How we define and review terms

Start with a useful question

Before proposing a term, check whether existing language already explains the idea. A new name earns its place by making a distinction clearer, not by making a familiar idea sound new.

Write an explanation people can use

Each glossary entry includes a short answer, a plain-language explanation, a more precise definition, an example, and boundaries. Related terms help readers see where ideas overlap. Hypothetical examples illustrate a definition; they are not research findings.

State the status

Every term carries one of five evidence labels. Established use, emerging language, proposed definitions, hypotheses, and speculation are kept distinct. A label is an editorial assessment, not an external certification.

Choose sources for the claim being made

Use original studies and scholarly reviews for research claims. Use academic textbooks for background and standards organizations for technical definitions. Prefer a source that directly supports the point over a long list of loosely related citations.

A paper about memory can inform this framework without proving synthetic imprinting as a separate effect. Sources on proposed-term pages provide that context; they do not imply that the paper uses or endorses our terminology.

Match the claim to the evidence

Ask who took part, what they saw, what was measured, and when. A short experiment cannot establish a lifelong change. An association cannot by itself show a cause. Findings about one kind of media may not apply to another.

Explain disagreement and uncertainty

When findings differ, look at the samples, tasks, comparison groups, and measurements. Describe the differences instead of presenting a single, falsely certain answer. Identify what further research would help resolve the question.

Be clear about review

The entries are editorial drafts open to scrutiny. External expert review remains pending. Any future reviewer credit should identify the person, their relevant expertise, and what they reviewed. AI-assisted copy editing is described in the editorial policy.

Keep revisions traceable

Substantive changes update the page date and version. The revision record summarizes release changes. A term may be narrowed, replaced, or retired if it duplicates established language or implies something the evidence does not support.

Make claims easy to check

Source links lead to the research or reference material. Glossary pages provide citation formats for their definitions. Cite an original study for its findings, and cite this project when discussing its proposed terminology.

Invite corrections

Report an error with the page address, the passage in question, and a supporting source if you have one. Clear criticism is useful even when you do not have a replacement definition.