7.8 Using the dictionary during analysis

The dictionary should be consulted whenever the team:

• chooses a denominator;
• filters a population;
• joins tables;
• groups categories;
• changes a unit or format;
• creates a feature;
• handles missing values or outliers;
• labels a table or visualization; or
• interprets a model result.

A finding that depends on an uncertain definition should remain provisional until the definition is resolved or the limitation is accepted.

Quality standard: Another analyst should be able to reproduce the same variable interpretation, inclusion rules, and derivations without asking the original author.