% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
% Please edit documentation in R/confidence.R
\name{mb_confidence}
\alias{mb_confidence}
\title{Structured Magenta Book confidence rating}
\usage{
mb_confidence(
  rating = c("high", "medium", "low"),
  question,
  evidence_strength,
  methodological_quality,
  generalisability,
  rationale
)
}
\arguments{
\item{rating}{Character scalar. One of \code{"high"}, \code{"medium"},
\code{"low"}.}

\item{question}{Character scalar. The evaluation question this
rating refers to.}

\item{evidence_strength}{Character scalar. Plain-English
description of the volume and quality of underlying studies.}

\item{methodological_quality}{Character scalar. Plain-English
description of design rigour and identifying assumptions.}

\item{generalisability}{Character scalar. Plain-English
description of how widely the findings travel across settings.}

\item{rationale}{Character scalar. Free-text justification for
the chosen rating.}
}
\value{
An \code{mb_confidence} object: a list with the supplied
fields plus the bundled-rubric \code{description} for the chosen
rating, and \code{vintage}.
}
\description{
Records a single confidence rating against the bundled rubric:
high / medium / low, with explicit assessments of evidence
strength, methodological quality, and generalisability, and a
free-text rationale.
}
\details{
Magenta Book confidence ratings translate evidence into
decision-grade summaries for ministers and senior officials. The
bundled rubric (see \code{\link[=mb_schedule_table]{mb_schedule_table()}} with table
\code{"confidence"}) is \emph{not a direct quotation from the Magenta
Book}. It is a magentabook synthesis of cross-What-Works-Centre
confidence-rating traditions: Education Endowment Foundation
(5 padlocks), Early Intervention Foundation (Foundation
Standards), College of Policing (1-5 scale), and the Justice
Data Lab (red / amber / green). The three-level high / medium /
low structure is designed for HMG decision-grade reporting and
aligns with the value-for-money framing of the Magenta Book
(2020) supplementary guidance.
}
\examples{
mb_confidence(
  rating                 = "medium",
  question               = "Did the policy raise employment",
  evidence_strength      = "One Level 4 DiD; one Level 3 matched cohort",
  methodological_quality = "Adequate; parallel trends plausible but limited pre-period",
  generalisability       = "Findings established in a single region",
  rationale              = "Effect direction consistent across two studies but limited replication"
)
}
\references{
HM Treasury (2020). The Magenta Book: Central Government
Guidance on Evaluation. Supplementary guidance on value for
money.

Education Endowment Foundation. Padlock evidence ratings.

Early Intervention Foundation (2021). Foundation Standards of
Evidence.
}
\seealso{
\code{\link[=mb_confidence_summary]{mb_confidence_summary()}}, \code{\link[=mb_sms_rate]{mb_sms_rate()}}.

Other confidence: 
\code{\link{mb_confidence_summary}()}
}
\concept{confidence}
