The VCE Extended Investigation enables students to develop, refine and extend knowledge and skills in independent research and carry out an investigation that focuses on a rigorous research question. The investigation may be an extension of an area of curriculum already undertaken by the student or it may be completely independent of any other study in the student’s VCE program. Through this study, students develop their capacity to explore, justify and defend their research findings in both oral and written forms to a general, or non-specialist audience.
Entry to the subject to be determined by Academic interview.
UNIT 3 – Designing an Extended Investigation
In this Unit, using the Extended Investigation Journal students document progress and commence a bibliography, learning about types of evidence critically analysing a range of literature and other resources as preparation for individual investigation, establishing the purpose, ethics and methods of research, identifying potential areas of interest for the investigation, progressively scoping and refining the area of interest, leading to a high quality, rigorous research question, formally lodging the proposed research question, commencing the investigation, selecting appropriate research methods and gathering data, making an oral report explaining the investigation and justifying the selected research methods.
Learning Activities:
Analysis of primary and secondary sources, Interview, Case Study, Survey, Statistical analysis and Scientific Experiment.
Key Skills Achieved:
Assessment:
Oral Reports, Design & Justify Research Questions, Written Research Plan, Critical Thinking Plan, Journal and Critical Thinking Test.
UNIT 4 – Presenting an Extended Investigation
In this area of study students shape their research and findings into a presentation format. They present their investigation to a non-specialist panel and respond to questions and challenges. They reflect on their research findings and the research methods they used in this investigation.
Learning Activities:
Analysis of primary and secondary sources, Interview, Case Study, Survey, Statistical analysis and Scientific Experiment.
Key Skills Achieved:
Assessment:
Written Report, Oral Presentation and end of year exam.
VCAA ASSESSMENT – THE OVERALL STUDY SCORE WILL CONSIST OF:
Percentage contributions to the study score is as follows:
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