Quark Source/Citation Template

Put Credibility Principles into Practice

This Source Citation Boilerplate template is designed as a practical companion to the principles discussed in our blog post "Building Trust Through Transparency: The 5 Essential Practices for Credible Data Sourcing." It offers a structured approach to implementing those critical practices in your everyday data work.  This customizable template can help to support you in preparing your own sourcing conventions.

Template Overview

This Excel-based template provides a framework for documenting:

Data Origins & Sources

• Fields for recording complete source information
• Standardized formatting for consistent citation
• Publication and collection date differentiation

Data Dimensions & Structure

• Documentation of key variables and their definitions
• Sample characteristics and population context
• Geographic and temporal scope identification

Metrics & Measures

• Example fields to customize for defining calculated metrics
• Documentation of units and measurement approaches
• Baseline and benchmark reference points

Time Intervals & Frequency

• Period coverage documentation
• Collection frequency and time series characteristics
• Seasonality and time-specific considerations

Methodology Documentation

• Space for describing analytical approaches
• Data transformation and cleaning records
• Statistical methods and analytical tools used

Limitations & Constraints

• Structured approach to acknowledging data limitations
• Areas for noting potential biases and constraints
• Documentation of conflicting information sources

Why This Template Supports Credibility

Each section of this template recommends credibility best practices:

• Transparency in Data Origins - Provides structured fields for complete source documentation
• Source Credibility Evaluation - Includes sections for noting source reputation and verification
• Methodology Disclosure - Offers dedicated space for documenting analytical approaches
• Data Recency & Relevance - Includes fields to clarify timeframes and currency of information
• Handling Conflicting Sources - Provides structure for documenting discrepancies and resolution approaches

Who Will Benefit - This template is especially valuable for:

• Early-career analysts and data storytellers
• Professionals transitioning to more data-intensive roles
• Anyone seeking to establish stronger credibility in their analysis

Download this free template as your first step toward implementing the data credibility practices discussed in our blog. Remember that transparency isn't just about avoiding criticism—it's about building the trust that makes your insights truly impactful.