How to Find Reliable Sources for CIPD Assignments

When I start researching a CIPD assignment, I do not begin by collecting as many links as possible. I start by asking a simpler question: “What evidence do I actually need to answer this question?”

That small change makes research much easier. It also helps you avoid one of the biggest problems in academic writing: filling an assignment with websites that look useful but do not provide strong evidence.

For CIPD work, reliable research matters because evidence-based practice is part of professional people practice. CIPD describes evidence-based practice as using the best available evidence from different sources and applying critical thinking before reaching a decision.

The aim, therefore, is not simply to find information. Your aim is to find information you can check, evaluate and use appropriately.

What Counts as a Reliable Source?

A reliable source is one where you can establish who produced the information, why it was produced and what evidence supports the claims being made.

I normally check a source against a few basic questions:

• Who wrote or published it?
• Is the author qualified or experienced in the subject?
• When was it published or updated?
• What evidence does it use?
• Can I trace the information back to an original study or dataset?
• Does the source acknowledge limitations?
• Is there a potential commercial or personal bias?
• Does it directly relate to my assignment question?

A beautifully designed HR website can still be a weak academic source. Conversely, a government report or academic paper may look less attractive but contain considerably stronger evidence.

CIPD's own guidance makes a similar point. Critical review involves considering the author's approach, research methods, conclusions, strengths and weaknesses rather than simply accepting what has been written.

Start With CIPD's Own Research

For a CIPD assignment, I would normally begin with CIPD itself.

That does not mean using CIPD as the answer to every question. Instead, it gives you a reliable starting point for understanding professional terminology, current people-practice issues, evidence-based practice and relevant concepts.

CIPD's evidence-based practice guidance identifies several types of evidence that people professionals can bring together, including scientific research, organisational information, professional expertise and stakeholder perspectives.

The CIPD Profession Map is another useful starting point. Its evidence-based practice section focuses on using research, organisational data, stakeholder information and professional expertise to inform decisions.

I would use these resources to identify the important concepts first and then move beyond them.

For example, if your assignment concerns employee engagement, start by understanding how CIPD discusses engagement and related workplace issues. Then identify academic theories and research that allow you to analyse the subject in greater depth.

Use Academic Research for Academic Claims

Google Scholar is useful for finding journal articles and other scholarly material, but the search process needs some thought.

One mistake is to paste your entire assignment question into the search box and simply use whatever appears first.

Instead, break the question into smaller concepts.

For example, if you are researching employee voice and organisational performance, you could search for:

• employee voice organisational performance
• employee voice employee engagement
• employee participation workplace outcomes
• employee voice systematic review
• employee voice empirical research

This gives you a wider picture of the research rather than one narrow set of results.