Hi guys,
Seeing as I have been receiving a lot of questions about the IRP due to its complexity and weighting; I thought I would compile a bit of how to helper guide. Feel free to add other suggestions as well; these are just a rough start for those that are completely lost- if I have time I will add more.
Picking a topic can be difficult. But remember, the topic chosen for the focus of your IRP should be related to the course content in at least one or more of the following areas:
1. Resource Management (Section 8.1 of the Syllabus)
2. Individuals (Section 8.2 of the Syllabus)
3. Groups (Section 8.2 of the Syllabus)
4. Families (Section 8.3 of the Syllabus)
5. Communities (Section 8.3 of the Syllabus)
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT YOUR IRP
1. Choose a topic you are interested in. If you don’t like your topic and are doing it because it seems easy (or some other reason) you will be less likely to want to work on it.
2. Make sure the topic is focused & specific. If the topic is too broad you can end up overwhelmed with information.
3. Try to relate your topic to wellbeing, if possible. Remember SPEEPS- social, physical, emotional, economic, political and spiritual wellbeing. Wellbeing is such a huge part of what CAFS is about. By picking a topic related to wellbeing you will practice writing about it, which will help for the trial and HSC exams.
4. Your topic can be written as a hypothesis, or as a research question.
What is a hypothesis? A research topic is often written as a hypothesis. It is a positive statement of what the researcher expects to find out, or an idea that he or she wants to test.
Some common examples of CAFS hypotheses:
-Bullying in schools is out of control.
-Australian sporting stars provide good role models for teenagers.
-Working parents are the majority users of child care.
-Gender-stereotyping is highly evident in the media.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE A TOPIC
Q1.
Are there any topics studied in CAFS so far that have interested me?
Q2.
Is there more I would like to find out about an issue affecting one of the groups I studied for my last research assignment?
Q3.
Is there anything I would like to know about family dynamics or parenting which I would like to research? (Parenting and Caring is our next module to study in CAFS- by choosing a topic in this area you will give yourself a head start in this module)
Example - birth order and the effect on behaviour, parents that abuse drugs and the effects on children, same sex parents and the wellbeing of their children, two parents working and the effect on family life, multiple births and the effects on parents, the effects on a sibling of a child with a disability, etc.
Q4.
Is there anything I would like to research about individuals and work?
(Individuals and Work is our last module to study in CAFS)
Example- flexible work patterns and the effect on the family, employment/unemployment and the effect on wellbeing of the individual, casualisation of the workforce and the effect on workers, etc.
Setting Out the IRP (Whilst this is one way many teachers have different perspectives- so always double check the rubric)
It is important that you set your IRP out according to the following format. The word count is approximate only.
Cardboard Cover Page
This is so that everyone’s IRP looks the same from the outside. It assists with the binding process and will make them easily identifiable when they are catalogued in the library for future classes to utilise. Please write your IRP title as neatly and as clearly as possible. Please note that your name is not included here.
Title Page
You can set out this page however you wish. It must have your Student Number, the date and the IRP title. Include this page as a page number on your contents page.
Contents Page
This is the index at the front of the page, which identifies headings, sub headings and page numbers.
Abstract
This should be about half to one page in length. It is best to do this after you have completed your project. It sums up your IRP ‘in a nutshell’. It should provide a brief summary or description of the research, introducing the project and the objectives. It outlines research methodologies used and briefly discusses the findings and conclusions.
Acknowledgements
This is a very short section to thank the people who have helped you do this project. It could include the names of teachers, friends, parents or organisations that assisted you.
Introduction (Approximately 250 words)
This provides a brief description of the objectives of the project. Talk about what you wanted to find out and why. Explain the research question and/or hypothesis. Identify the syllabus areas your IRP relates to.
Literature Review (Approximately 400 words)
This reviews the information that already exists about the topic. The more relevant the information is to your specific topic, the better. The information that already exists may include chapters in textbooks, magazine articles, newspapers, journals, brochures, videos, television programs and statistics. The discussion of this material should lead to your topic question. You must summarise this information in your own words. You should ‘reference in text’ properly, by acknowledging the author. Do not plagiarise. Markers can very easily tell if it your words showing an understanding of the literature that you have read. This information should be correctly recorded in the Bibliography. Select only the information that is relevant. Don’t go ‘overboard’ here. Don’t set out each bit of information separately. Rather, blend it all together and make one piece of literature/secondary data flow onto the next. Depending on the type of research you are doing, aim for three or four articles to review. Use a variety of articles from a variety of sources. For example, do not use all internet articles.
Methodology (Approximately 300 words)
This section describes the methods you used to collect your primary data and how you went about it. Be very specific and very clear. This section should provide the reader with a complete picture of the research project. Address any ethical considerations here
Results and Findings (How ever much it takes!)
