PREACH — Your Fieldwork Evaluation Framework

🧠 PREACH — Your Fieldwork Evaluation Framework

Use PREACH to structure any fieldwork evaluation answer. Each letter prompts a different aspect of investigation quality.

Letter	Stands For	What to Address
P	Primary vs Secondary data choice	Was the right type of data used for the question? Would the other type have been more appropriate in any aspect?
R	Reliability	Would repetition give the same results? Were repeat measurements taken? Was the method standardised?
E	Equipment suitability	Was the equipment accurate and appropriate for the variable being measured? Were there equipment limitations (e.g., clinometer precision)?
A	Anomalies explained	Were any anomalous data values identified? Were they explained with reference to local site conditions or possible measurement error?
C	Controls maintained	Were controlled variables kept constant throughout (e.g., time of measurement, measurement depth, same observer)?
H	Hypothesis supported or rejected?	Does the data clearly support, partially support, or reject the hypothesis? What is the strength of the evidence for that conclusion?

For the 8- or 9-mark evaluation question, a strong answer works through at least four of the six PREACH dimensions with specific references to the investigation's methods and data.

Memory Aid for the 5-Stage Process

Struggling to remember the stages in order? Try: A Hot Dog Could Actually Satisfy Anyone

• Aim or research question
• Hypothesis developed
• Data collection designed
• Collect and present data
• Analyse, conclude and evaluate