PLANNING IN THE GRADED INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION
Example 1: How successful are the Senedd and Scottish Parliament buildings?
Introduction
The Senedd and Scottish Parliament were built as homes for the representative assemblies set up
following the devolution referendums in 1997. The Welsh and Scottish people hoped for buildings
widely acclaimed for their architecture, reflecting the history and culture of the respective
countries and incorporating features promoting democracy and sustainability.
Aims
In relation to the success of the Senedd and Scottish Parliament buildings:
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To investigate expert views and public opinion.
To evaluate how effectively the buildings have been designed to perform their roles.
To evaluate whether they meet expectations as symbols of democracy, sustainability and
national pride.
Objectives
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To identify, collate and analyse the views of academics and experts on the architecture of
the buildings.
To determine and analyse public opinion of the buildings.
To assess the extent to which the buildings promote and inspire an interest in politics,
particularly among young people.
To establish and evaluate the fitness for purpose of the buildings to perform their roles as
representative assemblies.
To identify, analyse and evaluate the sustainability features of both buildings.
To assess the effectiveness and impact of the buildings in promoting the culture, history
and tourism of the two countries.
Rationale for research methods
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Research of expert opinion will help with several of my key objectives, mainly linked to
the design and practical use of the buildings. To gain a greater understanding of the
original designs, the public statements, interviews and papers of the original
architects, Eric Miralles and Sir Richard Rogers will be important, alongside those of
other architects. Other expert opinion will also be useful e.g. the views of politicians
on the fitness for purpose of the buildings.
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In all cases it will be important to consider and establish the credibility and reliability
of these sources. For example being involved in the original design or having had a
design rejected, could lead to bias as could politician’s views on devolution.
As public buildings, the attitudes and opinions of people in both countries will be key
factors in evaluating their success. Firstly I will investigate whether there has been any
relevant previous evidence of this type e.g. media surveys and to what extent these
are valid and reliable. I will carry out a survey of Welsh and Scottish voters and
establish their views including their expectations and the extent to which they feel
these have been met. I will also carry out a short survey or a number of interviews
with foreign visitors to both buildings. This will enable me to get some independent
views, possibly enhanced by their experiences of similar buildings in other countries.
As stated, I am particularly interested in the views of young people so I will also design
and carry out my own questionnaire, based on a representative sample of my peers
and other similar students in Scotland who are studying A level Politics. I have chosen
to focus on this group because they are the voters of the future and will be voting for
AMs and MSPs for the first time in the next elections.
I aim to find out if the buildings have inspired an interest in politics and government.
This can be done by adding questions to the surveys and questionnaires, focusing on
whether the buildings have had a positive or negative impact on attitudes to voting,
interest and participation in politics generally. It will be useful to see whether the
results and any conclusions are supported by election statistics and trends in voting
behaviour.
Considering their effectiveness to fulfil their political roles, I will research the design of
the buildings, particularly the assembly chambers, committee rooms and other
features. To support this I intend to interview an experienced AM and a MSP. They will
have first-hand experience of the effectiveness of the buildings. To get an
independent perspective, I will also research and interview academics from Welsh and
Scottish universities, who specialise in the government and politics of these countries.
To determine the environmental strengths and weaknesses of the buildings, I will
consider the aims of the original designs and the extent to which these have been
realised. I will research the materials used in the buildings with the specific purpose of
meeting environmental objectives. I will carry out some research into media stories
and if possible Senedd/Scottish Parliament records, to find out whether the buildings
have proved to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. I have to recognise that
my research may be limited because some records may not be available to the public
or only available on request under freedom of information regulations.
 Finally I will carry out some internet research into the Hôtel du Parlement of
Quebec, which performs a similar role to the Senedd and Scottish Parliament. As an
old building adapted for the purpose rather than a modern one designed from
scratch, this will give me a more balanced perspective and greater appreciation of
the strengths and weaknesses of the buildings in Cardiff Bay and Holyrood.
