---
name: finding-s4-citation-tier-invariant
description: [2026-06-01, bucket-(a)] NOT a surprise. Citation is a structural output, not
metadata:
  type: project
---

# Finding — s4-citation-tier-invariant (2026-06-01)

**Bucket**: (a)  
**Tags**: universal-law

## Source entry (verbatim from `reports/research-runs/qvt-ablation-findings.md`)

- **bucket**: (a) architecture + universal-law candidate
- **cell context**: α-6 Phase 1 + 2 path_coverage comparison
- **observation**: S4 citation contributes +0.42 path at M_M and
  +0.397 path at M_S — nearly identical structural contribution
  across model scales.
- **surprise**: NOT a surprise. Citation is a structural output, not
  a quality measure — it should be model-invariant. Worth promoting
  because *this is the one axis where JAMES's contribution is
  measurable AND universal*.
- **data pointer**: Phase 1 + Phase 2 analyses
- **follow-up tag**: `universal-law`
- **probe ideas**: Phase 3b at qwen/llama/deepseek to confirm
  family-invariance
- **immediate impact on α-6**: S4 citation = JAMES's one
  unconditional contribution. Always-on at any tier.

## Promotion provenance

- Auto-drafted by `scripts/qvt_promote_findings.py` on the entry dated 2026-06-01.
- This is a DRAFT memo. Review before adding a line under MEMORY.md.
- If the finding was already resolved by a PR (e.g. `→ RESOLVED (#N)`),
  consider whether the memo should be archived as feedback rather than
  carried as an open mechanism candidate.
