Method

A clear way to move from source material to a research idea.

The workbench keeps sources, transcriptions, experiments and researcher decisions connected. It helps show what can be seen, what a model has suggested and what still needs human judgement.

Explore the system

From source material to a research finding

Step 1

Start with the source

Record where the material came from.
Note any conditions on how it can be used.
Mark the exact area being studied.

Step 2

Choose the passage

Identify the folio and page.
Mark the part being examined.
Keep a note of any image adjustments.

Step 3

Make a transcription

Say whether it was made by a researcher or a model.
Keep the first version for comparison.
Show who made any later changes.

Step 4

Explore the material

Describe what was compared or tested.
Keep the tools and settings with the work.
Write down the assumptions being made.

Step 5

Ask a research question

Explain the idea in clear terms.
Describe what we would expect to see.
Choose how the idea will be tested.

Step 6

Record what we found

Say whether the evidence supports the idea.
Be clear about anything that remains uncertain.
Link the conclusion back to the evidence.

Source
material

Research
exploration
and review

What we
found

Stay close to the source

Every observation remains connected to the manuscript image or reference that prompted it.

Source identity recorded
Page and region clearly located
Changes kept as new versions

Keep people involved

Researchers decide what to examine and how to interpret it. Model suggestions remain suggestions until they are reviewed.

Edits and choices are attributed
Annotations remain visible
Decisions can be revisited

Explore, then test

Early exploration helps ideas take shape. More formal tests are planned before they are run.

Exploratory work is clearly labelled
Tests are recorded in advance
Outcomes keep their original context

Look for other explanations

A useful idea should be open to challenge. The workbench keeps contrary evidence alongside supporting evidence.

Expected findings are described
Comparison methods are recorded
Contrary evidence is not hidden

Respect sources and collections

Manuscripts and reference collections are used in line with their stated access and reuse conditions.

Source conditions recorded
Repository requirements respected
Restricted material remains restricted

Make the work reusable

Research records can be exported with the information needed to understand how they were produced.

Data and notes kept together
Methods and versions included
Records can be reviewed elsewhere