Research Development
A fundamental skill to be successful in this area is that you can analyse your sources when
you are looking at each of your sources of information you need to consider:
 Origin: Where did the information come from? Make sure you record all of the
sources as you need this for your bibliography (and referencing)
 Reliability and credibility of the information
 Validity: is it useful for your project?
 Research Development: how did this source help you to locate other sources that
were useful to you, or how did it provide new information that you may not have
previously been aware of and you need to further investigate?
Reliability, Credibility and Validity
It is incredibly important for you to analyses and evaluate the quality of the
information that you are looking at. A brief guide for some of the things you need to
consider is below:
Things to consider
Sources: White ribbon Australia
https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Is the person a known expert in
the field? If it is a documentary,
White ribbon is a social movement
or current affairs program, is
to engage men in preventing men’s
the producer known for
violence against women.
presenting reliably factual
information?
Both have their uses, but both
can be biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends
on what your question is as to
how important the date of
writing or production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
The purpose of the source is
really important. Was it written
to persuade people to believe
the same things as the
author/producer? Is it intended
This is can be secondary sources
The white ribbon campaign is start
in 1981. On 1992 Men Against
Sexual Assault (MASA) attends a
national organisation of men against
sexism conference in Chicago
where one of the moderator gave
talk about the campaign and this
conference inspired MASA to launch
the campaign in each state where
the MASA organisation active. So,
in 1992 – 1997 MASA run this
campaign in Australia
The audience is men and women
with different age group and
especially targeted high school
students.
The organisation was made to
create a nation that respects women
and make women live in safety free
from all forms of abuse that come
from men.
to provide factual information?
Is the purpose simply to
entertain?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is
going to help you with your
Outcome (the answer to the
question)
This source is useful because it
provide a Domestic violence
hotlines and local domestic violence
support. It also provide information
about the prevention program,
campaign and primary prevention.
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
It might provide you with a
reference to another source
that you think might be useful.
It may also provide you with
new information that you
haven’t previously considered,
so you now need to do some
research on this. Sometimes
you learn something new that
makes you reconsider and
refine your question.
This site provide me with a
reference to another source like
national plan to reduce violence
against women that might be useful
to find out the prevention program
that government offer and this
organisation offer. It may also
provide me with new information.
Things to consider
Sources: Researching violence against women pdf
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
The pdf are made by World
Health Organisation and
PATH (a catalyst for global
health). The writer Mary
Ellsberg is an American
epidemiologist and now
doing research on global
health and violence against
women. Lori Heise is a longtime advocate and
researcher on women’s
health and most notably in
the fields of violence against
women and HIV.
So it mean both of the author
is known for presenting the
reliably factual information.
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
It is secondary source
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
The information was written
on 2005
Who is the intended audience?
The intended audience is for
young and new researchers
and activist that work in the
fields of women and
violence.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
The purpose is to make the
young and new researcher
and activist know the ethical
consideration for researching
this topic and help to
develop a research strategy
It is useful to see the statistic
from other country and
compare it to Australia
statistic. And also helping to
develop research strategy.
This source help me to
compare the statistic from
ABS website, it also provide
new information about
developing the research
strategy that based on this
area and make me learn
something new.
Things to consider
Sources: Australia bureau statistics
http://www.abs.gov.au/browse?opendocument&ref=topBar
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it help to
direct you to a
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
It is secondary sources
new source of
information?
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: National plan to reduce violence against women and their children
https://plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au/resources/what-is-violence-against-women/
Is the person a known expert in the
Who wrote it,
field? If it is a documentary, or current
produced it or
affairs program, is the producer known
made it?
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
Both have their uses, but both can be
secondary
biased.
source?
Some information can become
When was it
outdated really fast. It depends on
written/made or
what your question is as to how
produced?
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
Who is the intended audience?
produced?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
Why was it
people to believe the same things as
written/made or
the author/producer? Is it intended to
produced?
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
How useful
relevant information that is going to
(valid) is it?
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
Does it help to
new information that you haven’t
direct you to a
previously considered, so you now
new source of
need to do some research on this.
information?
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: Australia institute of health and welfare (AIHW) Family, domestic and
sexual violence pdf
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/d1a8d479-a39a-48c1-bbe24b27c7a321e0/aihw-fdv-02.pdf.aspx?inline=true
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: Violence against women health consequences Pdf
https://www.who.int/gender/violence/v8.pdf
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
Who is the intended audience?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: ReachOut.com
https://au.reachout.com/articles/domestic-violence-support
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: Domestic Violence resource centre Victoria
http://www.dvrcv.org.au/about-us/contact-us
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Things to consider
Sources: Women’s domestic violence court assistance service
https://www.victimsa.org/womens-domestic-violence-court-assistance-service
Who wrote it,
produced it or
made it?
Is the person a known expert in the
field? If it is a documentary, or current
affairs program, is the producer known
for presenting reliably factual
information?
Is it a primary or
secondary
source?
Both have their uses, but both can be
biased.
When was it
written/made or
produced?
Some information can become
outdated really fast. It depends on
what your question is as to how
important the date of writing or
production was.
For whom was it
written/made or
produced?
Who is the intended audience?
Why was it
written/made or
produced?
How useful
(valid) is it?
Does it help to
direct you to a
new source of
information?
The purpose of the source is really
important. Was it written to persuade
people to believe the same things as
the author/producer? Is it intended to
provide factual information? Is the
purpose simply to entertain?
Does it provide meaningful and
relevant information that is going to
help you with your Outcome (the
answer to the question)
It might provide you with a reference
to another source that you think might
be useful. It may also provide you with
new information that you haven’t
previously considered, so you now
need to do some research on this.
Sometimes you learn something new
that makes you reconsider and refine
your question.
Recording your Research Development
In providing evidence, it’s useful to use a consistent template to record your findings for each
source. A suggested template is:
Source: White ribbon Australia
https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
Key findings
Reliability
This website shows
There is no date and
the main information year
that I’m looking for
such as the
definition of women
and violence, the
prevention programs
and the support
network of women
Validity
This source is useful
but when compare
this source to the
government source
like National plan to
reduce violence
against women and
their children from
violence. This
source doesn’t give
Further research
This source will lead
me to further
research of the type
of women and
violence
and violence in
Australia.
Women and
violence or domestic
violence is refers to
violence, abuse, and
intimidation between
people who are
currently or have
previously been in
an intimate
relationship.
me enough
information about
the prevention
program.