Unit 2 - GCE in Media: Communication and Production

Research Skills Audit

The purpose of this unit is to show that you understand research methods, there
purpose and the strengths and limitations of different techniques. This must be
applied to researching existing media texts and the content for production.
Make sure you record your skills in these audits and state the evidence of where they
can be found.

Name:…………………………. Levels: Basic / Competent / Advanced

Research AUDIT DATE ONE Evidence AUDIT Evidence AUDIT DATE Evidence
Method DATE THREE
/Technique TWO
primary research
interviews Basic – Carried out an
th
6 October 2010 interview as part of a
promotional video.

questionnaires Competent – Carried

th
6 October 2010 out questionnaires as
part of research for
new product in
business and for
launch of new media
magazine
questionnaire.
focus groups Competent – Have
 6th October 2010 been part of a focus
group during career
ideas and police
meetings. Know about
the environment well.
photography Basic – took some
6th October 2010 location shots to
decide for GCSE trailer.

filming
6th October 2010

recording and other Basic – Recorded

forms of observation statistics for maths.
6th October 2010

secondary research

ratings / circulation Basic – had to research

figures/ Hits/ Box circulation figures for
Office
6th October 2010 popular press
newspapers.
− audience and market For business
profiles 6th October 2010 coursework, had to
explore market of the
product I was going to
launch.
− information about Basic - Some research
events, places and 6th October 2010 on 6th form colleges
people when applying.
identifying likely Basic – When doing TV
sources th
6 October 2010 news stimulation,
needed to research
news headlines of
likely sources.

identifying and 6th October 2010

following-up leads

sifting, collating and Basic- Had to collate

storing the information th
6 October 2010 information obtained
obtained
by qualitative
questionnaires in pie
charts and bar charts
to make clear
conclusions.
quantitative research
6th October 2010
quantitative research Competent- When
th
6 October 2010 doing product
development and target
market questionnaire
for business when
launching product.
Based products on
these results. Also in
media when identifying
market for trailer and
 magazine.
qualitative research

qualitative research

6th October 2010

researching the
content for a 6th October 2010
production
• identify accurately Basic – Main points for
what you need to th
6 October 2010 promotional video
find out within voice over and
interview.
• identify how and Basic – Organised
where you are likely to 6th October 2010 where to get
get the necessary
information about
information
organisation for promo
video. From wither
Redbridge Basis or
RAM.
• recognise and follow-
up information trails
when they present
6th October 2010
themselves and keep
records of this activity
• record the Basis – Organised
information obtained findings accurately in
accurately
bar charts and pie
6th October 2010 charts.

• collate (that is, sift Basic – had to organise

through, analyse, results from a
evaluate and organise)
6th October 2010 questionnaire which
the
information obtained determined target
market for magazine
production.
• store the information
so that it is easily 6th October 2010
accessed

researching a media
product

• who the audience (or Basic - For business

market) is for the coursework, had to
product
6th October 2010 explore market of the
product I was going to
launch and identify the
audience.
• how large that Basic - Checked
audience (or market) is circulation figures for
6th October 2010 magazine when
designing front cover
for media.
• what an audience
thinks of a product 6th October 2010

• how the product Basic - For business,

compares to other when launching a
similar products
6th October 2010 product had to
research competitor’s
product to get a idea of
the price and features.