Social Explorer AI includes a structured metadata component called the datasources block. This block appears beneath AI-generated tables and provides a precise, machine-readable citation of the data source used to generate the result. Its purpose is to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and correct attribution for academic, research, policy, and institutional use.
This section is intended for advanced users who need to understand how Social Explorer AI technically documents data sources for verification and reproducibility.
What the Block Contains
The block is intentionally simple. It includes only the core source identifiers needed to trace the underlying data:
- survey_name
Indicates the specific survey from which the data originates.
Example: ACS2023_5yr - dataset_name
Specifies the dataset version within Social Explorer.
Example: ACS23, SE, ACS21_5yr - table_name
Identifies the exact table or variable group used.
Example: B19013 (Median Household Income)
Example:
<p data-tables="ACS2023:ACS23:B19013" class="datasources-placeholder"></p>
Note: The actual implementation uses a double-bracket tag, not an HTML <p> element.
This means:
The data comes from the American Community Survey 2023
The dataset used is ACS23.
The table used is B19013 (Median Household Income)
What the Block Does Not Contain
The datasources block does not include:
- variables
- geographic level
- year or time period (beyond what is implied by survey_name)
- methodology notes
- margins of error
- table descriptions
These details appear elsewhere in the AI response (for example, in the table caption, the Sources panel, inline text, or methodology notes), but not inside the datasources tag.
Why the Block Matters
Transparency: Users can see exactly which dataset and table were used.
Reproducibility: Researchers can trace the result back to its official source and replicate the analysis.
Proper Attribution: Every AI-generated table includes formal source identifiers tied directly to official datasets.
Reliability: Because the block is generated from Social Explorer’s curated data library, it reinforces that the AI never fabricates numbers.
Together with the Sources panel and methodology notes, the datasources block ensures every AI answer is fully documented, verifiable, and academically robust.