Good research is planned rather than collected randomly. A clear enquiry plan helps the student find evidence for every section of the report and avoid dependence on one type of source.
Learning Objectives
By The End Of This Lesson, You Should Be Able To
- Break a research question into smaller enquiry questions.
- Use a research plan to cover causes, consequences, perspectives and actions.
- Select a varied and relevant source base.
- Record source information accurately from the beginning.
- Distinguish useful primary and secondary research without assuming one is always better.
Turn The Main Question Into Sub-Questions
The main question guides the whole report, but smaller questions guide the research. Useful sub-questions include: What exactly is the issue? Why is it global? What are its main causes? Who experiences the consequences? Which groups disagree and why? What evidence supports each perspective? What actions have been attempted? How practical and effective are those actions?
Each sub-question should contribute to an assessed area. Research that is interesting but unrelated to the title should be excluded.
Build A Research Matrix
A research matrix is a table or note system that links claims to evidence and sources. Suggested columns are: sub-question; key claim; evidence found; source details; perspective represented; source strengths; source limitations; possible use in the report. This prevents the common problem of collecting many links without knowing how they support the argument.
Research Coverage Check
- At least one strong source establishing the global nature and scale of the issue.
- Evidence about more than one cause and more than one consequence where appropriate.
- Evidence supporting a local or national perspective and a global perspective.
- Sources representing different stakeholder groups rather than only different websites.
- Evidence about at least two possible courses of action.
- Enough detail to evaluate practicality, likely impact and implementation.
- Sources that can themselves be evaluated for reliability, credibility and usefulness.
Use A Varied Source Base
A varied source base might include intergovernmental organisations, national governments, universities, peer-reviewed research, established news organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies, company reports, surveys, interviews and official datasets. Variety does not mean using every type. It means choosing sources suited to different research needs and recognising that each type may have strengths and limitations.
An international organisation may provide comparable global data but may simplify local differences. A government report may offer detailed national statistics but may defend current policy. An advocacy organisation may provide specialist evidence and neglected perspectives but may select evidence to support its campaign. A company report may contain direct operational data but also have reputational interests.
Primary And Secondary Research
Primary research is evidence collected directly by the student, such as an interview, questionnaire, observation or small local survey. Secondary research is evidence already collected or published by others. Cambridge does not require primary research for the Individual Report. Use it only when it adds relevant evidence and can be carried out ethically and carefully.
A small convenience survey cannot represent an entire country or age group. Its value may lie in illustrating a local perspective, not proving a global trend. Secondary sources can be stronger for large-scale claims when they use transparent methods and representative data.
Search Strategically
Begin with key terms from the question and use combinations that target evidence: issue plus country; issue plus dataset; issue plus policy evaluation; issue plus stakeholder; issue plus systematic review; issue plus criticism. Search for evidence that could challenge the expected conclusion as well as evidence that supports it. Balanced research is not achieved by collecting only sources that agree with the student.
Check the date of publication and the date of the underlying data. A recently updated webpage may rely on older evidence. For fast-changing issues, compare current reports with longer-term research so that short-term events are not mistaken for stable patterns.
Record Sources Immediately
For every source, record author or organisation, title, publication name where relevant, date, page number for reports, web address and date accessed if required by the chosen referencing system. Also record the exact claim or data used and whether the notes are quotation, paraphrase or personal comment. This reduces accidental plagiarism and makes the final reference list much easier to complete.
Academic Honesty
Changing a few words from a source does not make the idea original. Paraphrased ideas, data, arguments and distinctive explanations still require citation. Direct wording must be placed in quotation marks and cited, but quotations should be used sparingly because the report is assessed on the student’s own analysis.
Ethical Research
Do not collect sensitive personal information unless it is genuinely necessary and properly protected. Participants should know the purpose of an interview or survey and should participate voluntarily. Avoid pressuring classmates or presenting identifiable personal responses without permission. Questions should be neutral and appropriate to the participants’ age and context.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Using the first search result without checking authorship, evidence or purpose.
- Depending mainly on blogs, anonymous pages or unsourced summaries.
- Using many sources that repeat the same perspective.
- Treating a small local survey as proof of a global claim.
- Saving web links without recording what each source contributes.
- Researching only the preferred solution and ignoring alternatives.
- Leaving citation details until the final draft.
Research Planning Task
Create A One-Page Research Plan
- Write the final research question.
- List six to eight sub-questions.
- Name the stakeholder perspectives that must be investigated.
- Identify the evidence needed for two possible courses of action.
- Create a source-recording method before opening further sources.
