Genealogy tip 14—Conduct ancestry research evidence analysis.
Being a history researcher comes with the need to learn and understand how to research records, find the key information and develop a plan that will take you to all available information. Through the years, I have had the pleasure of conducting historical and genealogy research throughout the United States and Europe. Every time I conduct research in a new location, I feel like I have to learn/relearn how to conduct historical research. Why? I need to learn where the records are kept, what is available, develop a plan of how to research this location and so much more. I have written a series of Genealogy Tips to introduce you to what I consider to be the most foundational skills I use over and over. In this article, I want to share Genealogy Tip 14: Conduct Evidence Analysis.
Genealogy Tip Series
Click on an of the following Genealogy Tips to be taken to the article.
Genealogy Tip 14: Conduct Ancestry Research Evidence Analysis
Always be asking, “Does my research provide the evidence to prove the relationship from one generation to the next?” Analyze your sources. It would help if you determined how much weight or validity each source gives.
I have found that genealogy research involves more than just examining records. It involves understanding the difference between primary and secondary information, original and derivative sources, and direct and indirect evidence. I learned about and used the Genealogical Proof Standard to measure the credibility of genealogical statements. I’ve learned to do the following in my research:
Carefully consider the source
Sources are anything or anybody that provides data, and sources vary in reliability. Sources are most reliable, but derivative sources can also contain helpful and accurate information. A source is still in its initial forms, such as a birth, marriage, or death certificate. A derivative source has been modified from an earlier form, such as someone who transcribed the information from the original record. More reliable sources are generally given more weight; thus, sources usually carry more weight than derivative sources. But be careful and make sure to double-check the information provided from any source since even reliable sources can provide erroneous information.
Always ask, “Who provided the information?”
Information is the data provided by sources
The reliability of information depends on the credibility of the person who provided it. Primary information—which comes from someone with firsthand knowledge—is generally more reliable than secondary information—someone who learned it from somewhere or someone else. Primary information usually carries more weight than secondary information. An informant’s credibility depends on how the information was obtained, how soon after the event the details were recorded, and circumstances such as age, illness, or bias.
Turn Information into Evidence
Sources are carefully analyzed to extract relevant information. Relevant information from different sources is compared to establish similarities and inconsistencies. Data analysis and correlation turn relevant information into evidence. Evidence may be direct or indirect. Direct evidence provides an answer to a research question on its own. Indirect evidence doesn’t provide an answer, but it can help establish a solution when combined with other evidence.
Prove your conclusions
Information obtained from sources is analyzed and correlated with developing a body of evidence for the given genealogical problem. “Proof” consists of a well-reasoned conclusion based on the sum of the evidence. Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) requires that five criteria be met before a genealogical statement is considered credible:
- Conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for all information that is pertinent.
- Include an accurate source citation for each item of information.
- Analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality.
- Resolve any conflicts of evidence that contradict each other.
- Write a soundly reasoned, coherent conclusion.
All proven genealogical conclusions are subject to re-evaluation if new evidence is discovered or if an error in reasoning can be demonstrated.
Create proof summaries of your research
As a historian genealogist, I don’t know any document that says John Jones or James Schreiber om Vermont is my ancestor. It has taken a combination of clues and other documents to lead to those conclusions. After I conducted my research on a particular family line, it’s not uncommon for me to have to take a week and sometimes months before I can resume my research. It’s easy to forget the steps taken and the current conclusions, thus making it necessary to start again. While all of the facts are fresh, write down the theory in a proof summary that states what you have researched and why you have drawn the conclusions about your family. In the future, you may find new supporting or conflicting information that will alter the theory, but you have a proof summary to review and make necessary adjustments.
Additional Articles on BeginMyStory.com
The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you find history and genealogy records.
- QuickStart Beginners Guide to Ancestry Research
- Introduction to Ancestry Research and Historical Records
- 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives
- 1950 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners
- 4 Easy Steps to Google American Ancestry
- Preparing to Easily Google Ancestor Records
- Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews
- How to Get Great Google Search Results in Ancestry Research
- 9 Advanced Google Search Strategies to Trace Ancestors
- What It’s Like to Start Ancestry Research
- Search sites like FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com
