Measure the distance between intended and verifiable.
Institutional Image Index™ · measurement doctrine.
Follow coherence across the chain
Begin with intended position and promise. Inspect visible signals, public evidence, independent support and lived experience. Ask whether these layers support one another. The Index examines this distance; attention, visibility and positive wording are not substitutes for institutional coherence.
Define the unit before comparing
Specify institution, audience, promise, time window, coverage and evidence sources. Record confidence separately from interpretation. A public signal review cannot establish a complete internal reality; a narrow observation cannot represent every department. Missing evidence remains unknown.
Lock the method before publishing scores
Scoring and comparative rankings require an approved rubric, documented weights, evidence review, consent and a versioned method. This public doctrine does not claim a globally validated scale or publish provisional rankings. Changes in method must explain their effect on comparability.
Use the finding to choose the next inquiry
A useful assessment identifies where the image is supported, where it is contradicted and what remains unobserved. It guides field research, experience change, expression or re-observation. The institution should understand the conclusion and retain the ability to question it.