beforedata
Beforedata is a term used in statistical discourse to denote information that is known or assumed prior to the collection of primary data in a study. It encompasses historical records, prior studies, expert judgment, theoretical constraints, and any data that informs the design, modeling, or interpretation of the main data set but is not part of the new measurements themselves.
Its usage is not standardized and varies by field; some writers treat it as equivalent to prior
Applications of beforedata include its use in Bayesian analysis to inform prior distributions and parameter constraints;
Challenges surrounding beforedata include definitional ambiguity, the risk of bias if the information is not appropriately
See also: prior information, baseline data, historical control, experimental design. The term is not widely standardized,