The problem
Evidence weight depends on causal independence, not the number of documents. A shared parent record can produce a large family of seemingly distinct citations. Publication dates, identical language and shared mistakes can expose that dependency.
Analytical approach
Build a provenance graph with source nodes and transformations. Weight claims by independent acquisition pathways instead of superficial diversity.
Falsifiable test
Search for an independently collected raw observation that could not have been copied from the dominant source.
Operational implications
A defensible workflow should record the exact input, collection method, version, context, counter-explanation and reason for the conclusion. Reviewers should be able to disagree with the inference without losing the underlying observation. When this topic is applied to a real investigation, safety, lawful authority and domain-qualified professional guidance take precedence over a generic article.
Next research step
Publish a small case study with a documented baseline, an adversarial or failure-mode control, outcome criteria and enough data to reproduce the result. Report inconclusive findings alongside successes. This page is a research primer, not a claim that the proposed test has already been performed.
Source and revision record
Original editorial analysis and definitions. For background reference, consult the source catalog.