Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Learner achievement (please circle) NB: All learner
Name of Centre:
achievement is provisional until confirmed at the AVA Awards Board
Level Achieved:
Final Grade Achieved
(Level 3 units only)
Resubmission?
L2
P
L3
M
Y
D
N
Title of Access to HE Diploma:
(e.g. Science)
Unit title(s):
Unit code(s):
Research Project
Learner:
Tutor/Assessor:
Description of Assignment:
For this unit you need to select a topic area from one of your subject specialisms. The assignment brief
focuses on the development of research skills and not a lengthy end product. This unit addresses the
following:



How to create an hypothesis
How to refine reliable research methods
How to begin analysing findings
Your tutor will explain in detail what is meant by hypothesis, research and analysis.
Task 1: Hypothesis: (AC 1.1 & 1.2)


Draft three different hypotheses on the same topic.
Write a 500-word commentary on the strengths and weaknesses of your three hypotheses.
Task 2: Methods: (AC 2.1, 3.1 & 4.1)
Adopt the hypothesis best suited to your purposes and apply the following three research methods to
investigate your hypothesis:



A questionnaire relevant to your topic with a sample group of 25
An experiment that tests the assertion or explores the question in your hypothesis
An analysis of a piece of research in your topic area
Your tutor may advice you to use other methods depending on your topic area. However, you should
use a range of methods not just one and the research should not be limited to desktop work.
Task 3: Analysing findings: (AC 5.1)


Write a 500-word analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your three research methods.
Write a 750-word analysis of what your research findings are and what they enable you to
conclude.
1
Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Task 4: Presentation: (AC 6.1)
Create a research portfolio that is organised in the following sections:
 Aims: This will contain your work on hypotheses
 Methods: This will contain a copy of your questionnaire, materials used in the experiment or a
description of them and a copy of your secondary research document annotated by you. These
annotations should show why you think this document is relevant to your hypothesis. (The
content of the Methods section may differ depending on the methods you adopt).
 Results: This will contain the two 500-word analyses from Task 3.
 Sources: This will contain a bibliography of all the materials you have consulted.
Advice on word count.
The word limits in this unit are precise because a key academic skill is the ability to be concise. The
word succinct is an essential feature of the Distinction in Grade Descriptor 4. Learning how to be
concise is achieved only through the discipline of working within definite word limits. To convey your
meaning within a concise framework requires that you exercise the summary writing skills you learned
in the Note Taking and Note Making unit. Work that significantly exceeds the word counts cannot be
considered for the higher grades. The total volume for the whole portfolio should not exceed 2,000
words. Work under 1,500 words would find it difficult to achieve the higher grades.
It is not volume that demonstrates good research, but the quality of your thinking, problem solving and
your ability to convey these in concise form. On a Level 3 Access course you are not expected to
produce fully developed research. You might be asked to do this in the third year of your degree or if
you go onto to do an MA. At this stage in your development as a student what is much more important
is that you learn the basic disciplines required for good research. This unit is designed to address those
disciplines.
Date set:
Date for draft submission
(if applicable):
Date for final
submission:
Extension date
Signed by Tutor/Assessor to
agree extension:
Date
submitted:
(if agreed):
Learner declaration:
 The explanations and evaluations in this work have been developed and written by me.
 I have not submitted material copied from the Internet, text books or other sources in place of my own
thinking and writing.
 When I have referred to the work of others I have done so to discuss, comment on or argue their ideas.
 I have kept quotation and paraphrasing to an absolute minimum and only to support points I have made.
 I understand that referencing the names of authors whose ideas I have used without including my own
interpretation of those ideas, does not meet the assessment criteria and cannot attract the Pass, Merit or
Distinction grades.
 I have not copied the work of my peers.
Learner comments: (please use this space to comment on any aspect of the assignment when handing in your work)
Signature:
Date:
TO THE LEARNER: Please attach this assignment brief to any written work you are handing in for assessment, or
submit the brief as instructed.
YOUR WORK CANNOT BE ASSESSED UNLESS YOU HAVE SIGNED AND SUBMITTED THIS FORM
2
Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Level 2/3
(please circle)
Unit title: Research Project
This assignment addresses the following Assessment Criteria from the unit (or a copy of the unit may be attached, if
all AC are covered):
AC
no
1.1
Level Two (only list L2 AC if the Rules of Combination
Level Three
allows a learner to claim L2 credit for this unit)
Identify the topic and describe the main aims
and limits of the research project.
Define his/her topic for research.
1.2
Define the aims and the limits of the research.
2.1
Describe the possible sources of information for
the research project, distinguishing between
primary and secondary sources
Analyse the most appropriate sources of
information for the research project.
3.1
Describe methods of research used in project.
Evaluate methods of research used in the
project.
4.1
Plan a timetable for the different stages of the
project including presentation.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation
of the research timetable.
5.1
Analyse the findings of the research and
Consider the overall findings of their research
synthesise the material that sits within the aims
and select all the findings that are relevant to the
and limits of the research project into a logical
aims of the research project.
structure.
6.1
Describe their research in an organised and
logical way, including the aims, methods,
results, conclusions and sources.
Present research project in given format,
evaluating the aims, methods, results and
sources in the conclusion.
Level 3 units only:
Learners achieve a Pass if they meet all Level 3 Assessment Criteria for a unit. You will achieve a Merit or Distinction
by meeting the following Grade Descriptors. Your tutor will give you feedback for all three grades.
Grade
Merit
Distinction
Descriptor
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
4
Use of
Information
The learner generally combines or
synthesises information with outcomes
that are accurate & appropriate
The learner consistently combines or
synthesises information with outcomes that
are accurate, appropriate, succinct,
innovative and creative.
Grade
Descriptor
5
Merit
Distinction
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
Communication
& Presentation
The learner shows very good command of
format, structure, language, register &
referencing.
3
The learner shows excellent command of
format, structure, language, register &
referencing.
Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Grade
Descriptor
6
Autonomy
and/or
Independence
Grade
Descriptor
7
Quality
Merit
Distinction
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
(Choose one or more relevant grade components)
The learner makes generally sound
judgements about how to complete work
and responds promptly & effectively to
guidance.
The learner makes consistently sound
judgements about how to complete work and
responds promptly & effectively to guidance,
and works effectively with a high level of
independence.
Merit
(Choose one or more relevant grade
components)
Distinction
(Choose one or more relevant grade
components)
The learner’s work is structured in a way
that is generally logical and fluent.
The learner’s work is structured in a way that
is consistently logical and fluent.
Grade Guidance: Learners must carefully read the guidance below which is linked to the components above
MERIT: (e.g. To achieve a Merit your work will show…..)
For a Merit your work on hypotheses & methods will show that you can create a research framework according to
academic conventions in format, structure and register. This means that you have posed a question or made an
assertion which is specific enough for you to provide answers or proofs within the limits of the resources and time
available to you, and that the register of your question or proposition is objective.
Your analysis of findings will show you can synthesise from primary and secondary sources accurately and in ways
that are consistent with your hypothesis. This means that you can draw information and insights from your sources
and compare and contrast their significance to your hypothesis. Your research will also provide a thorough
bibliography.
You will show that you have carefully managed your time so that you can work effectively within the deadline. You will
also show that you can make best use of guidance without being dependent on your tutors.
The work you submit for the four Tasks will be organised logically and will be written fluently.
DISTINCTION: (e.g. To achieve a Distinction your work will show…..)
Your work on hypothesis & methods will show that you have mastered basic academic conventions in research
format, structure & register in ways that are consistently succinct, innovative and creative. This means that you have
posed a question or made a proposition which is carefully crafted to enable you to generate convincing answers or
proofs within the limits of the resources and time available to you. The register of your question or proposition will be
succinct, creative and consistent with academic conventions.
Your analysis of findings will show consistent innovation in your synthesis of primary and secondary sources, but
remain within the framework of your hypothesis. This means that you can identify patterns, trends and contradictions
across your primary and secondary sources that illuminate or support your hypothesis. Your research will also include
a thorough bibliography that conforms in its format to HE academic conventions.
Your work will show that you manage time with a degree of control that enables you to produce your best work within
the deadline. You will also show that you can respond effectively to guidance but that your work has been largely the
product of independent activity.
The work you submit for the four Tasks will be organised and written in a consistently logical and fluent fashion
throughout.
4
Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Part A: Feedback on credit level
AC no
Credit
achieved
(L2/L3)
Level
achieved
Location of
evidence
Tutor/Assessor comments on assessment criteria
(you could also indicate on the work itself where each AC is met)
Tutor/Assessor’s
signature:
Date:
Resubmission (if applicable) If any of the assessment criteria for this assignment have not been met at Level 3, a
resubmission may be permitted. Resubmission must follow the QAA guidelines and be permitted only once.
Requirements for resubmission/new Task set:
Date Set:
Date due:
Date Submitted:
Feedback on resubmission:
Level achieved
after resubmission:
Tutor/Assessor’s
signature:
Date:
5
Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(Unit with single assignment)
Part B: Feedback on grading (Applicable only if all assessment criteria achieved at Level 3)
Grade
Descriptor
Tutor/Assessor comments against grade descriptors
GD7:
Quality
Tutor/Assessor’s reason for final grade decision (if applicable):
6
Grade indicator
(P/M/D)
Please enter the final grade on
page 1 based on this grade
profile e.g. PPM=P