Question-led research
Every investigation begins with a defined question so evidence can be judged against an actual objective rather than accumulated without direction.
Research principles
The ProofTrail Method
A clear standard for evidence-first genealogy research: define the question, connect evidence in context, keep contradictions visible, and report only what the record actually supports.
Evidence with context
Records, DNA information, people, relationships, and research actions stay connected to the case context that gives them meaning.
Contradiction-aware reasoning
Conflicting evidence and competing explanations remain visible instead of being flattened into premature certainty.
Reviewable conclusions
Findings are expressed at the strength the evidence supports and remain traceable enough for another researcher to review the path.
What the method asks of the research
Work from a defined objective, keep sources and claims connected, preserve conflicting evidence, document what was searched, and make every conclusion traceable back to the evidence supporting it.
What the method does not require
A guaranteed answer. Some questions remain unresolved, records may be missing, and evidence may conflict. Good research reports that honestly instead of forcing certainty the evidence has not earned.
Research is a process, not a promised outcome
The goal is not to manufacture an answer. It is to define the scope, follow the evidence, record both positive and negative findings, and report the strongest conclusion the available record can support — including when the answer is still unknown.