BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
Unit 6 – Investigative Project
Assignment 1 – Project Research
Literature review:
A literature review offers a thorough examination of a particular topic, usually presenting focused
and concise summaries related to the subject. It can be conducted for both personal interests or
academic purposes. At the outset, a literature review helps to establish a foundation for a project
proposal and must be analytical, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the gathered
information. The sources must be credible and relevant, often drawn from databases like Google
Scholar. The review can be structured in different ways, such as following a chronological order from
the earliest to the latest publications, or by comparing the research methods used. Typically, it
includes an introduction, a main body that synthesises the information, and a conclusion.
Some of the different types of literature sources are; scientific studies, scientific books, scientific
journals, government reports/papers, scientific documentaries, scientific conferences, expert
testimonies, scientific websites, dissertations, scientific databases, and newspapers [1].
I will use literature in order to be able to develop and test a hypothesis.
Literature sources need to be valid in order to be able to be used. There are different ways to
determine if a piece of literature is trustworthy. Also, there are specific requirements a piece of
literature requires in order to be reliable enough to use. A person who is using literature sources
should make sure that the sources being used are valid. Some examples of what makes a source
valid and reliable include; detailed data, have an appropriate level of detail, be updated/recent, be
reviewed, have a reliable author, avoid plagiarism when using the sources, see if the publication is
recognisable, use information that is confirmed by another source, have a good date of production
(not too new or too old), and use multiple different types of sources of literature.
When conducting my research, I would aim to use recent sources. For current perspectives and data,
I would prioritise studies from the last 5-10 years, especially in areas where knowledge and science
evolve quickly. I believe using around 10-15 sources is a good balance. This number allows me to
cover the key areas of my topic.
I would exclude sources that are outdated, particularly those older than 10 years. Studies with out of
date data or methods no longer in use would not be relevant, as science is a rapidly advancing field.
Additionally, I would avoid sources from non-peer-reviewed journals or unreliable publications, as
they may lack the rigorous validation required for scientific accuracy. Any sources with biassed
findings, limited sample sizes, or insufficiently replicated results would also be excluded, as they may
not offer reliable contributions to my research.
The age of a source is a key consideration when conducting a literature review as it directly
influences the relevance, accuracy, and credibility of the research. The decision to use older or
newer sources depends on the field, the research type, and the specific context in which the source
is being used. In rapidly changing areas like science, technology, and medicine, sources should
generally be no older than 5-10 years to ensure the information is current. However, in fields such as
the humanities or social sciences, older sources are often valuable for their historical significance or
,foundational theories. Seminal works, regardless of their age, remain important if they have had a
lasting influence on the field. Ideally, a literature review should balance newer sources for up-to-
date insights with older ones for background and context. There is no strict rule for how old or new a
source should be, but the general guideline is to prioritise recent sources for accuracy while
incorporating older works for theoretical depth. A literature review must critically evaluate the
relevance of each source, regardless of its age, and reflect the current state of research while
acknowledging its historical development.
There are multiple different types of study and each have different advantages and disadvantages,
such as lab-based study, which has many advantages, such as a safe working environment, valid data
can be produced and measured, and variables can be controlled. In a sports facility, there is
specialist equipment that is available for use, however, the facilities can be expensive to rent and
use. Outdoor-based study has advantages such as the availability of a large number of different
samples, and a large space that can be used for research, however, the data that is used is not
controlled, safe, or sterile which means that the data used could be invalid. In a workshop
environment, models can be produced, however, spaces can be hard to find and also expensive to
rent for use. In survey studies, a mean can be found for a population, however, there are causal
relationships.
Referencing is crucial as it reduces the risk of plagiarism in your work. One common method is
Harvard referencing, which can be applied to sources such as websites and books. For instance,
when referencing a website, you should include the author’s surname, initial, year of publication,
title, URL, and the date you accessed it [2].
Examples of how to Harvard reference:
(1) Book:
Author(s), Year of publication. Title of the book. Edition. Place of publication. Publisher.
Example:
Smith, J., 2019. Introduction to Biology. 2nd edition. London: Oxford University Press.
(2) Journal Article:
Author(s), Year of publication. Title of the article. Title of the journal, Issue number, page
range.
