A2 coursework What do I have to do?

What is required? You have to carry out a piece of research that is related to the specification You have to carry out a piece of research that is related to the specification You may use primary or secondary data collection. You may use primary or secondary data collection. Overall word limit is 3500 words Overall word limit is 3500 words You can carry out your AS proposal or do something else. You can carry out your AS proposal or do something else. AO1 marks 24 out of the 60 A02 36 out of the 60 AO1 marks 24 out of the 60 A02 36 out of the 60

What are the sections? Rationale (hypothesis/ aim) Rationale (hypothesis/ aim) Context Context Methodology Methodology Evidence Evidence Evaluation Evaluation Also need to include a contents page, a bibliography and a photocopied page from your research diary. Also need to include a contents page, a bibliography and a photocopied page from your research diary.

What should I do first? Read the ethical guidelines Read the ethical guidelines Read the mark scheme Read the mark scheme Check the areas covered by the specification Check the areas covered by the specification Check your AS cswk and the marks it received Check your AS cswk and the marks it received

Ethical guidelines The most important cover: The most important cover: The wellbeing of those taking part in research The wellbeing of those taking part in research Rights to privacy Rights to privacy Anonymity and confidentiality Anonymity and confidentiality Not bringing sociology into disrepute Not bringing sociology into disrepute

Research Diary Make a brief record of any key decisions, changes and problems that occur and date them. Make a brief record of any key decisions, changes and problems that occur and date them. In the case of problems record what solutions you select. In the case of problems record what solutions you select. Treat the diary as a way of showing the examiner how you developed you skills and awareness as a sociologist. Treat the diary as a way of showing the examiner how you developed you skills and awareness as a sociologist. It can be very useful in doing your evaluation because it helps you look back at the key stages of the project, what went well and what didn’t. It can be very useful in doing your evaluation because it helps you look back at the key stages of the project, what went well and what didn’t.

Theory It is important to make links with theory at certain points. It is important to make links with theory at certain points. Usually this is connecting your method and a perspective in sociology. Usually this is connecting your method and a perspective in sociology. You can also link it with objectivity. This is difficult to achieve using some methods and when dealing with controversial topics. You can also link it with objectivity. This is difficult to achieve using some methods and when dealing with controversial topics. You will not get marks for generalised points – they have to be relevant to your study. You will not get marks for generalised points – they have to be relevant to your study.

Mark scheme You will be given a copy of this You will be given a copy of this Aim to cover the requirements for the top band in each section Aim to cover the requirements for the top band in each section

Specification Check what you want to do is covered in the specification. Check what you want to do is covered in the specification. If you discover something criminal you must report it as you, me and the moderator would be committing as crime if we didn’t. If you discover something criminal you must report it as you, me and the moderator would be committing as crime if we didn’t. Therefore avoid asking about underage drinking, drug taking etc Therefore avoid asking about underage drinking, drug taking etc

Research tips Keep a diary and note in it any ideas. Jot down when things go wrong- this will help your evaluation Keep a diary and note in it any ideas. Jot down when things go wrong- this will help your evaluation Ensure it has a clear sociological focus (pick from the spec) Ensure it has a clear sociological focus (pick from the spec) Keep the hyp simple/ limited. It is then easier to carry out and keep to the word limit. Keep the hyp simple/ limited. It is then easier to carry out and keep to the word limit. Make your aim specific. Make your aim specific. Keep referring back to your aim- all sections should link to it. Keep referring back to your aim- all sections should link to it. Spend time choosing appropriate contexts. Show why they link to your research. Keep linking them in to the rest of the piece, refer to them when designing your research and show how they were proved or refuted by your research in your evidence and evaluation. Spend time choosing appropriate contexts. Show why they link to your research. Keep linking them in to the rest of the piece, refer to them when designing your research and show how they were proved or refuted by your research in your evidence and evaluation. Choose only one method that is appropriate to your aim. Use al the info you collect otherwise what was the point? Choose only one method that is appropriate to your aim. Use al the info you collect otherwise what was the point?

