Conducting high-quality research
Why good research matters
High-quality research produces reliable evidence you can analyse, defend, and use to meet the requirements of AS91890 / AS91900. Good research is careful about sources, transparent about methods, and honest about limitations.
Reliable sources
Prefer sources that are transparent about how information was gathered and checked. Useful categories include:
- π Academic journals: peer-reviewed articles provide methods, data, and references you can follow up.
- π Official reports: government, council, or NGO reports often include datasets and methodology.
- π Books and textbooks: good for background theory and well-vetted summaries.
- π° Reputable news outlets: useful for current events and leads; verify facts with primary sources.
- π Industry and technical reports: practical measurements, benchmarks, and applied perspectives.
- π Primary sources: raw data, standards, legislation, or first-hand accounts.
- πΏ Local and indigenous knowledge: important perspectives that add community context.
Bringing different perspectives
Seek sources that challenge each other and reveal assumptions. Compare peer-reviewed research with industry reports, local voices with national data, and historical sources with current findings. Multiple perspectives strengthen analysis and show where evidence disagrees.
Designing useful surveys
A well-designed survey gives you data that answers your inquiry question and provides evidence assessors can evaluate.
- π― Clarify the goal: define the exact question the survey should help answer.
- β±οΈ Keep it short: 8 to 15 focused items usually yield better completion rates.
- π’ Question types: mix closed questions for quantitative analysis with 1 to 2 open-ended questions for richer insights.
- π‘ Be provocative but fair: avoid leading or loaded wording.
- π§βπ€βπ§ Demographics and context: include minimal items only when they help interpret results.
- π Order and flow: start with simple, non-sensitive items and group related questions.
- π§ͺ Pilot test: trial with 5 to 10 people to fix wording and timing.
- βοΈ Consent and ethics: explain anonymity and data use
, and seek approvals when required .
Who to share surveys with
Choose audiences who can provide relevant evidence and who you can reasonably access.
- π₯ Classmates and teachers: quick responses and helpful for school-focused inquiries.
- π« School community: parents, staff, or student groups for broader perspectives.
- π€ Local groups and stakeholders: councils, clubs, or NGOs when the topic affects the community.
- π§βπ« Subject experts: teachers, university staff, or industry professionals for technical feedback.
- π Online communities: use carefully with privacy and consent rules in mind.
Evaluating research sources
Donβt accept information at face value. Apply these checks:
- π€ Authority: who wrote it and what expertise do they have?
- π Currency: how recent is it and does that matter for the topic?
- π¬ Evidence and method: are data collection and analysis transparent?
- π Corroboration: do other reliable sources support the claims?
- β οΈ Bias and purpose: is the aim to inform, persuade, or sell?
- π Statistics and claims: are numbers supported and limitations reported?
- π Peer review and citations: does the work cite evidence?
- π Reproducibility: could another researcher repeat the method?
Tips for success
Good research habits make analysis and reporting much easier later.
- π Record as you go: save full citations, URLs, access dates, and a short note on why each source was used.
- πΎ Save raw data: keep backups of files and spreadsheets.
- π Use simple statistics: means, medians, percentages, and basic charts.
- π Quote responsibly: anonymise respondents unless you have permission.
- π€ Reflect on limitations: state what the research cannot show and how that affects confidence.