Research · · verified August 9, 2026
Content Brief Acceptance Scorecard for Research Teams
A practical scorecard for deciding whether a research brief is ready for production.
Research quality10 sources
Key stats
- Google recommends asking Who, How, and Why about content creation.
- A brief with five scored gates makes missing evidence visible before drafting.
- A zero on audience, evidence, or intent is a release blocker.
Key takeaways
- Score the decision the article supports, not just the keyword.
- Require source URLs before assigning a writer.
- Keep rejected briefs separate from accepted topics.
Scorecard
| Gate | Pass condition | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | One reader and job to be done | Audience sentence |
| Intent | One primary question | Search-intent note |
| Evidence | Ten credible starting sources | Source register |
| Differentiation | A useful original angle | Comparison or data plan |
| Ownership | Writer and reviewer named | Assignment record |
Operating method
Use the research brief version control page to preserve revisions. A brief can move to drafting only when all five gates pass. For sensitive claims, add a second reviewer and record the method in the source verification workflow.
Related research
- Research brief quality gates
- Research intake prioritization framework
- Research source library structure
Sources
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