Research Method & Citation System

Every research article on this site follows a consistent structure designed to balance authority, readability, and transparency. The aim is simple, use credible sources, present them clearly, and allow readers to verify evidence without disrupting the flow of the narrative.

This page explains the principles behind that structure and how the citation system works in practice.

Source Hierarchy

Articles are built from the strongest available material. Primary documents, archival records, official reports, academic publications, and recognised institutional sources form the foundation. These sources provide first-order evidence, dates, names, and context that can be independently verified.

Secondary references are used to provide interpretation and connective context, but they do not replace primary evidence. Encyclopedias and general summaries may assist orientation, yet claims are anchored in traceable documentation wherever possible.

Readable, Not Academic

Research articles are written for clarity rather than academic display. Narrative flow comes first. Evidence is integrated into sentences and paragraphs so that argument and story move together. Technical language is used only when necessary and is explained within context.

Structured formatting such as lists or tables appears only when it improves understanding. The goal is comprehension without dilution, not the performance of scholarship.

How Research Becomes Story

Historical material is not presented as a checklist of facts. Instead, it is woven into a coherent narrative structure that preserves cause, consequence, and human context. Dates and events are situated within broader developments so that readers understand not only what happened, but why it mattered.

Citations support this structure rather than interrupt it. Evidence strengthens the reading experience instead of competing with it.

Transparent Citations

Each article uses numbered in-text citations placed precisely where claims require support. Clicking a citation scrolls directly to the corresponding entry in the Works Cited section at the end of the page.

Every Works Cited entry includes a live external link to the source and a return link that brings the reader back to the exact point in the article where the citation was used. This system allows verification without loss of position.

Citation System Overview

The citation structure is built on internal anchor links. In-text numbers link downward to matching source entries.
Source entries contain full reference details, a brief description of relevance, a live external link that opens in a new tab, and return anchors that scroll back to the article.

This approach prioritises traceability, usability, and long-term consistency across the site. The same structure is applied to all research articles so that readers always know how to navigate evidence.

Together, these principles create a research environment that values credibility without sacrificing readability,
and transparency without overwhelming the reader.