An exploratory mixed-methods design
The authors used an exploratory mixed-methods design, pairing a public survey of 125 respondents with a recorded focus group in which seven participants handled and ranked lab-made starch-protein bioplastics against conventional and commercial alternatives. The qualitative focus group data was interpreted through thematic analysis, the step the publication reports Evidano assisted with.
The paper was published by Cambridge University Press with open peer review, funded by a SETU President Award Fellowship, and co-authored with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
How Evidano fit the workflow
- 1The focus group discussion was recorded and prepared for analysis.
- 2Evidano assisted the thematic analysis of that qualitative data.
- 3Nine themes were identified, from sustainability and cost to clarity and labelling.
- 4The authors retained responsibility for interpretation, with supervision and validation roles recorded in the paper’s author contributions.
“AILYZE AI qualitative data analysis software was used to assist with thematic analysis, helping to mitigate any unintentional bias during the focus group data interpretation.”
AI use was declared openly in the publication, not hidden.
Published by Cambridge University Press with open peer review.
AI assisted the thematic analysis; the authors interpreted and reported the findings.
The study reports using Evidano to help mitigate unintentional bias in interpretation.