More tips Choose sample carefully, explaining how it will be representative. Where are you going to find these people? Choose sample carefully, explaining how it will be representative. Where are you going to find these people? Do a pilot study and explain how it altered your method Do a pilot study and explain how it altered your method Give clear reasons for all your choices and decisions. Include practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of your choices and decisions. Give clear reasons for all your choices and decisions. Include practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of your choices and decisions. Allow sufficient time to do your research. Meet deadlines. Allow sufficient time to do your research. Meet deadlines. When writing up evidence, refer your findings to the context. If you can’t why did you pick it to begin with? When writing up evidence, refer your findings to the context. If you can’t why did you pick it to begin with? Don’t be afraid to change- you can put new things into your context after your research if its helpful to what you want to say. Don’t be afraid to change- you can put new things into your context after your research if its helpful to what you want to say. The moderator hasn’t heard you talk to me – make it clear you understand what you have included. The moderator hasn’t heard you talk to me – make it clear you understand what you have included. Stick to the word limit. Stick to the word limit.

Rationale This provides a framework for the whole project and needs to be referred to again later in your work. This provides a framework for the whole project and needs to be referred to again later in your work. It is basically the personal and sociological reasons for selecting your topic. It is basically the personal and sociological reasons for selecting your topic. It also includes an identification of the sociological debates and issues likely to be involved, a clear aim/ hypothesis with specific objectives and some initial thoughts on your expectations It also includes an identification of the sociological debates and issues likely to be involved, a clear aim/ hypothesis with specific objectives and some initial thoughts on your expectations

REASONS: REASONS: Personal interest is not enough. Personal interest is not enough. You could have studied it. You could have studied it. You could have seen it reported in the media. You could have seen it reported in the media. Political/ social policy from government. Political/ social policy from government. ID SOC DEBATES: ID SOC DEBATES: How is the issue chosen relevant to sociology? How is the issue chosen relevant to sociology? This could be a brief are as that needs re- writing later. This could be a brief are as that needs re- writing later.

DEVELOPING A HYP: DEVELOPING A HYP: Hyp is a statement to be proven, but you could have an overall aim instead. Hyp is a statement to be proven, but you could have an overall aim instead. Once you have this you can give a series of objectives – a list of tasks that need to be done before final conclusions are drawn. Once you have this you can give a series of objectives – a list of tasks that need to be done before final conclusions are drawn. When reviewing your rationale later it might be that you couldn’t do some of your objectives – discuss this in your evaluation. Also say whether your initial expectations were accurate. When reviewing your rationale later it might be that you couldn’t do some of your objectives – discuss this in your evaluation. Also say whether your initial expectations were accurate.

Context You must point how it is relevant to your aims and explain this concisely. You must point how it is relevant to your aims and explain this concisely. Can start by explaining the issues your background reading has covered. Can start by explaining the issues your background reading has covered. The number of sources you use will depend on the topic and availability of secondary data. The number of sources you use will depend on the topic and availability of secondary data. Highlight relevant sections and / or make your own notes on them. Highlight relevant sections and / or make your own notes on them.

Presenting the context Can use heading which relate to your objectives. Can use heading which relate to your objectives. You can quote the sources. You can quote the sources. You can integrate the name of the source into your writing. You can integrate the name of the source into your writing. Demonstrate evaluation throughout your cswk. Demonstrate evaluation throughout your cswk. You can evaluate the pieces of secondary data. You can evaluate the pieces of secondary data. Links to the hyp/ aim should be made explicit. Links to the hyp/ aim should be made explicit. In the conclusion paragraph highlight your skills of interpretation and application by summing up what you have learnt from the background material. Do you need to review your aims? In the conclusion paragraph highlight your skills of interpretation and application by summing up what you have learnt from the background material. Do you need to review your aims?

