RMP.9:4.1 - Locate the question and try the supported present answer

Name the research use, the difficulty or opportunity, and what materially different answer would change in practice. Recover the relevant current Method, its description, actual application and receiving conditions far enough to distinguish the object at issue.

Check whether the observed failure comes from the reusable Method, its interpretation or implementation, a local deviation, unavailable capability or support, or an affected analysis or claim. Use the available evidence to make that distinction. A symptom that remains unexplained leaves the diagnosis open; it does not license a preferred replacement.

When an adequate present basis settles the question, use it. Retain the Method for its supported conditions, make the determinate correction, or return the bounded result to its owner. Verify the correction at the affected object and preserve the limits needed by whoever uses the result. Communicate this conclusion in the ordinary work result when that is sufficient.

First useful example. If a suitable Method calls for sample variance with denominator n−1 but its implementation uses n, fix and check that calculation. The Method can remain unchanged. Reanalyse the dependent results that used the wrong value; no new participants or efficacy trial are needed to determine the specified correction. The full case below shows the calculation and its reach.