Evidence

Evidence is information or observation used to support or undermine a claim. Its strength depends on how reliably it bears on that claim.

Inference: Inference is the process of deriving conclusions from premises, observations, or prior conclusions. Evidence supports claims through inferential steps whose soundness determines how much it establishes.
Observation: An observation is information acquired through perception, measurement, or systematic recording. Observations often supply the raw material from which evidence is assessed.
Scientific evidence: Scientific evidence consists of observations and results used to evaluate scientific hypotheses. Scientific methods make evidence testable, reproducible, and open to revision.
Anecdotal evidence: Anecdotal evidence consists of individual accounts or isolated examples rather than systematic study. It may suggest a claim while providing weak grounds for general conclusions.
Evidence-based practice: Evidence-based practice integrates research findings with professional expertise and relevant circumstances. It applies evaluated evidence to decisions in fields such as medicine and education.
Bayesian inference: Bayesian inference updates probabilities for hypotheses using prior probabilities and observed data. It expresses how evidence changes the relative plausibility of competing claims.
Data: Data are recorded values, observations, or other representations used for analysis. Evidence may consist of data, but only when they bear on a particular claim.
Forensic evidence: Forensic evidence comprises material or analytical findings used to investigate legal questions. It connects physical traces and expert analysis to claims about events or people.
Circumstantial evidence: Circumstantial evidence supports a conclusion indirectly through surrounding facts rather than direct observation. It contrasts with direct evidence but can still strongly support a conclusion.
Evidence-based policy: Evidence-based policy uses research and other systematically gathered information to guide public decisions. It makes the quality and relevance of evidence consequential for government choices.

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