Methodology

Evidence Standard

Structured rules for evidence types, metadata, verification, and publication.

Use this standard when adding evidence to an Allocate finding or case study. It describes the labels, metadata, review states, and citation details needed for another person to check the work.

Scope

This standard defines the minimum structure required for evidence used in Allocate findings, case studies, and human-grounded investigations.

It applies to:

agent-collected desk research
linked public records and open datasets
community-submitted field evidence
editor-written synthesis and recommendations

Evidence types

Allocate evidence should be labeled with one primary type:

Type	Description	Example
`literature`	Peer-reviewed research or formal institutional analysis	Open-access journal paper, World Bank report
`administrative_record`	Official public records or government data	Budget PDF, permit filing, agenda packet
`operational_record`	Service or implementation evidence	Construction notice, route schedule, maintenance map
`observation`	Direct place-based observation	Street audit, field note, repeat count
`media`	Visual or audio artifact tied to a claim	Photo of blocked bike lane, flood video
`testimony`	Statement from a person with local knowledge	Resident interview, organizer statement
`measurement`	Structured count or reading using a stated method	Traffic count, curb occupancy tally
`inference`	Editor or agent synthesis across sources	Cost barrier inferred from land values and budget gaps

If a source fits multiple categories, use the one that best reflects how the claim is being supported.

Required metadata

Every evidence item should include:

Field	Requirement
`title`	Short human-readable label
`source_type`	One of the allowed evidence types
`date`	Publication date or collection date
`location`	Geographic scope or exact place if safe to disclose
`collector`	Agent, contributor, agency, or publication
`method`	How the evidence was obtained
`firsthand`	`true` if directly observed or collected
`citation`	URL, document reference, or artifact link
`sensitivity`	`public`, `limited`, or `sensitive`

Preferred additional fields:

time_range
confidence_note
repeat_observation
related_claim_ids
language
limitations

Claim rules

Evidence supports a claim. Writers still decide how broad and precise the final claim should be.

Writers and agents should distinguish between:

what was directly observed
what was reported by a source
what is established by a document
what is inferred from several facts

A report needs additional support before it turns testimony or a single observation into a broad causal statement.

Verification states

Every evidence item has a visible verification state:

State	Meaning
`unreviewed`	Newly added and not checked yet
`structured`	Metadata complete and type labeled correctly
`corroborated`	Supported by another source, repeat observation, or linked artifact
`reviewed`	Checked by a human reviewer or editor
`high_confidence`	Strongly supported and suitable for decision-critical findings

Verification state and confidence answer different questions. Keep both fields.

Confidence rubric

Confidence	Standard
`low`	Single-source, weak metadata, unclear method, or unresolved conflict
`medium`	Good metadata, plausible method, some corroboration
`high`	Multiple independent supports, strong method, low ambiguity

A claim should never be marked high confidence if the underlying evidence still depends on one fragile source.

Publication threshold

Publish a claim as a finding only after it has:

a clear proposition
at least one linked source or artifact
enough metadata to audit where it came from
a claim state
a confidence label
reviewer signoff if the claim materially affects recommendations

Decision-critical claims should usually have at least two independent supports. A definitive source can satisfy that requirement on its own.

Privacy and safety

Evidence handling accounts for risk as well as truth value.

Caution

Do not publish:

personally identifying information without a clear reason and consent
precise locations when disclosure could endanger residents or workers
imagery of minors or vulnerable people without strong justification
evidence collected through trespass or unsafe instructions

Sensitive evidence may inform internal review. A separate publication decision is required before it becomes public.

Citation format

Allocate writing should prefer short, verifiable citations over vague references.

Minimum citation guidance:

use direct URLs for open web sources
identify the publisher or responsible entity
include year when known
note if the source is archived, inaccessible, or secondhand
identify whether a claim is an inference or a direct source statement

Citations provide attribution and make the research reproducible.