Alex describes a research method based on records left by people involved in events. For recent history, he also collects oral testimony from veterans, and for current subjects he talks with serving personnel. Personal participation cannot be a requirement for historical analysis because it would exclude events long before the researcher's lifetime. The proposed standard is to seek evidence as close to the event as possible, examine more than one perspective, and say when something is unknown. He applies that standard to the sources he consults as well as to his own work.
Notable Point · 6:34:33-6:38:22
Historical evidence without personal participation
Contemporary records, oral history, competing perspectives, and declared uncertainty form the proposed standard for research.