Research and Sourcing Policy

Source hierarchy

We prefer primary evidence: official documentation, standards bodies, original research, public datasets, direct platform statements, legal text, and first-hand testing. High-quality secondary analysis may be used to add context or compare interpretations.

Evaluation criteria

A source is assessed for authority, proximity to the claim, methodology, recency, conflicts of interest, and whether another reader can inspect it. Popularity alone does not make a source reliable.

• Link directly to the supporting page when practical
• Include dates when the information can change
• Avoid circular citations and unattributed statistics
• Represent uncertainty and disagreement fairly

AI-assisted research

AI tools may assist with discovery, organization, or editing, but an AI response is not treated as evidence for a factual claim. Material facts must be checked against an inspectable source or clearly labeled as analysis.