ASSESSMENT
FAIL (0)
PASS (1)
MERIT (2)
DISTINCTION (3)
AC 1.1
AC 1.2
Assessor comments
AC1.1:
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The title, based on a question, has a contemporary focus and enables a
clear balance of coverage of the Welsh and Scottish perspectives.
Three clear and appropriate aims provide an effective link to the
research question.
Six detailed objectives provide a clear, well organised and logical process
which enable the research question to be fully investigated. The aims and
objectives are realistic, with possible barriers to success identified and
some alternative strategies explored.
AC1.2:
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The rationale is well organised, detailed, clear and concise. There is a
strong sense of how the learner aims to address the key question overall.
The research methods to be used to meet each objective are set out and
covered in a logical manner. The rationale describes each research
method in turn and explains how this will enable the objectives to be
met. There is an explanation and justification for each method to be
used.
There are several particularly strong features of this rationale,
characteristic of better candidates. The research methods are
approached in a critical way. The learner is realistic and recognises that
there will inevitably be challenges to achieving some of the objectives.
Some research methods may not be wholly successful and clear reasons
are given for this. An impressive feature of the investigation is the
comparison with the much older Hôtel du Parlement of Quebec. This
allows the learner to put their research into a wider context and
perspective.
Example 2: Are the policies to tackle deprivation in South Wales more effective than the
policies in place in the south of Italy?
Introduction
Deprivation is a challenge facing areas in Wales and Italy. Many regional areas within Wales
and Italy face poverty, economic and social problems as well as environmental decline.
There are many reasons for deprivation in both countries – industrial decline, emigration
and environmental problems. It has been a priority for the governments of the two
countries to try and alleviate the problems that come with deprivation. In this investigation I
will be concentrating on policies put in place to tackle deprivation in areas of South Wales
and the areas of southern Italy known as the ‘Mezzogiorno’.
Aims
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Defining deprivation in the two countries
Researching the opinion on these policies to tackle deprivation in South Wales and
southern Italy
Considering how effective the policies are in both countries
Objectives
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Consider the similarities and differences in the definition of deprivation in the two
countries
Summarise and explain the policies put in place to tackle deprivation in South Wales
and southern Italy
Identify, collect and analyse the opinion of experts and academics on the policies in
South Wales and southern Italy
Source and analyse public opinion on the policies
Identify, analyse and evaluate the effect the policies to reduce social, economic and
environmental problems in the two regions
Consider the effectiveness of the policies for the future in South Wales and southern
Italy.
Rationale for research methods
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Firstly, I must consider the definition of the term deprivation. It is of paramount
importance that I clearly define this term in order to get a clear focus for the
research. I am aware that there are precise definitions in place and also variations in
the way that deprivation is measured between both countries – this awareness
comes from my A level studies. I will collect the information from secondary sources
such as the internet, textbooks and official documentation.
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Secondly, I must look at the policies which are in place to tackle deprivation in South
Wales and southern Italy. I am aware that the policies that exist vary according to
scale and size – from the European Union; National; Regional and Local perspectives.
This will make the task of analysing and evaluating all the policies challenging. I will
attempt to summarise the main policies by looking at the differences and the
similarities between each one. This information will be gathered from secondary
sources such as the internet, textbooks and official documents. I also believe that it
is important to conduct an interview with a specialist in the field as this will ensure
understanding of the main concepts. This will also pose the opportunity to ask
questions. I also hope to interview one of the Local Authority officers in my local
Department for Redevelopment.
The main aim of the investigation is to consider the effectiveness of the policies that
are in place to tackle deprivation in South Wales and southern Italy. In order to do
this I must gauge opinion from a variety of sources. I will research carefully in order
to establish if similar studies have been conducted in the past. I will also look at
newspaper articles – local papers in Wales (Western Mail and the Daily Post) as well
as Italian newspapers (La Repubblica and La Stampa) but I will also look at regional
and local papers.
