R0002/2026-03-13/C011/H2¶
Statement¶
Journalism and fact-checking have some methodological structure but lack the specific formal features named (evidence hierarchies, calibrated uncertainty scales, structured bias assessment domains).
Status¶
Current: Supported
Supporting Evidence¶
| Evidence | Summary |
|---|---|
| SRC01-E01 | SPJ code is principles-based, voluntary, no enforcement — supports principles characterization |
| SRC01-E02 | No evidence hierarchy, uncertainty scale, or bias domains found |
| SRC02-E01 | IFCN requires published methodology — shows methodological elements exist |
| SRC02-E02 | No evidence hierarchy, uncertainty scale, or bias assessment domains in IFCN code |
| SRC03-E01 | Field still developing epistemological foundations — no established evidence hierarchy |
| SRC04-E01 | "Contested epistemology" — field lacks settled methodological foundations comparable to clinical research |
| SRC05-E01 | IC has calibrated probability scale — journalism has no equivalent |
Contradicting Evidence¶
| Evidence | Summary |
|---|---|
[No evidence contradicts the partial-accuracy hypothesis.]
Reasoning¶
H2 is the strongest hypothesis. It accommodates both findings: (1) the specific formal features named in the claim are genuinely absent from journalism and fact-checking, and (2) the principles-vs-methodology binary is an oversimplification because fact-checking organizations do have methodological elements. The IFCN requires published methodology from signatories. Fact-checkers use verification procedures (SIFT method, E.S.C.A.P.E. framework, source triangulation) and structured rating scales (PolitiFact's Truth-O-Meter, Washington Post's Pinocchio scale). These are not the formal features named in the claim, but they are methodological — not purely principles-based.
Relationship to Other Hypotheses¶
H2 subsumes the valid elements of H1 (specific absences) while acknowledging the nuance that H1 misses. H2 is incompatible with both extremes: H1's "purely principles-based" and H3's "has formal methodologies."