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Evaluation of Source Reliability

DesignatorLabelExplanation
AReliableNo doubt of authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency; has a history of complete reliability
BUsually ReliableMinor doubt about authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency; has a history of valid information most of the time
CFairly ReliableDoubt of authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency but has provided valid information in the past
DNot Usually ReliableSignificant Doubt about authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency but has provided valid information in the past
EUnreliableLacking in authenticity, trustworthiness, and competency; history of invalid information
FCan Not JudgeNo Basis exists for evaluating the reliability of the source

Evaluation of Information Content

DesignatorLabelExplanation
1ConfirmedConfirmed by other independent source; logical in itself; Consistent with other information on the subject
2Probably TrueNot Confirmed; logical in itself; consistent with other information on the subject
3Possibly TrueNot Confirmed; reasonably logical in itself; agrees with some other information on the subject
4Doubtfully TrueNot Confirmed; possible but not logical; no other information on the subject
5ImprobableNot Confirmed; not logical in itself; contradicted by other information on the subject
6Can Not JudgeNo Basis exists for evaluating the validity of the source

The Analyst's Assistant

In this game you are an assistant to an analyst. The analyst must rapidly develop an understanding of a new environment. The understanding is derived from third party observations. These observations are defined by two parameters: source reliability and information content. Source reliability is an abstract measure of the authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency of the observation source. Information content is an abstract measure of the logic and consistency of an observation.

In order to understand the new environment the analyst requires applicable observations. In this game applicability is defined as a combination of source reliability and information content. Given those two measures it will be your job as the assistant to assign an applicability to an observation. The analyst has limited time to develop an understanding of the new environment, thus it is extremely important for them to be able to access the most applicable observations first.

Finally, when you finish ranking an observation you will be given a new observation that is directly related to the observation you just examined. The new observation may support or contradict the original. Now you must consider how this new observation impacts the applicability of the original observation!

Background

Evaluation of Source Reliability

DesignatorLabelExplanation
AReliableNo doubt of authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency; has a history of complete reliability
BUsually ReliableMinor doubt about authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency; has a history of valid information most of the time
CFairly ReliableDoubt of authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency but has provided valid information in the past
DNot Usually ReliableSignificant Doubt about authenticity, trustworthiness, or competency but has provided valid information in the past
EUnreliableLacking in authenticity, trustworthiness, and competency; history of invalid information
FCan Not JudgeNo Basis exists for evaluating the reliability of the source

Evaluation of Information Content

DesignatorLabelExplanation
1ConfirmedConfirmed by other independent source; logical in itself; Consistent with other information on the subject
2Probably TrueNot Confirmed; logical in itself; consistent with other information on the subject
3Possibly TrueNot Confirmed; reasonably logical in itself; agrees with some other information on the subject
4Doubtfully TrueNot Confirmed; possible but not logical; no other information on the subject
5ImprobableNot Confirmed; not logical in itself; contradicted by other information on the subject
6Can Not JudgeNo Basis exists for evaluating the validity of the source

High Applicability

Using the definitions in the tables above the data described below is considered to have high applicability to an analyst. The soure is reliable and the content is confirmed, in this game that is one of the most applicable combinations possible.

Source ReliabilityInformation Content
A
Reliable
1
Confirmed

Low Applicability

On the contrary, the data described below is considered to have low applicability to an analyst. The soure is unreliable and the veracity of the content is improbable based on prior knowledge, in this game that is one of the least applicable combination possible

Source ReliabilityInformation Content
E
Unreliable
5
Improbable

Furthermore, during the game you will have to determine how the data affect each other when linked by a relationship. To illustrate, during the game you intially observe the highly applicable data described above and form your opinion on its applicability. Then you are presented with the data with low applicability from above and realize that it completely contradicts the original data you observed. Will this change your opinion of the original data? The second data has low applicability so perhaps it does not change your opinion of the orignal data at all. On the other hand, despite its low applicability the fact that it completely contradicts the original data concerns you, and your opinion of the original data is lowered. WARNING some of the relationship combinations may defy reason, such as a reliable source with confirmed information (A1) contradicting another relieable source with confirmed information (A1). It is up to you to make sense of these situations. Only you can decide, and the analyst is counting on you to get him the most applicable data!


Click 'Next' to continue to the game instructions. Thank you!

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