In addition to this, I will hold interviews with specialists to gauge their opinion on the
different policies. I am aware that opinion differs on such policies according to
political stance. Taking this into consideration, I will aim to interview people with a
variety of political viewpoints in order to avoid bias in the research. Considering the
timetable I have to complete the investigation, it is unlikely that I will be able to hold
face to face interviews with everyone. I will therefore aim to collect primary
information from interviews through a variety of ways – face to face, through letter
and telephone interviews. All this will allow me to achieve a variety of viewpoints
and will help me to see if these policies are effective and successful.
I am also eager to conduct a questionnaire because I want the opinion of people that
aren’t specialists in the field. I want to see if the public feel that the different policies
that have been implemented have had a positive or negative impact on reducing
deprivation. I will target about 30 people to interview, from a range of ages and
different genders as this will allow me to achieve a fair representation.
I am interested to collate information from the opinion of a focus group. I feel that it
is important to get the opinion of young people about the different policies to
reduce the effects of deprivation in South Wales. I will hold the focus group with 3 or
4 of my peers. The opinion of young people is important and it will be interesting to
see if the government’s policies are familiar to them and whether they feel that they
have had a positive effect. I would also wish to know what their feelings are for the
future when I ask whether they consider that the gap between the poor and the
affluent is narrowing or widening.
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In order to consider the effects of the policies in both countries I will consider how
the policies have tackled social, economic and environmental problems. I will have to
restrict the investigation to these three elements in order to ensure that it is concise
and has a clear focus. I appreciate that there will restrictions to the investigation –
mainly that public information will be difficult to access and that some
documentation will be in Italian, which I don’t understand. There will also be a
variety of policies on different scales. However, I will investigate the topic thoroughly
making sure that the completed investigation will give a comprehensive and
balanced overview of the effectiveness of policies to reduce deprivation in South
Wales and southern Italy.
FAIL (0)
PASS (1)
MERIT (2)
AC 1.1
AC 1.2
Assessor comments
AC1.1
AC1.2
DISTINCTION (3)
Example 3: Is the Isle of Angelsey or the Norwegian Island of Spitsbergen the best
location for renewable energy?
Introduction
Everyone knows we need more renewable energy sources. This is because the alternative
(non- renewable) energy sources are bad for the environment. Non-renewables contribute
to the greenhouse effect and therefore to global warming. Global warming is affecting
weather patterns, food availability and increasing flooding so its impact on the human
population is very serious. Renewable energy sources (e.g. tidal, wind, hydroelectric,
geothermal, solar) do not contribute to global warming.
Islands are ideal locations for developing renewable energy sources. They often have small
populations and lots of coastline (wind farms, tidal barrages), have a thin crust (geothermal)
mountains (wind farms, hydroelectric, solar) and rivers (hydroelectric) which can be used to
generate electricity in a renewable way. However it is not just whether you have the right
geography that makes a location a good one for building renewable energy sites. Money
from the government, cost of the land, how opposed the population are could also be
important.
Aims
 To discover whether the geography of Anglesey and Spitsbergen would be suitable
for renewable energy.
 To find out what money might be available from the Welsh and Norwegian
governments and businesses to help pay for the renewable energy sites.
 To establish how likely the two populations are to oppose the building of renewable
energy sites on the island.
Objectives
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To establish what geography is necessary for each of the types of renewable energy.
To analyse the geography of the two islands and map it against what is needed for
the different types of renewable energies.
To look at funding available for renewable energy projects in the Wales and Norway.
To see how expensive it would be to build on the two islands.
To find out if there are any conservation areas on the two islands or any other
restrictions that would make building renewable energy sites difficult.
To see how much the local populations feel about the impact on their environment
and the need for new jobs to be created in the area.
Rationale for research methods
To look at the geography of Spitsbergen and Anglesey in detail and see if they have what is
needed for renewable energy sources I will be using my A level Geography text books and
maps and will be asking my geography teacher if I don’t understand anything in them. In the
same way I will be using science text books and teachers to find out what types of land and
seascapes are needed for each of the types of renewable energy. Getting access to these
textbooks, maps and teachers will be easy.
