EvoClaw Claim-Evidence Alignment (Discipline Layer)
Overview
A claim without evidence is an opinion, not a result. This skill activates at Phase 5 (results integration) and remains in effect through Phase 6 (paper writing).
Core principle: Evidence first, claim second. Never the reverse.
Violating the letter of this rule is violating the spirit of this rule.
The Iron Law
EVERY CLAIM MUST MAP TO SPECIFIC EVIDENCE. UNMAPPED CLAIMS ARE DELETED.
The Claim-Evidence Mapping Table
Before writing any paper section, build and maintain this table:
| Claim | Evidence Source | Figure/Table | Statistical Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| (exact claim text) | (experiment, dataset, condition) | (Fig X / Table Y) | (test, p-value, CI) |
Every row must be complete. Empty cells mean the claim is not ready to write.
When This Runs
- Before paper writing begins (G4 gate): Full table must exist and pass review.
- After each paper section is drafted: Re-check that no new unmapped claims crept in.
Rules
- Every claim intended for the paper must link to a specific figure, table, experiment, or statistical test.
- Claims with insufficient evidence must be either: (a) deleted, or (b) supported by running additional experiments. No third option.
- Claims with weak evidence (e.g., p=0.08) must use weakened language — "suggests" not "demonstrates", "indicates" not "proves".
- The methodology-reviewer agent checks claim-evidence alignment independently. Passing your own check is necessary but not sufficient.
Red Flags — STOP
- Claim not linked to any figure or table
- Statistical test not reported for a comparison claim
- Using "significantly" without a significance test
- Evidence column says "see results" instead of a specific reference
- Claim language stronger than the statistical support warrants
Rationalization Prevention
| Excuse | Reality |
|---|---|
| "The trend is clear visually" | Visual trends need statistical backing. Show the numbers. |
| "Everyone knows this is true" | Common knowledge still needs citation. Your claim needs evidence. |
| "The result is obvious from the method" | Theoretical arguments need empirical validation in a paper. |
| "I'll add the evidence later" | No claim without evidence. Write evidence first, claim second. |
The Bottom Line
No evidence → no claim
Weak evidence → weak language
Strong evidence → then and only then, strong claim
Map every claim. Delete the rest. No exceptions.