RESEARCH METHODS

The key to accurate United Nations delegation is research. In order to accurately understand and express the situations of a nation, research must be conducted by the delegate in a number of ways.

First, a delegate must understand the particular crisis, and how it relates to the nation being represented. This can be done by reading the briefs in the delegate handbook and using the sources presented in it. These sources can be found in libraries and via the Internet, and are the first steps in the research process. Each delegate is expected to come to the conference with a solid understanding of the crisis or problem being presented.

The second step in research involves a thorough grasp of the country being represented by the delegate. A key to a well run and educational experience at HCMUN comes from the understanding of one’s nation. Research for this goal can be attained through the use of books, periodicals, and Internet sites. The best way to begin this research is by learning the history of the country. Next, a delegate should investigate the current status of the nation and any conflicts within its borders. Finally, a knowledge of foreign policy is imperative to the accurate representation by the delegate. The United Nations simulation strives to attain factual accounts of world relations today.

Both libraries and the Internet hold valuable information, if one knows how to find it. A good place to start at a library would be an atlas, to find where the particular country lies in relation to its surrounding nations. Once that step is complete, reference books and computers provide the best places to look for information. A hint: start with a broad subject heading, and eventually narrow it down to specifics.

The most powerful searching tool in the world is the Internet. It holds information on millions of topics and spans international boundaries. A good place to start searching for information is the Hope College Political Science home page at: www.hope.edu/academic/polisci/. From here a student can access either the Model UN web page or the Department Research Web by clicking on the link. This site provides links to search engines, and also a link to the Political Science Virtual Library. These can help to find information about countries involved in the United Nations. An additional hint here: when using search engines, use advanced search or power search options. These tools will help to produce sites more relevant to the keyword(s).