University of Sydney: Human Trafficking Criminal wwww.ielts.agency 45
Part 2 Methodology
In stark contrast to IELTS’s universally secretive business practices, examination content and
testing procedures, this research project aims to be transparent, accountable and openly self-
reflexive of the minor limitations inherent in Part 1 of this two-part report series. Phase 2 of this
research project aims to interview circa 20 former and 20 currently practicing IELTS examiners.
This extension should further strengthen the reliability and validity of inferences drawn in this
project. I warmly welcome constructive feedback and questions from members of the public.
The methodological design of this report conforms to the ethical requirements, conventions and
high standards imposed on scholars and practitioners who study at graduate research level.
Events and quantitative facts that are common knowledge among those who work in the English
language testing industry are not supported with a reference, as is customary among scholarly
researchers (e.g. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017).
2.1 Data analysis
This project uses layered and stratified purposeful sampling techniques to obtain a
representative data set from the population. This research project analyses circa 3,300
independent pieces of evidence obtained from ten principal data sources. This project achieved
data saturation after the examination of circa 100 pieces of evidence. This evidence includes
multiple independent data obtained from ten data sets shown in Table 7.