FAIH Philosophy

FAIH is the acronym for the four types of content that structure every report produced by IsoFind: Factual, Analytical, Interpreted, and Honest. Each block in the Reports module is labeled according to one of these four registers. This explicit categorization forces a distinction between what is measured, what is calculated, what is inferred, and what remains open. It is the strongest differentiator of the module: an IsoFind report does not mix registers, even when common practice often does so inadvertently.

Why This Distinction?

In a traditional expert report, these four levels often coexist within the same sentence without the reader being able to identify which is which. A statement such as "the high concentration of 320 µg/L observed at the downstream piezometer indicates active plume migration without significant natural attenuation" mixes a measurement (320 µg/L), an analytical reading (high relative to what?), an interpretation (active migration, lack of attenuation), and an implicit hypothesis (the piezometer is representative) all in one line. If the interpretation is later contested, it becomes difficult to determine what remains true: the measurement, yes; the calculation, perhaps; the interpretation, probably not.

The FAIH structure solves this problem by enforcing separation. Every block in a report carries a visible label that reminds the reader, at every moment, which register they are in. A factual block remains true regardless of the interpretation; an interpreted block can be contested without undermining the facts; an honest block is a guarantee of loyalty to the reader, who can judge for themselves the limits of what is being presented.

The Four Natures in Detail

Factual (F)

Factual blocks contain measurements, metadata, and objective facts, without interpretation or derived calculations. These are elements that no one can dispute without challenging the raw data itself: the concentration measured at a specific point, the sampling date, the analytical method used, the reference standard employed. A skeptical reader must be able to trace the source of every factual value, down to the specific line if necessary.

In the IsoFind catalog, factual blocks represent the vast majority. They cover sample inventory, measured isotopic signatures, geochemical concentrations, analytical protocols, standards used, location maps, vertical profiles, simulation parameters as entered, audit trails, and chains of custody.

Analytical (A)

Analytical blocks contain calculations, statistics, indicators, and ratios derived from factual data. They do not involve judgment: they apply standardized calculation methods to existing data to produce secondary values. A Fe/Mn ratio, an arithmetic mean with its standard deviation, a similarity matrix, or a composite robustness score are typical examples.

An analytical block is reproducible: a reader using the same calculation protocol must find the same value from the same factual data. Therefore, it is not an opinion, but it is no longer raw fact. The distinction from factual is subtle but important: a mean is not a measurement; it is a calculated summary.

Interpreted (I)

Interpreted blocks contain readings in terms of mechanisms, conclusions, and recommendations. They translate factual and analytical elements into the language of scientific reasoning and are open to challenge. An interpretation depends on the theoretical framework used, implicit hypotheses, and the author's experience. It is defensible but not strictly demonstrable.

In the IsoFind catalog, interpreted blocks cover source matching, suggestions for additional analyses, geochemical fingerprints with readings, simulated isotopic evolution, metabolite cascades, dual isotope plots with mechanistic diagnosis, attenuation prognoses, scope questions (meets / does not meet), and recommendations.

Honest (H)

Honest blocks document what the report cannot establish: unverified hypotheses, areas without measurements, unexplored alternative pathways, poorly constrained parameters, or rejected competing scenarios. This register is the most unusual in traditional practice, where reports often seek to project certainty rather than qualify it. It is also the most valuable for a discerning reader: a report without gray areas is either perfect or misleading.

In the current IsoFind catalog, two blocks explicitly carry the H label: Nexus Identified Processes and the Process Chain. These two blocks are honest in the strict sense because they present not a single answer, but a set of processes with their respective confidence levels, explicitly leaving the responsibility for the final decision to the reader. The honest dimension is also embodied in the "Scientific Rigor" category blocks, technically labeled A or I but built to document uncertainty: limitations, robustness index, sensitivity of conclusions, and scenario comparisons.

Distribution of the 70 Blocks by Nature

The full IsoFind catalog includes approximately 70 blocks divided into 13 thematic categories. Their distribution by FAIH nature provides a summary overview of what the module produces.

The predominance of Factual and Analytical blocks is expected: a technical report relies primarily on measurements and their derivations. Interpreted content is present but in the minority, consistent with the idea that interpretation must be bounded and justified. The strictly Honest register is rare but is complemented by the Scientific Rigor category which serves the same role in practice.

Concrete Consequences for Drafting

The FAIH structure translates into several concrete practices within the module.

• Each block carries a visible label in the assembly interface: F, A, I, H, or "structure." The author immediately sees which register they are operating in.
• Balance between registers is monitored. A report with 90% interpreted blocks is flagged as unbalanced: it should rely more heavily on factual data.
• Honest blocks (limitations, sensitivity, scope_questions) are suggested by default in all templates, even the shortest ones. Removing them requires an explicit action.
• A report without any block from the Rigor category is flagged as weakened in its Honest register.
• Reports exported as PDFs discreetly display F/A/I/H labels in the margin of each block, unless explicitly deactivated in the graphical theme.

Comparison with Other Practices

The FAIH structure echoes several experimental science practices but distinguishes itself by its systematic application at the individual block level of a report.

Limits and Possible Critiques

The FAIH structure is not a universal solution and occasionally receives critiques that deserve consideration.

• The boundary between Analytical and Interpreted can be thin. Is a high isotopic ratio a calculation (A) or already a reading (I)? The answer depends on context and phrasing.
• Rigidly classifying content can make writing feel stiff. IsoFind allows latitude: the same statement can be rephrased to shift from one register to another without losing meaning.
• Readers accustomed to traditional reports may find the labels intrusive. They can be disabled in the graphical theme, though their removal loses part of the benefit.
• Conclusion or Cover Page blocks bypass FAIH because they do not contain data. Their nature is marked as "none," which does not diminish their utility.

Learn More

• Templates: How the FAIH structure is instantiated in skeletons.
• Blocks: Full catalog with nature-based labeling.
• Generating a Report: Applying the FAIH discipline.