What should an investigation report do to clarify the relationship between facts and conclusions?

• A. Legal conclusions should be presented as facts.
• B. Facts should be verified and stated separately from legal conclusions.
• C. Facts should only be included if they support the desired outcome.
• D. Conclusions should be left unstated to avoid liability.

Answer: (B)

Verifying facts and keeping them clearly separate from the conclusions is essential in an investigation report. The report should lay out what happened, who was involved, dates, documents, and witness statements as facts that have been checked and corroborated. Then, after those verified facts are established, draw the conclusions only from that evidence, and state them apart from the facts so readers can see which evidence supports which conclusion. This separation creates an auditable trail, preserves objectivity, and enhances credibility for management, HR, and legal review. When facts are presented as if they were conclusions, or when conclusions are stated as if they were facts, it becomes hard to distinguish evidence from judgment. If the report only includes facts that support a desired outcome, it becomes biased and incomplete. Conversely, leaving conclusions unstated reduces usefulness and accountability. So the best practice is to verify facts and present them separately from the legal conclusions.