Jerry D. Smith Jr., PsyD | Breakthrough Psychological Solutions, P.L.L.C.
RCA Research Series | White Paper 3 | Version 1.0 | October 27, 2026 | 19 pages | 20 references
Permanent record and DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23681182
Consequential information can be expressed clearly and still reach an accountable decision maker in a form that conceals its significance. This paper develops status filtering as a specific process within Reality Contact Architecture. It examines when relative standing or proximity to authority changes the selection, representation, transmission, or consideration of information beyond what its relevance, evidence, and legitimate handling requirements warrant. Six propositions address selective alteration, intermediary dependency, attribution, cumulative transformation, decision windows, and traceable correction. Constructed examples distinguish useful compression, warranted revision, unsupported reassurance, temporal loss, and reasoned rejection.
This conceptual and methodological paper extends Paper 2 proposition P2C. It preserves RCA's nine domains and 14 candidate indicators, separates message quality from source standing, and proposes observations capable of favoring competing explanations. It reports no original participant data.
The separately versioned Decision Episode Documentation and Status Filtering Codebook provides nominal handling categories, separate timing and engagement fields, constructed demonstrations, and blank record schemas. It is a research-development companion rather than a validated assessment instrument.
Smith, J. D., Jr. (2026). Status filtering under concentrated authority: How rank can change the information that reaches decision makers (RCA Research Series, White Paper 3, Version 1.0). Breakthrough Psychological Solutions, P.L.L.C. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23681182
Scholarly critiques, alternative explanations, and methodological comments are welcome at jsmith@psychbreakthrough.com.
Version 1.0, October 27, 2026, initial release.
Download research companion PDF | Version 0.1 | 8 pages
Status Filtering Under Concentrated Authority