PSPSCI013 - Initiate and conduct scientific/technological research
Assessor Resource
PSPSCI013 Initiate and conduct scientific/technological research
Assessment tool
Version 1.0 Issue Date: April 2024
This unit describes the skills required to conduct scientific and/or technological research at a level meriting national recognition where superior initiative and judgment are used within strategically important areas. It includes formulating the research question, devising the research methodology, conducting and managing the research, and publishing and presenting the research results.
This unit applies to those working in scientific and/or technological research at a high level.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.
Those undertaking this unit would work autonomously with supervisory responsibilities, while performing sophisticated tasks in a range of contexts.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
ELEMENTS
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.
1. Formulate research question
1.1 Identify issues for investigation through ongoing professional development and networking with industry, external funding bodies and professional networks.
1.2 Formulate innovate research questions using industry experience and analysis.
1.3 Formulate a research question that dissects key elements of the issue to be investigated.
1.4 Demonstrate how the research question will be of strategic importance to the industry and to the organisation’s objectives and timeframes.
1.5 Identify and exploit issues relating to intellectual property.
1.6 Contribute to and use research and professional networks to access current information relevant to the research question, and assess both current and published information and extract relevant information.
2. Devise research methodology
2.1 Monitor innovations in research methods, and adjust objectives and/or the formulation of a hypothesis to enhance the conduct of the research.
2.2 Determine a hypothesis that is testable, relevant and of benefit, and develop research methods appropriate to the hypothesis.
2.3 Identify and specify risk management strategies and resource needs.
2.4 Prepare and submit funding applications as required.
2.5 Complete documentation.
3. Conduct and manage research
3.1 Seek and manage external funding.
3.2 Provide leadership and manage the research team to meet research objectives.
3.3 Monitor performance and outputs and instigate change/s in direction.
3.4 Facilitate collaboration across locations and organisations to meet research objectives and timeframes.
3.5 Analyse, document and report research results.
3.6 Adapt communication style to write for both scientific and lay audiences and to translate results to applied situations.
4. Publish and present research results
4.1 Publish research papers and disseminate results widely both internally and externally to the organisation.
4.2 Present research at seminars and scientific conferences, nationally or internationally.
4.3 Protect intellectual property.
4.4 Build national reputation through publication and presentation of research papers and networking nationally or internationally.
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
using problem solving techniques
using communication styles to suit different audiences and purposes
using technology for data input, analysis and preparation of reports
interpreting and preparing reports containing scientific research information using communication styles to suit different audiences and purposes
presenting research results tailored to different audiences
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
research methodologies
scientific process
statistics
the use of sophisticated statistical models
specialist area of expertise
national networks
external funding sources
reporting requirements for scientific research, requiring precision of expression
work health and safety, environmental protection and other public sector legislation, public sector standards and organisational code of practice as they relate to work in a scientific research/technological environment
This unit contains no specific industry-mandated assessment conditions. Guidance on suggested and recommended conditions and methods can be found in the Implementation Guide.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Submission Requirements
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
ELEMENTS
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.
1. Formulate research question
1.1 Identify issues for investigation through ongoing professional development and networking with industry, external funding bodies and professional networks.
1.2 Formulate innovate research questions using industry experience and analysis.
1.3 Formulate a research question that dissects key elements of the issue to be investigated.
1.4 Demonstrate how the research question will be of strategic importance to the industry and to the organisation’s objectives and timeframes.
1.5 Identify and exploit issues relating to intellectual property.
1.6 Contribute to and use research and professional networks to access current information relevant to the research question, and assess both current and published information and extract relevant information.
2. Devise research methodology
2.1 Monitor innovations in research methods, and adjust objectives and/or the formulation of a hypothesis to enhance the conduct of the research.
2.2 Determine a hypothesis that is testable, relevant and of benefit, and develop research methods appropriate to the hypothesis.
2.3 Identify and specify risk management strategies and resource needs.
2.4 Prepare and submit funding applications as required.
2.5 Complete documentation.
3. Conduct and manage research
3.1 Seek and manage external funding.
3.2 Provide leadership and manage the research team to meet research objectives.
3.3 Monitor performance and outputs and instigate change/s in direction.
3.4 Facilitate collaboration across locations and organisations to meet research objectives and timeframes.
3.5 Analyse, document and report research results.
3.6 Adapt communication style to write for both scientific and lay audiences and to translate results to applied situations.
