Bound the sources and research question
The work assignment is to check sources, freshness and claim boundaries systematically. Define purpose, owner and permitted operating boundary before the first test.
The domain review baseline covers primary source, date, direct support, cross-check and uncertainty. Assumptions and missing information remain visible in the result.
Match references to claims
- Bound the research question and list the material claims needing evidence.
- Open primary sources, check their dates and record the passages that actually support the claims.
- Cross-check important claims for scope and contradictions using a suitable comparison.
- Clearly distinguish evidence, inference and uncertainty in the result.
Document uncertainty visibly
A source record maps every material claim to an actually reviewed reference and date. It distinguishes direct evidence, inferred assessments and unresolved questions, with a traceable cross-check.
Avoid: using unopened citations as proof of truth. An unopened citation, a mismatched reference or a source whose freshness is insufficiently established cannot conclusively support the specific claim.
Decision matrix
| Decision point | Proceed when | Stop when |
|---|---|---|
| Source baseline | Documented: primary source, date, direct support, cross-check and uncertainty. | Scope, data or accountability remains unresolved. |
| Evidence review | A source record maps every material claim to an actually reviewed reference and date. It distinguishes direct evidence, inferred assessments and unresolved questions, with a traceable cross-check. | There is only an unevaluated demo without acceptance evidence. |
| Claim boundary | Owner, approval, fallback and next review date are defined. | Avoid: using unopened citations as proof of truth. An unopened citation, a mismatched reference or a source whose freshness is insufficiently established cannot conclusively support the specific claim. |
Keep it verifiable
Primary sources
- Microsoft: RAG end-to-end evaluationSource checked:
- Microsoft: RAG prompt engineeringSource checked:
