factbased

Factbased, often written as fact-based or fact based, is an adjective used to describe information, conclusions, or arguments that rest on verifiable data, evidence, or observable facts rather than conjecture, opinion, or speculation. The term emphasizes a commitment to verifiability and reproducibility, though the precise standards of what counts as a fact can vary by field.

In journalism, fact-based reporting refers to verification, use of primary sources, and corroboration across independent outlets. In science and medicine, it aligns with evidence-based or data-driven practices, but some writers reserve fact-based to highlight reliance on observed data as opposed to interpretive theory.

In education and business, fact-based curricula and decision-making prioritize measurable data, metrics, and empirical results to guide conclusions and policy.

Critics note that labeling something as fact-based does not guarantee objectivity, since data may be incomplete, framed, or biased by selection; facts are subject to update with new evidence. Therefore, fact-based approaches require transparent data sources, methodology, and acknowledgement of uncertainty.

See also: fact-checking, evidence-based, data-driven, objectivity.