The Explanation of Research and Planning is the team’s strategic working document. It records how the project developed from topic and issue selection to a planned action, and it is updated when changes occur.

Learning Objectives

Purpose And Word Limit

Each team produces one Explanation of Research and Planning of 300–400 words. All members receive the same mark. Material beyond the first 400 words is not credited, so the team must be selective and precise. The document may be presented as a simple table if this communicates the information clearly.

This document is not a research essay and it is not the Reflective Paper. It should explain what the team decided, why the action follows from the issue and research, how the project will operate, who will do what, how the action will be evidenced and how success will be measured.

How The 10 Marks Are Divided

• Topic and issue: 2 marks.
• Plan: 3 marks.
• Roles: 2 marks.
• Action: 3 marks.

The highest level requires clear identification of the topic and local issue, a detailed plan that explains both evidence and measurement, clear roles and responsibilities for every member, and a clear summary of the action intended to address the issue.

Stage One: Initial Focus

At the beginning, the team should record the chosen topic, the local issue and what each team member will research. This establishes a shared direction and prevents duplication. The research responsibilities should be specific enough to show different aspects or perspectives.

Stage Two: Research-Informed Plan

As research develops, the team should clarify the issue and chosen action. It should outline the main tasks, identify roles and responsibilities, state what will count as Evidence of Action and explain how success will be measured. The plan should show enough detail for another reader to understand what will happen.

“We will run a campaign and see whether it works” lacks detail. A clearer plan identifies the audience, method, dates, materials, responsibilities, baseline and outcome measure. For example, the team may pilot a peer-support guide and orientation session, record attendance, compare pre- and post-session confidence responses and collect short feedback from participants.

Stage Three: Changes After Completion

When the project is complete, the document should identify and explain any changes that had to be made. The explanation should give a reason rather than simply state that the plan changed. For example, a planned workshop may have been replaced by small-group sessions because the available room could not safely hold the expected audience.

Writing About The Topic And Issue

Name the official topic and define the local issue in one precise statement. Avoid using the entire topic as the issue. Include enough context to show the problem the team wants to address, but do not use a large proportion of the word limit describing background facts.

Writing The Plan

The plan should explain the sequence of major tasks, timing and resources. For full detail, it must explain how the team will evidence the action and how it will measure success. These two elements are separate. Photographs may evidence that an event happened, while attendance data and pre- and post-action responses may measure whether it achieved its objective.

Writing Roles And Responsibilities

Identify the responsibility of every team member. Use active, specific descriptions such as “designs and pilots the questionnaire, analyses responses and shares findings” rather than “helps with research.” Include responsibilities for the action, evidence and measurement as well as research.

The written roles should reflect fair division according to skills and time, but they do not prevent cooperation. Members may work together and support one another while retaining clear responsibility for agreed tasks.

Writing The Action Summary

Explain exactly what the team will do, who the target group is and how the action addresses the local issue. The action summary should show a logical connection to research. Avoid exaggerated claims such as “This campaign will solve the problem.” State the realistic contribution the action is intended to make.

A Practical 300–400 Word Structure

These allocations are guidance, not Cambridge requirements. The best balance depends on the project. Teams should count words accurately and remove repetition before submission.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Describing research findings in detail instead of explaining the plan.
• Listing tasks without stating how success will be measured.
• Giving roles to some members but not all members.
• Confusing Evidence of Action with success evidence.
• Naming an action but not explaining how it addresses the issue.
• Forgetting to add and explain changes after the action.
• Exceeding 400 words.

Quick Check

Suggested Answers

The document must contain 300–400 words. The plan is worth 3 marks and should explain how the action will be evidenced and measured. The role statement is too general to show clear responsibility. Evidence of Action shows what was produced or done, while success measurement judges the effect of the action. Changes should be added and explained when the project has been completed.