Review Methodology: How to Be Transparent About Your Process
Methodology disclosure explains how you reach your conclusions—building Trust in EEAT through transparency. When you recommend products or make comparisons, readers and AI want to know: Did you actually test these? What criteria did you use? How did you score them? Transparent methodology turns “trust me” into “here's how I reached this conclusion.”
Key Takeaways
- • Explain what you tested—products, features, scenarios
- • Describe how you tested—process, duration, conditions
- • Share scoring criteria—what factors, how weighted
- • Disclose limitations—what you couldn't test
- • Update when methodology changes—keep it current
Why Methodology Disclosure Matters #
Methodology transparency:
- Demonstrates rigor: You have a real process, not just opinions
- Enables verification: Readers can assess your approach
- Shows expertise: Knowing what to test shows domain knowledge
- Differentiates from speculation: Separates you from opinion-based content
- Builds credibility: Transparency signals confidence in your work
What to Include in Methodology Disclosure #
Scope #
- What products/services were tested
- What was excluded and why
- Time period of testing
Process #
- How you obtained products (purchased, provided, etc.)
- Testing environment and conditions
- Duration and depth of testing
- Who conducted the testing
Criteria #
- What factors you evaluated
- How factors were weighted
- Scoring system used
- How ties were broken
Limitations #
- What you couldn't test
- Potential biases to acknowledge
- Areas where judgment was involved
Methodology Disclosure Examples #
Product Review #
How We Test
We purchased each laptop with our own funds and tested them over a 2-week period. Testing included battery life measurements, performance benchmarks, display quality tests, and real-world usage scenarios. We score on five criteria: Performance (30%), Display (20%), Battery (20%), Build Quality (15%), and Value (15%).
Comparison Article #
Our Process
We evaluated 15 project management tools over 30 days. Each tool was tested with a real team on actual projects. We assessed ease of use, feature completeness, integrations, pricing, and support quality. Products were rated 1-5 in each category with equal weighting.
Methodology Disclosure Placement #
- Dedicated section in article: “How We Test” section
- Methodology page: Linked site-wide page with full details
- Combination: Brief in-article summary linking to full methodology
For major review sites, a dedicated methodology page is best, linked from every review.
How AI Values Methodology #
AI systems check for methodology signals:
- Presence: Is there any methodology disclosure?
- Specificity: Vague vs. detailed process description
- Consistency: Does methodology match claims?
- Transparency indicators: Limitations acknowledged, biases disclosed
Reviews claiming “best” without explaining how that was determined score lower than reviews with clear methodology.
Summary #
Methodology disclosure builds trust:
- Scope: What you tested and what you excluded
- Process: How testing was conducted
- Criteria: What factors, how weighted, how scored
- Limitations: What you couldn't test or might have missed
- Placement: Visible methodology section or linked page
Transparency turns recommendations into credible conclusions.
Related: Affiliate Disclosure: FTC Compliance for AI Trust
Product Manager at Seenos.ai. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.