Source quality and claim status answer different questions
A source audit asks whether a document is authentic, attributable, current and close to the thing being described. A claim audit asks whether a particular statement is reported, independently verified, derived, disputed or still unknown.
A current manufacturer datasheet can therefore be a strong primary source for model identity, connector type or the manufacturer’s rated torque. It is not automatically independent proof that the same torque is sustained under a comparable duty cycle.
RCI attaches an evidence state to the claim—not a halo to the document.
The five states used by RCI
| State | Meaning | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer reported | The vendor or maker states the value. | Datasheet, manual, official product page |
| Independently verified | A traceable third party measures or confirms it. | Paper, lab report, certification listing |
| RCI derived | RCI calculates a value from disclosed inputs. | Formula, units and source inputs shown |
| Conflicting | Credible sources disagree or use incompatible definitions. | Both values and conditions retained |
| Unknown | Available evidence cannot support a useful answer. | Missing condition or absent source |
A ranking is a publication output, not a starting template
RCI will not rank unlike numbers simply because they share a unit. Peak torque with an unspecified duration is not interchangeable with continuous torque at a stated winding temperature. TOPS at different precisions are not a single compute scale. Battery cycle life without depth-of-discharge and end-of-life criteria is not a comparable field.
A comparison becomes eligible only after identity, definition, unit, test condition, source location and verification date can be preserved for every included value. When that gate is not met, RCI publishes a field guide or an evidence gap instead.
The citation contract
Every material claim should lead a reader to the exact upstream record. RCI pages identify the source, publication or revision date, relevant page or section where available, and the date RCI last checked it. Derived values show their inputs. Corrections do not erase the prior state.
A short, bounded answer with visible uncertainty is more useful—and more citable—than a comprehensive table built from incompatible claims.