Methodology Show that you have chosen the most appropriate method for your aim and implemented it with skill and sensitivity. Show that you have chosen the most appropriate method for your aim and implemented it with skill and sensitivity. This section is therefore a justification of the method and an explanation of how you carried it out. So it should contain: This section is therefore a justification of the method and an explanation of how you carried it out. So it should contain: An explanation of the advantages & disadvantages of applying different methods to your project. An explanation of the advantages & disadvantages of applying different methods to your project. A description of your justification of your choice of methodology (theoretical perspective?) A description of your justification of your choice of methodology (theoretical perspective?) A detailed account to planning you method, inc sampling, ethics, and operationalising concepts and piloting A detailed account to planning you method, inc sampling, ethics, and operationalising concepts and piloting Drafts of questionnaires etc. Drafts of questionnaires etc. Evaluation of what you have discussed. Evaluation of what you have discussed.

Evidence This is your findings. It should contain: This is your findings. It should contain: Clear presentation of your results Clear presentation of your results References to the Rationale References to the Rationale References to how your findings relate t the information you have used. References to how your findings relate t the information you have used. Evaluation of the points as they arise. Evaluation of the points as they arise.

Evidence advice Check back over the methodology to see if everything was completed as planned. If there have been changes discuss them now. Check back over the methodology to see if everything was completed as planned. If there have been changes discuss them now. Summarise what you findings reveal. Reduce it to a manageable size, not being afraid of rejecting some. Try different methods of arranging the material. Summarise what you findings reveal. Reduce it to a manageable size, not being afraid of rejecting some. Try different methods of arranging the material. No tabular info should be included without an explanation of how it fits in with the rationale. No tabular info should be included without an explanation of how it fits in with the rationale. If some data contradicted your rationale then face up to it and discuss it! If some data contradicted your rationale then face up to it and discuss it!

Evaluation This pulls everything together. You will have evaluated throughout but you must end coherently tying everything together. This pulls everything together. You will have evaluated throughout but you must end coherently tying everything together. It usually contains: It usually contains: An evaluation of each stage of the project (could include theoretical perspectives) An evaluation of each stage of the project (could include theoretical perspectives) Evaluation of key issues and themes Evaluation of key issues and themes References throughout to the rationale References throughout to the rationale A clear account of your final conclusions. A clear account of your final conclusions.

CSWK checklist RATIONALE: HAVE I…. RATIONALE: HAVE I…. Kept the focus clear? Kept the focus clear? Checked that the focus remains narrow and manageable? Checked that the focus remains narrow and manageable? Used some key sociological concepts to demonstrate sociological awareness? Used some key sociological concepts to demonstrate sociological awareness? CONTEXT: HAVE I…. CONTEXT: HAVE I…. Used a variety of different sources? Used a variety of different sources? Made sure that each source id related to the rationale? Made sure that each source id related to the rationale? Evaluated the sources? Evaluated the sources?

METHODOLOGY. HAVE I… METHODOLOGY. HAVE I… Defined the method clearly? Defined the method clearly? Explained why I am using it? Explained why I am using it? Included key details of the method? Included key details of the method? Linked the discussions to my own coursework? Linked the discussions to my own coursework? EVIDENCE. HAVE I… EVIDENCE. HAVE I… Presented the findings clearly? Presented the findings clearly? Analysed and interpreted the evidence? Analysed and interpreted the evidence? Related results to the rationale and any appropriate background reading? Related results to the rationale and any appropriate background reading? EVALUATION. HAVE I… EVALUATION. HAVE I… Kept the rationale central to my discussion? Kept the rationale central to my discussion? Reflected on what it was like to conduct real research? Reflected on what it was like to conduct real research? Suggested further avenues for research? Suggested further avenues for research?

HAVE I included… HAVE I included… A bibliography? A bibliography? Any appendices needed? Any appendices needed? A page from your research diary? A page from your research diary? The word count? Is it to the limit? The word count? Is it to the limit?