← VCE Data Analytics U3O2

Research question feature: originality

A research question feature: it explores something new or from a fresh angle, such as a new group, place or time period, after checking existing work, instead of copying others.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 7

Understanding Research question feature: originality in VCE Data Analytics U3O2

What it does: The question applies a familiar topic to a new place (Geelong compared with Melbourne), which gives it a fresh angle. The question has a fresh time-period focus that you developed yourself, rather than a copied wording from an existing report. Checking existing work shows what has already been asked, so you can find a gap or a fresh angle. Using existing work as a starting point is fine. Copying a question exactly is not original. Originality is about adding something new. Ease of data collection relates to feasibility instead. This is the core definition of originality as a feature of a research question.

Common mistakes: If the question already appears in existing work, it is not original. It should be revised to a new angle, so the line should be revise(question). An original question targets a new group. Asking the old group repeats existing work, so it should be ask(new_group).

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Learning
Duo
Which best describes an original research question?
It repeats a question someone else has already answeredIt explores something new or from a fresh angle
Matches
Research question copied word for word from an online report: What are the most popular streaming services in Australia?
↓
It copies another person's work instead of exploring something new, so it is not original. Rewrite it with a new group, place or time period.
Applying
Meanings
Term
originality
Meaning
A research question feature: it explores something new or from a fresh angle, such as a new group, place or time period, after checking existing work, instead of copying others.
Practice
Existing work: checked, studies cover adults
Testing
Gaps
Feature: = new or fresh angle
Check Answer
Spots
2if question in existing then
3 keep(question)

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Quick Questions

1. Which best describes an original research question?
A. It explores something new or from a fresh angle ✓
B. It repeats a question someone else has already answered
Originality means the question adds something new, such as a fresh angle, rather than repeating existing work.
2. What should you do first to check whether your research question is original?
A. Look at existing work on the topic ✓
B. Start collecting data straight away
Checking existing work shows what has already been asked, so you can find a gap or a fresh angle.
3. Which question is more original for a student who found a 2019 study of Year 12 sleep habits in Melbourne?
A. What are the sleep habits of Year 12 students in Melbourne?
B. How do the sleep habits of Year 9 students in regional Victoria compare on school nights? ✓
Changing the group (Year 9) and the place (regional Victoria) gives the question a fresh angle. The other question copies the existing study.
4. True or false: Changing the time period of an existing study can make a research question more original.
A. False
B. True ✓
A new time period, such as data from 2024 instead of 2014, can show whether results have changed. This gives the question a fresh angle.
5. Which approach avoids copying others?
A. Building on existing work with a new group, place or time period ✓
B. Reusing another student's research question word for word
Using existing work as a starting point is fine. Copying a question exactly is not original.

Match the Pairs

Originality → A research question feature: it explores something new or looks at a topic from a fresh angle instead of repeating existing work.
Checking existing work → Searching for studies, reports and datasets on your topic first, so you know what has already been done and can find a gap to explore.
An original question can take an existing topic and apply it to a new group, place or time period. → Do Year 12 students in Geelong spend more time on social media than Year 12 students in Melbourne?
An original question is your own idea and does not copy a question that others have already answered. → How has the number of bike riders on the Yarra Trail changed since 2020 compared with before 2020?
Research question copied word for word from an online report: What are the most popular streaming services in Australia? → It copies another person's work instead of exploring something new, so it is not original. Rewrite it with a new group, place or time period.
Question chosen without searching for existing studies: How does sleep affect exam marks? → The student did not check existing work first. This topic has been widely studied, so the question may repeat what is already known and have no fresh angle.

Key Term

originality
A research question feature: it explores something new or from a fresh angle, such as a new group, place or time period, after checking existing work, instead of copying others.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Feature: originality = new or fresh angle
Hint: Type the name of the research question feature about exploring something new.
2. Step 1: check existing work on the topic
Hint: Type the word for work that has already been done by others.
3. Fresh angle: new group, place or time period
Hint: Type the word for a location that could be changed to make a question original.
4. Copying others' work is not original
Hint: Type the adjective that describes a question exploring something new.
5. IF matches existing work THEN change group, place or time END IF
Hint: Type the pseudocode keyword that starts a condition.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A existing ← search_reports()
B if question in existing then
C keep(question)
D end if
Line C — If the question already appears in existing work, it is not original. It should be revised to a new angle, so the line should be revise(question).
Question 2
A checked ← search(topic)
B old_group ← 'Year 7 students'
C new_group ← 'VCE students'
D question ← ask(old_group)
Line D — An original question targets a new group. Asking the old group repeats existing work, so it should be ask(new_group).
Question 3
A old_place ← 'Sydney'
B place ← 'Sydney'
C isNew ← place ≠ old_place
Line B — The place is the same as the existing study, so the question is not new. It should be a different place, such as 'Ballarat'.
Question 4
A if copied = true then
B output 'Original question'
C end if
Line A — A question is only original when it has not been copied. The condition should be copied = false.
Question 5
A step 1: read existing studies
B step 2: copy a past question
C step 3: write your question
Line B — Originality means avoiding copying others. After checking existing work, you should pick a new angle, not copy a past question.

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