impact

Declared impact definition

The draft requires a definition and its provenance rather than assuming that significance, duration or causality has a universally accepted threshold.

1. Which framework or stakeholder defines impact here, and what exact criteria does that definition impose? definition
2. Which other relevant interpretation would classify this same change differently, and why? boundary

Impact instance test

A candidate instance identifies a consequential change and explains why the chosen definition classifies it as impact.

1. What changed for whom or what, beyond the completion of an activity or production of an output? definition
2. What makes this change an impact under the chosen framework rather than an outcome, and is it realised or anticipated? boundary

Supported causal pathway

The assessment distinguishes observed pathway links from assumptions and identifies conditions needed for the proposed connection.

1. Through what exposure and intermediate changes could this action have produced the claimed impact? definition
2. Which pathway links have supporting evidence, and which remain assumptions? provenance

Attribution or contribution

The strength and wording of the causal claim depend on the treatment of background trends, other actions and selection effects.

1. What would plausibly have happened without the action, and how was that counterfactual assessed? measurement
2. Which competing causes were examined, and does the evidence support attribution, contribution or association only? provenance

Change estimate

The assessment specifies what an indicator captures, its reference conditions and the uncertainty in the estimated change.

1. Which measure or qualitative criterion represents the consequential change, and what important aspects does it omit? measurement
2. What magnitude is supported relative to the stated baseline or comparator, with what uncertainty? measurement

Duration and reversal

Observed persistence is kept separate from extrapolated persistence, including the possibility of delayed harm or reversal.

1. When did the change begin, and for how long has its persistence actually been observed? measurement
2. What evidence suggests that the change could decay, reverse or continue after the originating action ends? provenance

Benefits, burdens and displacement

The assessment checks whether an apparent improvement is accompanied by transferred burdens, displaced activity or effects on nonparticipants.

1. How do the direction and magnitude of consequences differ across affected groups and locations? measurement
2. Could the reported improvement reflect a burden or activity shifted elsewhere, and which spillovers fall outside the current assessment? boundary

Stakeholder-relative significance

Magnitude and significance are assessed separately, and conflicting valuations remain visible.

1. Whose criteria establish whether this consequence is beneficial, harmful or significant? provenance
2. Which affected parties disagree with that judgment, and would aggregation conceal their losses? boundary

Evidence fit and limitations

Evidence is assessed for its relevance to the affected population, consequence, period and strength of causal claim.

1. Which inspectable evidence supports this specific impact assertion, and who produced or funded it? provenance
2. How could missing observations, selective reporting or measurement limitations alter the conclusion? measurement

Permissible use of impact claim

The assessment identifies which reporting or action choices its evidence supports and what would warrant reconsideration.

1. Given the consequence's significance and evidential uncertainty, what reporting, continuation, modification or cessation decision is supported? action
2. What new evidence, delayed consequence or change in affected conditions would trigger reassessment? action

Check these first

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these check these first hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Kinds and varieties

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Standards and regulation

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Real-world use

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Typical measurements

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Failure modes and hazards

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of impact this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance