Research Methodology

Every chapter in isHistory follows a rigorous research methodology to ensure accuracy and narrative integrity.

Source Hierarchy

We prioritize sources in this order:

1. Primary sources — Original papers, interviews, source code, and contemporaneous documentation. When Alan Turing wrote “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” in 1950, that paper is our ground truth.
2. Secondary academic sources — Peer-reviewed histories, biographies, and retrospective analyses from established technology historians.
3. Expert consultation — Direct correspondence with engineers, researchers, and participants in the events we describe.
4. Tertiary sources — Wikipedia, tech blogs, and secondary reporting — used only for orientation and cross-verification.

Verification Process

Each chapter undergoes a multi-stage verification:

• Fact-checking against at least two independent primary sources
• Technical review by practitioners in the relevant domain
• Narrative review for coherence and completeness within the series arc

Cross-Referencing

The vault system enables rich cross-referencing. When we write about Alan Turing in the context of The Turing Test, 1950, the link creates a bidirectional connection that enriches both entries. Cross-collection references use standard markdown links to bridge the archive and vault collections.

See [[Vision & Architecture]] for the broader context of why we invest in this level of rigor.