# Citation log definitions and instructions

Prepared 6 October 2026. One row represents one planned attempt. Replace the TEMPLATE row ID with your own stable ID. A collection plan is not evidence that a question was run.

Record the target business and target domains so even nonbranded questions have a clear assessment target. Keep exact question, question ID, sample, platform, attempt, visible mode, timestamp with timezone, account/personalization context and market context. A requested country in the question is not a verified connection location. Start fresh conversations and record what that means on the platform. Do not rerun to obtain a preferred answer.

## Status and source record

- planned: not yet run.
- completed: an answer was retained, not necessarily assessed.
- no_answer: the platform responded without a substantive answer to assess. Retain the response and reason.
- error: a technical or access failure prevented a usable answer. It is not a No citation.
- not_run: the planned attempt was skipped; retain the reason.

Keep answer text or a saved evidence reference and all source URLs together. Several source URLs remain one answer record. Never put private account identifiers, customer material or private conversation locators into public examples.

## Separate observations

Use yes, no or not_assessed independently for each representation field:

- mention: answer body explicitly names the business or domain. Exclude the user's question.
- recommendation: affirmative inclusion for consideration. Neutral description alone is insufficient.
- own_site_citation: the answer explicitly links the business domain or a relevant subdomain as a citation. A retrieved-candidate listing alone does not establish citation use; leave that unconfirmed relationship not_assessed.
- third_party_brand_citation: a cited external page was opened and checked and it mentions the business. An inaccessible or unread source remains not_assessed.

Accuracy is separate: not_assessed, accurate_in_reviewed_scope, needs_review or incorrect_in_reviewed_scope. Name the specific reviewed claims, evidence and limitations in accuracy_scope. Do not turn a partial check into a whole-answer quality score. If the answer has no relevant brand claims, keep brand accuracy not_assessed.

## Denominators

For each compatible question/platform/context group, show planned and status counts first. Only completed answers enter representation measures. Each measure has its own assessed denominator: yes plus no. Show not_assessed alongside it. With no assessed answers, the measure is unavailable, not zero percent. Multiple URLs do not multiply the answer count.

Keep question IDs/wording, sample, platform, visible mode, market and account context, attempts and assessment definitions compatible before comparing periods. Do not pool different intents to inflate a recommendation fraction. One period does not demonstrate a trend, website effect, market share, referral traffic or revenue.

## Working notes and exports

The browser log sends no working notes to a service and saves none after reload. Download your complete record before leaving. Filters change visibility only. Exports preserve all working rows, including incomplete and hidden rows; the immutable observed pilot is a separate download.

Changes to the question, answer, source-capture limits, evidence or context clear reader confirmation and reset assessments to not_assessed. Changing accuracy_scope clears confirmation and resets accuracy only. General notes do not replace the separate source_capture field. The browser export preserves earlier assessment values in change_record when an assessment existed. Confirmation records a reader check, not automatic verification or approval.

CSV cells use quoted fields. Formula-like values beginning with optional whitespace then =, +, -, @, or an initial tab, carriage return or newline are prefixed with an apostrophe for spreadsheet safety. JSON preserves the original text. Empty fields stay empty; they are not measured zeros. In spreadsheet software, import identifiers and source/date text as text where appropriate.

Use next_action, action_owner and notes for a specific investigation. A missing citation in one answer does not establish a page defect. A mention, citation, recorded website visit and enquiry are different records.