Task A2 | R
​ esearch plan 
🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Construct a research plan, which states and prioritizes the  You want to identify valuable sources of information to 
primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution  provide input for your project (now and later) and you want to 
to the problem.  make sure you balance your research efforts over the different 
areas of research that are needed.  

⚙ How? 
 
Adjust and extend the provided partial research plan in order to: 
● Identify​ primary and secondary sources that you could consult in order to be a knowledgeable designer in this project, 
ready to design and create. Use the following prompts: 
○ You can make observations, do measurements and experiments. 
○ You can interview (experienced) experts or other stakeholders in your project. 
○ You can survey your target audience. 
○ You can consult secondary sources. 
● Describe​ what you want to learn from each of these sources in detail. 
● Prioritize​ the importance of each part of your research (you may not have time to do it all!). 
● Research​ and find out the answers! P ​ resent​ all research notes from your research in the table below. This section can 
contain pieces of text directly copy-pasted from sources, results of surveys, photographs, transcripts of interviews etc. 

Research Plan + Research 

Research questions  What  Where could I find  Prioritization 
is the answer?  an answer?   * = Good to 
What type of  know   
sauce is it? Primary  ** = Useful   
or Secondary?  *** = Directly 
useful   
**** = Vital  
 

PROPERTIES:  ● Cotton is prized for its comfort, easy-care,  Online   ***/ 

[***] What properties (or  and affordability and is ideal for clothing,
characteristics) of a fabric 
determine what you can do with  ●
it?   Products
   
bedding, towels, and furnishings. ​(Cotton  Cotton Fibers and 
Fibers)  its Properties 
Characteristics of Cotton Fibers and  (secondary) 
   
○ Comfortable to wear   
○ Natural, cellulosic fiber  Fabric 
○ Absorbs water and “breathes”  Characteristics for 
○ Slow to dry  Garment 
○ Resists static electricity build-up  Manufacturing 
○ Wrinkles easily  (secondary) 
○ Can withstand heat, detergents, 
and bleach 
○ About 20% stronger when wet 
than dry 
○ Will shrink unless treated 
○ Can be damaged by mildew 
○ Can be damaged by prolonged 
exposure to sunlight ​(Fabric 
Characteristics) 

DEFINITIONS​:  The fabric can make close or material for making  Britannica​.  
 ● What is fabric?   clothes, covering furniture, a cloth made by hand or  Britannica​,
● What are ​textiles​?  machine. a piece of clothing 
 
www.britannica
● What are ​garments​?  .com/.
Accessed 21
Feb. 2020.  
MANUFACTURING  Some of the basic sewing methods are ‘Running  https://takelessons.  
● How are cotton textiles  Stitch, Backstitch, zigzag stitch, and other more.  com/blog/learn-basi
made?   c-sewing-stitches-z
13 
● What are the basic 
joining and assembly 
methods​ to attach 
pieces of fabric 
together? 

TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS  1. Spread out the pattern paper What is a pattern   
FOR MAKING  2. Put the garment on top of the paper (Wikipedia) 
 
● How do you draw a  (inflated out) Task A2 Appendix  
sewing​ ​pattern​? What  3. Trace around the perimeter using a
are the key features of  maker  
a good garment  From the Appendix listed these are the tools 
pattern?  availableFrom the Appendix listed these are the 
● What​ materials and  tools available:  
tools​ do I have  ● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed) 
available for making my  ● Eyelets  
product? (see Appendix  ● Studs 
A below)  ● Rivets 
● Snap fasteners 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on) 
● Anything you request that is approved by 
the teacher. 
● Fabric glue 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose 
spray adhesive) 
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT) 
● Needles 
● Seam ripper 
● Fabric shears 
● Rotary cutter 
● Hole punch 
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die 
 
Materials listed these are the tools available:  
● Anything you can reclaim from garments 
otherwise thrown away. This will not be 
provided. You need to bring it in from 
home. 
● Straps, buckles, buttons etc that you can 
reclaim from garments otherwise thrown 
away. 
● away. 
 
 
 CLIENT INFORMATION  ● This design is for me  Asking my Target   
● Who could I design for?   ● It has to look nice   audience  
● What group (​target  ● Has to be unique 
● Well made (have good stitches) 
audience​) does this  ● Durable 
person represent?   ● Useful (Service it’s the purpose)  
● What material   
properties or aesthetic   
 
factors need to be 
 
taken into account for   
this client? (What kind   
of colours and style do   
they like?)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A2 Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​states​ s​ ome​ research needed to  ❏ A limited amount of sources and information is stated which 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  makes it difficult to find the answers to the research 
some guidance​.  questions. Some sections were incomplete. Be sure to review 
your work for completeness. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important for organising your research. 

3-4  The student ​states​ the research needed to  ❏ Some sources and information are stated which makes it 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  challenging to find the answers to the research questions. If 
some guidance.  you identify more sources, you will have a broader 
understanding of the research questions. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important for organising your research. 

5-6  The student ​constructs​ a research plan,  ❏ A number of sources and information are stated. You 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  demonstrated that you can find the answers to the research 
secondary research needed to develop a  questions. Even more appropriate sources would strengthen 
solution to the problem, ​with some  your understanding. 
guidance​.  ❏ There are a few types of sources used in your research. 
Having a good variety of sources allows you to get 
information from different viewpoints. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. 
 7-8  The student constructs a research plan,  ❏ An effective number of sources and information are stated. 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  You demonstrated that you can find the answers to the 
secondary research needed to develop a  research questions from a number of relevant sources. 
solution to the problem i​ ndependently​.  ❏ There is an excellent variety of types of sources used in your 
research. Primary and secondary sources provide a broad 
understanding as you move forward. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. This will help 
keep you organised in preparing for the next step of the 
criterion. 

   
Appendix A: Tools and Materials (primary source) 
For this project, you will be provided with the materials and tools listed below. The list is not exhaustive but gives a good idea of 
what is reasonably available. It is up to you to figure out how to use and process them. You will have to make sure you understand 
the properties of the materials and tools you choose in order to make smart design choices for your product. 
 

Fabric and materials you need to provide yourself 

● Anything you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. This will not be provided. You need to bring it in from 
home. 
● Straps, buckles, buttons etc that you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. 
● Do not buy fabric! 
 

Tools and materials provided by the school 

● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed) 
● Eyelets  
● Studs 
● Rivets 
● Snap fasteners 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on) 
● Anything you request that is approved by the teacher. 
● Fabric glue 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose spray adhesive) 
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT) 
● Needles 
● Seam ripper 
● Fabric shears 
● Rotary cutter 
● Hole punch 
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die