1. In Investing, this is a CFA Institute recognized method, a valid corporation – value analysis method, using both public and non-public data and using both material and non-material sources. Based on information gathered, securities analysts will make recommendations on buying or not buying the company’s securities to their clients. Also known as scuttlebutt method. 2. In Legal terms, based on belief that unclassified data groups could be combined into a classified whole, this theory is used for classifying information within the legal system .