HSC Community and Family Studies study plan
HSC Community and Family Studies · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Resource Management & Research Methodology
Map the Resource Management syllabus content into a one-page outline of subtopics and key terms
Define resource management concepts in your own words and record them in a glossary
Identify the stages of the research process and sequence them correctly in a diagram
Distinguish between primary and secondary data sources with two original examples each
Your checkpoint
A one-page Resource Management outline plus a glossary of at least 15 self-written definitions and a correctly sequenced research-process diagram
Resource Management
Explain how personal values, goals and standards influence resource allocation decisions
Compare strategies for managing time, energy and money and evaluate their trade-offs
Analyse how access to resources differs across household types and life stages
Apply a decision-making model to two original scenarios and justify each choice
Your checkpoint
Two written scenario analyses (250 words each) applying a decision-making model with justified recommendations
Resource Management & Research Methodology
Explain the purpose and structure of a research plan
Draft a research question and hypothesis on a resource-management issue
Select appropriate sampling and data-collection methods for your question and justify them
Identify ethical considerations relevant to your proposed study
Your checkpoint
A one-page research proposal with question, hypothesis, method, sample and ethics statement
Research Methodology
Compare qualitative and quantitative approaches and match each to suitable research questions
Design a short survey instrument with at least eight well-formed items
Describe how to record, code and summarise both numerical and text data
Explain reliability, validity and bias and identify one risk of each in your design
Your checkpoint
A complete draft survey instrument plus a half-page methods summary covering sampling, data analysis and bias control
Individuals and Groups
Define the key concepts of individuals and groups and record them in your glossary
Explain how groups form, function and influence individual behaviour
Analyse how roles, norms and leadership styles affect group outcomes
Evaluate the impact of one group type on the wellbeing of its members
Your checkpoint
A comparative table of at least four group types covering purpose, roles, leadership and wellbeing impact
Individuals and Groups & Families and Communities
Explain how family structures and functions have changed over time
Describe how communities support and are shaped by families
Analyse the relationship between one community resource and family wellbeing
Evaluate the effect of a social or technological change on families and communities
Your checkpoint
A 500-word extended response evaluating one change on family and community wellbeing, with a referenced conclusion
Families and Communities
Map the Families and Communities syllabus content into a one-page outline
Explain how parenting and caring roles are shared and negotiated
Analyse the causes and effects of one community issue on family functioning
Propose and justify two strategies to support families facing that issue
Your checkpoint
A one-page Families and Communities outline plus a written response proposing two justified support strategies
Resource Management & Individuals and Groups & Families and Communities & Research Methodology
Synthesise all four domains into a single concept map linking key ideas
Complete a timed practice paper under exam conditions
Mark your responses against syllabus criteria and log every gap
Revise your weakest three topics using your glossary and concept map
Your checkpoint
A completed timed practice paper with a marked gap-analysis log listing three priority revision targets
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain resource management concepts and apply a decision-making model to an unseen scenario without notes
Week 4: Can describe the full research process, justify a method choice and identify bias risks in a design
Week 6: Can compare group types and evaluate a change affecting families and communities in extended-response form
Week 8: Timed practice paper completed with all sections attempted and a written gap-analysis log