Establishing an effective workflow for open source investigation

When conducting an open source investigation, it is important to develop an efficient and effective way of working. Below are some tips on the best practices for setting up a workflow from Amnesty International’s Sophie Dyer. 
 

 

1. Establish clear research questions - You will likely work with a lot of data when conducting an open source investigation. For this reason, it is critical to determine what data needs to be collected by honing your research question.

2. Filter content for verification - Remember that not everything you collect at the start of the discovery process will be useful. You may find the research questions may become more focused during the research process. Consider prioritising your objectives through your research question and filter relevant content for your investigation.

3. Structured data collection - Collecting consistent data in an organised and structured manner will be essential to making the best use of your time and developing a thorough investigation. Ensure that all information relevant for your research is collected from the start and consider standardising the data from the beginning.

4. Track what information is being collected - Throughout the verification process, it is critical that you track what information is being collected. This will help you identify what is missing in your research or any other inconsistencies that exist. 

Interested to learn more? Sign up for Amnesty International’s free 2-part course on Advocacy Assembly.