Developing questioning skills and research methods

Mapped to Assessment Criterion 2.2 of 3CO03, this video addresses how people professionals can actively demonstrate inquisitiveness about contemporary issues in HR and the wider world of work. It covers the development of questioning skills as a deliberate professional behaviour, distinguishing between self-directed questioning and questions posed to colleagues, managers and external contacts. The video also introduces critical thinking as an associated competence, examining how to evaluate the credibility of sources, weigh evidence and identify assumptions — including a worked example drawn from performance management to illustrate how these habits apply in practice.

The video gives attention to both formal and informal research methods as routes for maintaining currency in the people profession. On the formal side, it references peer-reviewed academic journals, CIPD research reports, factsheets and guides, alongside industry and workforce data from bodies such as Acas and government sources. Informal methods receive equal weight, with the video covering collegial conversation, observation and workplace reflection, small-scale experimentation and benchmarking against other organisations as practical means of building professional knowledge.

Across all three areas — questioning, critical thinking and research methods — the video treats inquisitiveness as a cultivated professional behaviour rather than a fixed trait, discussing the conscious effort required to move beyond accepting information at face value. The content is framed around what individuals can do for their own development and for others, consistent with the AC 2.2 requirement to recommend concrete approaches for promoting curiosity and staying current with developments across the people profession.