Research and sources
Check the context around a quoted statistic
Before reusing a statistic, find the source passage and note what it counts, which group it describes and the period covered. For a percentage, identify the denominator or starting value. Record any missing context so you can decide whether the number supports the sentence you want to write.
A text to start with
I found this statistic: [number and sentence], in [where]. Help me check it. List what I need to find: the unit, population, date range, comparison group and original source. If it is a percent change, ask for the baseline. Say what the quote leaves out and what to look for in the source passage.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Statistic context sheet
Number as quoted: [ ] Where I saw it: [ ] Original source and location: [ ] Unit (what is counted): [ ] Population or group: [ ] Date or period covered: [ ] Denominator or baseline: [ ] Comparison group: [ ] Source passage, copied exactly: [ ] Does the quote match the passage (yes, no, partly): [ ] Missing context: [ ] Decision (quote with context, narrow, drop): [ ]
Percent changes and mismatched groups
For a percentage change, find the starting and ending values. A hypothetical rise from five cases to six is a 20% increase, but it also means one additional case. Keep both the percentage and scale in view. When comparing figures, check the populations, periods, units and counting methods; differences may be intentional but need explanation. Confirm that the source passage supports the quoted sentence. If the original source is unavailable, record which source you actually checked and what you could not verify.
Ask another agent to check the result
Challenge this statistic. Look for percent changes with no baseline, comparisons across mismatched groups or periods, and any gap between the original passage and how it was quoted. List each problem and the evidence that would settle it.
Decide how to use the number
Choose whether to quote the number with context, narrow the claim or leave it out. If the original is unavailable, investigate a credible secondary source and make that attribution clear; another copy of the same unsupported figure adds no evidence. Keep the relevant source passage and access date with your notes.