Forms of Supporting Evidence

Forms of Supporting Evidence

Types of Evidence Definition Example Comment

Facts

Well tested information that is intersubjectively evaluated and can be proven true or false. (Gibbs & Grambrill, 1999)

The survey response rate was 50%

Data are characters and/or numbers and information are data Data that has been aggregated or processed according to some model or rules to enhance its meaning, for example, the zip code number 76019-0129

Rules/heuristics Evidence based in judgments, logic, or rules of thumb A safety rule of thumb during an investigation is never to let a hostile client get between you and the door A heuristic is personal knowledge and inexact reasoning that enables a person to make educated guesses, to recognize promising approaches to problems, and to work with error laden or incomplete information, for example, rules of thumb or judgments.

Research A scientifically based process of reaching conclusions that are valid and reliable Our survey found that 1 in 10 workers found the report useful. Research is considered a "higher" form of evidence because it follows scientifically accepted processes and reporting protocols that maximize reliability, validity, and reproducibility.

Common sense Conventional wisdom, tradition, or someone’s personal philosophy or perspective It is hard to judge the validity and reliability of common sense because little supporting evidence is involved. Most people judge the validity and reliability of common sense by the person citing common sends as the basis for a decision. However, common sense can be a very biased approach to decision making and means nothing more than “what is common to me makes sense.”

Intuition Gut feelings, hunches, or information from techniques such as praying or sleeping on a decision/situation. When I walked into the house, I could smell abuse. Intuition can be seen as a very holistic decision making approach as it tries to consider and integrate information from all the senses. The main problem with intuition is that it is impossible to explain and justify. Thus, it is hard to say that a decision based on intuition was made reliability, accountably, and with high validity.

Expertise/experience Knowledge and skills gained from both/either training and/or experience Expertise and experience are often referred to as practice wisdom. TDPRS places a high value on practice wisdom as can be seen by the focus on supervisory conferences and training.

Data A character or group of characters (letters, numbers, or symbols) which represents facts or events The numbers 760190129 Data provide almost no evidence unless it is processed into information

Information Data that has been aggregated or processed according to some model or rules to enhance its meaning, for example, The zip code 76019-0129 Information is data processed to enhance its meaning. Information is often a very generic term for various forms of evidence.

Types of Evidence	Definition	Example	Comment
Facts	Well tested information that is intersubjectively evaluated and can be proven true or false. (Gibbs & Grambrill, 1999)	The survey response rate was 50%	Data are characters and/or numbers and information are data Data that has been aggregated or processed according to some model or rules to enhance its meaning, for example, the zip code number 76019-0129
Rules/heuristics	Evidence based in judgments, logic, or rules of thumb	A safety rule of thumb during an investigation is never to let a hostile client get between you and the door	A heuristic is personal knowledge and inexact reasoning that enables a person to make educated guesses, to recognize promising approaches to problems, and to work with error laden or incomplete information, for example, rules of thumb or judgments.
Research	A scientifically based process of reaching conclusions that are valid and reliable	Our survey found that 1 in 10 workers found the report useful.	Research is considered a "higher" form of evidence because it follows scientifically accepted processes and reporting protocols that maximize reliability, validity, and reproducibility.
Common sense	Conventional wisdom, tradition, or someone’s personal philosophy or perspective		It is hard to judge the validity and reliability of common sense because little supporting evidence is involved. Most people judge the validity and reliability of common sense by the person citing common sends as the basis for a decision. However, common sense can be a very biased approach to decision making and means nothing more than “what is common to me makes sense.”
Intuition	Gut feelings, hunches, or information from techniques such as praying or sleeping on a decision/situation.	When I walked into the house, I could smell abuse.	Intuition can be seen as a very holistic decision making approach as it tries to consider and integrate information from all the senses. The main problem with intuition is that it is impossible to explain and justify. Thus, it is hard to say that a decision based on intuition was made reliability, accountably, and with high validity.
Expertise/experience	Knowledge and skills gained from both/either training and/or experience		Expertise and experience are often referred to as practice wisdom. TDPRS places a high value on practice wisdom as can be seen by the focus on supervisory conferences and training.
Data	A character or group of characters (letters, numbers, or symbols) which represents facts or events	The numbers 760190129	Data provide almost no evidence unless it is processed into information
Information	Data that has been aggregated or processed according to some model or rules to enhance its meaning, for example,	The zip code 76019-0129	Information is data processed to enhance its meaning. Information is often a very generic term for various forms of evidence.