Overview 

This standard is about researching required information in order to further carry out your work.  It involves planning and scheduling the research to meet those deadlines. It also requires that you identify sources, gather and interpret material or information that is relevant to the brief and use your research findings to inform your work.


Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. confirm the specific objectives for the research
  2. confirm the timing and final format for the research
  3. plan what you need and organise your research to ensure you work within the required timescales
  4. identify the sources and techniques for yourself and those assisting to use 
  5. brief any assistants on their role in the research
  6. identify whether existing material is relevant and up-to-date
  7. collate and interpret the findings as they emerge
  8. identify any gaps and sources of information you should use to fill these
  9. check that the information you wish to use is available and that you are legally allowed to use it
  10. collate the final set of findings and assess which information meets the research objectives
  11. prepare the findings in a way which addresses all of the objectives 
  12. present the research material in the required form for its intended use
  13. record all sources of information and store this with the results of your research
  14. maintain confidentiality of sensitive information in line with organisational procedures
  15. confirm your findings and conclusions meet the needs of the research brief
  16. assess if subsequent research or development by others will make your findings out of date
  17. where changes necessitate further research ensure you record those changes
  18. use information researched to inform your work


Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the scope of the research you are required to undertake
  2. the timescale within which it must be completed
  3. the depth of information required and how it fits into the bigger picture
  4. research techniques to plan and organise the process
  5. the main sources of information
  6. the implications and effects on the research of copyright, clearances and rights to use information
  7. ways to approach the sources of information
  8. key contacts and sources of information and developments in the area being researched
  9. methods of collating and interpreting information
  10. techniques for presenting the information
  11. when it is important to revisit research to ensure that the subsequent research does not make your findings out of date
  12. the implications of current legislation and regulations covering data protection
  13. the organisational procedures and timelines for data handling and deletion of data/records/information