In Finland the applied research method is almost unknown in genealogy. However, it has been hundreds of years in use in courtrooms. The idea is to collect enough proof and evidence to draw a plausible picture of the circumstancies during the period investigated. If new proof emerges later, the narrative will be changed accordingly. Thus, if the deceased left, say, four smoking pipes and a tobacco-pouch we may suppose the man was a smoker. But if we later find out he was a peddler the goods may as well his merchandise. And so on.
One who has widely applied this method in family research is Alice Munro (below), the Canadian writer, who has already for some time been a Nobel Prize candidate.
