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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply research methodologies in order to compile in a major research report in a public sector context 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242915  Apply research methodologies in order to compile in a major research report in a public sector context 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities at a top strategic level. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to identify and apply appropriate research methodologies in order to compile a major research report in public sector context. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to engage in a work-based project in which a complex public sector matter will be analysed and sustainable solutions developed.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Demonstrating an understanding of and applying basic research concepts.
  • Designing research models for a variety of public administration problems.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of and applying basic social statistics.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the ethical dimensions of conducting applied research.
  • Recognising the role of citizen input in policy administration. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of and apply basic research concepts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Basic research concepts are described and compared critically. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Concepts include, but are not limited to, frequencies, graphs, histograms, rates and basic statistical terms.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Research articles are analysed and the underlying research techniques critiqued appropriately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The capacity to undertake primary research within a team-based, multi-disciplinary framework is demonstrated in a public administration context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Public administration research is understood and explained from various perspectives. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Perspectives include, but are not limited to, practitioners, client and end user perspectives.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Design research models for a variety of public administration problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Research design concepts are understood and applied in own work context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Concepts include, but are not limited to, central tendency, IQR, dispersion, normal curves, null hypothesis, alpha levels, error types and contingency tables.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Difference research approaches are described and compared critically. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Approaches include, but are not limited to, Strieb, Slotkin, and experimental design and sampling design.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Research models are designed for a variety of public administration problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Research models using various approaches are designed, demonstrating the process of applying basic research concepts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Resource impacts of research design models are assessed from a public administration perspective. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of and apply basic social statistics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Social science statistics are applied in the creation of research models. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Uses of basic research statistics in research articles are critiqued for relevance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Understanding of application of basic social statistics is demonstrated in the context of research modelling. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The use of secondary data in applied research and index construction are explained and applied to research model. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Variable measurement, levels of data and validity/reliability concerns are critically evaluated and explained for relevance and efficacy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Measuring includes, but is not limited to, Chi-square and T-test.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimension of conducting applied research. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An understanding of the importance of the ethical dimension in conducting applied research is demonstrated for research professionalism and efficacy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ethical decision making in conducting applied research is utilised consistently. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Research articles are reviewed critically in order to demonstrate understanding of related ethical issues in public administration contexts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Competency in professional behaviour in conducting applied research is demonstrated on an ongoing basis. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Recognise the role of citizen input in policy administration. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Research models that demonstrate an understanding of the citizens' role in policy administration are developed for policy administration purposes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Research articles are critically reviewed to demonstrate understanding of the citizens' role in policy administration. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Processes and various techniques of gathering data are explained and applied to demonstrate recognition of the citizen's role in policy administration. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Techniques include, but are not limited to, proportional reduction in error, regression, survey questions and interview design.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Research findings in applied Public Administration are presented in a manner recognising the citizen's role in policy administration. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • The concept of service value and how different service cultures are formulated.
  • Communication and diversity management.
  • Analytical skills.
  • Statistical and quantitative analysis skills.
  • Ethical dimensions in applied research.
  • Language conceptualisation.
  • Presentation skills.
  • Research methodologies. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes in order conduct research in a public sector context. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to gain citizen input to research projects. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to complete research within given time constraints. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to evaluate evidence and data for input into research project. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to present research to relevant stakeholders. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to compile research. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public service research do not exist in isolation and that a variety of factors, sensitivities, stakeholders and politics may impact on overall research results. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
  • Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that citizen input is gained to research project.
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts to ensure that diversity issues are captured in research. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Fundamental  63711   Bachelor of Geographical Information Science (GISc)  Level 7  NQF Level 07  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   
    Fundamental  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Elective  64670   National Certificate: Public Financial Oversight and Accountability  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.