Diagnostic
Phase 4 · Formal Definitions

The states that distinguish availability from influence.

3 min read

This taxonomy gives SI a controlled way to describe what appeared, what entered evaluation and what changed confidence or intended action. It is deliberately stricter than ordinary engagement language.

The question this collection helps answer: What can the evidence responsibly say happened?
24. Exposure States 25. Encounter States 26. Search Moment Outcome Types
Being displayed is not the same as being noticed. Being noticed is not the same as changing the decision.
Terms in this collection
How to read each definition: plain language, the canonical statement, where it fits, what it includes and excludes, the evidence behind it, and why governance cares.

24. Exposure States

Customer-environment taxonomy · SI-DEF-024

They describe the quality and condition of the opportunity to influence.

Exposure States classify whether relevant decision evidence is present, absent, occupied, inaccurate or competitively strong within a search-led environment.

Where it fits: Subordinate classifications of Search Exposure that precede Encounter analysis.

Includes

Present, missed, displaced, distorted, weak and strong Search Exposure.

Not

Do not prove that a customer noticed or was influenced by the evidence.

Evidence

Classified from observed result, AI, review, publisher, marketplace and source-of-truth evidence.

Why it matters

Helps assign ownership for presence, absence, representation and competitive occupation.

How strong was the opportunity to influence?

25. Encounter States

Customer-attention taxonomy · SI-DEF-025

They describe whether the evidence was considered and with what apparent depth.

Encounter States classify the degree to which exposure is known or reasonably believed to have entered customer attention and evaluation.

Where it fits: Sits between Exposure States and Search Moment outcomes.

Includes

Observed, inferred, neutral, meaningful and failed Search Encounters.

Not

Do not by themselves prove a Search Moment or customer decision effect.

Evidence

Classified from direct interaction evidence, behavioural patterns, customer research and reasoned inference.

Why it matters

Helps distinguish distribution problems from content, UX, proof and interpretation problems.

Did the evidence enter consideration?

26. Search Moment Outcome Types

Decision-effect taxonomy · SI-DEF-026

They describe how the encounter changed confidence, preference or action.

Search Moment Outcome Types classify the direction and commercial meaning of the decision-state change produced by a Search Encounter.

Where it fits: Subordinate classifications of Search Moment that feed the Customer Decision State.

Includes

Strengthening, weakening, reinforcing, transfer, action-triggering, delay, abandonment, redirection and validation outcomes.

Not

Must not be assigned where only exposure or neutral encounter evidence exists.

Evidence

Each classification shows evidence status, confidence and any competing explanations; one primary outcome and optional secondary effects.

Why it matters

Makes decision influence actionable by showing what should be protected, corrected, monitored or escalated.

How did the decision state change?
Definition governance and version control Customer Confidence and Commercial Progression ← Customer Uncertainty and Search-Journey Progression Return to the Definitions Hub

See where decision confidence is exposed.

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Continue with Search Intelligence, Formal Definitions, Customer Journey Definitions, Confidence and Commercial Progression Definitions, Exposure, Encounter and Search Moment, and Decision Confidence Diagnostic.