R3 standards for research sourcing, Primary Source Verification (PSV), and conflict-of-interest disclosure in scientific literature.
We mandate a "Primary Source First" philosophy. Every health or safety claim on R3 must be backed by either a peer-reviewed scientific study, a third-party laboratory report (ISO 17025), or a primary regulatory standard. We explicitly de-weight "corporate whitepapers" and unsourced promotional materials.
Not all studies are equal. We apply the following weighting to our citations:
Financial bias can distort scientific outcomes. We audit our citations for funding sources. If a study claiming product safety was funded entirely by that product's manufacturer, it is flagged as "Manufacturer Dependent" and carries less weight in our efficacy scoring.
Scientific consensus evolves. R3 maintains a "Retraction Watch" on our primary citations. If a foundational study for a recommendation is retracted or superseded by more rigorous research, the affected R3 page is flagged for immediate reassessment.
To be a "single source of truth," we must avoid circular reporting. We only link to original data so readers can verify our conclusions at the molecular or clinical level.
Our research team maintains access to major scientific databases (PubMed, JSTOR, etc.). When a primary source is paywalled, we provide a summary of the methodology and findings to ensure the information is accessible to our community.