/construct-evidence-network

name: construct-evidence-network
description: "Construct a network-meta-analysis evidence graph and evaluate connectivity/transitivity prerequisites."

construct-evidence-network

Purpose

Construct an evidence graph for network synthesis and evaluate connectivity, transitivity, and comparison support.

Input contract

required: [evidence_records, intervention_nodes, outcome_schema]
optional: [study_designs, effect_sizes, covariate_schema]
constraints: [edges require a shared outcome definition and traceable comparison evidence]

Procedure

1. Normalize interventions, comparators, outcomes, and study-level edges. 2. Build the direct and indirect comparison graph with effect-support provenance. 3. Check connectivity and transitivity assumptions across connected components. 4. Report usable components, unsupported links, and synthesis limitations.

Output contract

produces: [evidence_graph, connected_components, transitivity_assessment, unsupported_links, synthesis_readiness]
delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, uncertainties, decisions, open_questions]

Quality gates

• Every edge points to a study record and outcome definition.
• Disconnected components are not silently combined.
• Transitivity judgments list the effect modifiers examined.

Failure and counterexamples

Do not create indirect evidence from incomparable populations or outcomes, and do not treat graph connectivity as proof of exchangeability.

Provenance map

• `resolved: knowledge-acquisition-evidence-network-construction`