Three linked questions govern critical study of a report.
1. Meaning: Establish the wording, context, and interpretation in light of related reports.
2. Transmission: Investigate the transmitters, hearing, connection, and comparison with other routes, including possible hidden defects.
3. Inference: Derive conclusions through reliable evidence and the relevant scholarly rules.
Understanding meaning, establishing transmission, and correctly deriving a conclusion are different tasks. This distinction explains how needless repetition can be limited while retaining evidence essential for criticism.