A practical method
An evidence ledger
An evidence ledger with a defined question, source locations, conflicts, limitations and review ownership. Work through the prompts in your own notes. No information is submitted or saved here.
Question and alternatives
Record the exact decision question, population, time and plausible explanations. Note what result would change your first view.
Source plan
List primary or authoritative source types, search dates, inclusion and exclusion rules, permissions and gaps. Do not assume a federated link is a vetted source.
Claim record
For each possible claim, capture source owner, exact location, date, method, quotation limit and what the source actually supports.
Conflict and uncertainty
Mark disagreement, missing data, measurement limits and inference separately. Avoid averaging incompatible observations into a false certainty.
Review and refresh
Name a steward, peer check, next review date, correction path and reason to withdraw a claim or link.
Record the outcome
- What is the proposed next step, and who owns it?
- What evidence supports it, and what remains unknown?
- What would make you pause or change direction?
- When will the decision be reviewed?
Keep private details in your own records. This is a reading guide, not a submission form.
Adapted from an owner-supported proposal draft. This is general planning material, not evidence of an operating service, completed engagement or professional advice. Read the source and scope note.