Log Entry (500 words)

the progress of the final product

outline the methods you have taken to research the topic

Sample Log- BOSTES 2002 Band 5/6

I first decided that childrens birthday parties would be an interesting topic when
in Sydneys Child magazine I saw pages of advertisements for childrens
birthday parties. I developed a proposal to look at the ritual of birthday parties
analysing change over time and comparing the way people from different
locations practise the ritual.
I intended to consider all variables including ethnicity, religion, gender, location
in Australia, age, disabilities, access, changing family, changing role of women,
employment rates, housing, and all social variables influencing parties but
realised this was much too broad. I decided to focus my cross-cultural
component on change over time and environment, within an urban Australian
location.
I began looking for secondary material on social change, family size, and
birthday parties, but realised that very little social research had been conducted
on birthday parties or their reflection of macro social issues.
During the Christmas holidays, a friend with small children mentioned her
daughters fairy themed fourth birthday party- a participant observation
opportunity for me. By recording details of costs, services offered and parents
comments I also acquired relevant qualitative and quantitative data. Consensus
amongst attending parents was that not cleaning up afterwards was the best
thing about away-from-home-parties.
In June another participant observation opportunity arose, at another
respondents home. This allowed comparison between the parties.
A Social Change in Australia lecture by Hugh Mackay in February helped me
with statistics and an insight into the causes and stimulants of social change in
Australia, social indicators and how they interlinked.
I developed questionnaires and distributed at gumnut guides to parents and
children, outside schools, at shopping centres and other public venues, to all age
groups, and to people both within and outside my comfort zone (continuing
distribution until May 2002).
I used surveys to collect statistical information targeting specific people from
areas not accessed in my original questionnaire. At the Easter show, and Darling
Harbour obtaining more information and a broader cross section of respondents
for the validity of my research so that I could make accurate statements to
compare areas adequately, enabling me to give an unbiased analysis.

Many older people werent approachable, unwilling to participate. This was a

problem, as I needed to support my change-over-time concept with statistical
information, this lack of primary material made accurate research difficult. My
aim was to compare birthday celebrations between todays generation and the
older generation (up to sixty years ago). Although I organised several focus
groups with older women, I had greater response and acquired most of my
information from the under fifty-fives, particularly mothers (the significant
person in this issue). It was appropriate to conduct several interviews and focus
groups with children and parents, targeting mothers ten to twenty years ago and
grandparents. I determined their personal experiences and tested statistical
findings from my questionnaires and secondary research findings (April to June
2002).
I reduced target area to Sydney at this stage because of insufficient access to
people elsewhere to make my research accurate. Fewer party venues are
available outside Sydney, comparison of findings would have been inaccurate.
In May I distributed questionnaires to party shops with poor return despite
persistent follow-up. Reducing the questionnaire size had minimal increase in
response. Chain stores (including multinationals who host childrens parties)
replied promptly.

Sample log Band 5/6 HSC 2002- Society and Culture BOSTES Retrieved from:
http://web1.maitgrossh.schools.nsw.edu.au/uploads/File/STANDARDS/HSIE/Society%20and
%20Culture/files/samples/qpip/qpip_b56_s2.pdf

Activities- Read the sample PIP above and complete the following
questions.
(1) Outline the process taken by the writer to complete the PIP.

(2) when do you think the writer initiated the reading, research and writing
process?

(3) In what ways has the writers PIP been interesting and shown
individuality? Explain.

(4) Explain why you think the writer may have focused mainly secondary
research?

(5) Reflect on the writers connection between the undertaken PIP process and
the conceptual understanding.