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Sub-Module 4: Research

Please note that the full content of the module is available to registered participants of COI training courses only.

Once you’ve completed this module you’ll know:

  • where to start the research process and how to proceed

  • how to corroborate the information you’ve found during your research

  • how to conduct an effective search on search engines and online COI information systems like ecoi.net and Refworld

  • under what circumstances to use a library or an oral source

  • to identify sources and search terms on specific topics

Does a good research strategy help me to conduct efficient and thorough research? Let’s give it a try!

In the previous modules, you’ve learned about the importance of legal relevance to COI research and about some of the most important sources. In this module, you’ll learn more about the practicalities of COI research and, once complete, will know how to conduct such research yourself.

Let's have a look at the story of an asylum seeker from Iran:

The case of Akbar Polady

Mr Akbar Polady comes from Eslamsha, a poor suburb of Tehran, Iran. He claims to have left his country because he was afraid of being killed by the regime. In Tehran he was an officer in the army’s air defence force. He claims to be a member of a political opposition party. He did not have a very important role in the party, and was mainly involved in distributing leaflets. However, the party leader and his wife have allegedly been killed by government agents.

For researching the details of a case you need two important things:

  1. A systematic research strategy that will help you to conduct effective and efficient research, question information, select the most relevant pieces of information and use the method of corroboration.
  2. Practical research skills that will enable you to find answers to your questions within search engines and databases by using search terms and search operators.




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