mosaic theory

1. Investing: Method recognized by the CFA Institute as a valid means of analysis of the value of a corporation, including both public and non-public data and through both material and non-material sources. Security analysts then make recommendations to their clients on whether or not the client should make a trade in the company's securities based on information gathered. Also called scuttlebutt method.

2. Legal: Theory used for classifying information within the legal system, based on belief that a group of unclassified data could be combined into a classified whole.