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Government Research Skills

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Government Research Skills

A community group wants to explain how New Zealand Parliament works. Use the source clues and short passage below to practise finding, checking and organising reliable information. Answer every question; more than one response may be reasonable where indicated.

Choose and check sources

Imagine you are researching how a bill becomes law in New Zealand.

1.Which source is the strongest starting point for the official steps in making a law? Choose one and explain briefly why.

A Parliament of New Zealand webpage explaining the bill process
An anonymous social media post
A personal blog with no sources
A three-year-old comment in an online forum

2.Select the THREE most useful checks when deciding whether a webpage is trustworthy for a civics report.

The author or organisation is identifiable
The claims can be checked against other reliable sources
The page gives a publication or update date
The page has lots of bright colours
The page is popular with my friends
The headline agrees with my opinion

3.Match each source with the most fitting description. Treat these as typical starting points: still check the specific information.

Official Parliament page
Peer-reviewed civics research article
Reputable news report
Personal blog post

C. Expert work reviewed by other specialists
A. Personal viewpoint; evidence and expertise may be limited
B. Primary information about Parliament's own process
D. Reporting that may add context; check its sources

Read, note and verify

Use this self-contained passage as your research source.

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. In New Zealand, a bill usually goes through several stages in the House of Representatives. Members debate it and vote at different stages. A select committee may examine a bill, invite the public to make submissions, and recommend changes. If the House passes the bill, it receives Royal assent and becomes an Act. Not every bill follows exactly the same path, and details can change, so researchers should confirm current procedures using Parliament’s official information.

4.Turn the passage into concise notes. Include a cue or key question, at least three short factual notes, and a one-sentence summary. Use your own words rather than copying the whole passage.

5.A post says, “Every bill must follow exactly the same process.” What should you do before repeating this claim? Give two practical verification steps.

6.A website has no named author or update date, but confidently claims that a select committee cannot hear from the public. Identify two reasons to be cautious and one next step.

Plan a focused research sprint

You have 30 minutes to answer: “How can the public contribute to a bill’s consideration?”

7.Plan your research in four stages: (1) turn the topic into questions and list search terms; (2) find reliable sources; (3) check sources, compare claims and record notes; (4) write and check your answer. Assign a task and minutes to each stage, making sure the minutes add up to 30.

8.Write two focused search phrases that could help answer the research question. At least one should direct you towards an official source.

9.Explain one way an unreliable source could mislead people about government, and one habit that helps prevent this.