Introduction to Citizenship Enquiry

In GCSE Citizenship, you aren't just learning facts from a textbook; you are learning how to make a difference in the world. To do this effectively, you need to act like a researcher. A Citizenship Enquiry is simply a way of investigating an issue to find out the truth and decide what action to take. Whether you are worried about local litter, national human rights, or global climate change, every great change starts with a good question.

In this chapter, we will look at how to start your investigation by forming a hypothesis, creating research questions, and finding the right sources of information.

1. What is a Hypothesis?

Don't let the big word scare you! A hypothesis is just a fancy name for a "prediction" or an "educated guess." It is a statement that you can test to see if it is true or false.

When you start your Citizenship action, you might have an idea about why something is happening. You turn that idea into a hypothesis.
Example: "Young people in my area do not vote because they don't feel that politicians listen to them."

How to write a good hypothesis:

  • It should be a statement, not a question.
  • It should be something you can prove or disprove with evidence.
  • It should focus on a specific issue (like a local community issue or a public policy).

Quick Tip: Think of it as a "trial statement." By the end of your research, you will conclude whether your hypothesis was correct or if you need to change your mind based on the evidence you found.

2. Creating and Sequencing Research Questions

Once you have your hypothesis, you need to break it down into smaller, manageable research questions. These help you stay focused so you don't get overwhelmed by too much information.

Formulating Questions

Good research questions often start with Who, What, Where, Why, and How. For example, if you are investigating the role of the media in an election, you might ask:
"How does the local newspaper report on different political parties?" or "What platforms do young people use to get their news?"

Sequencing Your Questions

Sequencing just means putting your questions in a logical order. You want to start with the basics and move towards more complex ideas.
1. The Basics: What is the current situation? (e.g., What are the current recycling rates in school?)
2. The "Why": Why is this happening? (e.g., Why do students say they find it hard to recycle?)
3. The "Change": What could be done better? (e.g., How would more bins affect student behavior?)

Key Takeaway: Good research questions are like a map; they guide you from knowing nothing to having enough information to take informed action.

3. Finding Your Evidence: Primary and Secondary Sources

To answer your questions and test your hypothesis, you need information. Citizenship researchers use two main types of sources:

Primary Sources

Primary research is information you find out yourself for the first time. It is "first-hand" evidence.
Examples include:

  • Surveys/Questionnaires: Asking your classmates or neighbors their views on a local issue.
  • Interviews: Talking to a local councillor, an MP, or a representative from a charity or pressure group.
  • Observations: Counting how many people use a specific public service or visit a local community centre.

Secondary Sources

Secondary research is looking at information that someone else has already collected.
Examples include:

  • News reports: Checking how the free press covers a story.
  • Government websites: Looking up laws like the Human Rights Act (1998) or information from public services.
  • NGO/Charity Reports: Reading about how groups like the UN or Red Cross respond to international crises.
  • Internet research: Using digital democracy tools or social media to see what people are campaigning about.

Did you know? Using a mix of both primary and secondary sources makes your argument much stronger! It shows you have looked at the "big picture" (secondary) and the "local reality" (primary).

4. Organizing and Selecting Knowledge

You will likely find a lot of information, but you can't use it all. You must select and organize the most relevant parts. When looking at your sources, ask yourself:

  • Is it relevant? Does this actually help answer my research question?
  • Is there a viewpoint? Does this source show a particular bias? (For example, a political party's website will have a different viewpoint than an independent report).
  • Is it accurate? Can I find this same information in another source to double-check it?

Memory Aid: Use the "S.A.V.E." check for your sources:
S - Specific (Does it hit the point?)
A - Accurate (Is it true?)
V - Viewpoints (Does it show different sides?)
E - Evidence (Can I use this to prove my point?)

Summary Checklist

Before you move on to "Source-based analysis" (the next chapter), make sure you can:

  • Explain what a hypothesis is (your predicted answer).
  • Create a list of research questions in a logical sequence.
  • Identify the difference between primary (your own research) and secondary (other people's research) sources.
  • Understand that you must select the best information to support your reasoned argument.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just collect facts that agree with you! A good Citizenship student looks for different viewpoints and counter-arguments to make their own conclusion more "substantiated" (backed up by evidence).