01Prefer primary and inspectable material
Scientific papers, standards, methodological documentation, original datasets and institutional publications are preferred for technical or quantitative claims. An important statement should point to material that can be consulted directly, with a date, scope and locator where the conclusion depends on it.
02Check comparability before transfer
Compare population, period, unit, method, exclusions and outcome definition before importing a value into a decision. A precise number from another context is not automatically relevant. When these conditions are missing, the number is context only—not a planning parameter.
03Publish disagreement and uncertainty
When credible methods or results diverge, the divergence should remain visible. Identify which decision remains robust and what new information could discriminate between options. A bibliography at the bottom of a page does not replace adjacent support for a calculation or causal conclusion.
04Trace a decisive claim to its source
An important claim must link to a directly consultable source, with its date, scope and limits. A bibliography at the foot of the page does not replace a citation placed beside the statement when a calculation or a causal conclusion can change a decision.