Record the smallest claim the source supports
Good research begins with careful wording. “This webpage lists a director” is narrower than “this person currently controls the business”. Ask exactly what you saw, who published it and when. Keep your interpretation in a separate field.
A copied article, social post and directory entry may all repeat the same original claim. Three appearances do not necessarily mean three independent sources. Follow references back where possible, and note when you cannot find the origin.
Use practical confidence labels
A simple set of labels can make your notes easier to review. The labels describe the state of your checking, not a scientific probability. Be prepared to lower confidence when new information appears.
- Observed: directly visible in an identified source on a recorded date.
- Corroborated: supported by a separate, relevant source.
- Unresolved: conflicting information or an uncertain identity match.
- Lead only: a possibility worth checking, not a conclusion.
Check identity, time and independence
Similar names are a common cause of mistaken matches. For companies, compare the company number. For people, use only relevant identifiers you are entitled to use, and avoid drawing conclusions from a name alone. Keep an uncertain match separate from the main chronology.
Check both the publication date and the date the information concerns. An old webpage can remain online after circumstances change. Official registers are valuable starting points, but read their stated scope and limitations rather than treating them as proof of every associated claim.
Ask whether a second source genuinely adds something. A company website repeating its own press release is not independent corroboration. A newer source can still be inaccurate. Explain discrepancies instead of averaging them away or selecting the version that best fits your theory.
Choose the next check deliberately
Decide which uncertainty could change your decision. That should usually receive attention before an interesting but irrelevant detail. A short research log prevents the same searches being repeated and helps someone else continue the work.
Free first step: enter five findings in our research log, including the source address, check date and confidence label. Reword any conclusion that says more than its source supports. Ask PDC for a basic pointer if you have conflicting records or need to decide whether a lead justifies a wider investigation. For a decision with legal or financial consequences, use the appropriate professional advice alongside the fact-finding.
Questions you may have
Do several matching search results prove a fact?
Not necessarily. They may repeat one original claim. Look for genuinely independent support and verify that each result concerns the correct person or company.
What should I do with conflicting records?
Keep both, record their dates and sources, and mark the issue unresolved. The conflict may identify the next useful question.
Sources & further reading
Check the original sources for their latest information and service terms.