Selfstated

Selfstated is a descriptive term used to indicate information that an individual has declared about themselves rather than information obtained or verified by an external source. The word is a variant of self-reported or self-declared and is used across social science research, public administration, healthcare, and digital platforms to identify attributes such as identity, income, employment status, health conditions, or opinions provided directly by respondents.

Usage typically appears in survey instruments, intake forms, online profiles, and administrative records where respondents enter free-text or select options about themselves. Selfstated data is valued for its directness and ease of collection, especially when other verification sources are unavailable or impractical. It is also important for capturing subjective states, such as pain levels or personal beliefs, that cannot be externally measured.

Limitations of selfstated information include recall error, social desirability bias, intentional misreporting, and inconsistent definitions across respondents. These issues can reduce reliability and validity, prompting researchers and practitioners to triangulate selfstated data with objective measures, use standardized questions, assure confidentiality, or apply statistical adjustments. In legal and administrative contexts, selfstated claims often require corroboration before being accepted for decision-making. The term remains less common than "self-reported" but functions similarly in describing data provenance and the methodological considerations associated with relying on individuals’ own statements.