4. Publish and present research results
4.1 Publish research papers and disseminate results widely both internally and externally to the organisation.
4.2 Present research at seminars and scientific conferences, nationally or internationally.
4.3 Protect intellectual property.
4.4 Build national reputation through publication and presentation of research papers and networking nationally or internationally.
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
using problem solving techniques
using communication styles to suit different audiences and purposes
using technology for data input, analysis and preparation of reports
interpreting and preparing reports containing scientific research information using communication styles to suit different audiences and purposes
presenting research results tailored to different audiences
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
research methodologies
scientific process
statistics
the use of sophisticated statistical models
specialist area of expertise
national networks
external funding sources
reporting requirements for scientific research, requiring precision of expression
work health and safety, environmental protection and other public sector legislation, public sector standards and organisational code of practice as they relate to work in a scientific research/technological environment
This unit contains no specific industry-mandated assessment conditions. Guidance on suggested and recommended conditions and methods can be found in the Implementation Guide.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Identify issues for investigation through ongoing professional development and networking with industry, external funding bodies and professional networks.
Formulate innovate research questions using industry experience and analysis.
Formulate a research question that dissects key elements of the issue to be investigated.
Demonstrate how the research question will be of strategic importance to the industry and to the organisation’s objectives and timeframes.
Identify and exploit issues relating to intellectual property.
Contribute to and use research and professional networks to access current information relevant to the research question, and assess both current and published information and extract relevant information.
Monitor innovations in research methods, and adjust objectives and/or the formulation of a hypothesis to enhance the conduct of the research.
Determine a hypothesis that is testable, relevant and of benefit, and develop research methods appropriate to the hypothesis.
Identify and specify risk management strategies and resource needs.
Prepare and submit funding applications as required.
Complete documentation.
Seek and manage external funding.
Provide leadership and manage the research team to meet research objectives.
Monitor performance and outputs and instigate change/s in direction.
Facilitate collaboration across locations and organisations to meet research objectives and timeframes.
Analyse, document and report research results.
Adapt communication style to write for both scientific and lay audiences and to translate results to applied situations.
Publish research papers and disseminate results widely both internally and externally to the organisation.
Present research at seminars and scientific conferences, nationally or internationally.
Protect intellectual property.
Build national reputation through publication and presentation of research papers and networking nationally or internationally.
Identify issues for investigation through ongoing professional development and networking with industry, external funding bodies and professional networks.
Formulate innovate research questions using industry experience and analysis.
Formulate a research question that dissects key elements of the issue to be investigated.
Demonstrate how the research question will be of strategic importance to the industry and to the organisation’s objectives and timeframes.
Identify and exploit issues relating to intellectual property.
Contribute to and use research and professional networks to access current information relevant to the research question, and assess both current and published information and extract relevant information.
Monitor innovations in research methods, and adjust objectives and/or the formulation of a hypothesis to enhance the conduct of the research.
Determine a hypothesis that is testable, relevant and of benefit, and develop research methods appropriate to the hypothesis.
Identify and specify risk management strategies and resource needs.
Prepare and submit funding applications as required.
Complete documentation.
Seek and manage external funding.
Provide leadership and manage the research team to meet research objectives.
Monitor performance and outputs and instigate change/s in direction.
Facilitate collaboration across locations and organisations to meet research objectives and timeframes.
Analyse, document and report research results.
Adapt communication style to write for both scientific and lay audiences and to translate results to applied situations.
Publish research papers and disseminate results widely both internally and externally to the organisation.
Present research at seminars and scientific conferences, nationally or internationally.
Protect intellectual property.
Build national reputation through publication and presentation of research papers and networking nationally or internationally.
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
PSPSCI013 - Initiate and conduct scientific/technological research
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
Student ID:
I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
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Result: Competent Not yet competent
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Assessment Record Sheet
PSPSCI013 - Initiate and conduct scientific/technological research
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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
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Feedback to student:
Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent