When determining common knowledge, what factors are mainly considered?

When assessing common knowledge, the expected familiarity of the audience plays a crucial role because it determines what information can be assumed to be widely recognized and accepted without the need for citation. Common knowledge refers to facts or information that are generally known and can be easily verified, making them less likely to require formal attribution.

For example, if a researcher is presenting to an audience of experts in a particular field, they can assume that these individuals are familiar with foundational concepts and widely accepted facts specific to that discipline. Conversely, if the audience consists of laypersons, the researcher would need to provide more background and context for the information presented, as they cannot assume the same level of familiarity.

Factors such as the publication date, the author's personal experiences, and the size of the audience do not directly influence whether information qualifies as common knowledge. While these aspects might provide context on the relevance or accuracy of the information, they do not specifically address the shared understanding that defines common knowledge among a particular audience.