This is the heart of the report. It documents what your primary data shows. Presentation and clarity is important. Include graphs, tables, pictures to help make the report look good and to make interpretation easy for the reader. Set it out logically. Number and clearly label all of the graphs, etc. Give a brief summary of what each graph/table/photograph represents by explaining it in words.
If your IRP methodology was a Case Study or Interview which gathered mostly qualitative information, your task here will be a little harder. You need to summarise the main ideas given, perhaps grouping them into identifiable sections. You may introduce quotes or sections of the transcript. It must be easy for the reader to understand. It need to be set out in a logical order.
Analysis and Discussion (Approximately 600 words)
This is where you ‘bring it all together’. You interpret and analyse the results explaining why the results came out the way they did, and what this means in regard to the research question/s or hypothesis. Some of your results and findings may support your hypothesis, while other results may not. Clarify your findings here. It is important to make reference to parts of your Literature Review. Remember , this is “discussion” of your IRP, so it should all be in your own words.
Summary and Conclusion (Approximately 300 words)
What conclusions have you come to at the end of the report? This is a brief overall summary of the report (a bit like the Abstract) which includes your research question, results and findings and analysis and discussion – then a final conclusion, rounding off the whole report.
Recommendations (approximately 100 words)
What recommendations would you make to others carrying out similar research. Or, what recommendations would you give to the participants of your research project. Give an account of your positive and negative experiences in completing this research.
Bibliography
All secondary data you utilised in completing this research project should be listed here. You must set out the bibliography correctly. It should be thorough. It is best if your bibliography demonstrates secondary data was gathered from a variety of sources. It must be 100% accurate.
Appendix
Include the information that was relevant and useful, but not critical to the report. The appendices should be numbered and labelled. You might include a copy of the questionnaire, a filled in questionnaire, the interview transcripts, a brochure. map or a table.
Remember, the word count suggested is approximate only. Because everyone’s IRP is so different, it is difficult to set a more accurate word count. You will have to make some decisions on your own regarding how much to include. Don’t be too brief and don’t go overboard. Your IRP must be interesting and informative and enjoyable to read for the marker. Setting it out correctly is a good start!
Good Luck everyone! Remember if you don't know something chances are others don't as well so post your ideas or hypotheses and work together to share ideas as Yr 11 and Yr 12 are very collaborative years.
~
Kat92.
Seeing as I have been receiving a lot of questions about the IRP due to its complexity and weighting; I thought I would compile a bit of how to helper guide. Feel free to add other suggestions as well; these are just a rough start for those that are completely lost- if I have time I will add more.
Picking a topic can be difficult. But remember, the topic chosen for the focus of your IRP should be related to the course content in at least one or more of the following areas:
1. Resource Management (Section 8.1 of the Syllabus)
2. Individuals (Section 8.2 of the Syllabus)
3. Groups (Section 8.2 of the Syllabus)
4. Families (Section 8.3 of the Syllabus)
5. Communities (Section 8.3 of the Syllabus)
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT YOUR IRP
1. Choose a topic you are interested in. If you don’t like your topic and are doing it because it seems easy (or some other reason) you will be less likely to want to work on it.
2. Make sure the topic is focused & specific. If the topic is too broad you can end up overwhelmed with information.
3. Try to relate your topic to wellbeing, if possible. Remember SPEEPS- social, physical, emotional, economic, political and spiritual wellbeing. Wellbeing is such a huge part of what CAFS is about. By picking a topic related to wellbeing you will practice writing about it, which will help for the trial and HSC exams.
4. Your topic can be written as a hypothesis, or as a research question.
What is a hypothesis? A research topic is often written as a hypothesis. It is a positive statement of what the researcher expects to find out, or an idea that he or she wants to test.
Some common examples of CAFS hypotheses:
-Bullying in schools is out of control.
-Australian sporting stars provide good role models for teenagers.
-Working parents are the majority users of child care.
-Gender-stereotyping is highly evident in the media.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE A TOPIC
Q1.
Are there any topics studied in CAFS so far that have interested me?
Q2.
Is there more I would like to find out about an issue affecting one of the groups I studied for my last research assignment?
Q3.
Is there anything I would like to know about family dynamics or parenting which I would like to research? (Parenting and Caring is our next module to study in CAFS- by choosing a topic in this area you will give yourself a head start in this module)
Example - birth order and the effect on behaviour, parents that abuse drugs and the effects on children, same sex parents and the wellbeing of their children, two parents working and the effect on family life, multiple births and the effects on parents, the effects on a sibling of a child with a disability, etc.
Q4.
Is there anything I would like to research about individuals and work?
