The Individual The Individual InvestigationInvestigation

A Guide to Good A Guide to Good PracticePractice

WBQ Advanced Diploma

• can be chosen from the Welsh Bac core

• or chosen from optional subjects

An opportunity to investigate a topic of interestAn opportunity to investigate a topic of interest

Help and GuidanceHelp and Guidance

• Learning coach• Subject teacher• Professional in

the field e.g. MRSA – nurse.

The Individual Investigation should take about 20 hours to complete.

• Planning and target setting

• Research • Writing • Presenting

TimeTime

Presenting the InvestigationPresenting the Investigation

Written presentation

• 2,000 – 2,500 words not including sources

• Will normally include graphs, images, statistical tables, diagrams, drawings

• The Individual Investigation can meet the requirement to produce extended writing i.e. a document of at least 1,000 words including an image. (C3.3)

• Oral presentation of the individual investigation can meet requirements for an oral presentation of at least 8 minutes.(C3.1b)

Can be based around a key questionCan be based around a key question

• What are the problems caused by MRSA? How differently and with what level of success is this issue being dealt with in Wales and Holland?

Can be based around a Can be based around a hypothesishypothesis

• Holland has been more successful in dealing with MRSA than Wales.

Is it necessary to compare Wales with Is it necessary to compare Wales with the other country or region?the other country or region?

• Yes, but the issue is central to the investigation

• You have the choice between a comparative approach or a thematic approach using examples from several countries including Wales

Examples

Comparative: is homelessness a more acute problem in Cardiff or in Nantes, its twin city in France?

Thematic: is homelessness becoming a widespread phenomenon in Wales and other European countries?

How are you going to choose the topic of your investigation?• A topic or issue from the

WBQ or in your subjects area in which you are INTERESTED

• A title best stated in terms of a question or a hypothesis (which you can investigate and test to see if it is true or false and draw your own conclusions)

More examples

• “Are there more gender issues inWales than in Ireland?”

• “The use of legal and illegal drugs in Pembrokeshire and in Holland: what are the similarities and differences?”

• “Will the new Wales Millenium Centre be the prestigious landmark and venue that the Sidney Opera House is?”

• “The decline of primary and secondary sectors and the rise of the service industry in Wales and France.”

• “Is the rugby culture as strong in the South West of France as it is in Wales?

• “The fight for native languages in Wales and Catalonia (a region of Spain): what are the similarities and differences?”

ISSUE

Environmental

Cultural

Economic Social

Political

Religious

ResearchResearch

• Variety of sources – books, journals, magazines, opinion polls, statistical reports & internet

You will need to reference all sources very thoroughly.

ResearchResearch

Use internet intelligently

•icWales•BBC Wales•Welsh Assembly•Guardian unlimited

Plagiarism will be severely penalised.

Finding own informationFinding own information

• Opinion poll• Focus group• Interview/s

Information deployed effectively

EvaluationEvaluation

• Be prepared to make an overall judgement

• Answer key question or comment on hypothesis

• Comment on effectiveness of the investigation e.g. original plan

Based on the evidence:

And finally……….And finally……….

• Add a bibliography

• Use an appendix for any data, opinion poll information etc

Remember……

• This piece of work is key to your being successful in the Welsh Bacc

• Once completed, it will be an invaluable addition to your UCAS application or CV

• The skills you will learn during the completion of this piece of work will be an asset in your future studies or career