| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | acute | keenly perceptive or analytical |
| 2. | analytical | examining details carefully |
| 3. | appraising | assessing closely and thoughtfully |
| 4. | archive-based | using archived records or materials |
| 5. | assessing | judging after close examination |
| 6. | auditing | checking records in detail |
| 7. | background-checking | examining someone’s history |
| 8. | case-building | gathering support for conclusions |
| 9. | case-oriented | focused on examining a case |
| 10. | case-specific | focused on one particular case |
| 11. | checking into | investigating to learn facts |
| 12. | clue-driven | guided by available clues |
| 13. | corroborative | supporting with confirming evidence |
| 14. | critical | carefully judging and analyzing |
| 15. | cross-checking | comparing sources for accuracy |
| 16. | data-driven | guided by collected evidence |
| 17. | delving | investigating deeply and carefully |
| 18. | detecting | discovering the presence of something |
| 19. | detective | relating to solving mysteries |
| 20. | diagnosing | identifying the source of problems |
| 21. | diagnostic | used to identify causes |
| 22. | documentary | based on documents or records |
| 23. | documenting | recording facts as evidence |
| 24. | empirical | based on observation or evidence |
| 25. | evaluative | involving careful assessment |
| 26. | evidence-led | directed by available evidence |
| 27. | evidence-minded | attentive to proof and facts |
| 28. | evidence-seeking | looking for supporting proof |
| 29. | evidentiary | concerned with evidence |
| 30. | examining | inspecting closely for evidence |
| 31. | exploratory | intended to discover more |
| 32. | fact-checking | verifying factual accuracy |
| 33. | fact-finding | aimed at gathering facts |
| 34. | ferreting out | finding by persistent searching |
| 35. | field-based | done through on-site inquiry |
| 36. | following up | continuing to seek answers |
| 37. | forensic | using evidence-based examination |
| 38. | formal | following established procedures |
| 39. | going over | examining carefully |
| 40. | incisive | keen and sharply analytical |
| 41. | inquiring | seeking facts or information |
| 42. | inquiry-driven | guided by active inquiry |
| 43. | inspecting | looking over very carefully |
| 44. | internal | conducted within an organization |
| 45. | interpretive | explaining meaning from evidence |
| 46. | interrogative | asking questions directly |
| 47. | issue-focused | centered on a specific issue |
| 48. | journalistic | like careful news reporting |
| 49. | lead-chasing | following possible clues |
| 50. | line-by-line | examining in exact detail |
| 51. | logical | based on clear reasoning |
| 52. | looking into | examining or investigating |
| 53. | mapping | tracing relationships or patterns |
| 54. | methodical | done in an orderly way |
| 55. | meticulous | very careful about details |
| 56. | monitoring | watching closely for changes |
| 57. | news-gathering | collecting facts for reporting |
| 58. | observant | quick to notice details |
| 59. | observational | based on close watching |
| 60. | official | authorized by an institution |
| 61. | on-record | based on documented statements |
| 62. | on-the-ground | based on direct observation |
| 63. | open-source | using publicly available information |
| 64. | painstaking | taking great care |
| 65. | penetrating | showing deep insight |
| 66. | persistent | continuing despite difficulty |
| 67. | piecing together | assembling clues into understanding |
| 68. | probing | searching deeply for answers |
| 69. | procedural | following set investigative steps |
| 70. | profiling | analyzing traits or patterns |
| 71. | pursuing | following up actively |
| 72. | questioning | showing doubt and inquiry |
| 73. | reconnoitering | exploring to gather information |
| 74. | record-based | founded on documented records |
| 75. | record-checking | examining official records |
| 76. | reporting | gathering and presenting facts |
| 77. | reportorial | relating to reported inquiry |
| 78. | research-based | grounded in systematic study |
| 79. | researching | systematically seeking information |
| 80. | reviewing | examining something again carefully |
| 81. | scrutinizing | examining very closely |
| 82. | searching | looking closely for facts |
| 83. | sifting | sorting through details carefully |
| 84. | source-based | grounded in original sources |
| 85. | source-checking | verifying information sources |
| 86. | studying | examining closely to understand |
| 87. | surveying | examining broadly and carefully |
| 88. | systematic | following a planned method |
| 89. | testing | checking by trial or analysis |
| 90. | thorough | careful and complete |
| 91. | tracing | following evidence or origins |
| 92. | tracking | following developments closely |
| 93. | troubleshooting | seeking causes of problems |
| 94. | truth-finding | focused on discovering truth |
| 95. | truth-seeking | aimed at finding truth |
| 96. | undercover | done secretly to gather facts |
| 97. | unmasking | revealing what was hidden |
| 98. | validating | checking that something is sound |
| 99. | verifying | confirming truth or accuracy |
| 100. | vetting | carefully checking suitability or truth |