Publication Methodology

This page sets out the mechanics behind every paper on Paradigm: how versions are numbered, how often material is reviewed, what happens when a paper is retired or superseded, how corrections are handled, and how to cite something you've read here. See Editorial Standards for the broader editorial principles this methodology serves.

Version numbering

Every paper starts at version 1.0 on first publication. The number increases (1.1, 1.2, 2.0…) only for a substantive revision — new guidance being reflected, new evidence changing the argument, or a material correction to a claim of fact. A whole-number increase (1.x → 2.0) signals a significant reworking of the paper's argument or scope; a decimal increase signals a more contained update. Minor corrections — typographical fixes, broken links, formatting — do not change the version number but are still logged in the paper's document history.

Review cycles

Every paper has a last reviewed date, separate from its publication date. A paper is reviewed whenever the official guidance it discusses changes, and at minimum once a year regardless. Review confirms the paper's argument and citations still hold; it does not necessarily produce a new version — most reviews conclude no change is needed and simply update the last-reviewed date.

Retired and superseded papers

A paper is marked superseded when a newer paper replaces its argument outright, and retired when its subject matter is no longer current (for example, guidance it discussed has since been withdrawn). Retired and superseded papers are not deleted — they remain accessible for provenance, clearly labelled with their status and, where applicable, a link to the paper that replaced them. Paradigm does not quietly remove material; changes in status are always visible on the paper itself.

Corrections

Where a factual error is identified in a published paper, it is corrected as soon as practicable. A correction of substance is logged in the paper's document history with the date and a short description of what changed; the paper's version number increases per the numbering rules above. Corrections are never made silently — Paradigm's credibility depends on readers being able to trust that what they see today is what's actually current, and that they could find out what changed if they'd read an earlier version.

Document history

Each paper's document history is the running record of every version, review and correction applied to it: what changed, when, and — for substantive changes — why. This is what makes the versioning policy meaningful in practice rather than just a number in a corner.

Citation standards

When citing a Paradigm paper, reference the paper title, author, version number and publication date — for example: Baguley, J. (2026). "The Ownership Question: Data Sovereignty as an EdTech Design Principle." The Arena Hub Paradigm, v1.0. Because version numbers matter, citing without one risks referencing an argument that has since been revised. Where a Paradigm paper cites external research or official guidance, that source is named directly in the paper's text rather than in a separate bibliography, so the connection between claim and source is never more than a sentence away.

Related

• Editorial Standards — editorial process and the distinction between official guidance, commentary and discussion
• Research Library — the papers this methodology governs
• Trust Centre — privacy, accessibility and how Paradigm is governed