How is the CCEA A2 1 Applied Research unit assessed?

A2 1 is internally assessed through a research portfolio (controlled assessment) that your centre marks and CCEA moderates, rather than by a written examination. You typically plan and carry out a small study: forming an aim and research question, choosing and justifying a method, collecting and presenting data, and evaluating the study. Marks come from sound methodology, consistent ethical practice and honest evaluation rather than from timed recall.

What is the difference between primary and secondary research?

Primary research collects new, first-hand data using methods such as questionnaires, interviews and observation. Secondary research uses data already collected by others, such as official statistics, reports, journals and literature. Primary data is current and targeted but time-consuming; secondary data is quick and often large-scale but may be out of date, not quite fit the question, or carry the original collector's bias.

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Quantitative data is numerical: it is counted or measured and shown in tables, charts and graphs, and it is good for comparing and spotting trends. Qualitative data is descriptive: it captures words, opinions and experiences from interviews or open questions, and it gives depth and meaning. Many studies combine the two so they gain both breadth and depth.

What sampling methods does the unit cover?

Common sampling methods include random sampling (everyone has an equal chance of selection), stratified sampling (the sample is proportional to groups in the population), systematic sampling (every nth person) and opportunity sampling (whoever is available). The choice of sample affects how representative the findings are and how far they can be generalised to a wider population.

What ethical principles must health and social care research follow?

Researchers must obtain informed consent and allow participants to withdraw at any time, keep data confidential and anonymous, avoid physical and psychological harm (including debriefing where needed), and act with honesty and integrity by not fabricating or selectively reporting data. Research involving vulnerable groups such as children, older people or ill service users requires extra care, often including consent from a parent, carer or gatekeeper.

How should I approach the A2 1 research portfolio?

Choose a focused, ethical research question early. Justify your method and sample, explaining their strengths and limits. Apply the ethical principles at every stage, present findings clearly using appropriate tables and charts, and analyse them for patterns. Finish with an honest evaluation of reliability, validity, bias and limitations, and suggest improvements. Examiners reward sound methodology and reflective evaluation more than a large quantity of data.

Northern IrelandHealth & Social Care

CCEA A-Level Health and Social Care A2 1 Applied Research: methods, sampling, ethics and presenting findings

A guide to the internally assessed CCEA A2 1 Applied Research unit. Covers the research process, quantitative and qualitative data, primary methods and secondary sources, sampling, the ethical principles that protect participants, and how findings are presented, analysed and evaluated for reliability and validity.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.814 min readCCEAUpdated 2026-06-16

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

What this unit demands
The research process
Methods and sampling
Ethics
Presentation, analysis and evaluation
How this unit is assessed
Check your knowledge

What this unit demands

A2 1 Applied Research teaches the research literacy that underpins evidence-based practice in health and social care. CCEA wants you to plan and carry out a small study: to choose methods and a sample, to follow ethical principles, and to present, analyse and evaluate findings. Like the other coursework units, it is internally assessed through a portfolio, so success depends on sound methodology and honest evaluation rather than timed recall.

This guide sets out the content and how to build a strong portfolio. The matching overview dot-point page works the same ideas with examples.

The research process

A study runs through clear stages: an aim and research question (or hypothesis), a justified method, data collection, analysis and evaluation. You should distinguish quantitative data (numbers, counted or measured) from qualitative data (words, opinions and experiences) and choose methods to suit the question.

Methods and sampling

Primary methods collect new data: questionnaires, interviews and observation. Secondary sources use existing data: statistics, reports, journals and literature. Sampling decides who takes part: random, stratified, systematic and opportunity. The sample governs how far findings can be generalised.

Ethics

CCEA places strong weight on research ethics: informed consent with a right to withdraw, confidentiality and anonymity, avoiding harm, and honesty and integrity. Research with vulnerable groups needs extra safeguards.

Presentation, analysis and evaluation

Findings are presented with appropriate tables, bar charts, pie charts and graphs, analysed for patterns and comparisons, and evaluated for reliability, validity, bias and limitations, with suggested improvements.

How this unit is assessed

A2 1 is assessed by an internally assessed research portfolio (controlled assessment), centre-marked and moderated by CCEA. There is no terminal written paper for this unit.

Check your knowledge

Name three primary research methods. (3 marks)
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of secondary data. (2 marks)
Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data. (2 marks)
Name two sampling methods. (2 marks)
State three ethical principles in research. (3 marks)
Explain the difference between reliability and validity. (2 marks)

Sources & how we know this

CCEA GCE Health and Social Care specification — CCEA (2016)