definition
strict definition
sign
A posted placard conveying information, used as a data source when its content and responsible issuer are sufficiently reliable.
A sign is any kind of posted placard with information on it. Very often factual data can be found on billboards at construction sites or plaques on noteworthy buildings.
Almost any kind of data can be taken from a sign if it is judged to be reliable enough, although this judgment must vary according to the expected knowledge of the persons responsible for the sign.
The posted information is the evidence being cited. Its authority depends on the expected knowledge of the issuer about that fact; being displayed on a permanent plaque or a construction billboard does not by itself establish accuracy for every field.
Related definitions
-
academic paper
An unpublished article produced in university or college research, with journal-published papers classified as magazines. -
book
A bound, published text generally presumed to have undergone an editorial quality check. -
brochure
A printed informational sheet or booklet about a topic, distributed in a different manner from a published book. -
government database
A collection of data which is maintained and issued by a governmental agency or authority. -
magazine
A periodical publication other than a newspaper, usually devoted to a subject and issued weekly or less frequently. -
newspaper
A frequently issued publication which reports general news without focus on a particular topic. -
official records
Printed or written documents which were clearly produced by an authoritative source. -
private database
A collection of data which is maintained and issued by a non-governmental entity.