NZQA registered unit standard
27696 version 1
Page 1 of 3
Title
Evaluate the significance of a key piece of research to the
understanding of human behaviour
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to evaluate the
significance of a key piece of research to the understanding of
human behaviour.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Psychology
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
The evaluation includes a consideration of the limitations of the
psychological research, including validity and reliability, and the
key contribution of the research to the understanding of human
behaviour.
Criteria for Excellence
The evaluation includes a consideration of the broad
contribution of the research within and beyond psychology such
as societal change, and how the findings may be used to
impact organisations or broader society.
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
Behaviour may include the mental processes that produce the observed behaviour.
A key piece of research can be one that has had international or historical
significance and influence and/or has had impact on contemporary thought and/or
practice in the context of Aotearoa/New Zealand eg the effects of the Christchurch
earthquake on behaviour or cross-cultural issues. This research can be sourced
from: published books, journal articles or other academic sources; and credible and
authoritative media. This research may have generated subsequent research and so
be part of a wider body of work.
Contribution of the research relates to the impact of the work within the discipline of
psychology and on broader areas of human life. The impact of the work within
psychology may be positive or controversial. Examples of impact on broader areas
of human life include changes to business practice eg marketing methods, or social
change eg criminal law reform.
Significance means the importance, usefulness, or implications of the research to the
discipline of psychology in explaining human behaviour.
Understanding human behaviour means explaining an observable behaviour, societal
change, or event.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27696 version 1
Page 2 of 3
2
This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For
the Achieved grade to be awarded, all outcomes must be achieved as specified in the
outcome statement(s). For Merit or Excellence grades to be awarded, the candidate
must meet the Merit or Excellence criteria specified above.
3
Outcome of the evaluation may be conveyed using written, oral, or audio-visual
presentation in response to a given assignment.
4
Teaching and learning guidelines that inform Psychology as it is taught in
Aotearoa/New Zealand schools can be found at
http://seniorsecondary.tki.org.nz/Social-sciences/Psychology. Assessment support
material for these standards can be found at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz.
5
Information on psychology as it is practiced in Aotearoa/New Zealand is available
from the New Zealand Psychological Society, http://www.psychology.org.nz.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Evaluate the significance of a key piece of research to the understanding of human
behaviour.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Evaluation considers the significance of the methodology, and findings, of a key
piece of research in terms of understanding human behaviour.
evaluation includes but is not limited to – review of the purpose or
context, and/or hypothesis; examination of the appropriateness of
the research methodology; contribution of the research to the
understanding of human behaviour.
Range
Planned review date
31 December 2016
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
27 June 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0226
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27696 version 1
Page 3 of 3
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016