Facts, they are sticky things. Facts, what are facts? Well, according to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Facts are “the Knowledge or information based on real occurrences.”

For years I have told people that a real investigator is a person who gathers empirical data. Back in the day, Dragnet (a 1960s TV show) drummed the words, “just the facts” into the collective minds of the populace. So why did I not say gathers facts? Because facts are perceptual. (See the article on perception.)

No matter what your inherent biases are, if you stick to the facts, the truth will always shine through. About ten years into my career as a professional information gatherer, my ideas about “facts” evolved. I realized that the only reliable “facts”, evidence, was derived from the compilation of an abundance of empirical data points. Those data points, not always duplicated, would inevitably establish an undeniable pattern of behaviors and actions which build, in my mind, “a preponderance of evidence.” The empirical data, if gathered under strict methodologies, is as close as possible to unbiased “fact.”

Forty years of investigative “fact-finding” has taught me that the closest that we will come to “facts” is repeated, clearly identifiable patterns. Those patterns betray even the most carefully laid attempts to hide or obscure the truth. Those patterns also reveal a more profound truth, “intent,” “willfulness,” and premeditation. A professional information gatherer can present the totality of the empirical data and then allow others to witness the “facts” and test them on their own.

Once you have the facts, the story does not end. Public law enforcement is under substantial stress to “resolve” open cases. Many jurisdictions are overwhelmed with the backlog of open cases. Unfortunately, humans will, by nature, take the easiest way out. If the “facts” appear to support a particular outcome, law enforcement will charge those implicated, and they will move on to the next case. If the case goes to trial and the accused is found innocent, that is often the end of the matter. Not because law enforcement is wrong, but because they have moved on to other cases that are equally pressing.

Sadly, the same series of events are duplicated in nearly every portion of our lives. Whether it is in relationships, work, projects, etc. people act upon perceived “facts.”

Avoid Normative Data (Subjective). Search out Empirical Data (Objective, Verifiable, Reproducible) they will serve you well in all analyses and decision-making processes.