Example:
Johnson, L. & Clark, M., 2021. Advances in genetic engineering. Journal of Biotechnology,
45(3), pp.123-135.
(3) Website:
Author(s), Year. Title of the webpage. Website name. Available at: URL [Accessed
Day/Month/Year].
Example:
, Brown, T., 2022. Climate change and its impact on biodiversity, National Geographic.
Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/climate-change [Accessed 15 September
2024].
What I will be using:
To determine which scientific element to focus on for the inquiry, we should consider topics that
genuinely interest us. The three main branches of science - biology, chemistry, and physics - offer a
vast range of study areas, which can be overwhelming. For a project proposal to succeed, it needs to
narrow down the potential research field. This process becomes much simpler if the teacher
provides students with a concise and targeted list of topics to consider.
The process will involve identifying and locating relevant and reliable sources of information, such as
journal articles, textbooks, and websites, while considering the age of these sources. A trustworthy
source provides a detailed, well-reasoned hypothesis, argument, or discussion based on solid facts.
Additionally, sources will be gathered from libraries, resource centres, organisations, government
bodies, and charities. Proper referencing protocols, including the Harvard referencing system, will be
followed.
I plan to use numerous sources to support my writing on the nature of the study and the practical
topics. I will avoid using unreliable sources like social media or open-source websites such as
Wikipedia, as they may contain misleading or biassed information. The age of the sources is also
crucial; sources should be no older than five years to ensure the information is still relevant and
credible today.
I will follow proper protocols to cite the sources of information I use. I utilise Harvard referencing,
employing tools like MyBib and CiteThisForMe to find relevant websites, journals, and textbooks for
referencing. Information is primarily extracted from the internet but can also be sourced from
libraries, resource centres, organisations, government bodies, and charities. This practice helps avoid
plagiarism in our work.
The effect of stimulants on the rate of reaction within humans
Hypotheses:
● Null hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the reaction times of students that take
stimulants compared to students that do not. Any differences are due to chance.
● Alternative hypothesis
There is a significant difference between the reaction times of students that take stimulants
compared to those that do not. Any differences are not due to chance.
Unit 6 – Investigative Project
Assignment 1 – Project Research
Literature review:
A literature review offers a thorough examination of a particular topic, usually presenting focused
and concise summaries related to the subject. It can be conducted for both personal interests or
academic purposes. At the outset, a literature review helps to establish a foundation for a project
proposal and must be analytical, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the gathered
information. The sources must be credible and relevant, often drawn from databases like Google
Scholar. The review can be structured in different ways, such as following a chronological order from
the earliest to the latest publications, or by comparing the research methods used. Typically, it
includes an introduction, a main body that synthesises the information, and a conclusion.
Some of the different types of literature sources are; scientific studies, scientific books, scientific
journals, government reports/papers, scientific documentaries, scientific conferences, expert
testimonies, scientific websites, dissertations, scientific databases, and newspapers [1].
I will use literature in order to be able to develop and test a hypothesis.
Literature sources need to be valid in order to be able to be used. There are different ways to
determine if a piece of literature is trustworthy. Also, there are specific requirements a piece of
literature requires in order to be reliable enough to use. A person who is using literature sources
should make sure that the sources being used are valid. Some examples of what makes a source
valid and reliable include; detailed data, have an appropriate level of detail, be updated/recent, be
reviewed, have a reliable author, avoid plagiarism when using the sources, see if the publication is
recognisable, use information that is confirmed by another source, have a good date of production
(not too new or too old), and use multiple different types of sources of literature.
When conducting my research, I would aim to use recent sources. For current perspectives and data,
I would prioritise studies from the last 5-10 years, especially in areas where knowledge and science
evolve quickly. I believe using around 10-15 sources is a good balance. This number allows me to
cover the key areas of my topic.
I would exclude sources that are outdated, particularly those older than 10 years. Studies with out of
date data or methods no longer in use would not be relevant, as science is a rapidly advancing field.
Additionally, I would avoid sources from non-peer-reviewed journals or unreliable publications, as
they may lack the rigorous validation required for scientific accuracy. Any sources with biassed
findings, limited sample sizes, or insufficiently replicated results would also be excluded, as they may
not offer reliable contributions to my research.
