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Topic cluster
16 answers
Research workflow
A cluster on evaluating trading ideas honestly before you trust them with capital.
Reviewed by Alphora Research
Updated June 30, 2026
Good research workflow is what prevents a clean backtest from turning into false confidence. These pages focus on the practical checks that narrow the gap between a historical story and a process you would still believe once the market changes.
The goal is not to add ceremony for its own sake. It is to make validation, walk-forward thinking, and paper-trading discipline legible enough that a strategy can survive scrutiny from someone other than its creator.
Questions in this cluster
Each page answers a narrower search-shaped question while staying linked to the broader research theme.
Research process
What is the difference between backtesting and paper trading?
Understand the practical difference between backtesting and paper trading, what each one is good for, and why serious strategy work needs both.
Research process
Why does out-of-sample matter more than a clean in-sample backtest?
Learn why out-of-sample performance matters, what it reveals that in-sample cannot, and how Alphora's product framing keeps that distinction visible.
Research process
What is walk-forward testing in trading?
Learn what walk-forward testing is, why traders use it instead of one clean split, and how it fits into an honest validation workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
How much walk-forward testing is enough?
Learn how much walk-forward testing is enough, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
What should you compare a backtest against?
Learn what should you compare a backtest against, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
When does paper trading invalidate a backtest thesis?
Learn when does paper trading invalidate a backtest thesis, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
What is walk-forward testing?
Learn what is walk-forward testing, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
Why does walk-forward testing matter in systematic trading?
Learn why does walk-forward testing matter in systematic trading, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
What is baseline selection?
Learn what is baseline selection, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
Why does baseline selection matter in systematic trading?
Learn why does baseline selection matter in systematic trading, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
What is research hygiene?
Learn what is research hygiene, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
Why does research hygiene matter in systematic trading?
Learn why does research hygiene matter in systematic trading, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
What are validation stacks?
Learn what are validation stacks, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Strategy intuition
definition
Why do validation stacks matter in systematic trading?
Learn why do validation stacks matter in systematic trading, why it matters in research workflow, and how it connects to a practical systematic trading workflow.
Research process
implementation
How do you compare a backtest against a real baseline?
Learn how do you compare a backtest against a real baseline, why it matters in research workflow, and what to validate before trusting the workflow in live research.
Performance evaluation
evaluation
What should you validate before you compare a backtest against a real baseline?
Learn how to evaluate compare a backtest against a real baseline, which metrics actually matter, and what a flattering result can still hide in research workflow.