Genealogy as a field of study in the social sciences has well-developed research standards as well as ethics standards that can and should be followed by the seasoned genealogy professional as well as family history hobbyist alike.

In pursuit of standards and professionalism, many genealogists study formally or informally to acquire credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists^®, the International Commission for the Accreditation of Genealogists™, and the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.

One of the research foundations in the field of genealogy is the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) consisting of five elements to reach a genealogical conclusion of proof.  It is fully explained officially in this book.

Very impressively detailed evidence map and great presentation slides by Mark Tucker.