The age of a source is a key consideration when conducting a literature review as it directly
influences the relevance, accuracy, and credibility of the research. The decision to use older or
newer sources depends on the field, the research type, and the specific context in which the source
is being used. In rapidly changing areas like science, technology, and medicine, sources should
generally be no older than 5-10 years to ensure the information is current. However, in fields such as
the humanities or social sciences, older sources are often valuable for their historical significance or
,foundational theories. Seminal works, regardless of their age, remain important if they have had a
lasting influence on the field. Ideally, a literature review should balance newer sources for up-to-
date insights with older ones for background and context. There is no strict rule for how old or new a
source should be, but the general guideline is to prioritise recent sources for accuracy while
incorporating older works for theoretical depth. A literature review must critically evaluate the
relevance of each source, regardless of its age, and reflect the current state of research while
acknowledging its historical development.
There are multiple different types of study and each have different advantages and disadvantages,
such as lab-based study, which has many advantages, such as a safe working environment, valid data
can be produced and measured, and variables can be controlled. In a sports facility, there is
specialist equipment that is available for use, however, the facilities can be expensive to rent and
use. Outdoor-based study has advantages such as the availability of a large number of different
samples, and a large space that can be used for research, however, the data that is used is not
controlled, safe, or sterile which means that the data used could be invalid. In a workshop
environment, models can be produced, however, spaces can be hard to find and also expensive to
rent for use. In survey studies, a mean can be found for a population, however, there are causal
relationships.
Referencing is crucial as it reduces the risk of plagiarism in your work. One common method is
Harvard referencing, which can be applied to sources such as websites and books. For instance,
when referencing a website, you should include the author’s surname, initial, year of publication,
title, URL, and the date you accessed it [2].
Examples of how to Harvard reference:
(1) Book:
Author(s), Year of publication. Title of the book. Edition. Place of publication. Publisher.
Example:
Smith, J., 2019. Introduction to Biology. 2nd edition. London: Oxford University Press.
(2) Journal Article:
Author(s), Year of publication. Title of the article. Title of the journal, Issue number, page
range.
Example:
Johnson, L. & Clark, M., 2021. Advances in genetic engineering. Journal of Biotechnology,
45(3), pp.123-135.
(3) Website:
Author(s), Year. Title of the webpage. Website name. Available at: URL [Accessed
Day/Month/Year].
Example:
, Brown, T., 2022. Climate change and its impact on biodiversity, National Geographic.
Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/climate-change [Accessed 15 September
2024].
What I will be using:
To determine which scientific element to focus on for the inquiry, we should consider topics that
genuinely interest us. The three main branches of science - biology, chemistry, and physics - offer a
vast range of study areas, which can be overwhelming. For a project proposal to succeed, it needs to
narrow down the potential research field. This process becomes much simpler if the teacher
provides students with a concise and targeted list of topics to consider.
The process will involve identifying and locating relevant and reliable sources of information, such as
journal articles, textbooks, and websites, while considering the age of these sources. A trustworthy
source provides a detailed, well-reasoned hypothesis, argument, or discussion based on solid facts.
Additionally, sources will be gathered from libraries, resource centres, organisations, government
bodies, and charities. Proper referencing protocols, including the Harvard referencing system, will be
followed.
I plan to use numerous sources to support my writing on the nature of the study and the practical
topics. I will avoid using unreliable sources like social media or open-source websites such as
Wikipedia, as they may contain misleading or biassed information. The age of the sources is also
crucial; sources should be no older than five years to ensure the information is still relevant and
credible today.
I will follow proper protocols to cite the sources of information I use. I utilise Harvard referencing,
employing tools like MyBib and CiteThisForMe to find relevant websites, journals, and textbooks for
referencing. Information is primarily extracted from the internet but can also be sourced from
libraries, resource centres, organisations, government bodies, and charities. This practice helps avoid
plagiarism in our work.
The effect of stimulants on the rate of reaction within humans
Hypotheses:
● Null hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the reaction times of students that take
stimulants compared to students that do not. Any differences are due to chance.
● Alternative hypothesis
There is a significant difference between the reaction times of students that take stimulants
compared to those that do not. Any differences are not due to chance.
