THE VAULT DOCUMENT
Source Guidelines
The Vault Source Guidelines define the standards used for finding, evaluating and citing sources across The Vault archive.
Reliable sourcing is essential when documenting paranormal claims, historical mysteries, unexplained events and controversial subjects. The purpose of these guidelines is not to determine whether a claim is true or false, but to ensure that information presented within The Vault can be traced, evaluated and understood.
Sources should be used to establish:
- What is known.
- What has been reported.
- What investigations have taken place.
- What evidence exists.
- What explanations have been proposed.
Source principles
All sources used within The Vault should be:
- Relevant to the subject being documented.
- Clearly identifiable.
- As reliable as reasonably possible.
- Properly cited.
- Represented accurately.
A source should never be used simply because it supports a preferred conclusion.
Both supporting and contradictory information should be considered where appropriate.
Source hierarchy
Sources vary in reliability. The Vault generally gives greater weight to primary and independently verifiable sources.
Tier 1 — Primary sources
Primary sources are original records created close to the time of an event.
Examples include:
- Government documents.
- Police reports.
- Court records.
- Military records.
- Official investigation reports.
- Original photographs.
- Original recordings.
- Eyewitness statements recorded at the time.
- Historical documents.
Primary sources are often the most valuable because they provide direct information.
However, primary sources should still be evaluated critically. A witness statement is a primary source, but it remains a personal account rather than automatic proof.
Tier 2 — Professional and academic sources
These include:
- Peer-reviewed research.
- University publications.
- Academic books.
- Scientific papers.
- Professional organisations.
- Recognised researchers.
These sources are particularly important when discussing:
- Scientific research.
- Psychology.
- Archaeology.
- History.
- Biology.
- Environmental explanations.
Tier 3 — Reputable secondary sources
Secondary sources interpret or summarise information from other sources.
Examples include:
- Established newspapers.
- Documentaries.
- Books by recognised authors.
- Reputable magazines.
- Museum publications.
- Historical societies.
Secondary sources can provide useful context but should not replace primary evidence where primary evidence exists.
Tier 4 — Specialist and subject sources
These may include:
- Paranormal investigation groups.
- UFO organisations.
- Cryptozoology researchers.
- Local researchers.
- Dedicated subject websites.
These sources can be valuable for documenting:
- Reported cases.
- Investigation histories.
- Community knowledge.
- Witness accounts.
However, claims should be clearly attributed and not presented as established fact without supporting evidence.
Tier 5 — Unverified sources
These include:
- Anonymous websites.
- Unsourced lists.
- Social media posts.
- Forums.
- Copy-and-paste articles.
- AI-generated content without verification.
These sources should generally not be used as the sole basis for significant claims.
They may occasionally be used to identify leads for further research.
Citing sources
All significant claims should be supported by citations.
Citations should be added when documenting:
- Dates.
- Locations.
- Named individuals.
- Investigations.
- Statistics.
- Scientific findings.
- Historical events.
- Controversial claims.
Sources should be placed close to the information they support.
Example:
```wiki The investigation began in 1992 and continued for approximately one year.[1]
Multiple sources
Important claims should ideally be supported by more than one source.
Multiple sources help establish:
Accuracy. Historical consistency. Different perspectives.
However, multiple sources repeating the same original claim do not necessarily provide independent confirmation.
Example:
Ten websites repeating the same newspaper article are still based on one original source.
Conflicting sources
Historical and paranormal subjects frequently contain conflicting information.
When sources disagree:
Identify the disagreement. Present the different accounts. Avoid selecting a version simply because it is more interesting. Explain which sources are considered more reliable and why.
Example:
"Some sources identify the location as Room 302, while later accounts refer to Room 3327. Contemporary records support the earlier numbering."
Paranormal sources
The Vault documents subjects where many claims originate from paranormal literature and investigations.
Paranormal sources may be used to document:
Reported experiences. Investigation methods. Historical development of a legend. Claims made by researchers.
However:
A paranormal investigation report demonstrates that an investigation occurred.
It does not automatically prove that paranormal activity occurred.
Witness testimony
Witness accounts are important historical evidence but must be evaluated carefully.
Factors include:
Number of witnesses. Time between event and report. Consistency of accounts. Opportunity to observe. Possible explanations. Personal interest or bias.
A sincere witness can still be mistaken.
Photographs, video and audio
Visual and audio evidence should be assessed for:
Original source. Date and location. Metadata where available. Possible editing. Alternative explanations. Independent verification.
A photograph or recording may demonstrate that something was captured, but interpretation requires further analysis.
Books and documentaries
Books and documentaries can provide valuable research material.
However, they should be evaluated based on:
Author expertise. Use of references. Separation of fact and speculation. Whether opposing views are considered.
Popular does not always mean reliable.
Avoiding source bias
Researchers should be aware of:
Confirmation bias
Selecting only sources that support an existing belief.
Sensationalism
Using exaggerated claims because they attract attention.
Circular sourcing
Multiple sources repeating the same unsupported claim.
Authority bias
Accepting a claim because it comes from a well-known person.
The Vault citation standard
Articles should aim to:
Cite all significant factual claims. Prefer original sources where available. Identify uncertainty. Separate evidence from interpretation. Avoid presenting allegations as facts.
The purpose of citation is transparency.
Readers should be able to follow the research trail and evaluate the information themselves.
Related documents
TheVault:Research Methodology TheVault:Scientific Method TheVault:Evidence Rating System TheVault:Writing Guidelines Paranormal Evidence
- ↑ "Paranormal Investigation."Example Source.