CLASSES OF DECISION PREDICATES [INFORMATION CATEGORIES]

Classes / Examples
Clinical: Hard data acquired via direct
measurementor first-hand (qualified) observations / Thermometer readings; carbon dating of fossil finds; forensic evidence (DNA matching; results of breathalyzer tests); sales data recorded by POS terminals; X-ray diagnoses.
Empirical: Evidence derived from some kind of experimental or sampling-based scheme / Results of scientificfield studies or laboratory-type experiments (e.g., product performance tests); statistical survey data from political polls, focus groups or market research exercises
Secondary: Data originally collected (and possibly conditioned in some way) by someone else / Information purchases (forecasts bought from econometric firms; credit reports); government census reports; company-generated environmental compliance data; translations
Tertiary: Surrogative or indicative data, used in place of information we really want but can't get / White cell counts as indicative of bacterial infections; assertions about ancient societies from funereal remains; inferring presence of unseen planets from observed "wobble" effects
Intelligence: Items whose provenance (authorship, legitimacy) and/or purport (meaning) are unclear / Reports that Iraqi regime had banned weapons stockpiles from INC-sponsored defectors; stock tips by supposedly mistaken voice mail messages; CBS touting phony National Guard memos
Anecdotal: Observational reports that may be incomplete, biased or otherwise parochial / There were two views of the US invasion of Iraq: A sanitized version presented to US television viewers via embedded reporters, and a second seen by most of the rest of the world
Judgmental: Informal (paradigmatic; arguable-based) propositional structures; Rationalizations / Instances of pragmatic reasoning (which may often contain logical flaws), e.g., fallacious arguments promoting privatization of social security accounts by White House and Wall Street hacks
Interpretive: Conclusions colored by perspectives peculiar to their providers or promoters / Unapologetically biased editorials; parochial data (e.g., weight-loss testimonials); creations of "spin doctors"; Reportage(post-factual expository accounts); much sponsored research
Preceptive: Constructs of theoretical or immaterial inspiration that are immune to empirical testing / The "big bang" theory; certain quantum theory constructs; String" theory; assertions about extraterrestrial life; prognostications by Futures Researchers ; metaphysical arguments
Axiological: Value-driven arguments; normative (moralistic; doctrinal) assertions / Assertions that must be taken as "articles of faith" or matters of belief; proselytizations (axiological arguments generally appeal only to those already well-disposed towards them).
Subjective: Idiosyncratic, affective, aesthetic or emotional inputs / Conclusions based personal preferences, and so need not (and sometimes cannot) be defended; socio-psychological assessments.
Fabricated: Inputs deliberately intended to misinform those at whom they are directed / Enron's financial statements; rhetorical constructs (commercials; political ads) that are intended not to inform consumer choices, but to guide them in a certain direction

Fish Finding:

Intelligence:Catch reportsradioed (purportedly) from other fishermen

Tertiary: Seabird activity (indicative of shoals of bait fish);

Secondary: Recent activity digests based on reports from weigh-in stations,

Empirical: Predictions based on our own catch-records;

Clinical:Direct observation of working schools by a spotter planein our employ

Prostate Cancer Detection:

Tertiary: PSA tests

Empirical: Biopsy

Clinical: Autopsy