Research methodology
Preview ยท calibration ongoing. These are the high-level principles of the 3D Commerce Index, not a claim that its methodology is finalized.
- Methodology status
- Calibration ongoing
A public aggregate methodology version has not yet been assigned.
Verified positive evidence
A verified capability requires reviewed evidence supporting its presence. Reports describe confirmed examples within a defined cohort and snapshot, not market-wide prevalence.
Unresolved is not absent
Unresolved means the reviewed evidence does not support a final capability conclusion. It is never converted to false or treated as a verified absence. Audited negative conclusions require a separate absence methodology and publication approval.
Human review and publication approval
Research findings require human review. A working file, completed collection or stable URL is not publication approval. Preview reports remain noindex and outside published discovery until explicitly approved.
Versioning, calibration and corrections
Reports identify their methodology reference and status, original snapshot date and any separate calibration date. A public aggregate methodology version is included only after one has been assigned and approved; independently versioned components do not constitute that aggregate version. Material interpretation changes are recorded in correction history without rewriting the historical snapshot date. Earlier positives may return to unresolved when the supporting evidence is insufficient.
Conservative scoring
The pilot withholds final numeric Adoption Scores until all six dimensions are resolved. Verified capability profiles are not company rankings.