Users should see whether a result is strong, exploratory, catalog-backed, or metadata-light.
Product principle
Visible reasoning
Keep the route explainable instead of hiding ranking logic behind one score.
Quartile sourceIndexing sourceTrust tier
Quartile sources are not mixed into one ambiguous badge.
The user can explain why a target was shortlisted and what still needs verification.
Why this principle exists
Academic decisions need to be defensible. The product should not behave like a black-box picker that cannot explain its shortlist.
What it changes
It keeps ranking, trust, indexing, quartiles, and risk visible throughout the flow so the user can challenge the system rather than blindly trusting it.
Where it shows up
Journal Strategy, Target Fit, Literature support, and Submission readiness all use visible logic instead of hidden confidence language.