Practical guide

Detective notebook: evidence and hypotheses

How the notebook separates observations, suspicion, contradictions, hypotheses, and confirmed facts.

· Beyond The Verge Editorial

Short answer

The detective notebook does not name a culprit for the player. It connects evidence, observations, suspicion, hypotheses, and contradictions, while confirmation requires a server-validated event with provenance.

What to do

  1. Record an observation separately from its interpretation.
  2. Link a hypothesis to supporting and contradicting evidence.
  3. Change status only after a confirmed action or event.

Practical scenario

A red fiber on the window is an observation. “The killer was inside” is a hypothesis. It becomes confirmed only when verifiable events rule out competing explanations.

Limitations

  • The notebook does not reveal secrets or hidden threats in advance.
  • High confidence is not canonical truth without provenance.

Common question

Can a hypothesis be wrong?

Yes. It can be supported, challenged, refuted, or archived without rewriting confirmed events.

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