Unit 15:

Unit code: QCF level: Credit value:

Creative Arts Research Skills

J/601/1532 5
20
Unit aim

This unit aims to enable learners to acquire the necessary skills and techniques to undertake
research in the creative arts and present their findings in an appropriate form.

Unit abstract

This unit will allow learners to develop the research skills they need to support both
theoretical and practical elements of their chosen genre. This can be applied academically, to
enable learners to complete a presentation of independent work or to support and develop
practical work, for example in identifying specific methodologies and techniques or providing
the historical or social background for a realised product.
Learners will be able to select the most appropriate methods and techniques for undertaking
detailed research. They will have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to identify
suitable source material and to apply the information in an appropriate context. They will
acquire the skills to distinguish between primary and secondary sources, to evaluate the
validity of such sources, and to extract the necessary information from them. They will then
learn to synthesise their research material into an appropriate form for presentation.
Learners will identify the most suitable ways of presenting and disseminating this information
in order to support specific performing arts and music activities. This will include techniques
for gathering research, referencing, summarising key points and the management of research
for a presentation. Learners will also be encouraged to present the researched material in a
number of ways, for example written texts, PowerPoint presentations, practical
demonstrations, audio and video recordings, or graphic illustrations.
On completion of this unit, learners should demonstrate the ability to select appropriate topics
for research, source and categorise research data, collate information to support their
argument and present the findings using a suitable format.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1. 1 Be able to select effective methods and techniques for undertaking research
activities
2. 2 Understand the validity of appropriate research material from primary and
secondary information sources
3. 3 Be able to formulate critical opinions on a selected research subject
4. 4 Be able to present outcomes based on research using a recognised format.
BH029654 Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals specification in Music Issue 2 October 2011
Pearson Education Limited 2011

UNIT 15: CREATIVE ARTS RESEARCH SKILLS

Unit content
1.

2.

3.

4.

1 Be able to select effective methods and techniques for undertaking research

activities
Research methods: type of research eg qualitative, quantitative, systematic, original;
use of libraries and archives; internet and digital resources; conducting/interpreting
market research eg questionnaires, polls; undertaking interviews; critical review eg
performance/production or score analysis
Academic framework: identifying previous research eg literature review; selecting
suitable methodologies eg musicological frameworks, reception, critical analysis,
praxis; contextualising the area of research eg acknowledging issues of gender, race,
sexuality, politics; applying appropriate referencing techniques
2 Understand the validity of appropriate research material from primary and
secondary information sources
Organisation: standards eg thematic, chronological, biographical, comparative
viewpoints, informed awareness of different perspectives, specific issues
Primary sources: evidence eg first editions, autographed scores, live performance,
studio recordings, audio-visual presentations, internet resources, online polls, social
networking research, interviews, personal accounts, notes and annotations,
correspondence, statistical data
Secondary sources: evidence eg publications, referenced texts, archives, reviews,
recordings/photographs/videos of live performance, historical/social/cultural
documentation
3 Be able to formulate critical opinions on a selected research subject
Formulation: critical evaluation of sources; synthesis/interpretation of data; critical
thinking;
objectivity; identification of target audience; presentation of viewpoint
Methodology: context eg critical review of material, links to practice, balance between
text and other forms
4 Be able to present outcomes based on research using a recognised format
Format: suitability eg essays, dissertations, journal entries, bibliographies, reading
lists, live practice, audio recordings, audio-visual presentations, production notes,
presentations, seminar, forum, PC-based (PowerPoint etc), websites, digital journals,
social networking, prototype designs, saleable projects, scores, texts, production
design
Presentation methods: context eg written texts, verbal presentations, recordings,
performances, demonstrations and workshops
Referencing systems: citation eg Harvard, American Psychological Association
(APA), Modern Languages Association (MLA)

BH029654 Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals specification in Music Issue 2 October 2011
Pearson Education Limited 2011

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

UNIT 15: CREATIVE ARTS RESEARCH SKILLS

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a
learner will:

LO1Be able to select effective methods and

techniques for undertaking research activities

Assessment criteria for pass

The learner can:
1.1 review effective research methods for a
selected subject area
1.2 select and justify academic frameworks
that will focus research activities

1.
LO2Understand the validity of appropriate
research material from primary and secondary
information sources

2.

3.

1.
2.
LO3Be able to formulate critical opinions on a
selected research subject
3.

LO4Be able to present outcomes based on

research using a recognised format.

2.1 organise research material

using appropriate categories
2.2 evaluate the effectiveness of
primary sources of research for a
selected subject area
2.3 assess breadth of research by
reviewing the validity of secondary
sources

3.1 formulate opinions based on the

interpretation of research material
3.2 apply appropriate
methodologies to research
information
3.3 evaluate the findings, making
recommendations for further
consideration

4.1 select a suitable format to present

research information
4.2 realise and present the outcomes of the
research using a recognised format.

BH029654 Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals specification in Music Issue 2 October 2011
Pearson Education Limited 2011