When I have found this out I will sit down and compare what Anglesey and Spitsbergen have
and what is needed and do a big checklist. I hope to even plan out on maps where I would
build my renewable energy sites if there was no objection to them at all. This will give me a
good idea of what could be done on the two islands in an ideal world.
To find out about funding I will look on the national websites for the Welsh and Norwegian
governments. I will also see if there are any businesses or environmental organisations in
the two countries that would be willing to give money to help build the sites.
My uncle works for a large building company so I am going to interview him about how
much he thinks it would cost to build the sites. I will ask him about the cost of equipment,
transporting it from where it is made, getting it to the sites on the two islands and how
much you might have to pay the workforces in the two countries. This will help me with
objective four. The exchange rates and information about the cost of living and incomes
could be useful. This information can be got on the internet.
The final two objectives I think might be the hardest to meet and find information for. My
textbooks and teachers will be able to tell me about conservation areas and employment
rates on the two islands but the more difficult information will be getting opinions about
whether the sites should be built. I will be asking members of my family that live on
Anglesey. They are all different ages (from thirteen to eighty two) and I am going to treat
them like a focus group. There will be between six and ten of them which isn’t many and
why I’m not doing a questionnaire. I will try and find out if there is a difference of opinion
between the age groups and whether they are employed, unemployed or retired. This
should tell me if the introduction of new jobs with all the building is important.
One big problem is that I cannot establish a similar family group in Norway but I would
imagine that the opinions would be likely to be similar. I will try and find out if Norwegian
family life is that different to Welsh life and whether this might make a difference to people
though (for example fewer people might have jobs or use the countryside for leisure).
I will back up all my primary research (interview and focus group) with any case studies I can
find on the internet and I will check there is enough information on Norway in English first.
FAIL (0)
PASS (1)
MERIT (2)
AC 1.1
AC 1.2
Assessor comments
AC 1.1
AC 1.2
DISTINCTION (3)
Example 4: The Welsh ‘Opt Out’ policy on organ donation will be more succesful than the
English ‘Opt In’ OR Is the Welsh ‘Opt Out’ policy likely to raise the number of available
organs for donation compared to the ‘Opt In’ Policy in England’?
Introduction
In July 2013 the Welsh Assembly voted in a new bill governing the rules on organ donation
in Wales. For the first time Welsh people would have to ‘opt out’ if they did not want their
organs to be used for transplantation following their death, a system known as ‘presumed
consent’. Until July 2013, Wales had the same system as the rest of the UK, which meant
they had to either register their wish to donate on an NHS website, inform their next of kin
or carry a donor card. One person dies every day in Wales waiting for a transplant. It is
hoped the change will increase the number of organs available for donation.
Aims
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To establish the opinions of people towards both English ‘opt in’ and Welsh ‘opt out’
and how both systems might affect their willingness to donate organs.
 To predict, as far as possible, whether the new system in Wales will increase the
number of organs available for transplantation.
 To devise recommendations for the Welsh and English Governments on their
policies of ‘presumed consent’.
Objectives
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To establish the practical difference between the two ‘opting’ options
To determine to what extent an increase in organ donation will benefit both the
individual and society.
To determine if there is a need for change by establishing the success of the ‘opt in’
system- currently used in England and in Wales up until July 2013
To critically assess the success of both systems in other countries.
To identify, collate and analyse the personal views of a range of people on both
systems.
To establish the likelihood of the ‘opt out’ system increasing the chance of a person
being willing to stay on the Organ Donation Register.
To determine to what extent government legislation can actually impact on such a
personal, difficult and emotionally charged decision for the next of kin.
Rationale for research methods
To establish the extent of the need for organ donations in Wales and England and to meet
my first three objectives, I will collect both primary and secondary evidence. For the former
there are many experts who could offer valuable evidence for my investigation, some I am
unlikely to be able to get access to though, while others will be easier. Nurses and
coordinators for transplantation patients are unlikely to be available for interview but there
are plenty of recorded interviews with these professionals on the internet where these
people have been asked the questions I would ask.
