1. Writing the E1

2. RPB: EVALUATION: E1 500 Words
E1: Evaluation of the research processes, specific to the research question
Judgement focused
Comparison between processes
Only 2 or 3 processes
on balance ; strengths and limitations of processes, specific to the research question
clear links between the research processes and validity/credibility/reliability

3. RPB: EVALUATION: E1
Success of research process > helped to answer to the question
Discuss impact of process > link to quality of overall findings
basically:
what was the process?
why was it used?
how did it help answer the question and increase the quality of the answer?

4. Process? Source? PROCESS is an ACTION used to elicit information.
A SOURCE is a resource used.
A process could be:
Literature review
Primary Contact
Practical Research
Online Searching
Media Analysis
Archival research
You need to evaluate the PROCESS
Use 1 or 2 good specific SOURCES to support your claims for each PROCESS.

5. How do these fit together?
In the FOLIO, students typically deal with one source at a time…
My interview with Dr X was a very useful interaction because it allowed me to gain specific answers from a credible researcher who works in my field. Importantly, their seven years working on this specific topic meant that they provided me with a really clear answer as to why gut health and mental health could be linked…… Etc.
In the EVALUATION, they need to group and generalise under a ‘process’, before using sources to illustrate their evaluative ideas.
Interactions with professionals who are engaged in research in gut health were essential research processes because discussions with doctors, researchers and dieticians provided a range of credible perspectives through which I could establish significant trends. One such example was an interaction with Dr X who exemplified the usefulness of such interactions in their detailed explanation of gut health and its link with mental health. In particular, the comments they made about their research into depression was very elucidating because it allowed me to further develop my focus in this area by validating my prior research that good gut health could, in some patients, be charted with reduction of depressive symptoms. 7

6. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROCESSES
How do you know if the research process was useful? Effective? Accurate? Etc….
Credibility
Reliability
Bias
Validity
Has this process allowed you to find information obtained from trustworthy and authoritative sources?
How well has this process allowed you to find information supported by other sources?
How has this process been free of one-sided information and/or personal views? OR
How has the process allowed you to counteract bias that you have encountered through other processes?
At a basic level:
Explain to what extent the process allowed you to find information relevant to your research sub-questions?
To show an Advanced level of understanding:
Refer to the Advanced Validity flowchart

8. CREDIBILITY IN A NUTSHELL
This is used to determine whether the process was dependable due to the trustworthiness of sources?
Who has written the information? What authority do they have?
What other sources are mentioned? What authority do they have?
When was it written? Is it current?
Where did the information come from?

9. RELIABILITY IN A NUTSHELL
This is used to determine the accuracy of information within the process over an extended period, or number of times.
Repeated Information – will be given by multiple sources which reinforces your findings.
Practical Findings – Results are consistent and the Practical can be carried out in a manner that will yield consistent results.

10. VALIDITY IN A NUTSHELL
This is used to determine whether the sources within this process were relevant, or to what extent quantitative data/studies have been conducted appropriately.
Basic Validity:
To what extent does the source/process help you to answer any of your sub-questions?
Advanced Validity:
To what extent does the quantitative data/study presented in the source has been conducted appropriately to yield accurate data? 15

11. Was the process generally free from bias?
BIAS IN A NUTSHELL
This is used to determine whether sources within the process are providing a balanced view of the issue.
To what extent did the process provide sources that were unbalanced due to the presence of Social and Behavioural/Unintentional bias? OR
Was the process generally free from bias?