(Individuals and Work is our last module to study in CAFS)
Example- flexible work patterns and the effect on the family, employment/unemployment and the effect on wellbeing of the individual, casualisation of the workforce and the effect on workers, etc.
Setting Out the IRP (Whilst this is one way many teachers have different perspectives- so always double check the rubric)
It is important that you set your IRP out according to the following format. The word count is approximate only.
Cardboard Cover Page
This is so that everyone’s IRP looks the same from the outside. It assists with the binding process and will make them easily identifiable when they are catalogued in the library for future classes to utilise. Please write your IRP title as neatly and as clearly as possible. Please note that your name is not included here.
Title Page
You can set out this page however you wish. It must have your Student Number, the date and the IRP title. Include this page as a page number on your contents page.
Contents Page
This is the index at the front of the page, which identifies headings, sub headings and page numbers.
Abstract
This should be about half to one page in length. It is best to do this after you have completed your project. It sums up your IRP ‘in a nutshell’. It should provide a brief summary or description of the research, introducing the project and the objectives. It outlines research methodologies used and briefly discusses the findings and conclusions.
Acknowledgements
This is a very short section to thank the people who have helped you do this project. It could include the names of teachers, friends, parents or organisations that assisted you.
Introduction (Approximately 250 words)
This provides a brief description of the objectives of the project. Talk about what you wanted to find out and why. Explain the research question and/or hypothesis. Identify the syllabus areas your IRP relates to.
Literature Review (Approximately 400 words)
This reviews the information that already exists about the topic. The more relevant the information is to your specific topic, the better. The information that already exists may include chapters in textbooks, magazine articles, newspapers, journals, brochures, videos, television programs and statistics. The discussion of this material should lead to your topic question. You must summarise this information in your own words. You should ‘reference in text’ properly, by acknowledging the author. Do not plagiarise. Markers can very easily tell if it your words showing an understanding of the literature that you have read. This information should be correctly recorded in the Bibliography. Select only the information that is relevant. Don’t go ‘overboard’ here. Don’t set out each bit of information separately. Rather, blend it all together and make one piece of literature/secondary data flow onto the next. Depending on the type of research you are doing, aim for three or four articles to review. Use a variety of articles from a variety of sources. For example, do not use all internet articles.
Methodology (Approximately 300 words)
This section describes the methods you used to collect your primary data and how you went about it. Be very specific and very clear. This section should provide the reader with a complete picture of the research project. Address any ethical considerations here
Results and Findings (How ever much it takes!)
This is the heart of the report. It documents what your primary data shows. Presentation and clarity is important. Include graphs, tables, pictures to help make the report look good and to make interpretation easy for the reader. Set it out logically. Number and clearly label all of the graphs, etc. Give a brief summary of what each graph/table/photograph represents by explaining it in words.
If your IRP methodology was a Case Study or Interview which gathered mostly qualitative information, your task here will be a little harder. You need to summarise the main ideas given, perhaps grouping them into identifiable sections. You may introduce quotes or sections of the transcript. It must be easy for the reader to understand. It need to be set out in a logical order.
Analysis and Discussion (Approximately 600 words)
This is where you ‘bring it all together’. You interpret and analyse the results explaining why the results came out the way they did, and what this means in regard to the research question/s or hypothesis. Some of your results and findings may support your hypothesis, while other results may not. Clarify your findings here. It is important to make reference to parts of your Literature Review. Remember , this is “discussion” of your IRP, so it should all be in your own words.
Summary and Conclusion (Approximately 300 words)
What conclusions have you come to at the end of the report? This is a brief overall summary of the report (a bit like the Abstract) which includes your research question, results and findings and analysis and discussion – then a final conclusion, rounding off the whole report.
Recommendations (approximately 100 words)
What recommendations would you make to others carrying out similar research. Or, what recommendations would you give to the participants of your research project. Give an account of your positive and negative experiences in completing this research.
Bibliography
All secondary data you utilised in completing this research project should be listed here. You must set out the bibliography correctly. It should be thorough. It is best if your bibliography demonstrates secondary data was gathered from a variety of sources. It must be 100% accurate.
Appendix
Include the information that was relevant and useful, but not critical to the report. The appendices should be numbered and labelled. You might include a copy of the questionnaire, a filled in questionnaire, the interview transcripts, a brochure. map or a table.
Remember, the word count suggested is approximate only. Because everyone’s IRP is so different, it is difficult to set a more accurate word count. You will have to make some decisions on your own regarding how much to include. Don’t be too brief and don’t go overboard. Your IRP must be interesting and informative and enjoyable to read for the marker. Setting it out correctly is a good start!
Good Luck everyone! Remember if you don't know something chances are others don't as well so post your ideas or hypotheses and work together to share ideas as Yr 11 and Yr 12 are very collaborative years.
~
Kat92.
