Inquiry, Research and Evaluation Skills
Core concepts
You must frame a research question, select methods, gather credible data, analyse it and draw justified conclusions. Distinguish primary data (surveys, interviews, focus groups, sensory panels, experiments, observation) from secondary data (ABS, AIHW, FAO, peer-reviewed journals, government dietary guidelines). Evaluate sources for authority, currency, accuracy, bias and purpose. Understand sampling (random, convenience, stratified) and how sample size and selection affect validity and reliability. Know the difference between quantitative data (numbers, means, percentages, graphs) and qualitative data (themes, quotes), and choose appropriate presentation. Ethics matter: informed consent, confidentiality, respectful treatment of participants and cultural safety. Referencing must be consistent and accurate.
Traps
Do not confuse validity (measuring what you intend) with reliability (consistency of results). Avoid causal language from correlational or survey data. Convenience samples cannot be generalised to a population; say so. Watch for leading survey questions and small samples. Do not cite commercial or unverified websites as authoritative evidence, and do not present opinions as findings.
Worked rule of thumb
Use a claim–evidence–reasoning chain: state the finding, cite the data, then explain why it supports the conclusion and note limitations. For example: 'Most respondents (72%, n=50) chose price as the main influence; however, the convenience sample of one school limits generalisation.' Always report sample size and acknowledge limitations before recommending action.