Research methods
Evidence snapshots: make a finding reproducible
A claim needs enough context to survive a changed interface.
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In this article
- Record identity and time Capture the network, full address, transaction identifier and block or slot where relevant. Keep the original URL and retrieval time for public statements. Avoid rounding values that are needed to reconcile balances or distinguish transactions.
- Separate original material from interpretation Store the original response or document alongside working notes. Label calculations and assumptions so another reader can reproduce them. If a screenshot is cropped or annotated, retain the underlying original and explain what was changed.
- Leave room for correction Record what would disprove the current interpretation. A wallet connection may weaken when a service address is identified; a claimed profit may shrink when funding transfers are accounted for. Corrections should update the conclusion while preserving enough history to explain why it changed. Reproducibility is useful precisely because the first explanation can be wrong.
An investigation should preserve the state that supports its claim. A live link is valuable, but the page, contract or dashboard behind it may change. The following workflow is an editorial method for maintaining a defensible record, not a claim that every source is complete.
Record identity and time Capture the network, full address, transaction identifier and block or slot where relevant. Keep the original URL and retrieval time for public statements. Avoid rounding values that are needed to reconcile balances or distinguish transactions.
Separate original material from interpretation Store the original response or document alongside working notes. Label calculations and assumptions so another reader can reproduce them. If a screenshot is cropped or annotated, retain the underlying original and explain what was changed.
Leave room for correction Record what would disprove the current interpretation. A wallet connection may weaken when a service address is identified; a claimed profit may shrink when funding transfers are accounted for. Corrections should update the conclusion while preserving enough history to explain why it changed. Reproducibility is useful precisely because the first explanation can be wrong.
Sources
Ethereum documentation · blocksTechnical reference checked 9 September 2026. The review questions are editorial analysis, not findings about a named project.