I am unlikely to have access to English and Welsh Health ministers but there are lots of
public statements by these ministers on the topic. My own assembly member has a surgery
for the public once a month in my town. I will attend and ask their opinion and reasons for
voting the way that they did. With time limited I will ask a few key questions. I have decided
not to try and speak or contact anyone directly affected by the issue because of possible
ethical issues. I will interview a school nurse in my school with experience in this area.
This is a topic where bias is very likely to be a factor. When I have established which experts
I will be using I will evaluate to what extent their opinions and evidence might be considered
biased (e.g. by politics, emotional involvement, professional requirement etc.).
NHS Wales and the NHS in England publish a lot of data and information on organ donation
as do other countries that use the ‘Opt In ‘and ‘Opt Out’ systems. Access to this information
is easily gained on the internet so I will use this as one of my main sources of secondary
information and will inform me of how successful the two systems have already proved to
be elsewhere. I will compare how the systems in these countries have affected the number
of organs available for donation. However I will have to be sure to take social, religious and
other differences between these countries and Wales and England into account.
I intend to develop a questionnaire to find out if insight into whether peoples’ views on
becoming organ donors will to be influenced by the policy of the country they live in. I will
ask people living in Wales and in England about their own and the opposite policies. Since
organ donors can come from a wide range of the population I will try to ensure that my
sample includes a range of ages, gender, religious background etc so that the group is as
inclusive as possible. I will ensure the Welsh and English groups are similar in the way they
are made up and that the size of each is statistically large enough to produced reliable
results. I think that achieving this is likely to be the most difficult part of my research. Access
to this broad sample will be difficult but it is essential to ensure the quality of my data. I will
put my questionnaire on a social media website with 40 Welsh and 40 English friends and
family. Overall this will give me comparable data for the two countries.
Trying to find out the extent to which the views of people are affected by the laws on organ
donation will be challenging. The data on this will come from the questionnaire and from
individual case studies that are published on the internet.
Finally to decide which of the two systems is likely to result in more organs becoming
available for donation, I will consider data from other countries alongside the questionnaire
findings.
FAIL (0)
AC 1.1
AC 1.2
AC 1.1:
AC 1.2:
PASS (1)
MERIT (2)
DISTINCTION (3)
ASSESSMENT
When assessing an Individual Investigation, the assessor must decide which of the
performance bands) best fits the performance of the candidate for assessment criteria AC1.1
and AC1.2.
Assessment Criteria
Assessment criteria
Performance bands
Pass
Merit
Distinction
AC1.1 Formulate a
research question or
hypothesis with a
contemporary focus,
identifying appropriate
aims and objectives to
ensure a balanced
consideration of a
local/Wales
perspective and one
other country or
region.
Appropriate aims and
objectives linked to
research question or
hypothesis allowing a
balanced and appropriate
focus to the investigation.
Appropriate and
logical aims and
objectives linked to
research question or
hypothesis ensuring
a balanced and
effective focus to the
investigation
Detailed, logical and
realistic aims and
objectives with clear
link to research
question or
hypothesis ensuring a
balanced and
effective focus to the
investigation
AC1.2 Identify and
explain appropriate
research methods to be
utilised to achieve the
aims and objectives of
an individual
investigation.
A rationale describing
appropriate research
methods to be utilised in
addressing the research
question or hypothesis.
Limited reasoning of why
the proposed research
design is appropriate to
achieve the aims and
objectives of the
investigation.
A rationale
describing, with
justification,
appropriate research
methods to be
utilised in addressing
the research
question or
hypothesis.
A detailed rationale
with clear justification
for effective research
methods to be utilised
in addressing the
research question or
hypothesis.
Clear reasoning of
why the proposed
research design is
appropriate to
achieve the aims and
objectives of the
investigation.
Logical and detailed
reasoning of how the
proposed research
design will achieve
the aims and
objectives of the
investigation.